The Burning Shadow (Origin 2)

“I’m not sure.” I glanced over at Zoe, who was staring at the group with an impressively blank face. James didn’t even know the half of it. I would never know how Zoe had managed to even talk to April all these years, being what she was. Wasn’t like Zoe could draw attention to what she was, but in one of my many fantasies that involved slapping the blond ponytail off her head, all of them included the look on her face when April realized that one of her friends for years was part alien and she’d had no idea.

That would never happen, but still, picturing it brought a smile to my face.

“Thank God the three of us are always late and we’re parked in the back.” Zoe shoved her tight, caramel curls out of her face. “We can just ignore them.”

“Yeah, but they’re not as lucky.” James jerked his chin in the direction of the small group standing to the right of April and her crew.

My shoulders tightened as I recognized Connor and the younger Luxen, Daniel. There were two others with them, and their cars were completely blocked by the circle.

“Crap. I didn’t even see them there.” Zoe crossed her arms over her lilac sweater as she looked over her shoulder. “Where are the teachers? They don’t see any of this going on?”

Considering the huge audience the group was drawing, the teachers had to know something was happening out here.

Irritation snapped to life. I’d tried talking to April once about her anti-Luxen crap, but that had been as successful as talking to a brick wall. Worst part was that Connor and the other Luxen couldn’t do anything. With the Disablers on their wrists, they were virtually human, but if they stood up for themselves, they would be labeled the aggressors, “proving” whatever crap April was shouting.

“Hey, April!” I lifted my camera and snapped a picture of her. “How about a picture to commemorate your bigotry?”

April dropped her pink sign. She stalked toward me, her pale blue eyes narrowed. “I swear to God, Evie, if you take a picture of me, I will break your stupid camera!” She grabbed for it, but I danced backward, keeping it out of her reach. “I’m being serious.”

“So am I,” I shot back, keeping a good grip on my camera. Probably a good time to mention the fact that I did take a picture. “What? Are you worried about having actual proof of how stupid you are?”

Zoe snorted. “I doubt she cares.”

“No one asked you.” April held up her hand, placing her palm inches in front of Zoe’s face. Zoe’s brows flew up, but April zeroed in on me. “You shouldn’t take people’s pictures without their permission.”

“Are you for real right now?” I demanded. “You’re blocking half the parking lot.”

“So? That’s our God-given right.” Her head bobbed as she spoke. “Freedom of speech and all. We’re protesting them.” She jabbed a finger in Connor’s direction. “They made Coop sick!”

“And Ryan!” some girl shouted from April’s group. “They killed him.”

“They didn’t make anyone sick,” Zoe snapped.

“You obviously don’t know what you’re talking about!” April volleyed back.

“Thought you needed a permit for this.” James stepped in.

“It’s the school parking lot,” April shot back. “We don’t need a permit and, again, it’s our right.”

“What about their rights?” I demanded.

“Their rights?” April smirked. “What rights? This isn’t their planet.”

“Their rights to come to school and be able to leave without having to deal with you all, and yeah, last time I checked, they did have rights.”

She rolled her eyes. “They don’t deserve them.”

“Oh my God.” Sickened and yet somehow not surprised that she would say something like that, I wanted to put as much distance between us as possible. “You’re terrible, April. Just go protest someplace else where the rest of us decent human beings and Luxen don’t have to see or hear you. Or better yet, stop being a horrible human being.” I sidestepped her and nearly walked into Brandon.

“Evie.” He stared down at me, his sign dangling from his fingertips. “Are you really okay with them being here?”

“She is.” April crossed her arms. “She’s a traitor to her species.”

I rolled my eyes at her. “Yes, I’m totally okay with them being here, and you didn’t have a problem with them before. What’s changed?”

Brandon glanced over at the Luxen. The group of protestors were still in front of their cars. “I wised up, that’s what changed.” His blue eyes—eyes that I used to find so pretty—searched mine. “They killed your father—”

“Shut up,” I snapped, shoving past him as April and Zoe started arguing with each other. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. At all.”

Brandon caught my arm, yanking me to a stop. “What do you mean I have no idea? Your father died fighting them. Of all people, you should be the last person supporting them.”