Shadow Demons Read Online Free Page A

breath. “Are you ever going to tell me about that?” I asked. “Your powers, I mean. Are you ever going to show me what you can do? Or tell me exactly how or why you got them back?”
    Jackson stared down at his feet, and I was sure he was going to avoid my questions yet again.
    “What are you doing Friday night?” he asked.
    I sighed. Of course. Another change of subject.
    I stepped away and sat down on his bed, trying not to think about the fact that he slept in this spot every night. Half-naked. “I don’t have any plans,” I said. “Why?”
    He smiled. “Because I would like to take you out on a date.”
    My jaw dropped. “Like dinner and a movie or something? Does Peachville even have a movie theater?”
    “No.” He sat down beside me on the bed and took my hand. “But I had something better in mind.”
    “Like what?” Warmth spread up my cheeks. A real date?
    “It’s a surprise,” he said. “You’ll come?”
    I smiled and nodded. “Yes,” I said. “As long as you agree to come somewhere with me, too.”
    Jackson raised his eyebrows. “Where?”
    “To the Order’s annual Halloween Ball in a few weeks.”
    Jackson’s face darkened and he pulled away. “No way,” he said. “I never go to that hideous thing. It’s crawling with witches celebrating the slavery of my people. I can’t stomach it.”
    My smile faded quickly. I had never thought of it that way. “I didn’t mean-“
    “I know you didn’t,” he said, covering my hand with his.
    “I don’t want to go either,” I said. “Believe me. Unfortunately, I don’t really have a choice. Apparently everyone in the Order and on the squad has to attend. I was just thinking it would be nice to have one person there that I actually trust.”
    Jackson stood. “Let me think about it, okay?”
    “Seriously,” I said. “Don’t worry about it. I completely understand why you don’t want to go. I shouldn’t have asked.”
    A tense silence filled the room, and even though he was sitting next to me, I felt a distance growing between us. I never should have mentioned the Ball. I felt stupid and callous.
    “It’s getting late,” I said, standing. “I should go before someone comes looking for me.”
    Jackson helped me through the window.
    “We’re still on for Friday night?” I asked. I hoped I hadn’t ruined the date by inviting him to the Order’s party.
    The second he smiled, relief flooded through me. “Of course.”
    “Any hints about what we’re going to do?” I asked. “I mean, a girl’s got to know what to wear.”
    Jackson’s gaze traveled from my head all the way down to my toes. “Wear something you want to wear for a change,” he said, touching my face again and sending shivers of happiness through me. “No glamours. No rules about what popular girls on the cheerleading team wear. You don’t need all this makeup to be beautiful. Just be yourself.”
    Myself. I liked the sound of that.

This All Belongs To You
     
    I stared helplessly at the items in my closet. Jackson said to be myself, but I had to wonder who that was anymore. Did I even know? Wearing glamours had become second nature to me these days. Everyday at school, my hair was straight and perfect. My makeup was always flawless. I hardly remembered what I looked like without it.
    A pang of guilt stabbed through me. Had I really let the Order influence me so much?
    I reached into the back corner and pulled out my black knee-length lace skirt. It used to be my single favorite piece of clothing, but I hadn’t worn it since I first joined the cheerleading squad and Brooke had lectured me about dressing better.
    I smiled and threw the skirt on my bed. Screw Brooke’s fashion rules. I was going to wear the skirt I loved. I pulled on a pair of bright pink tights, my black boots, black lace skirt, and a long-sleeve black sweater. I left my blonde hair down and wavy, and only wore a touch of black eyeliner.
    Standing in front of the mirror, I realized I