Page 86 of Dark Angel

The door to the infirmary creaks open and footsteps approach them. A hand pulls the white curtain back and Kora walks in with Jordan behind her like a shadow.

Clarence rushes over, pulling his sister into an embrace. “I was so worried. Where have you been?” he questions them.

He can tell from her eyes that she’s been crying. They’re tear-stained red and blotchy. “Clarence,” Kora’s voice is hushed, “one of the Infernals spoke to me. I don’t know how much of it is the truth, but it told me that their master sent them to retrieve something. It mentioned Colton to me. I think Colton is alive and somehow summoned the Infernals to attack us. I think he’s their master.”

“But our parents said he died…” Clarence trails off in disbelief.

Kora swallows before adding on, “Jordan and I also searched the archives room, and his death notice isn’t in there. And our parents seem to be missing as well.”

Nobody says anything as Kora breathes heavily. Her pulse is rapidly thundering through her hot veins as she stares at her brother’s stunned face.

“Aren’t you going to say something?” Kora asks after a few moments of silence.

He’s sitting on the edge of Daisy’s bed again, his gaze lowered to his fisted hands fiddling in his lap. “They said he died because of his deadly illness. But I’m beginning to think that our parents lied to us.” Clarence scratches the back of his neck nervously. “Will did mention that people up north have been talking about the battle recently. I didn’t want to believe him, but what if it’s true? What if our parents are not really dead?”

Kora feels the gut-wrenching sensation again. “And you didn’t think to tell me that!” Her voice rising at him. “After we promised to never keep anything from each other again!”

“I-”

“I know, Clarence,” Kora shouts, “You think I’m still just a child who can’t handle any of this. And maybe I can’t. Maybe this is toomuch for me to handle, but I have a right to know! You can’t keep me trapped in this bubble my whole life. That’sourparentsyou’re talking about!”

“I know!” Clarence jumps to his feet to face her. Jaw tight with anger. “I know, all right. I should have told you, and I shouldn’t be keeping things from you, but dammit, Kora, I promised to keep you safe and that’s what I’m trying my best to do!” His face is just as harsh as hers.

“That doesn’t mean you can’t tell me things about our family! I had to find this out on my own by tearing the archives apart.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t do this here.” Matthew suggests, but his mouth slams closed when both Clarence and Kora shoot him a glare.

She looks back at her brother. The one person she thought she knew the most in the world, but does she still?

Running her fingers down her face, she turns away from him, not wanting to see his hurt expression. “If Colton is planning on becoming a Dark Angel,” Kora continues, her tone dropping into something emotionless as if all of her energy has drained away, “then we need to find him and stop him. We can’t let him attain his power and destroy everything.”

“We’ll find him, Kora.” Her brother assures her.

Reaching out and touching her arm, she moves away from him to sidle beside Jordan.

She doesn’t miss the flash of hurt and betrayal flourishing on Clarence’s face.

“I’m going to speak with Jordan’s parents tonight. They might know something we don’t. It’s worth a try.” She offers.

“I’ll come with you.”

Kora shakes her head at him. “No. You should stay with Daisy. She’ll need you here when she wakes up.”

“I don’t want you to do all of this alone, Kora.”

Her blurry eyes are hooded when their gazes meet again. “I am doing this alone. He’s my twin. If anyone can reach him, it’ll be me.”

Clarence sighs heavily, scratching his light brown hair. “This isn’t your fault, Kora, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“I know it is not my fault. I had no say about this. If anyone does, it’s our parents, who may or may not be dead,” she exhales deeply. “I am just trying to figure this out before it’s one of our bodies lying out there carved!” Kora’s voice rising.

Jordan makes a sound to remind her to keep her voice down.

“All right. I’ll stay here overnight. But I am not letting you stay in the manor on your own after you speak with them.”

“She can stay with us,” Jordan interrupts beside her. “We have a spare quarter set up, and my parents won’t mind. In fact, I think my father will personally kill me himself if I send her home alone.”

Clarence nods after some thought. “Stay with the Carter’s tonight then, so that I know you’re safe.”

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