Free Evan Burl and the Falling, Vol. 1-2 by Justin Blaney Page A

"What?"
    "Running, and"—I tilted my head—"breathing." I pointed down a murky hall. "That way." The footsteps grew. Henri stepped closer to me, gripped my hand.
    "Hello?" My voice came back to me. At least, I think it did. I was about to ask Henri if she heard the echo, but the footsteps stopped.  
    "Evan?" Pearl appeared, silhouetted against the darkness. She ran to us, leaning over to catch her breath. "Anabelle... She's missing."
    "It's past sunrise," Henri said. "Everyone's in the Caldroen."
    "Anabelle woke up screaming last night. Then she was gone. I've been searching the castle for hours "
    Henri looked at me. "Maybe she fell asleep somewhere. Lost track of time."
    "Come with us," I said. "We'll check the Caldroen."
    "I have to go." Pearl ran down the dusky hall.
    We rounded a corner to a passage that ran alongside the Caldroen's curved interior wall. Four narrow, bronze-plated doors lined the right side of the hall, leading to furnaces that were used for cold-starting the Caldroen. The last door was ajar. Firelight flickered inside. I approached it slowly. The lock was busted. An iron pry bar lay on the floor.
    I kicked the door open. "Is someone there?"  
    Heat blasted out. My skin grew sticky with sweat. I peered in. On the far side of the small room, the furnace door swung open. A body slumped against the threshold, lit in blue and red by the burning inferno.  
    "What is it?" Henri said.
    I shook my head.
    "Anabelle?" she said.
    "I think she's dead."
    "That's not possible."  
    Henri pushed past me. I held her back.  
    "We have to get her," she cried.
    "I'll do it." I ducked in. The heat almost knocked me out. This is how crabs feel when they're dumped in boiling water. I grabbed Anabelle's arm. Henri appeared, helping me drag Anabelle from the room. I saw words carved into the brickwork by the furnace door.  

    Take it back

    We pulled Anabelle's body into the passage. Henri slammed the iron door shut.  
    I leaned against the wall, my chest heaving. Henri, wrapping her arms around me, cried into my shoulder. Hot tears burned in the corners of my eyes, but they dried before rolling down my cheek. Those carved letters wouldn't leave me in peace.
    Take it back.
    Where had I heard those words before?
    Take it back.  
    "Did you see them?" I said, "The words?"
    "What words?"
    "On the ground. It said, ' take it back .'"
    I spotted the star bracelet on Anabelle's wrist. Pulling away from Henri, I reached for it, and when the sooty metal touched my skin I was transported into a vision.

    I made out a blurry shape standing next to my bed. It was Evan. He leaned over me. I kissed his cheek. Next to me, Pearl played with a wooden doll. Evan tucked us both in. I turned the little star bracelet over in my hand.

    The vision faded—a memory from Anabelle's eyes, the moment I gave her the bracelet. The star had recorded her memory.
    Henri reached for the rubric. "What is that?"
    I shoved the bracelet into my pocket. "Nothing."  
    Her gaze lingered on me. I squirmed.  
    Mazol wants the rubrics. That's why she's curious.
    Dravus said to keep the rubrics secret.  
    She's going to tell Mazol.
    Despite the Caldroen's heat, I felt chilled. And suddenly, Henri's eyes didn't seem so red anymore. Had she really been crying, or pretending? But if I couldn't trust Henri, who could I?
    The book said there was a man who would try to help me. Cevo.  
    Could Cevo keep me from turning into a monster?  
    I closed my eyes.
    What's it like to be Cevo?
    What's it like to be a master instead of a slave?
    What's it like to have the power to save the ones you love?

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

    Cevo

    A rodent absconded from under my heel on its way to a hole in the groundwork. Behind my back, I pinched my thumb to my forefinger. With a squeak, the rodent rolled onto his side, bursting into flames. I did not realize what I had done until the smell of burning rat reached my nose. Pretending to wipe my feet, I stomped it out, watching the Regents'