The Darkest Star (Origin 1)

Dread filled me as the screen switched to a male reporter behind the news desk.

“This comes on the heels of the murders of Colleen Shultz and Amanda Kelly, two seniors from Centennial High School. Ms. Shultz was found in the school restroom last Tuesday, and Ms. Kelly was found in her car in the school parking lot on Friday,” he added. “Early reports indicate that all four victims have been murdered in the same manner as Ms. Shultz and Ms. Kelly. It is also believed that an unregistered Luxen committed these horrific crimes. I’m learning that these types of incidents are not isolated to Columbia, or even Maryland. Over the last two months, there have been suspicious deaths in Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Attacks by unregistered Luxen are on the rise, and many people are asking what, if anything, will be done? How can we be safe—”

Luc turned off the TV and cursed under his breath. A muscle popped along his jaw. “There’s no way.”

I sat down on the edge of the couch, horrified by the news and terrified by the implication. “What do you mean?

When there was no answer, I twisted away. The living room was empty. I shot to my feet and spun around.

Luc was gone.

And my stomach didn’t hurt with the sharp, careless movement. I looked down and pulled my shirt up, exposing smooth, unblemished skin.

“That’s not possible.” I lifted my gaze.

But it wasn’t impossible, was it? Luc had said that as an Origin, he could do this. He’d also said Luxen could heal humans. Scratches. Bumps. Bruises. Wounds. I let go of my shirt.

Luc had healed me.20

“I just don’t like him,” James was saying as we walked into school Thursday morning. “And it has nothing to do with what he is.”

That was good to hear, since James had no idea what Luc really was. “He doesn’t make good first impressions.”

“No kidding?” He snorted as we neared my locker. “I know you say you’re not involved with him—”

“And I’m not,” I told him for the umpteenth time. That was the truth. Luc and I were barely friends. I decided that was probably a good thing—a great thing. Really. Something about him left me . . . unnerved and confused, and I didn’t like it. At all.

Luc was an unknown variable, and that made me feel like a mess. And I didn’t need any messy stuff right now. Not when the world felt like it was on the verge of imploding again.

James nudged my arm. “You know, I’m just concerned.”

“Why?” Right now I thought there were a lot more important things to be concerned with. Like who’d wiped out an entire family yesterday, and was it related to what had happened to Colleen and Amanda?

And Luc’s reaction to it? It was like he knew something. What, I had no idea, and I hadn’t heard from him since he’d literally disappeared from my house.

“I don’t know,” he said as I opened my locker door and grabbed my books. “Ever since you went to that club with Heidi, you’ve been different. And don’t ask me how. It’s just a feeling.”

It was too early in the morning for these kinds of deep thoughts. “I’m the same Evie as before . . . and before that . . . and before that, too.”

James was quiet for a moment. “Well, that looks like it’s going to be a problem.”

At first I didn’t know what he was talking about, but I followed his gaze and saw that he was checking out one of the younger Luxen boys. He was at a locker several feet away, by himself. I thought maybe his name was David . . . or Danny. Something like that. The metal band around his wrist gleamed in the light as he gripped the edge of the locker door. He was alone, but he wasn’t going unnoticed.

Two older guys were standing across from him, by one of the glass cases full of really crappy senior art projects that had been completed last year. I recognized the guys as part of April’s protesting pack, which was out in front of the school again.

Except for these two.

They were eyeing the younger boy like a pack of hyenas sizing up a baby gazelle for dinner. Not good.

“You know,” I said. “I tried talking to April about what she’s doing.”

“I bet that went well.”

I bit down on my lip as I closed my locker door. The young Luxen was obviously aware of the guys. His knuckles seemed to be bleached white, and it appeared as if he were stalling, probably hoping they’d leave first.

The two guys didn’t look like they were going anywhere.

Nervous energy buzzed through my veins. I could just walk away. I didn’t know the boy. A horrible voice whispered, Why get involved? It had nothing to do with me . . . but didn’t it?