Seal of the King by Ralph Smith Read Free Book Online Page B

His eyes popped open wide , and the room was filled with the morning sun. What felt like mere moments, had actually been hours. He was wide-awake, and stood up to look around the room. He felt different somehow, as if energy was coursing through him. It was something new that hadn’t been there before. He stood, his eyes closed, trying to make sense of what it was, but the sensation was beyond his understanding.
    He opened his eyes to see Rusty lift his head , and yawn. David looked at the clock; it was six in the morning. He felt well rested and alert. "How about some breakfast boy," he said to the dog. Wagging his tail, Rusty jumped up to follow him. David made his way to the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee. He gave Rusty a biscuit to tide him over while he got out his food. As the dog ate happily, David stared out the window watching the sunlight shimmer on the grounds. While the coffee pot gurgled, he considered what he had heard. He still had no idea what he was supposed to do next. He was filled with a mixture of excitement, and fear. What had happened to him last night was beyond words. He felt more alive, more connected to the world than ever before, yet the implications of it all were frightening to conceive.
    Pouring himself some coffee, he lifted the cup to his nose and breathed in the aroma. The smell of fresh coffee in the morning was why he started drinking it in the first place. When he found himself living alone after the accident, he missed that smell, and began making it for himself. Still dressed in his clothes from the night before, he decided to walk outside with his cup to get some fresh air. He went out the back door, and the cold morning air felt refreshing. It was a bit brisk out, but he was a little stiff from being on the couch all night, and the fresh air was soothing. He wandered out into the yard and looked at the plantings, the trees, and grasses. All the life around him seemed to touch him; it made him feel a part of it. As he stood there, he noticed something that never caught his attention before. The far edges of the garden had a curve to it. He made his way over to look at it. Why would the garden curve? All the fields were planted in rows. It was just more efficient that way. Once he reached the perimeter he saw the edging that his parents had put there before he was born. He had never quite paid attention to it before, but for some reason it intrigued him. He began walking the perimeter, following the line. When he got to the end of the garden, he saw, for the first time that the edging continued on. He was surprised he never noticed it before. He had cut the grass here countless times. As he continued to follow it, he began to realize that everything looked different. Somehow the world seemed brighter more alive than it did before. He wondered to himself, was it because of what happened the night before, or was it just his imagination?
    Making his way around the yard following the border, he quickly figured out that he was making a complete circle , and would end up right where he started. A circle, he thought about the circle of the seal. Was it possible that the house was a seal too? Picturing the seal in his mind, he tried to figure out a reference point to look for. He walked up onto the front porch, gazed out at the plantings, and there it was. The various shrubs and bushes in one of the beds had the same kind of elusive pattern in it. He had seen enough. It all made sense.
    He made his way back inside. He decided to check on Aurora, so he quietly walked to her room, not wanting to wake her. He stood by the door , and listened closely until he could hear her soft rhythmic breathing. Satisfied she was resting peacefully, he made his way back to the kitchen. It was almost seven now, but he hoped she would sleep a while longer. She needed the rest. He went down the hall to his room, and thought he ought to clean up. The hot shower felt soothing after the cold morning air. He had