Raven Read Online Free Page A

shot him a cold stare. Sam continued to poke at the rabbit, making Henry anxious as he began rocking from one foot to the next on his perch. “Sam—”
    “ Yeah, yeah. I heard you the first time.” Sam stepped back, sauntering over to the desk area and looking around for a chair. Finding none, he looked toward the ceiling. “ Please? ” He said it as though the word pained him, but the branches listened, and a chair formed. He plopped down, the chair pinching him in one last attempt to pick a fight, though it did little to affect Sam.
    “ So what brings you to my humble part of the woods?” I looked up at him under my eyebrows, acting as though his visit was an inconvenience, and hoping he couldn’t read that inside, I was actually excited to have the company.
    Sam chuckled to himself, revealing he’d known. He looked at Henry. “So that’s where you went.” Henry looked away, ashamed.
    I laughed. “I knew he was hiding something. It was the fact that he had become your pet in my absence.” I paused, looking at Henry and tilting my head. “Good to know you’re a fair-weather pet, Henry.”
    Henry let out a cry in his defense.
    Sam waved him away. “ Anyway , so I’m back.”
    I nodded. “I can see that.”
    Sam smiled and sat up straight, lacing his fingers in front of him. “How are things?”
    I shook my head, my eyes fixed on the page in front of me. “How does it look?”
    “ Okay, let’s cut through the formalities.” Sam gave up and got to the point. “Have you controlled yourself?”
    I looked up at him. “You’re the one that can read minds. I’m sure you already know the answer.”
    Sam nodded. “So you have. Good. And the hologram, that was brilliant. Well played.” He commended me.
    I pursed my lips, knowing I’d slaughtered better.
    “ So, I can expect you back soon, then?” Sam tried to be nonchalant.
    My attention perked. “Oh, so I can come back now?” I tried to seem annoyed.
    Sam nodded.
    I looked him in the eyes, feeling as his thoughts massaged mine, looking for answers. “Why can’t I read your mind?”
    Sam let out an arrogant sigh that angered me. “Because that was my power. Yours is something else.”
    “ Strength?” I added.
    Sam nodded, leaning back and testing the power of the branch.
    I watched him, seeing he was trying to act tough, because he knew that now, I could beat him. His little act of strength when I had first come back was the last chance he’d have to flex his power over me, but now it was gone.
    Sam rolled his eyes, admitting his weakness as he heard my thoughts. “There is much to do when you come back, much to plan for,” he tried to change the subject. “It’s on our doorstep.”
    “ So you’ve noticed it too?” I leaned back as Sam had.
    Sam licked his lips. “Yes, I’ve noticed the change. Elle’s seeing it too, but she hasn’t yet asked me about it. I don’t want to be the one to deliver her the news, either. I figured that was your job.”
    A half smile lit across my face. “Too chicken?” I asked.
    Sam defended himself. “I’m not too chicken. This just isn’t my war.”
    “ It was once,” I chimed.
    Sam’s expression became bitter.
    I lifted one hand in apology. “I was joking, Sam. Didn’t you get that?”
    “ Well, this is no joking matter. Things are dying, and the end has begun—thanks to your kind,” he stabbed.
    It was annoying that he no longer saw himself as a human, though he once was. “It’s not their fault. They didn’t know. The humans are so manipulated by the gods, that they’ve never been trusted to take care of things on their own. If the gods know what’s good for them, they’ll let Elle fulfill her prophecy, and they’ll get out of our world. The humans could use to manage this world alone for a couple thousand years.”
    “ You mean shut off the bridge between Heaven and Earth?” Sam looked shocked.
    “ Yes, I mean a separation. That is, if we survive this thing. That’s up to