Alessandra (#1, Omega Beginnings Miniseries) Read Free

the
soft fleece covering the inside.
    You will need a protector before this is
done.
    I smiled at him without understanding. “So
you will stay in my closet?”
    No, little one. But I will be here at night
looking over you.
    “We can have midnight tea.”
    If you wish it. He set Mrs. Nettles on the ground and reached for
the gem at his neck. If you should need
me, I will come. He handed it to
me.
    “This is beautiful,” I murmured and accepted
the gem. It appeared small on him but took up most of my palm. “I
will take care of it.”
    I know you will. His wings swept away from me as he rose. I must go, little one.
    “So soon?”
    Yes. I have been asleep for a very long time
and have forgotten this world. There are people and places I must
visit. But I will return to you soon.
    “My birthday is in two days. Will you be
back in time?”
    Yes.
    “We’ll have cake, and you can take me and
Mrs. Nettles flying.”
    I do not feel Mrs. Nettles wishes to
fly.
    Mrs. Nettles hid behind my
leg, her face pressed to my thigh. “Well, you can take me flying,” I decided.
“Mrs. Nettles will make us tea.”
    I agree, little one. I must go.
    “Okay. Goodbye, Mismatch.” I curtseyed to
him once more.
    Goodbye, little one. I
will see you on your birthday. He bowed
and then stepped back from me to unfurl his wings.
    He leapt into the sky. I watched him,
enthralled and delighted by the sight of my gargoyle flying in the
night. He disappeared into the clouds rolling in for another spring
storm. I stood in the backyard, gaze on the sky.
    My gargoyle. He was beautiful. I closed my hand around the gem
and swept up Mrs. Nettles into a hug before dashing back to my
room.
     

Chapter Three
     
    I missed my bus the next morning, and it was
raining. Not that I wanted to go to school anyway. I had an
appointment with the principal to discuss my outburst at the
temple.
    I had thought Wednesday was my worst day
ever, but Thursday was, too.
    Watching my bus turn a corner, I debated
going inside and telling my dad I needed a ride to school. Mama was
always good about it, but she went to work early today, and Daddy
would lecture me.
    If I ended up late, I was going to be in
even more trouble. Upset already, I turned around and trudged home.
Wet and shivering in the spring weather, I started up the sidewalk
to our house when I heard the sirens. I turned to see several
police cars, trailed by a large black van, barreling down the
street.
    “Lyssa, what’re you doing?” my father asked,
emerging from the house.
    “I missed the bus,” I told him and pointed
towards the vehicles. “Do you think someone is hurt?”
    He approached and rested his hands on my
shoulders. When he didn’t answer, I peered up at him.
    “Daddy, do you think someone is hurt?” I
asked again, shouting to be heard over the sirens.
    Daddy didn’t seem to hear
me. He was staring at the oncoming cars the way I did Halloween
masks at the store. I hated Halloween. The more scared I got, the more
monsters left my nightmares to roam around the neighborhood, and
the longer I was grounded for not controlling them.
    Daddy’s fingers dug into my shoulders the
nearer the vehicles came.
    They whipped by our house and screeched to a
halt three houses down, at the Adderleys, where my nightmare
monsters went to hide last time.
    “Daddy!” I complained and wriggled.
    “Sorry, Lyssa.” He released me and smiled
without taking his eyes off the emergency vehicles. “Let’s get you
to school.”
     
    The day went as badly as I expected. Hours
later, I made tea while filling in Mrs. Nettles about the
principal, getting teased by a stupid boy, Shelby Lane stealing my
crayons and having a runny nose after the rain that morning.
    Listening, Mrs. Nettles sat on the counter
while I microwaved my tea. I helped her down and let her grab our
pudding. Then we both climbed up the stairs to my room with snacks
and tea. I turned on the television.
    “Look, Mrs.
Nettles! American Oracle is on!”