Witch Risen: A Paranormal Adventure (Bad Tom Series Book 2) Read Online Free Page B
Author: Jill Nojack
return. Or that Cassie even knew about the choir. But with the skills I taught her without her knowledge, it isn't surprising she would be attracted to the opportunity if it was offered. "Oh yes, of course. In Corey Woods, right?"
"Yes. Just a quick one. A cleansing. We'll gather just before midnight. Nat tells me that Janice has been feeling unbalanced and needs to get back to a good place. She doesn't want to wait for the next full moon because her magic has been so unreliable lately. "
"That'll be nice," I say. But oh, that'll be boring. Let's raise some demons instead. I've got old friends I want to see.
"See you then, sweetheart."
After she leaves, I try to remember all of the items she buys regularly as I busy myself with the pricing marker.
***
Why is the shop so busy? It seems like everyone in town comes by and lingers. It's maddening. I had a steady trade built up, but they got in and out: it was nothing like this. I hate it. That girl has them all coming in to browse and socialize. They feared me, but they needed what I could provide. In a very short time of being nice to people, she's ruined a lifetime of building the shop's reputation.
It takes me hours to familiarize myself with what's been rearranged. It's difficult to manage in-between the far too frequent interruptions by townsfolk wanting a chin-wag. Eventually, I find the latest Archeology Today magazine shoved under the counter unread. I pull up the stool and start paging through it, relishing the familiar names from my past.
And then—wait…a team has discovered a previously unknown tomb. Have they found him? My hopes rise each time someone digs deep beneath the Egyptian sands, but it always comes to naught.
I read quickly, consumed by the notes about the discovery. And then, there it is—the picture from the top of the sarcophagus.
I know that face.
I can't breathe. Is my heart still beating? Yes, it is. It is. I take in a long, glorious breath with my young lungs and the burst of oxygen tingles all the way to my toes.
Finally, after all these years of waiting. I spring into action.
"Out! Out! The shop is closing early!" Two teenage girls dressed in black look at me like I'm deranged, but I've never felt saner. A murderous glance has them running for the exit soon enough.
It takes me half an hour to book a flight, hotel, and cab. It takes somewhat longer to find Cassie's passport. Eunice's certainly won't do.
All these years waiting, moving from place to place, body to body, hoping that someone will discover through the urge of human curiosity what I have not been able to discover under the black moon, and now it's done.
Robert knocks on the guest bathroom door where I've managed to finally grab the shower I've gone without for too long. "Gillian just phoned. She's on her way."
I head toward the kitchen as soon as I can, dressed only in jeans, still drying my hair on one of Robert's thick towels. Natalie's helping in the kitchen as they make dinner. I wish I'd remembered that and gone for a shirt before coming out.
She grins. "Stand just there, Tom. No, don't move. Yes, with the light through the window illuminating just the slightest sheen of water on that lean but muscular torso, I can see that I should have done anything in my power to sample your wares years ago. If only I'd not been so wary of what Gillian and Eunice might do. And now with Cassie in the mix, as soon as we get her back, well…I fear my time will never come."
"Not in the mood for it, Nat." I drape the towel around my shoulders like a cape. My days of chasing tail are long over, and I don't need Nat reminding me of what I used to be when my unasked-for Cat side is a more than adequate reminder on its own. "Robert, did Gilly find anything out?"
"She's got good news and bad news. She wants to give them both at once when everyone is available."
I head up the stairs to find a shirt. I normally wouldn't be bothered by Nat's teasing attentions. She's harmless enough.
"Yes. Just a quick one. A cleansing. We'll gather just before midnight. Nat tells me that Janice has been feeling unbalanced and needs to get back to a good place. She doesn't want to wait for the next full moon because her magic has been so unreliable lately. "
"That'll be nice," I say. But oh, that'll be boring. Let's raise some demons instead. I've got old friends I want to see.
"See you then, sweetheart."
After she leaves, I try to remember all of the items she buys regularly as I busy myself with the pricing marker.
***
Why is the shop so busy? It seems like everyone in town comes by and lingers. It's maddening. I had a steady trade built up, but they got in and out: it was nothing like this. I hate it. That girl has them all coming in to browse and socialize. They feared me, but they needed what I could provide. In a very short time of being nice to people, she's ruined a lifetime of building the shop's reputation.
It takes me hours to familiarize myself with what's been rearranged. It's difficult to manage in-between the far too frequent interruptions by townsfolk wanting a chin-wag. Eventually, I find the latest Archeology Today magazine shoved under the counter unread. I pull up the stool and start paging through it, relishing the familiar names from my past.
And then—wait…a team has discovered a previously unknown tomb. Have they found him? My hopes rise each time someone digs deep beneath the Egyptian sands, but it always comes to naught.
I read quickly, consumed by the notes about the discovery. And then, there it is—the picture from the top of the sarcophagus.
I know that face.
I can't breathe. Is my heart still beating? Yes, it is. It is. I take in a long, glorious breath with my young lungs and the burst of oxygen tingles all the way to my toes.
Finally, after all these years of waiting. I spring into action.
"Out! Out! The shop is closing early!" Two teenage girls dressed in black look at me like I'm deranged, but I've never felt saner. A murderous glance has them running for the exit soon enough.
It takes me half an hour to book a flight, hotel, and cab. It takes somewhat longer to find Cassie's passport. Eunice's certainly won't do.
All these years waiting, moving from place to place, body to body, hoping that someone will discover through the urge of human curiosity what I have not been able to discover under the black moon, and now it's done.
Robert knocks on the guest bathroom door where I've managed to finally grab the shower I've gone without for too long. "Gillian just phoned. She's on her way."
I head toward the kitchen as soon as I can, dressed only in jeans, still drying my hair on one of Robert's thick towels. Natalie's helping in the kitchen as they make dinner. I wish I'd remembered that and gone for a shirt before coming out.
She grins. "Stand just there, Tom. No, don't move. Yes, with the light through the window illuminating just the slightest sheen of water on that lean but muscular torso, I can see that I should have done anything in my power to sample your wares years ago. If only I'd not been so wary of what Gillian and Eunice might do. And now with Cassie in the mix, as soon as we get her back, well…I fear my time will never come."
"Not in the mood for it, Nat." I drape the towel around my shoulders like a cape. My days of chasing tail are long over, and I don't need Nat reminding me of what I used to be when my unasked-for Cat side is a more than adequate reminder on its own. "Robert, did Gilly find anything out?"
"She's got good news and bad news. She wants to give them both at once when everyone is available."
I head up the stairs to find a shirt. I normally wouldn't be bothered by Nat's teasing attentions. She's harmless enough.
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