Curse of Shadows and Light by Penelope King

is it… this is my fate. I either die, or live the rest of my days as a weak Halfling in a world in which I don’t quite belong. A world where I am always in danger. And it’s not just my life I fear for, but my child’s as well.
    I place my hand on my stomach and let out a deep sigh. Will I be strong enough to protect him or her? Kieron can’t always be glued to my side, and with the Light-angels after us, having a helpless infant along will surely pose a higher risk for everyone. At least Lucky has powers. Unlike me, forced to rely on the constant protection of others.
    Maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m the one supposed to make this ultimate sacrifice. After all, I’m the one who got us into the trouble with the Light-angels in the first place. It was my weakness, my vulnerability they preyed upon. I’m the one with nothing to offer as far as powers or special abilities go. I’m the dead weight that needs protection from all the scary baddies that go bump in the night. I can’t compel people, or throw fire, or knock over huge trees, or sprint faster than a cheetah. Hell, I trip over my own two feet if I have to run more than a hundred yards. I’m the one who has to hide my true nature from the world. Daytime— my time — seems to be little more than the brief interlude between Lucky’s reigns.
    In the grand scheme of things, what do I bring to the table that Lucky doesn’t do better?
    Maybe I’m destined to fall on my sword and end this broken existence. Just let the last five plus years disappear. It’s not like anyone would really notice.
    “ Liora! What are you doing up there? Come on down!” Corrine hollers, shielding her eyes from the sun with her arm. Kieron runs his hands through his dark hair and gives me a half grin. Even from several dozen yards away, I feel his love.
    But something is different there, too. And I don’t know what.
    Worse… I don’t know if I care.
     
    ********
     
    I’m busy cutting off tags to some new t-shirts when there’s a knock on my bedroom door. “Can I come in for a bit?” Corrine asks, as she pokes her head inside my room.
    “ Sure.” I gather the tags in a small pile and toss them in the trashcan as she takes a seat on my bed and glances around nervously.
    “ I just want to say thanks again for buying all that stuff today,” she begins quietly. “I’ll really try to pay you back one day, I swear—”
    “ Corrine, stop right there. I told you a million times already, it’s my treat. I mean, come on. If there’s one thing we don’t actually have to worry about in this twisted life it’s money. So enjoy it.”
    She grins and pushes up her glasses again. I make a mental note to get her to an optometrist asap to see if we can help her in that department too.
    “ It’s just… I’ve never had such nice stuff before. And so much of it. I don’t know how I can ever thank you.”
    I put down my scissors, walk over to the bed and sit beside her. “You know, I’ve never really had a friend before. Not me, as Liora. Before the split, yeah, I had a few. But since the curse, I’ve been pretty messed up. And really alone. Other than Tatiana, I had no one. You were always a good friend to me, no questions asked. And then with how cool you’ve been about everything… I mean, you just accepted everything like that.” I snap my fingers. “So thank you . And if my buying you a new wardrobe makes you happy, then it makes me even happier to do it.”
    My sweet sentiments shock even me. I’ve never been one for the girly bonding, and the one thing I’ve always liked best about Corrine was her ability to keep her distance. But here I was, basically opening my heart and inviting her in.
    Her face crumples in awestruck happiness. “You really don’t have to thank me. You’ve been my only friend, too! And you saved me! Without you and Kieron, I don’t know where I’d be. I mean, no offense, please don’t take this the wrong way, but you know your life is pretty