Reign or Shine Read Online Free Page B

couldn't even feel my hands? Al over a stupid envelope?
    29
    I grabbed it off my bed and sliced it open with a fingernail. Something heavy and loose slipped out and fel to the floor. I leaned over to pick it up and realized that it was a bracelet. A thin gold chain with one charm--a clear crystal in the shape of a teardrop. It was very pretty, actual y. With the bracelet dangling off my index finger, I pul ed a folded piece of paper from the envelope. I held it in my hand for a good three minutes before unfolding it and focusing enough to read the short, precisely handwritten message: Dearest Nikki
    As Michael has explained to you, it is imperative that I see you immediately. There is much to explain about who you are and what it means.Nowthat you've turned six teen time is of the essence. You may have trouble believing all of this, or you may have already, experienced the side effects of
    being a . Darking -one who is half demon and half human- Please try to open your mind to this, because it is the truth. Wear the bracelet I've giv en you. It
    wil help focus your power and may, with practice, make it man' ageable. Let Michael lead you to see me, I trust him implicitly. I look forward to final y meeting you after al this time.
    Your father
    I set the letter aside. My hands were shaking.
    My father was a demon king. So that meant I was a half-demon princess--a Darkling? He ruled the . . . what had Michael cal ed it? The Shadowlands?
    30
    The letter had talked about side effects. Wel , other than a persistent headache, I hadn't experienced anything strange since I turned sixteen. So what was it? A magical headache? A demonic migraine?
    I glanced at my reflection in my vanity mirror. Long, straight honey blonde hair. A scattering of annoying freckles on my nose that only went away if I took the time to use both foundation and pressed powder. Hazel-colored eyes with golden flecks. Pale lashes that required two coats of mascara to give the
    look of actual eyelashes.
    Well, hello there, demon princess.
    What a joke.
    I tore the letter into itty-bitty pieces and then threw them in the toilet bowl. I flushed them away before going downstairs to take two Tylenol with a glass of
    milk. Stress headache. That had to be it.
    Even though I'd rationalized the entire experience, I stil felt shaken and tired and more than a little mad. It had been such a great day and this Michael
    freak had to go and ruin it for me. I couldn't even concentrate on studying, so I decided to forget about it. There would be some time in the morning to read
    about the doomed star-crossed lovers and try to fake my way through the test.
    I was exhausted. Utterly exhausted.
    At least one good thing had come out of this lousy experience, though.
    I had a real y nice, shiny new bracelet.
    Even though my first inclination had been to flush it
    31
    down the toilet along with the pieces of the letter, I'd stopped myself. It was way too pretty to throw away.
    Besides, Robert-the-jerk would probably kil me if I clogged up his plumbing. He was funny like that.
    The next morning, I left the house early enough to walk to school the long way. I wasn't taking any chances by cutting through the park again. I'd decided to wear the bracelet, and the teardrop crystal sparkled in the sunshine. I tried to forget who'd given it to me and just enjoy it for what it was.
    Besides, I figured it was probably fake and would turn my wrist green by lunch. Then I'd throw it away. It was a plan.
    I turned the corner at the end of my block and my stomach sank.
    "Not you again," I said, feeling my heart speed up as crazy-stalker-practical-joke guy stood blocking my way. "I'm not in the mood this morning."
    Michael's hands were stil shoved deeply into the pockets of his blue hoodie. In fact, he wore the exact same clothes that he had yesterday.
    "Did you read it?" he asked.
    I wil ed myself to remain calm. "Read what?"
    "The letter."
    "You can let it go now," I said through clenched teeth as I