Hex Read Online Free Page A

been in danger since she was a child had affected her personality. Wraith saw her very rarely as she had become increasingly difficult to communicate with. Her moods ranged from paranoid depression to reckless hyperactivity. It had been so long since they had been close that Wraith could not be sure why Raven had agreed to accompany him to London. But he appreciated her presence. Not only was it useful to have a Hex with him, he also had a deep affection for his sister. The fact that Raven rarely appeared to reciprocate his affection worried and angered him.
    Now Raven pulled back from the hug awkwardly and ruffled her hair to cover up her reaction.
    â€œIt’s raining really heavily out there,” she told him.
    â€œHere,” Wraith offered, throwing her a blanket from his bed. “Use this.”
    â€œThanks.” Raven wrinkled her nose. “It’s not very clean, is it?” She glanced round at the room dismissively.
    â€œThe Hilton was booked up,” Wraith replied wryly as Raven started to rough-towel her hair.
    â€œSo I see,” she said, her voice muffled by the blanket. “What happened to your friend?”
    â€œI sent him to get something to eat—he was asking too many questions.”
    â€œOh.” Raven’s head re-emerged and she began to comb her hair absently with her fingers.
    â€œWe should get rid of him,” Wraith urged. “He’s the most mercenary child I’ve ever met and completely amoral. He’d sell his own soul for a few credits.”
    â€œHe’s a streetrat, Wraith,” his sister said flatly. “Money’s all that stands between them and the abyss. You’re mercenary too, you’ve just become inured to it.” Finishing with her hair she walked over to the wall terminal and started punching buttons. “This is really ancient,” she protested.
    â€œIt’s operative,” Wraith said shortly, not allowing her to change the subject. “What about the kid?”
    â€œWe’ll discuss it later,” Raven replied. Then she smiled and pulled out a flat package from her jacket. “Here, this is for you. Your new identity.”
    â€œThank you.” Wraith took the package and opened it. Inside was a neat stack of cards. Three bank cred cards and an ID card. The ID card had the name Ryan Donahue printed neatly under an image of Wraith; the same was on the three certified cred cards. Wraith examined the ID card carefully. “What else is coded into this?”
    â€œYou’re an American freelance holovid producer,” Raven told him. “Media people always look like gangers.”
    â€œWhat about you?” Wraith asked.
    â€œI’m Elizabeth Black, a researcher for a fictional US vidchannel,” she told him. “We can use the IDs together or separately.”
    â€œClever,” Wraith commented.
    â€œI’m glad you approve,” Raven was saying when they heard footsteps outside the door and a knock.
    â€œCome in,” Wraith called and Kez entered.
    It was obviously still raining outside as Kez was soaking wet, but he was carrying two large paper bags, which he held out triumphantly as he came in. Raven swooped on them before Kez had even shut the door. He watched as she unpacked the plastic cartons of Chinese food quickly. She looked older than her computer image and less approachable. But she had the same mocking smile and her black hair fanned out in a silky cloud around her face. She and Wraith were like the positive and negative versions of the same photograph; their features were almost identical but the colors were reversed.
    Raven made no mention of their earlier meeting, introducing herself only as Wraith’s sister. Wraith seemed unwilling to discuss anything with Kez but Kez’s questioning eventually elicited the information from Raven that they were trying to hunt down their younger sister.
    â€œBut I’m going to make some contacts while