The Girl and The Raven Read Online Free

time and then race upstairs to Persephone’s.
    As I reach the second floor landing, Marcus emerges from his apartment. We both freeze. He’s changed clothes and the dark gray button down shirt makes his eyes smolder. His damp hair curls slightly around his ears. The small space fills with the incredible scent coming off his skin, a mix of mint and musk and a bunch of other things I can’t identify.
    My heart races. “I’m, uh, just going to see Persephone,” I offer, wanting him to know I’m not stalking him. “Do…do you know if she’s home?”
    “Not sure.” He shrugs. “I ran into her earlier, though. She wants to talk to you, too.”
    “Really?” My heart swells. “She found Lola?”
    Marcus shakes his head. “I don’t think so.”
    “Oh.” My excitement plummets. “Well, I should go see if she’s home.” I reluctantly move around him.
    “Hey, Lucy.” His voice stops me. “If you want to talk later, I’ll be around.”
    I wait for him to say more, but…nothing. A cold, heavy feeling settles in my stomach. Now I really need to see Persephone. I have to make sure nothing has happened to Lola.
    “Okay.” I whisper and turn away. I clear my throat as I walk down the hall, around the corner and up the stairs to the third floor, my legs turning to lead. I knock on Persephone’s door, my stomach clenched. I’m not going to cry when Persephone gives me the bad news. I am strong. I can take it. Whatever “it” might be. No…I can’t. I turn to go, but Persephone flings the door open.
    “Lucy!” Persephone hasn’t changed much since the last time I saw her, when she came to Lexington to get Momma into a drug program. She towers over me, her hair a mass of untamable, black curls. She wears a blue floral dress, which I suspect was a set of curtains in a past life. “Come here.”
    I step forward and her big arms wrap around me. Persephone has never been one for physical affection. The news must be really bad. I hug her back, closing my eyes as I prepare myself to hear that Lola is dead, too.
    She pulls away. “We have a lot to talk about.”
    I follow her into the living room and we sit on the green and yellow couch. Walking into Persephone’s apartment is what I imagine being dropped out of a plane into the middle of the jungle would be like. The walls are covered with wallpaper featuring exotic flowers and ivy. Plants cover every surface and hang from the ceiling. I half expect to hear the screech of a Spider Monkey. I realize Persephone’s green thumb is the reason for Gram’s thriving flower gardens.
    “It’s finally happened,” she says. “You’re living under Vera’s roof, where you belong.”
    My entire body grows rigid, the familiar anger filling my insides. I do belong here. Always have. Problem is…I’m the only one who felt that way. “Where’s Lola?”
    “We’ll come back to that.” Persephone rests her beefy arms on her thighs, clasping her hands tightly.
    “I don’t want to come back to it.” Persephone’s one of those people who likes to take charge and boss people around. Not this time. “Just tell me. Is she dead?”
    Her expression softens. “Lucy, honey…” She turns from me for several beats and clears her throat before turning back to me. Tears linger, though she tries to blink them away. “Lola’s not dead. She’s just…missing. She’ll come back. She always does.”
    My anger flares. If only Gram would’ve given Lola to me. I would’ve kept her safe. “She’s taken off before? What about Serenity?” Persephone’s raven is a year younger than Gram’s and they’ve both been trained to stay nearby even when you let them outside. My throat burns. I jump up off the rain forest couch, fisting my hands to keep from doing something unforgivable. “How could you let her out if you knew she would take off? Gram trusted you to take care of her.”
    Persephone holds up her hands like she’s trying to push back my anger. “If I give you proof