Portraits of the Forsaken
Page 34
“Is it… did you…?” she breathed.
Without a word, I held the partition out to her. She reached a paint-spattered hand out for it, and held it up before her eyes, which went, if possible, still wider. She raked the image with her gaze, and then raised her eyes to stare at me.
“Just now?” she asked.
I nodded, feeling the dread creeping in upon me. “How did you know?”
Fiona shook her head. “No idea. Dreamed it, I suppose. Woke up, and knew you would be here.”
I didn’t question how this could be—it seemed, at this point, a natural part of this wholly unnatural event.
“I think… the Necromancers… Finn… please… you have to help me,” I gasped.
I don’t know what she saw in my face, but suddenly she reached out a hand and pulled me to her. I accepted the embrace gratefully, taking deep, heaving breaths, inhaling the scent of paint and turpentine and sweat like it was the very oxygen I desperately needed after half-drowning in my own terror.
A moment later, Fiona grabbed my shoulder roughly and pushed me back, so that we were face to face again. “There is work to be done,” she said. “Get on in here.”
I swallowed every doubt I had. I smothered every fear. I stared down at the image now dangling from Fiona’s hands, an image I did not fully understand and yet which I was sure held the key to a dire warning.
Yes. There was work to be done. And it began now.
Would you like to journey back to Milo’s first days at New Beginnings, and discover the details of how he and Hannah first met? Milo’s Story is available exclusively to newsletter subscribers, and you can become one by clicking here.
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Don’t miss the electrifying next installment in the Gateway Trackers series, Heart of the Rebellion: The Gateway Trackers Book 5.
Acknowledgements
With gratitude to Andrew Hurlbut, whose fascinating daguerreotypes greatly inspired the twists and turns of this book.
Many thanks to James Egan at Bookfly Design for taking yet another of my vague, poorly explained ideas, and turning it into a masterpiece. Always delighted to have my books judged by your covers.
To my wonderful beta readers, Andrew, Becca, Missy, Nicole, and Danie, thank you for always eagerly accepting my pages, for your eagle eyes, and your helpful feedback!
To Joe, my partner in all things, thank you for taking another leap with me. What an adventure we’re having.
And to you, fearless reader. If you’ve followed Jess and the gang this far, you have my eternal gratitude.
About the Author
E.E. Holmes is a writer, teacher, and actor living in central Massachusetts with her husband, two children, and a small, but surprisingly loud dog. When not writing, she enjoys performing, watching unhealthy amounts of British television, and reading with her children.
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Would you like to journey back to Milo’s first days at New Beginnings, and discover the details of how he and Hannah first met? Milo’s Story is available exclusively to newsletter subscribers, and you can become one by clicking here.