Free The Otherworldlies by Jennifer Anne Kogler Page B

you’re all right—that you’re one of us.” Lindsey’s beautiful smile radiated confidence in the dewy night. She put her hand on Fern’s forearm gently. “I don’t know how you got here, but you’re not the bad kind at all. You couldn’t be. Just look at you!” Lindsey then threw her arms up in the air, as if what she had just said followed normal conversational cues and logic.
    “What is the bad kind? And why would your parents kill you?” Sam said.
    “My parents are your stereotypical overly protective sorts. It’s a school night,” Lindsey said, waving Sam’s question off. “Look, I don’t have time to explain everything, but you have a dog, right?” Fern thought of Byron’s soft ears and bad breath. The McAllister dog’s specialties included lounging, licking and moping.
    “Yeah,” Fern said, wondering how Lindsey Lin knew anything at all about her family. “Byron.”
    “Good.” Lindsey said, thinking aloud and talking to nobody in particular. She stepped toward Fern and grabbed both shoulders with her hands. Lindsey’s breath was hot on Fern’s face. Though nearly a head taller, she was staring right into Fern’s eyes.
    “You’re wearing contacts, aren’t you?”
    “Yes,” Fern said.
    “What color are your eyes normally?”
    “I don’t know. You’re the one who’s looking at them.”
    “Are they gray?”
    “People say they’re gray or yellow,” Fern said, wishing Lindsey Lin would release her. “The mean ones say they’re the color of snot.”
    “I need to see your dog,” Lindsey stated quickly, barely processing Fern’s reply.
    “You can’t do that. You’ll wake up the whole house.” Sam said, annoyed. “Why did you say you could help? Why did you say you know who Fern is?” Sam’s anger grew as he stared menacingly. The camouflage pants seemed to be going to his head. He wanted answers.
    “Calm down, Sammy. I told you, I’m going to help, and I will help. But before I do that, I need to see your dog. If you’ve got a problem with that, I’ll turn right around—”
    “No, no. Come with us. We’ll show you,” Fern said, not wanting to alienate Lindsey Lin. Fern couldn’t help staring at Lindsey as she and Sam retraced their steps back to the house.
    “Jeez!” Sam exclaimed as he stopped completely.
    “What is it?” Lindsey said.
    “Look, another one,” Sam said, pointing down to the small, still object in the middle of the sidewalk. It was a dead bird. A swallow, in fact.
    Lindsey crouched down to get a better look.
    “Whoa,” she said. “You guys haven’t seen a really large condor flying around here, have you?” Lindsey asked, as her face grew white.
    “There was one at our window the other day, yeah,” Sam said.
    Lindsey’s eyes grew larger. Her face then changed back to its normal expression. “Yeah, me too. It must be lost or something,” she said. “That’s sad about the little bird. Cycle of life, though. Ob-la-di, ob-la-da. The night’s not getting any younger.”
    She turned away from Sam and began walking again, challenging the twins to keep up with her.
    The twins decided that Lindsey would wait on the porch while Sam and Fern scaled the tree. Once inside, they would sneak downstairs and let Lindsey in. Fern and Sam were terrified of what might happen should the Commander awaken.
    They reached the front door and opened it.
    “What are you waiting for?” Sam whispered urgently. Lindsey stood frozen on the porch.
    “I haven’t been invited yet,” Lindsey said, in her cool and casual manner.
    “You need an invitation to come in the house when the door’s already been opened for you?” Sam said in disbelief.
    “It’s cultural,” Lindsey said, rolling her eyes.
    “Come in, now ,” Sam demanded.
    “Thank you, I will. Gladly,” Lindsey said, smiling and snapping her head in agreement.
    “Follow me,” Sam said, with a tinge of resignation. Sam thought that they were as good as caught. Fern and Lindsey followed him