Read Awakening (Book One of The Geis) for Free Online Page A

chandelier that hung from the cavernous ceiling.
    “The police said he might have had a stroke or heart attack in his sleep.” Mrs. Saddlebury struggled to stem back her emotions.
    “Were there any signs of a struggle? Did he miss any of his other medications? Is there anyone who would have wished to see him dead?” Mrs. Saddlebury shook her head after each question, but when Aunt Avril mentioned death, a fresh flow of tears began. She reached for another tissue, only to find that the box was empty. Aunt Avril rummaged in her purse for another tissue.
    Mrs. Saddlebury stiffened. I followed her gaze to see Aunt Avril’s dagger, half hidden in her purse.
    I couldn’t believe that Aunt Avril brought the weapon inside. As I looked at the knife’s notched edges, I both feared and hated the object. My breath hitched in my throat and my heart raced as if I had been running for my life. Wave after wave of rage flushed my face with heat. Angry tears spilled over my cheeks. Nausea swept over me, and I clutched my stomach.
    “Are you all right, dear?” Aunt Avril asked. Mrs. Saddlebury knelt next to me near the couch, her face full of concern. I struggled to breathe, wishing that she would move away from me. She leaned over to look at the dagger, and Aunt Avril closed her purse with a snap. I focused on Aunt Avril’s face, and the sickly feeling subsided.
    “I’m fine,” I said, wiping perspiration from my forehead. “Really, I just felt queasy.” I was still upset, but the intense anger had simmered down to a low boil. I stared up at the chandelier, trying to clear my head and wondering what in the world had brought on this sudden surge of emotion that was ten times worse than PMS.
    “I’d better get her home.” Aunt Avril steered me to the door. “If anything comes up, you’ll let me know?”
    “Of course.” Mrs. Saddlebury followed us onto the porch. I felt her watching us as we got into the car.
    As soon as I sat down, my head throbbed. I was so mad—so, so, mad. Air swirled inside the car as Aunt Avril climbed in, making the hair of my arms stand on end.
    “What were you thinking, bringing that weapon into her house?” I picked up her purse, and pulled the snap open with a pop. There lay the dagger, menacing and deadly. Aunt Avril snatched the purse away before I could pick it up.
    “Look at me,” she said.
    “The poor lady’s husband just died, for crying out loud!”
    “Look at me!” Aunt Avril said it softly, reaching for my hand. I took it and lifted my head to meet her gaze.
    Energy drained from me like sand through a sieve. I shivered as chills went down my arms. “Do you feel better?”
    I took a deep breath and nodded. I did feel better.
    “Now look at Mrs. Saddlebury.”
    She stood on the porch, and when I caught her eye she waved, her face a picture of loss. I waved back. Intense hatred filled me, and I squeezed my eyes shut, wanting to hide from the emotion that made my stomach churn like a boiling pot of soup.
    Aunt Avril reached for the necklaces that still hung around my neck, and I found that I had been clutching the leather knot in my hand the entire time. I didn’t want to let it go, but I handed it over with the necklace. “What’s wrong with me?”
    “Nothing’s wrong with you, child. It’s fine, just fine.” Aunt Avril released the Celtic knot from the chain. She took my hand in hers and folded my fingers around the knot. “What did you feel?”
    I struggled to express the massive mood swing I experienced. “You were visiting with Mrs. Saddlebury, and all of a sudden anger rushed through my body.” Realization clarified my thoughts. “I was angry at you.”
    Aunt Avril slipped the necklaces back over her head. “Angry at me? That is interesting. It appears Mrs. Saddlebury is not quite what she would seem.” She pulled the dagger out of her purse and opened her door.
    “What’s going on?” My hands shook and adrenaline pumped through me. Aunt Avril wasn’t making