Darkmist: Novella (Luminescence Book 4) by J.L. Weil

Author:J.L. Weil [Weil, J.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dark Magick Publishing
Published: 2017-02-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

A dark cluster of clouds moved in front of the moon, mirroring my current mood: glum and despondent. North Carolina was having unseasonably cold weather for this time of year. I hunkered down in my UNCW hoodie as the wind whipped around me. Gold and rust colored leaves fell from the trees, spiraling to the ground.

Austin let out a stream of hot air. “Christ, it’s colder than an Eskimo pie.”

I shivered. “Don’t even think about suggesting another shortcut,” I warned him.

“I can’t believe I let you talk me into going to the library.”

I matched our footsteps, keeping my arms wrapped around me. “Do you want to actually pass a class?”

“Why do think I am trudging it across campus in this kind of weather? If I don’t pass all my classes, you can kiss my sorry ass goodbye.”

His parents were stickler about grades. If he didn’t hold at least a 3.0 GPA, he would be paying for college out of his own pocket.

Austin pulled his Neff beanie down over his ears. “Can’t you do something about the weather? I mean, this is ridiculous.”

I frowned. “I am doing something.”

Tipping his head back, he glanced up at the sky. “Wow, Bri, what the heck is up your butt?”

“You know I can’t always control it.”

“Well, whatever it is, can you hurry up and get happy? I want to see the sun. And I really hate knowing you’re in a rut. Do you want a hug?” Whether I did or not, Austin didn’t give me a choice. His arms wiggled through mine. “Or maybe a big, fat slice of warm apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream? It works for me.”

I leaned my head on his shoulder. His body heat chased the chill. “I wish it were that simple. I miss Aunt Clara and Tori. I know it’s only an hour away, but lately it feels like I’m living on the other side of the universe.”

“I know what you mean. We should take ourselves on a little road trip this weekend,” he suggested.

I nodded. He was right. I really needed a weekend at home, in my own bed.

“Maybe we can even get that slice of pie.”

I laughed.

In spite of the weirdness that was my life, I felt at peace the moment I stepped into the library. Books of every shape, size, and color lined the walls. Dusty ones or new books with their seams still intact, it didn’t matter, I loved them all. There was this little breath of happiness that filled me, taking a way a sliver of the homesickness.

The library was deader than Amara’s corpses, just the way I liked it. Despite Austin’s procrastination and grumbling, we got to work. His study ethics were very different than mine. Earbuds in, he repeatedly tapped the end of his pencil with the beat of his playlist.

“How do you retain any information like that?” I whispered.

“Huh?” he answered in a volume louder than his inside voice.

“Sshh,” I scolded, putting my finger to my lips.

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