Read Almost Demon (The Sigil Cycle) for Free Online

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    “Watch.” He grinned. I was pretty sure that meant I know you were checking me out .
    I knelt beside him, too embarrassed to sneak any more looks at my Adonis and watched as the cord in his hold jerked away, curving itself to form a head. Then, without warning, it split into a spiral of thinner strips. A portion wound itself around his forearm and embedded deep into the skin until it resembled a tattoo while the remainder rippled back into the shadows of the hole. 
    He yanked at the cord and it became taut, shivering with energy. “Hold on tight,” Ian said as he wrapped his free arm around my waist. 
    And off we went, riding into the dark abyss, his laughter echoing behind us.
     
    “We’re here.” 
    Those were the first words I heard after being shoved through a wall of viscous goop. 
    I stared, dumbfounded at the sight of Ian sitting on the stoop with my ghost beside him, awash in the light of the flood lamp above my front door.
    “Who’s this?” he asked, pointing to the apparition.
    “Wait a minute.” I spun around and saw the lawn, and the hazy silhouette of the mailbox and hedges that lined our property.
    “It’s a one-way trip,” Ian replied to my unasked question. “You can’t get back in from here.”
    “Yeah, but how did you know where I live?”
    “Do you really want an explanation? It’s sort of long- winded and doesn’t make any difference. Meanwhile, what’s up with Casper?”
    “Who?”
    “You know, the friendly ghost?” He pointed to Ghosty, who remained inert.
    “It’s been here ever since I came home from the hospital. I’ve been seeing them everywhere.”
    “Were you sick or something?” he asked. Concern drew lines around his mouth.
    “Do you really want an explanation? It’s sort of long-winded and doesn’t make any difference.” I avoided his gaze and found my bag on the floor. I picked it up and dusted it off before making my way up the stairs, keys in hand. 
    “Well, goodnight. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Ian said, hopping to his feet.
    My mind was buzzing with questions about what I had just seen and experienced. All I wanted to say was “ No, don’t go. Come inside. Tell me everything,” but the words got stuck in my throat. The part of me that would have confided in him had already switched off. 
    I started to put my key in the lock when Ian called out.
    “Oh, and Gemma.” 
    “What?” I said.
    “I’ve been seeing them since I was born.” And then he left.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    C HAPTER F IVE

     
     
    The next morning, I immersed myself in routine. Wake, run, shower, eat. This time though, I had had a late start. My mind kept racing in circles. First to Miss Halle’s psychotic break then to Ian’s trippy way home, leaving me sleeping all through the entire length of Freddie Mercury’s operatic styling of “Bohemian Rhapsody” I had set as my alarm.
    “Good Morning, pumpkin.” My dad stood next to the counter with his coat on, rifling through stacks of papers and yesterday’s mail.
    “Morning.” My voice was hoarse. Must have been the pound of sand I swallowed following Ian into Never Never Land .
    “I got a call last night at the office about what happened yesterday.”
    Thanks for calling to check up on me, Dad. “ No biggie,” I replied and began shoveling Cheerios into my mouth so that I wouldn’t say something stupid.
    He fiddled around with his briefcase, transferred a bunch of manila folders, and rearranged them until he seemed satisfied with the way they fit. “No, it is a big deal, honey,” he said, looking up from his papers.
    Finally, he is going to realize I’m alone. 
    “ But I really had to work late and you know how it is when I get busy.”
    Ah, the two big b’s: but and busy .
    “Sure, Dad,” I answered. My head ached and I wasn’t in the mood for a confrontation. I’ve had my fill.
     
    “Can you describe these black spots for me, Gemma?” 
    This was a new doctor. A pediatric neurology