Dominion 4 - Ascendance by Lissa Kasey Read Free Book Online

through the gate. All the flashing lights vanished. I wondered about the house in back. It would need major cleaning and airing out. I didn’t know if I was ready for that yet. The idea that someone died in there made me more than a little nervous. The police’s lack of interest worried me. Was it a normal occurrence to find dead people in your garage apartment? I shuddered at the thought and returned to my cleaning. That, at least, was something I could control.
    I finished two more rooms before the doorbell rang again. I hurried downstairs, thinking maybe it was Caleb, but when I opened the door it was Jamie, suitcase at his feet.
    “Wow, Sei. This is an amazing house.” Jamie stared at the tree in the foyer. “I heard rumors about that tree, but never thought I’d see it.”
    “Want to come in?” I stepped aside to let him in. “What are you doing here?” More people thinking I couldn’t take care of myself. Sigh. “Where’s Kelly?”
    “He had some school stuff, so it’s just me.” Jamie stood just two feet away, eyes looking over me as if for injury. “I was worried,” he admitted. “I can’t help worrying. You should have said you wanted to come.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
    He nodded like he agreed. “No. But you do need your family. I know how awful the winter makes me feel. I can only imagine what it was doing to you.”
    Kelly must have been working on him more than I thought for him to admit I didn’t need the protection. I wanted to hug my best friend, but figured I’d give in to the urge later when he showed up too. “It was awful feeling so detached from the earth. I figured since the opportunity had presented itself, I’d check it out and see what I could learn about Dad.”
Jamie looked curious. “Anything so far?” I’d forgotten he had been pretty young when Dad died.
    “I’ve spent more time cleaning than looking for history so far. I’m in his room, though. It’s at the back of the house, but it’s comfortable.”
    “I can help clean and look for stuff.” Jamie’s eyes glowed with unshed tears while he stared at the tree. He was probably remembering Dad. Maybe he’d share some of those memories with me. The good ones, at least. “I expected to see Gabe with you. Where is he?”
I shrugged and turned away. “Not here. I wouldn’t invite him in.”
    Jamie wrapped his arms around me. I cursed myself as I let his warmth take the control from me. He just held me while I sobbed in his arms. “He was worried,” Jamie said after a bit. “Probably said things he didn’t mean. We all do stupid things when we’re afraid.”
    I wiped my nose and eyes and grabbed one of his bags. “Let me show you to a room. I’ve got a few clean. Probably another half dozen to go.” I gave him a weak smile.
    With his help the cleaning was finished just after 8:00 p.m. Even though no one was in most of the rooms, we made all the beds. The mention of window coverings brought up a discussion about blinds and curtains. Curtains fit the house better, but blinds were more practical. Either way, if sleeping in were to be possible, something was needed.
    “We should probably trim the tree back a bit. Before it breaks a window or something,” Jamie remarked, still in awe over the tree in the foyer. “I think your mom was trying to duplicate this. She never really succeeded, though.”
    The earth vibrating through me from that tree gave me a better sense of peace than I’d had back home. I knew my mom and Jamie didn’t get along well, but I never knew he’d actually been inside her mansion.
“I’m going to go unpack,” Jamie said.
    I waved him off and went to the kitchen to find food. Spearing an apple slice from the two I’d cut up, I played a game on my phone.
The doorbell rang.
    I sighed again and glared at the darkness. It was probably Gabe, back to yell at me or bully me into inviting him inside. Jamie said he hadn’t heard from him. Maybe Gabe really was tired of me.