A Crack in Everything Read Online Free Page A

images of art projects at school, of recreating it somehow.All she’d wanted was a photo. Source material and all that. It was such a stupid reason when she thought about it now.
    ‘I wanted to see the angel,’ she whispered, mortified.
    ‘An angel?’ His face grew serious. ‘Well, angels are something else little girls should stay away from.’
    ‘
Little …?
’ But Jinx smiled, a broad wide smile, and she realised to her greater embarrassment and outrage that he was teasing her. ‘Oh …’ She wanted to stamp her foot and storm away, but that would just confirm it to him, wouldn’t it? That she was just a kid getting into trouble by herself? ‘Very funny!’ she snarled at him and held her ground. ‘What is the angel, anyway?’
    Jinx frowned at her, his glower intimidating.
    Someone can only intimidate you if you let them, Isabel
.
    That was what Mum always said. Although the business suits, the multiple degrees and the MBA probably helped. Didn’t matter. Izzy held her ground.
    ‘Well?’ she asked again, her hands jerking up to her hips so her elbows stuck out at either side. He wasn’t going to answer.
    ‘Aren’t you already late?’
    She could try a different tack. ‘
What
is Mistle?’
    At the sound of the tramp’s name, the corner of Jinx’s upper lip drew up into a sneer. ‘
That
is someone you
definitely
don’t want to see again. At best, he’s a petty thief. Back away, Izzy. Mistle and his kind are scum.’
    ‘And what about
your
kind?’
    Jinx snorted and set off again, striding down the narrowstreet. Izzy hurried after him, struggling to keep up with his long-legged stride. For a freaking Goth, he moved fast. And here she thought they were all emo vampire wannabes.
    He stopped at the junction of Exchequer Street, with the black-painted façade of the music shop on the other side of the road. The city swirled around them, cars, pedestrians, bicycles, all those lives whirling by.
    ‘Well, there you are. Enjoy.’
    A slightly discordant clash of drums and guitars burst out of the doorway and Izzy winced. Jinx’s chuckle made her look up at him.
    ‘Are you an expert or something?’
    To her surprise a smile flickered over his lips. ‘Something,’ he replied. ‘You take care now. I’d best be going.’
    She nodded and pursed her lips together. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered and his eyes widened in surprise
    Jinx’s face hardened again almost as quickly. ‘You’re welcome,’ he grunted. ‘Go on. They’ll be worried about you.’
    That would be the day.
    She waited a moment longer, staring up into his sculpted face. His eyes stared deeply into hers, unwavering, and for a moment she wondered if he would lean forward and kiss her. It wasn’t far. If she stood up on her toes she’d be within reach. He’d only have to bend his head, curve his long neck.
    His lips parted and before she knew what she was doing, she let her eyelids flutter closed, tilting her face up towards him.
    But he didn’t kiss her. Instead he gave the smallest sigh. ‘I’ve got to go.’
    Shock and shame flooded through her like icy water. She turned away and crossed the street, head down as she aimed for the door and tried to staunch the sting of mortification.
    Jinx’s voice drifted across the sound of traffic and pedestrians. ‘Goodbye, Izzy.’
    She turned around as she stepped up onto the pavement and caught a final glimpse of him out of the corner of her eye. He stood there, without moving, staring at her. Only for another moment before he turned sideways. The sunlight flared behind him, blinding her, and then he was gone.

Chapter Three

Old Blood
    J inx let Izzy go reluctantly. She crossed the road, a little slip of a thing with shoulder-length red hair that, illuminated by the sun, seemed too bright to be entirely natural, darting through the traffic and other people. By the time she reached the far side and glanced over her shoulder, he had already pulled the glamour around him, turning sideways