Read Echoes Through the Mist: A Paranormal Mystery (The Echoes Quartet Book 1) for Free Online Page A

was hard and tight. Unconsciously he flexed the fingers of his hand trying to dissipate his frustration.
    Bridget Bragonier covered her mouth with her hand. She hoped that looking serious and thoughtful might mask her laughter.
    “I am in possession of lots of very unpleasant documents, some from my ex-wife and more from her attorneys.” Julian had left Bridget’s side and began to pace as he spoke. “So you’ll understand if I tell you, damsels in distress would be best advised to look elsewhere for a quick rescue. I’m out of that business. I’m retired and plan on staying away from all maidens, distressed or otherwise, for a very long time.
    “I don’t believe in magic, either good or bad. I don’t need any miracles or spells. Do you guys deal in vampires or zombies? Well, until recently, I worked with a whole crew of bloodsuckers and a couple of Russian undead guys paid me a visit as you recall. Trust me, I’ve reached my lifetime allotment.
    “Oh, by the way, you can keep the damn unicorns to yourself or give ’em to the leprechauns – your call.” He had become more exercised than he intended, but felt he had said what needed saying.
    Julian felt tired. He hung his head, “You said there was a life waiting for me. All I want, Bridget, is a quiet spot where I can rebuild myself without people bothering me and without all the rest of this fantasyland of yours!”
    Bridget began to chuckle and it rolled easily into a hearty laugh. “Ah my dear boy, it does my old heart good to listen to you. Are you sure you are not even a bit Irish? Such lush and evocative, not to forget colorful and occasionally salty speech is rare anymore. Such mastery. I am, well, frankly stunned that someone like you would have such a, what shall we call it, singular command of the English language?” Her voice dripped condescension and it only made Julian more tired.
    “In order to save you from further embarrassing yourself, I will put it to you like this. You have only a meager notion of what you want, however, you have no idea at all of what you need. You have cataloged an exhaustive list of what you do not believe, but Julian, you have not the slightest idea what you do believe.” She took his arm and they continued their walk.
    “Please understand this,” she continued. “You will notice I said there was a life waiting for you. You will note I did not promise you a vacation. You, Julian, have work to do and it will be the hardest work you have ever done.
    “Now, to the business at hand. I cannot answer many of your questions or address all of your concerns and discussing what you do not believe is, well, silly and rather pointless. So instead, let us talk of something important, shall we?” Julian bridled, but Bridget continued unfazed.
    “The world you are familiar with long ago accepted a lie. Because this deception was at the heart of so many things, much of what you know to be true is false. There are those who are able to recognize the deceit in its various forms and act accordingly.
    “I can see by your face you are trying to make this fit with what you know. That, Julian, is a grave mistake. Almost none of what you know about reality is true. Yet, you propose to use the untruth to find the truth. Tell me, what is your truth worth when you find it is irredeemably flawed?”
    Julian was frustrated, confused and it showed clearly on his face. “Bridget,” he rubbed his forehead. “You make my head hurt, but let’s back up. You said you have a responsibility to act accordingly. Accordingly to what exactly?”
    “Now, that is one of your very best questions to date. Simply put, we shine a light into the darkness. We dispel shadows. If we do it correctly, we are able to make the impossible happen.” She smiled.
    “Do you understand that only makes my head hurt worse? These answers that aren’t answers at all are not helping.”
    “Oh Julian,” Bridget began, “petulance so becomes you. When you become