Lumière (The Illumination Paradox) Read Online Free

in front of me, severing the connection between mechanical Simon and me. The mechanical bird’s beam falters, bouncing off Archie’s feathers, blinding the machine temporarily. Simon blinks his steely lids as his program resets. His wings retract. He tips his head and the gates fall open behind me.
    I’ve been approved.
    “I must say,” I turn to Archie, sucking in a relieved breath. “I’ve never been so glad to see you! ”
    I smooth my skirts and I turn to enter, and Archie swoops down again.
    “Enough already,” I say, my head twisted backward, my mind distracted by how Simon’s left wing has clanked awkwardly down, not quite into place. Perhaps father didn’t have time to perfect the fold? I ponder. Maybe if he’d used a ball-and-socket assembly instead of a hinge?
    Archie swoops in again, interrupting my thought, cawing ridiculously loudly in my face. “For goodness’ sake.” I push him away. “What is it? What is the matter with you?” It’s then I notice, Pan, my mother’s raven, is not among the group. “Is it Pan? Where is she, Archie? What’s happened to her? Where’s Pan?”
    “Pan?”
    The voice is sadly familiar. I swing around to find Professor Smrt skulking toward me through the front gates. His eyes flick to the raven above my head. “Surely you don’t expect that creature to answer, do you?”
    “Of course I don’t.” I pull myself up straight.
    “Of course.” He grins and rolls his hands. “That would make you appear...Mad, now wouldn’t it?”
    I swallow. Professor Smrt’s lips remind me of a snake’s. Nothing but a sharply drawn line with a too-thin tongue flicking out between .
    “ Straaange , isn’t it?” The word 'strange' fizzles off his tongue like newly shaken cola. “How drawn those birds are to you?” He cranes in uncomfortably close. “Why is that, I wonder?” He swats at one, cuffing it in the bottom, sending it sputtering about, nattering in jagged flight. “Could there be truth to the rumors?”
    “What rumors, sir?” Blood rushes to my face. Though I know perfectly well what he’s talking about. Lately, the locals have grown suspicious, making accusations about my mother being a Valkyrie. A shape-shifter, capable of changing forms from raven to human and back. Some even claim she’s a carrier of messages from the world of the living to that of the dead. Preposterous, really. But that’s what they’ve been saying. All because of the birds.
    The all-too-familiar throb of fear pulses in my neck. How many times have I warned her, insisting she sever her association with birds? I don’t care that Pan has been her companion since birth. Or that Mother’s the one who taught Pan to speak. I’d prefer not to end up a wax candle in the square.
    I glare at the sky, trying to signal the birds to leave, but for some reason they continue to circle and squawk.
    “You expect me to believe you haven’t heard the rumors?”
    “That’s correct…” I whisper, ducking my chin, hoping he doesn’t recognize the lie in my cheeks. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, sir, I’ve come early to work.” Lifting the hem of my cloak, I turn and push past him up the front stairs, raven entourage still in tow.
    “About that.” His words catch my step. “There’s been a complaint.” I swallow. My heart thumps in my chest.
    “Professor Rapture has informed me that she has reason to believe someone’s been entering the archives unauthorized.” I squeeze my father’s stolen notebook closer to my chest, my hands trembling. The heels of Smrt’s shoes snap against the stone walk as he stalks toward me. “Do you know anything about that?” His voice lifts. His shoes creak to a halt.
    I ball my fists and slowly turn, picking through the thoughts that swarm my brain. I dare not volunteer the truth; I’ll face immediate expulsion. But then again I dare not lie to him either.
    “I only ask because I’ve noticed you about the grounds earlier than usual of late.” His