Modern Sorcery: A Jonathan Shade Novel by Gary Jonas Read Free Book Online Page A

down.
     
    Kelly stood like a sentry by the door, peering outside every few minutes.   I didn’t know if she was watching her truck or checking for potential attackers.   She didn’t trust anyone who used magic to make a living.   If not for the Sekutar attack, she would never have accompanied us to Lina’s home.
     
    Lina ran her hands over my ribs.   “They don’t feel broken so that’s good.   Lie back.”
     
    I stretched out on the sofa, and she placed her hands on my ribs.   “I’ve never healed you before, have I?” she asked.
     
    “No, ma’am.”
     
    She nodded.   “This won’t take long.”
     
    “Actually, Lina, it won’t work.”
     
    She smiled at me.   “You watch.   The body knows how it’s supposed to be.   I simply guide it and speed up the natural healing process.   I’ve got to warn you that I have to pull the pain from your injuries into myself so I can feel my way along to mend them back together.   Don’t be surprised if I cry out or faint.   I’m not a big fan of pain.   It hurts.”
     
    “I’ve noticed that,” I said.
     
    “All right.   Let’s get started.”
     
    She closed her eyes and pressed on my ribs.   I grimaced and she looked confused.
     
    “Sorry,” she said.   “Let’s try that again.”
     
    She pressed on my ribs again and frowned.
     
    “I don’t understand it,” she said.   “I can’t seem to do anything here.   That makes no sense.   Naomi, come here.”
     
    Naomi approached and Lina placed a finger on one of the cuts on her forehead.   As Lina’s finger moved over the cut, it sealed itself and left a tiny scar that would disappear in a week or so.
     
    “I don’t get it,” Lina said.   “I’ve never met anyone I couldn’t heal.”
     
    “Don’t worry about it,” I said.   “You can work on Naomi while I talk to Kelly.”
     
    “All right.”
     
    Kelly and I stepped outside while Lina healed Naomi.
     
    Out on the porch, Kelly scanned the neighborhood.   “You agreed to come here so Naomi could be healed,” she said.
     
    “Seemed like a good idea.”
     
    “Don’t fall for her again, Jonathan.   Nothing good can come from it.”
     
    I didn’t say anything.   We stood in silence for a few minutes until Lina opened the door.
     
    “Time to eat,” she said.
     
    Kelly passed on the food, but Naomi and I both accepted a plate of pork chops, rice, bread, and salad.   Lina was a terrific cook.   I suspected she used magic in the kitchen, but she always insisted that she didn’t need magic to fix delicious meals.
     
    “Dessert?” she asked when we’d finished.
     
    Naomi shook her head.   “I’m stuffed.”
     
    Lina looked at me.
     
    “No, thank you,” I said.
     
    “Dessert is the best part of every meal,” Lina said.   “One look at me should tell you that I never pass on dessert.”   She laughed and patted her ample belly.
     
    She served herself a giant helping of apple pie with ice cream.
     
    Kelly entered the dining room.   “We should be going.”
     
    I rose and started to take my plate to the kitchen.
     
    “Leave those,” Lina said as she cut into another slice of apple pie.   “I’ll take care of them.”
     
    “You sure?”
     
    She took the plate from me and set it back on the table.   “Definitely.”
     
    Naomi embraced Lina.   “Thank you for everything.”
     
    “You’re welcome, dear.   And if you need me for anything, don’t hesitate to come on over.   If you want to talk, I’m a great listener.”
     
    “I’ll be all right.   I just need to find out what really happened.”
     
    “Have you talked to Cantrell?”
     
    “No.”
     
    Lina patted Naomi’s shoulder.   “You might give him a call.”
     
    When Lina ushered us to the door, she didn’t come out onto the porch.   Instead, she closed the door behind us.   As we moved down the walk, I glanced back at her window and saw her collapse on the sofa.
     
    “Is she all right?” I