Sunblind Read Free

witch-hunters stuck on the other side of the wall.
    â€œIt’s a fire!”
    But that isn’t my brother’s voice; it’s Louis’s! Why in the world is he helping my brother hunt me down? Or hunting this animal that they think is terrorizing the town? He’s the chief of police, not a vigilante! Could this be the only way he could think of to avenge the death of his best friend, my father? Could they have figured out that the killings are all connected to the full moon? It doesn’t matter; what matters is that if they find me, they won’t know it’s me. They’ll think they’ve found the wild animal that needs to be killed, its dead body put on display to show the rest of the town that the horror has finally come to an end. Louis won’t know that what he’s looking at, what he wants to kill, is Mason Robineau’s daughter, the girl he’s agreed to raise as his own child. He’ll only think he’s looking at a murderer that needs to be put to death.
    The voices are louder now and pull me from my thoughts, which are completely useless anyway. I don’t recognize who is shouting; it could be a neighbor, a teacher, anyone who’s known me my entire life. But whoever they are, they’re just as startled by the sudden, unexpected fire and just as angry that it has interrupted their outing. Once again, if it weren’t for Jess, I’d probably be dead.
    â€œGo back to town and get Tourtelot!” Louis screams.
    I know that name. Nathan Tourtelot is the fire chief.
    â€œTell him there’s a fire,” Louis commands. “He’s got to put it out before it gets out of control.”
    Louis’s voice is different from the others. Yes, it contains a hint of fear, but close behind the fear is the air of authority. After years of sitting back, following my father’s command, and acting as if he didn’t have a decisive bone in his body, Louis has started to go through his own transformation. He’s becoming a leader. Which means, to me anyway, that he’s very much like Luba. Another nemesis I need to be wary of.
    But I can’t help feeling that he’s also like my father. Protective and strong and courageous. All he’s trying to do is keep his family and his town safe, which is exactly what my father tried to do his entire life. Wherever my father is, I know that he’s proud of his friend. He may, however, feel a bit differently about his son.
    â€œLook!” Barnaby cries.
    Taking a step back, I lower my snout, thinking that this in some way will shield me from my brother’s stare. But I have nothing to worry about; Jess’s flames are impenetrable. And besides, he’s not looking at me; he’s found something else even more interesting.
    â€œThe trap is shut!” he tells the crowd. “The thing was here!”
    Thing?! The word fills me with rage, and if I weren’t being held prisoner by Jess’s flames, I don’t think I’d be able to restrain myself; I’d reveal myself to my brother and Louis and the entire town, show them I’m not a thing! I’m a werewolf! It isn’t something I chose to be; it isn’t something I ever imagined I’d become; but it’s what I am! But then I realize with heartbreaking clarity that even if Barnaby and the others knew what I was, knew what I have been forced to become, it might not change their minds. They might not be able to separate the wolf from the girl, and they might still want me dead.
    â€œWe have to split up,” Louis orders. “Half of you go that way; the rest follow me.”
    I have no idea which directions they’re heading into, but I can hear them leave, not retreating, but moving closer to what they hope will be victory. When the flames around me recede, I don’t have to look up; I know that we’re alone. My enemies have gone, and it’s just Jess and me.
    â€œTonight’s