Perennial by Ryan Potter Read Free Book Online Page B

than you realize. If
my murder remains a mystery, a killer walks the streets, and I live a tortured existence
on this side. I was no saint. I admit that. Vagabond despises me. I’m nothing
but a pawn to him. He says you’re capable of great things and that your gift
can possibly help a lot of innocent people against evil. The only thing in it
for me is that I might figure out who killed me.
    “Where
can I find Vagabond?”
    You
can’t find Vagabond. Nobody can. Vagabond finds you.
    “But
who is he, William? Is he human? Is he something else?”
    I’m
afraid I can’t say anything else. But your curiosity is obvious, meaning you’ve
already agreed to help solve my murder.
    “Fine,”
I say. “I’ll need information from you. What do you remember about the night
you died? Did you do something to piss off Face? Was Aruna your girlfriend?”
    His
loud, annoying laughter fills the space around us.
    “Stop
laughing, William. Please just shut up.”
    I
clench my jaw and close my eyes until he stops.
    I’m
sorry, Alix, but you’re grasping at straws. Desperation and ignorance make
anybody unattractive, even somebody as beautiful as you. Besides, the game
doesn’t work that way. I can’t give you any information. You have to solve the
mystery using your brilliant mind and developing abilities. Vagabond’s orders.
Again, he needs to know how good you can become. If I reveal too much, the deal
is off, and we all lose. I’m sorry, but you’re on your own.
    “I
can see what you stand to lose, not knowing who killed you. But what would I
lose? Nothing as far as I can see. As you said, I’ll just go back to my nice,
boring, predictable life.” I pause. “Lots of people in this world would love to
have something like that.”
    Nice
try, Alix, but your interest in all this surrounds you like a bright, shining
halo. This is the most important puzzle of your life. You have all the pieces
you need. Go solve it. Our time is up for tonight.
    “Wait,”
I say, not wanting to lose his presence and voice. “What about Lewis Wilde? He
seems different. Can I trust him? He said you two were friends. It’s the only
question I’ll ask you.” I pause and take a deep breath. “Can I trust Lewis?”
    I
feel William’s mouth close to the side of my neck. I close my eyes as his warm
breath travels around my throat and the nape of my neck before settling on my
lips.
     Lewis
was a good friend, Alix, but loyalty has different meanings to different
people.
    My
eyes remain closed as his fingertips caress the sides of my face. A warm,
tingling sensation washes through me in reaction to his touch. I imagine
Lewis’s hands doing the same thing and soon find myself thinking other things
about Lewis that surprise me.
    “I
need to know you’re real and not a dream, William,” I say, unable to resist his
hands as they travel gently down my neck, arms, waist, and outer thighs.
“Please,” I whisper, “I want to help you, but I need to know you’re real. Lewis
is real. Are you real, William?”
    Of
course I’m real, Alix. I’m William Weed. I’m your Dream Guy. Open your eyes and
see for yourself.
***
    I gasp and
awaken bolt upright in bed, my sheets and pajamas once again damp with sweat. I
sense something at the foot of the mattress but can’t see anything in the dimly
lit room. I rub my eyes and slide my glasses on.
    William
Weed stands over my bed, hands folded in front of his waist, the slightest
smile on his beautiful face. It’s the William from the blog photo, and he’s
absolutely stunning, shirtless in his black cargo shorts, taller and even more
muscular than I imagined. He’s there for less than a second; not long enough
for me to get a closer look at his tattoos; not long enough for me to ask him
to remove the sunglasses and backwards baseball cap.
    I
blink once, and then he’s gone. But William is real. I know this now. I’ve
agreed to play a dangerous game, a game that can kill me if I’m not careful. As
crazy and