The Girl Born of Smoke Read Online Free Page B

catch her breath. Brightly colored flags danced atop the
buildings and all the windows glinted in the bright sunlight,
causing the city to glow with light. The buildings were taller than
she had ever imagined, taller even than the leafy trees scattered
throughout the city.
    She stood staring, awestruck, until Kirian
and Roxanne walked past her, waving her forward. “Come on, come
on,” Roxanne urged. She looked nearly as excited as Aurora. The
three walked quickly through the city, glancing back and forth at
the buildings and people they passed. Several times, Kirian or
Roxanne pointed out a particular building to the other, commenting
on how it had changed.
    Strings of lamps, only some of them lit,
criss-crossed above the main street they walked down, hanging just
out of reach. Finally, they turned down an unlit smaller road and
stopped in front of a squat brick house with spindly vines creeping
up the sides.
    Kirian scowled when he saw the vines and
idly began pulling a few of them off as Roxanne hunted through her
backpack for the key to the front door. As the sky slowly darkened,
she finally pulled out a key triumphantly and unlocked the door.
Aurora was the last to enter through the front door and she
immediately wrinkled her nose at the musty, wet smell of the
house.
    “Ugh,” Roxanne complained, “the entire place
mildewed while we were gone.”
    Kirian shrugged and opened a couple windows,
spilling in a little light and fresh air. The room they stood in
was bare, except for a couple dusty chairs and table sprawled in
front of a cobwebbed fireplace.
    Roxanne silently observed the room for a
moment before turning to Aurora and gesturing widely. “Well, this
is it,” she said. “How about a tour?”
    “Sure.” She nodded, following Roxanne out of
the room as Kirian began cleaning out the fireplace. They turned a
corner around one of the walls of the main room and Aurora found
herself surrounded by counters and cupboards. “I'm guessing this is
the kitchen,” she ventured.
    “Smart girl,” Roxanne said with a tinge of
sarcasm. “Clearly we have no food. At least, I hope we don't.” She
opened a couple of the cupboards and shrugged. “Yeah, nothing.
Kirian can go shopping tomorrow or something.” She glanced at
Aurora. “You're just kind of on your own for food, once we have
some”
    “’ Kay.”
    “Fantastic. Well, let me show you the rest
of the house then.” They walked down the shadowy, narrow hallway
connected to the kitchen. Several closed doors were on either side
and Roxanne gestured to each one with a quick explanation. “Closet,
bathroom, another closet, my room, and,” she paused as she flung
the door open enthusiastically, “your room!”
    Aurora entered the room timidly. A bed sat
near to the ground in the corner, its dusty blankets neatly tucked
in. The only other furniture in the room was a small desk in front
of a window. She walked over to the window and stood on her tiptoes
to peer out. She saw the road in front of their house, dark and
abandoned.
    “How do you like it?” Roxanne asked.
    “It's wonderful, Roxanne,” she said,
mesmerized.
    Roxanne snickered. “You don't have to lie,
kid. But hey, it's a room, right? Anyway, mine and Kirian’s room is
right next to yours. So don't be too loud or anything,
alright?”
    Nodding, Aurora looked back at her. “Don't
worry, I'll be quiet.”
    “I know you will,” Roxanne laughed.
“Alright, well if you need anything, we'll be around.” She left the
room, closing the door behind her. Sliding off her sandals, Aurora
hoisted herself up onto the desk to open the window. It slid open
reluctantly, creaking and moving in spurts. The cool night air
immediately flowed into the room, smelling of the ocean.
    She smiled and clambered down from the desk,
noticing for the first time that there were narrow doors on the
other side of the room. Pulling them open, she found a small, empty
closet. Her smile growing, she flopped down onto the bed,