The Triad of Finity Read Free Page A

Heart. Its glow brightened, flickering on all of their faces. He was increasing its sensitivity for this final question. “Now then, we really just have our one last usual piece of business to attend to before we’re finished for the evening.” He leaned forward. “Oliver: Do you, or does anyone you know, have any idea as to the current whereabouts of the Orani girl?”
    Oliver felt Phlox and Sebastian’s eyes on him. He felt a rush of nerves in his gut. The crystal’s glow made spots in his vision. At full strength, it would detect even the slightest hint of a lie. …
    But, unfortunately, Oliver only had the truth to tell. “No.”
    Mr. Crevlyn gazed at the crystal, and when its glow did not waver, his brow almost seemed to furrow. “And if she does try to contact you, or alert you to her whereabouts, I can only urge you, again, to let us know.”
    Oliver nodded. “Sure.”
    Mr. Crevlyn leaned over, blew out the crystal, and wrapped it up. The Codex’s eyes extinguished. Both stood. “Oliver, on behalf of the Half-Light Consortium, I want to thank you and your family for your continued cooperation.”
    “As if we had a choice,” growled Sebastian.
    Mr. Crevlyn shrugged his eyebrows and continued. “We’ll see you next time. And in the meantime, rest assured: We will be watching out for your best interests. Now, we don’t want you to be late for school.”
    Oliver just glared at him.
    “You can let yourself out,” said Sebastian.
    “Certainly,” Mr. Crevlyn replied, his grin unfaltering.
    Oliver still hadn’t moved as the sewer door clicked shut. Phlox leaned over and stroked his arm. “You did great. We endure these things, and we move on.”
    Oliver didn’t reply. He felt blank.
    “You should get to school,” said Sebastian. “I’ll walk there with you, if you—”
    “Nah.” Oliver got to his feet. “It’s fine. I’m … fine.” He wasn’t, not at all, but he still had that thing to do before school and now he felt like he needed to more than ever.
    Oliver headed into the kitchen, grabbed his bag and hurried out.

Chapter 2
    Empty Spaces
    Oliver emerged from the sewers and trudged through the falling evening to school. He was early; the last humans were still loitering out front, hunched against the drizzle, waiting for rides. Oliver walked right by, continuing up the street and across a damp park.
    He knew that right now, in some Half-Light office downtown, his ankle sensor was announcing that he’d left his prescribed route to school, and an occupied vampire sentry was no doubt being dispatched to follow his movements, likely in the form of a bat or owl. But if he hurried, he should have enough time. …
    He leapt easily onto the roof of a city bus, then sat, sweatshirt hood over his head, remembering a time when it had been hard for him to perform what now seemed like the most basic work controlling the forces. The first time he’d leapt onto this bus, he’d almost fallen off the side, and barely avoided being noticed.
    Ten blocks later, he stood and vaulted off, over the streetlights, landing cat-like atop a house. He continued roof-to-roof. Some of the yards below had already been strung with holiday lights, splashes of warmth among bare, dripping branches. Their cheery glow only made the crowding sense of memory thicker in Oliver’s mind.
    He hopped one last time, landing on a triangular peak, and looked down. This yard was dark, consumed by wild tangles of blackberry vines. A white “For Sale” sign was barely visible in the snarls.
    “’Sup.”
    Oliver turned to a figure seated on the rooftop behind him. Despite the chilly rain, he wore only a steel-gray t-shirt, dark jeans, and muddy Converse. His arms were crossed atop his knees. Oliver made sure not to react to the sour odor flooding his nostrils.
    “Hey,” Oliver said to Dean.
    “How was the interrogation?” Dean asked.
    Oliver huffed. “The usual. You coming?”
    “Do I ever?” asked Dean. “Somebody needs to