Playing With Fire Read Online Free

please!” my attacker pleaded to the
invisible guest.
    “No
exceptions my friend, we had a deal, and it came with penalties.”
    The
man with the chard hand fell to his knees and let out a cry of agony as he
clawed at his face. “No! More time please give me more time!”
    Black
flames suddenly engulfed him and in the blink of an eye, he was gone. All I
could do was stare blankly at where my attacker used to be, only a few feet
away. A sharp pain in my shoulder brought me back to reality and I winced. I
turned my head to observe the damage that was done to my shoulder. A small jet
black dagger was sticking out of the wound, and seemed to radiate pure evil. I
quickly removed it along with my coat, which I ripped to cover my wound. There
was no way I was going to fix my own wounds the same way twice in one night.
    Sharp,
pained gasps from behind reminded me why I did something so stupid. I turned my
gaze to find Vaze struggling to get to his feet while clutching his rib cage
and harboring one broken wing sagging along close to the ground.
    “You
have some serious explaining to do you jerk!” I screamed at him. He lifted his
eyes to mine and I got an expression that I hadn’t expected: regret and
pleading apology. He tried to speak, but pain in his ribs caused him to clutch
them tightly. My anger melted away and was replaced with a sudden worry, though
I couldn’t place why I cared.
    I
grabbed his arm and slung it over my shoulder to give him extra support. “Come
on, I’m going to get you help.” I searched around frantically for a sign of Al.
I didn’t need much help to get Vaze home, but it would have calmed down my
nerves to have a familiar face.
    “Al!”
I called out hoping it wasn’t in vain. “You win this time, so come out!” I
waited with only the sound of Vaze’s pained breaths and my rapidly beating
heart. As I was about to give up hope, a faraway voice echoed through the
lonely forest. “You swear?”
    A
relieved smile snuck its way onto my lips as I let out a sigh of relief. Though
it hadn’t crossed my mind until the end of my fight it had never occurred to me
that the Shadows might have found Al before me and Vaze.
    “Yes
Al, you win this time now come out,” I said in a much calmer tone. Faster than
I expected, my brother came trotting out of the thick trees and into the mini
clearing with a grin painted across his face, which disappeared the second he
saw Vaze and me. Al blinked in disbelief and rubbed his eyes frantically. When
his eyes met mine again his face went clammy and pale like it always does when
he’s worried and frightened at the same time.
    “What
happened?” Al managed to ask as his voice cracked, which it does at the worst
times, sadly when I can’t laugh about it.
    “It’s
a long story, but first we need Seth,” I said seriously. Al nodded,
understanding that Vaze and I were in bad condition, and most likely couldn’t
go on too long without first aid.
    “He’s
at the old Bookworm’s shop as always,” he replied. I let out a groan of
aggravation. The old Bookworm and I didn’t get along exactly. Or rather, I
didn’t try to get along with him under any circumstances. Al and Seth are the
only ones in my family who can go about the streets of Laetus without drawing
attention or causing trouble. Darren has trouble with guards, and I usually
always have unfinished business with punks who cross me. Jake’s only problem is
his scar and wearing a dingy cloak during the day doesn’t exactly scream
invisible man.
    I
looked up to the sky. Dark clouds were gathering fast, and I knew we wouldn’t
stay dry the whole way to the Bookworm’s shop in Laetus. The only good thing
would be that hardly any one besides drunks were up at this time, so at the
very least there would be silence unless broken by a drunk man’s off-key singing.

Chapter Two
     
    Rain
drops rapped on the hard rock shingles of the houses and buildings we passed,
and gathered in giant puddles on the stone