Shadow of Doubt: Part 2 by W.J. May Read Free Book Online Page A

them.”
    “Interesting.”
    It was Erebus’ turn to be curious.
“Why?”
    “I’ll have to double check, but if I
recall correctly, those are all names of Roman goddesses, maybe
even earlier prehistory times. It’s from that mythology course I’m
taking. I’m going to have to check that book at the library again
for their meanings.”
    “Probably Doom and Doomer, Gloom and
Gloomier, and the Punisher.” He grinned. Coty would’ve laughed at
his joke. Aurora just looked confused. “Forget it. It’s too hard to
explain, and it’s getting late. Do you want to stay here tonight?”
It’d be safer for her to leave in the daylight.
    “Definitely. If I’m leaving in two
days and you’re going to fight the powers that be.” Her lips
twitched, but she kept her face straight. “I want to spend tonight
with you.” She stood up and reached for his hand to pull him in the
direction of the bedroom. “What about you in the morning? Can you
use this pay phone?” She tapped the British booth as she walked
by.
    “It’s set up as a working phone but
not as a pay phone. I think I have to get it converted back to a
paying phone.” He gave a quiet, husky laugh. “I’m still a little
paranoid to test it out. Nearest pay phone from here is two blocks
away.”
    “Oh…That’s too bad.”
    “Don’t worry your pretty little head.
I’ll leave in plenty of time.” He glanced at the bedroom, a raw
hunger deep inside begging to be satisfied.
    “Oh, one more question.”
    He rolled his eyes before she turned
around.
    “Are there any famous Shadows? Like in
Hollywood or anything?”
    *****
    Erebus shifted
uncomfortably. He fought to push through the darkness and the
current that wanted to pull him back. Struggling to stay conscious,
a new terror pulled on the fringes of his mind he couldn’t place.
Someone was in danger besides himself, and he swirled around
helpless in this oblivion. An angel blurred into his vision and
disappeared into the darkness engulfing him.
    “Aurora.” Erebus jumped with a start.
His head brushed against the metal ceiling of the phone booth. He
clung to the sides of the glass walls, trying to steady his racing
heart and the panic.
    It was dark outside of the booth, and
the pavement was wet. The snow that had fallen the past week looked
to have disappeared. It must have been a sunny, warm day to melt
it. He stepped out of the booth and opted to head straight back to
his apartment instead of the coffee shop. He could make some of the
French vanilla coffee Aurora had bought.
    As he walked, he glanced around to see
if he was being followed. He didn’t sense another Shadow, but when
it came to Nanny, nothing could be assumed. No one seemed to pay
attention to him. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets and
stared at the ground in front of him.
    He thought about his waking tonight.
He’d never before thought about anything other than fighting the
darkness. To have Aurora in his unconscious thoughts was disturbing
and intriguing at the same time. He knew she was safe and sound
asleep when he left this morning. Nanny had no idea where Aurora
lived, or her last name, or of any other information. Aurora should
be fine for now.
    Climbing the stairs to his apartment,
he touched in the keyless entry numbers to his door. The only light
inside came from the phone booth in the middle of the room.
Shrugging out of his coat, he tossed it onto the back of the couch.
The sliding door had been left partly open so the light didn’t turn
off. He pressed his palm against the cool glass, about to close it,
but paused when he noticed the white lined paper taped to the
phone.
    His heart missed a beat as worry
filled him. He shoved the door open, stepped inside, and snatched
the folded paper. Stepping inside the K6 helped erase the anxiety,
and he stood calm as he opened the sheet. He noticed Aurora’s neat,
script handwriting.
    Welcome home, (excuse the
pun as I put this into the booth!)
    I’ve got a group