Read Dark Spirits for Free Online Page A

things like how to strike and drive my elbow into Nathan’s torso. “You must rotate your hips,” he’d say, “to throw Nathaniel back and to the ground.” He’d wave me aside and would have Nathan demonstrate the move on him. Of course, Nathan did it flawlessly. Show off. And then Anwar would have me try it again until I perfected the move. Afterwards, we’d move onto something else like defensive ground fighting. So of course Nathan wouldn’t have time to plan out Aosoth’s demise.
    “Now, tell me about what you saw last night,” Nathan said, folding his hands on the table, cutting into my thoughts.
    I told him everything, including the fuzzy vision I couldn’t make out. Like me, he was surprised at the clarity of my second vision since I only had tried the ritual of consciousness once with no real success. Now if only I could do the same thing but choose whom to eavesdrop on. Yet when he told me that, I couldn’t help but feel a pinch of doubt. I mean, what if last night happened to be a onetime thing? Nathan thought otherwise and wanted me to try again tonight. If only his belief in me extended outside protective walls, I’d feel much better.
     
    ***
     
     
    On the way to Carrie’s mom’s antique store, Nathan told me he’d go see Ameerah tonight to find out if she knew anything about the dark spirits in the barn. It concerned him because he didn’t think they’d be able to get the ring away from the “old one,” which left one other option. Kill me.
    “That’s a good idea,” I told him. “I’d like to meet her.”
     “Not tonight, okay?” He parked his truck next to a vintage white VW bug with colorful peace signs and flower designs painted on it.
    “Are you serious?” He didn’t answer, but the tight line in his lips said it all. I ground my teeth. “Ya know. We’re supposed to be a team. I’m not some damn princess you can lock up in a tower.” I hopped out of the truck before he could respond and slammed the door.
    “Paige.” He tried to take my hand, but I shoved it in my pocket and kept walking. He snatched my arm, stopping me, and leveled his eyes with mine. “I promise, I’ll tell you everything, but I will not risk you getting hurt. If you were to come with me, there would be a good chance of that happening. Do you understand?”
    I nodded, even though I still disagreed. I mean, I understood his intentions; however, this had to do with me, and he shouldn’t be calling all the shots. And yeah, he was way more experienced than I am, but how would I ever get good at protecting myself if he wouldn’t allow me the chance to do so?
    He gave me a nervous smile, and I wondered if the realization had hit him his actions could save me, but in the end, they could also easily break us up. Without saying another word, we headed across the parking lot with a chasm of unsettled feelings between us.
    A bell jingled when we entered the antique store, and Carrie hurried to me. The store smelled like the pages in an old book. I loved that ancient, rich, dusty smell. There were display cabinets filled with antique jewelry, old coins, trading cards, comic books still in the plastic wrapper, and other odds and ends. To the right of the entrance, porcelain dolls sat in a glass cabinet along the pale yellow wall. In the far corner to the left were wooden bookshelves filled with classical books. Past that were a couple rooms packed with antique furniture and clothes.
    “Nathan, I need to steal Paige for a minute,” Carrie said, laying the pricing machine beside the cash register on the half moon counter.
    “Hi, Paige. Hi, Nathan,” Caroline said, walking up the aisle toward us, her arms filled with plates. Nathan immediately came to her assistance.
    I smiled and waved as Carrie pulled me past her mom. She returned my smile, her chocolate eyes soft and warm on my face. “Nice seeing you, Paige,” she said with a teasing lilt in her voice.
    Carrie rolled her eyes, still pulling me with her.