Free The Sunlight Slayings by Kevin Emerson

that possible? She thinks I killed her cousin , Oliver thought. Is it so crazy to think that she’s after revenge? Maybe she tried to change my memories—maybe it didn’t work, or it’s taking too long—so she’s trying to kill me with sunlight instead . Could she really hate him so much that she was trying to kill him in two different ways? Maybe he should just try to ask her. She called me a monster , he reminded himself sadly. What good is asking her going to do?
    Oliver reached the final Codex chamber: twenty-two. His brain felt full, and he wondered, with what he’d just learned about Emalie, if he could handle any more worrisome information. He could feel his stomach churning with anxiety. But he was here, and more information on Nexia would be good, because in between thoughts about Scourges and Emalie and Dean’s master, there was that rather large question of what Illisius had said, of what it meant to open Nexia’s Gate, and why he had to be made different to do it—
    He reached for the curtains.
    â€œOccupied,” the Catalog informed Oliver.
    Oliver stepped back. He checked his watch: They’d been here for half an hour. Bane was probably sick of waiting, and if they were home late for dinner there might be too many questions from Phlox and Sebastian as to what Oliver had been researching. He turned to go.
    â€œOccupant finishing,” the Catalog said. Oliver paused and turned back to the curtains. Maybe he did have time if he was quick. The curtains swept open—
    Bane stepped out.
    For the slightest moment, Oliver and Bane locked wide eyes, and Oliver saw a look of complete surprise on Bane’s face. There was no sneer there, no anger, just a look that Oliver had never seen before. Did Bane look a little shaken? What had he asked the Codex?
    Bane’s face changed in an instant, clenching into a menacing frown. His arms shot out and shoved Oliver. “What, are you following me now?”
    Oliver toppled backward through the curtains of another Codex. He gathered himself and stepped out of the chamber to find Bane storming down the hall, his boots cracking on the metal floor.
    â€œHey!” Oliver called, rushing to catch up. He reached Bane at the elevator. His headphones were already back on. “What were you just doing?” Oliver hissed at him.
    Bane glanced at him but just bobbed to his music like Oliver wasn’t there.
    â€œWhat were you doing in there?” Oliver asked as they crossed the loading dock, but Bane remained silent for the rest of the night.

Chapter 7
    In the Cafeteria
    AFTER A DAY SPENT tossing and turning over unanswered questions, Oliver met up with Dean on the way to school the next evening. He explained about the master location rite.
    â€œThat’s great!” Dean smiled. “When can we try?”
    â€œWell, we have to get a few supplies. We need something from Désirée.”
    â€œOh, boy,” Dean murmured, “her again.”
    â€œYeah … I’m not sure when we can go. My mom’s still worried about me going anywhere alone. We’ll get there soon, though,” Oliver assured Dean.
    â€œAll right. Thanks for finding out that stuff.”
    Oliver looked up to see Dean smiling and looked away quickly. Just get it over with! Oliver thought. He needed to tell Dean that everyone thought it was Oliver who was responsible for killing him and then raising him as a zombie. But now he realized why he hadn’t said it yet: He didn’t want to ruin his friendship with Dean. The thought that he and Dean would end up as friends would have sounded funny to him a couple months ago, but now Dean seemed like the only person Oliver could be himself around. Dean wasn’t expecting him to be someone he wasn’t. Though he probably doesn’t expect me to be his killer . True, there was that.
    â€œThat should be our reason to go see Emalie,” Dean continued optimistically,