Seeing Magic (The Queen of the Night Series Book 1) Read Free Page B

the mountains. A wide river ran through the valley’s center. The brown current rushed downstream. Tall, stately trees lined each bank. They grew dense on the mountains obscuring all of the homes or buildings. It gave me a sense of being alone in the woods, even though I knew there must be many roads, leading to many houses spread throughout the area.
    Awed at the vastness and beauty of the river and valley below, I gasped aloud.
    He gave a self-satisfied chuckle.
    ***
    I didn’t expect him to open my door for me when we headed back. We reached for the handle at the same time and for a fraction of a second, our fingers touched. Shocked, I jerked my hand and ended up touching him more. For an instant, time stood still. The electric sensation spread from my fingers throughout my whole body and dissipated into the gravel below my feet. My body had never reacted like that to someone’s touch. I pulled my hand back and covered it, to preserve the tingly sensation for as long as possible. Evan seemed irritated that he’d brushed my skin. He clearly didn’t care that my world had tipped on its side.
    I was sure that he attempted conversation on the way back to the cabin to diffuse the tension which filled the Jeep.
    “How do you think Corey’s doing?”
    “I’m sure he’s doing great. Corey always fits in, he always makes friends. I know he’s my responsibility, but Corey has an unnatural ability to accept change. It’s almost like he knows things before they happen.” 
    Evan coughed suddenly, as if trying to stop himself from blurting something inadvertently. “What makes Corey your responsibility?”
    “Mom has to work, so I’ve been caring for Corey since my dad died…”
    “Six years ago,” he finished the sentence for me. “Yeah, I remember.”
    “How could you remember?”  I stared at him, aghast. Dad was killed in action in Afghanistan. There was no possibility Evan had first-hand memories of his passing.
    He shook his head, embarrassed, as if he’d said something he shouldn’t. “It’s just an expression. I’m sorry.”
    “It’s okay. It happened a long time ago. It’s why I’m so worried about Mom, though. Pushing Corey and me away for the summer, it just doesn’t make sense.”  I hadn’t planned to share my anxiety with anyone, but at that moment, it felt right to confide in Evan.
    He honestly looked concerned as he prompted me to continue.
    “She’s just been acting so strange. We had a huge fight over this trip. I was all set to attend summer school.”
    Evan interrupted me. “Why would you waste the summer in school?” 
    “Ever since my fifth birthday, when Mom and Dad got me a toy medical bag, I’ve wanted to become a doctor. If I’d stayed home, I’d be able to get credit for Biology II, take Physics during the school year, and be able to take Physiology in my senior year.”
    “Wanting to be a healer is a noble goal,” he mused quietly. “Have you talked to her yet?”
    “No, I’m planning to call her in the morning.”
    He pulled the Jeep into Fiona’s driveway and turned off the engine. He looked straight at me and said, “You should ask your mother to explain things to you.”
    “I intend to,” I nodded. “Thanks for the drive.”
    “You’re welcome. I’ll see you around.”
    “Okay,” I smiled as I hopped out of the SUV and waved as I headed back into the cabin.
    ***
    I was still pondering the virtues of farm boys as I wandered around the cabin to get my bearings in my temporary home. As I did, a sinister feeling of unease grew inside me, but not because of the odd noises that had disturbed me earlier. What worried me was an item I had not yet found in the house, an item so fundamental to daily life it should never be hidden from view. I’d reached near panic stage by the time Fiona’s truck came down the gravel driveway.
    Her greeting, when she came in the door, was cordial, if not warm. I instinctively knew not to interrupt her. I summoned diplomacy