The Quickening
Page 23
Tiffany nodded but wondered what that was about. The new receptionist, Raven, was beautiful and charming. Why the snappy reaction?
“Mommy!” Angel’s scream echoed down the hall.
Tiffany, Kat, and Shade, ran toward her room where they found her sobbing on her bed. Tiffany scooped her into her arms and began soothing her. “What, honey?”
“The rider! He says I have to go with him. I don’t want to leave.”
Her blood turned to ice and her scalp began crawling. “You’re not going anywhere. I’ve got you.”
Kat paled and looked at Shade. “How? I thought you cleansed the spot where he died.”
“I can feel him. There must be a trace left here.” Shade crossed to the closet, turned on the light, and then dropped to her knees to begin moving various toys and boxes out of it.
“I hadn’t even thought of that.” Tiffany was livid. “Why did I not think of that? I do this for a living.”
“He’s right there,” Angel said and pointed to the corner of the room.
“I know, baby. Auntie will take care of it as soon as I find what I’m looking for.”
Angel stopped crying and nodded toward the empty wall.
“What’s he saying?”
Kat sounded as hysterical as Tiffany felt. She stood with Angel in her arms, intending to leave the room when the door slammed shut in front of her.
“No, Daddy,” Angel said. “You have to go to the light.”
“Leave her alone, you bastard!” Tiffany screamed. “Get out!”
Angel didn’t flinch at the volume in Tiffany’s voice. Instead, she continued to stare at the area where Shade was frantically searching for what must be another blood curse. “But if you don’t feel good, the light will make you better. I promise.”
Kat moved quickly to put Tiffany and Angel behind her, trying to protect them from something that Tiffany knew she couldn’t see.
“I can’t go with you now.” Angel paused. “Next time, maybe.”
“Oh God,” Tiffany said. “Shade?”
A cold wind blew out of the closet. “Found it.” Shade got up from the floor. She was holding a small box against her chest. “I’m leaving with it. I’ll take care of it.”
Tiffany nodded. “Please hurry.”
“It’s okay, Mommy,” Angel said. “Daddy says he won’t bother us anymore. He’s almost done.”
The doorknob clicked and turned before Shade reached it. Tiffany felt Kat shudder slightly. She walked in front of her and Angel.
“Be careful,” Kat said when she opened the front door.
Shade turned back to look at them when she was halfway down the walkway. “Good-bye, guys. I love you.”
Tiffany felt that her tone and choice of words were off somehow. She wanted to call her back, but a sharp pain in her temple kept her from voicing her concern. She wanted Angel as far away from the damn box as she could get.
She blew Shade a kiss when she got in her van. “Love you too.”
Kat waved as she closed the door. They had only taken two steps toward the hall when a bright orange flash illuminated the room an instant before the glass in the picture window shattered inward, and an explosion rattled the entire house.
Tiffany screamed. “Shade!”
About the Author
Yvonne Heidt’s first book, Sometime Yesterday, was a 2012 Lambda Literary Award finalist in lesbian romance and a 2012 Golden Crown Literary Award winner. She is also a bronze medal Rainbow Award winner for Debut Author. Yvonne was born a fourth-generation San Franciscan, but is currently living in Texas with her partner and their four dogs, where she channels her inner rock star on Friday nights. Writing is her passion and she considers herself blessed beyond measure that she and her muse get along so well.
Books Available from Bold Strokes Books
The Quickening: A Sisters of Spirits Novel by Yvonne Heidt. Ghosts, visions, and demons are all in a day’s work for Tiffany. But when Kat asks for help on a serial killer case, life takes on another dimension altogether. (978-1-60282-975-6)
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Table of Contents
Synopsis
By the Author
Acknowledgments
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Epilogue
About the Author
Books Available from Bold Strokes Books