The Reverence of One: Book Three of the Shadow Series by J.M. Pierce Read Free Book Online Page A

I’ve killed.” Maggie looked up to her with a blank expression. “I know just saying that sounds heartless, but I can’t change what I’ve done or who I was. The only thing I can do, going forward, is to help your son become what the Reapers think he was meant to be.”
    Maggie looked to Test and then back to Lauren. “And what is that?” she asked softly.
    Lauren inhaled deeply and with a serious voice replied. “The one Shadow that could destroy Isaac.”
    The mood of the room, already suffering from a tremendously heavy weight, suddenly became even heavier . Test stared blankly out the window, Lauren’s words barely registering within his mind.
    With a sweet motherly voice, Maggie replied to Lauren. “I think we could all use a breather.” She walked towards Lauren and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “We can talk more later.”
    Having felt the first ounce of compassion that she’d felt in a lifetime within Maggie’s touch, Lauren nodded her head gently and returned a smile.

Chapter 6
     
    Test walked out the back door and rested his palms on the porch railing with his head hanging low. Though it always seemed that his emotions were in a constant state of flux, he felt that at any moment he could just close his eyes and give up. He resented himself for his comment to Alyssa, but even more so, he resented himself for the fact that anyone he comes in to contact with seemed to suffer.
    A gentle rain began to fall and he lifted his head, holding his face to the sky so the drops pelted his skin. It was then that he felt the newly familiar tug on the front of his chest. For a moment, he’d forgotten what he’d learned just a short time ago, but then realized what it meant.
    “Alyssa,” he called aloud.
    As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt the sensation move across his chest and to his left side. He turned into it.
    “Alyssa?”
    This time the sensation moved to the right and once more he turned so that it centered on his chest.
    “I know you’re there. Can we talk?” he asked remorsefully, but received no reply.
    He turned , walked down the steps , and upon centering the sensation on his chest once again , began to walk in her direction. As he entered the tree line, he could feel her moving left to right, and each time he followed. The game of cat and mouse lasted only a minute and as quickly as he could take a breath, the sensation was on his back.
    “How can you do that?”
    Alyssa’s voice came from nowhere. Test turned and began to pulse lightly, offering his energy to her. He waited for her to appear, but she didn’t. He knew she was still there, the pull on his chest telling him that she hadn’t moved.
    “ Please, Alyssa. I’m so sorry about before. I didn’t mean…”
    Before he could finish, the faint outline of her frame came into view. She stopped, midway between visible and not. Test ’s heart ached at the look on her face. Her eyes were sad and her lips were turned down on the edges.
    With her arms folded tightly across her torso, she asked once more. “How can you do that?”
    “Do what?” asked Test, the urge to comfort her forcing the original question from his mind.
    With her chin held low towards her chest, her gaze shifted between Test and the forest floor. “How can you follow me when I’m on the other side? How do you know where I am?”
    Test hung his thumbs on his jean pockets as he replied. “I can feel you.”
    Alyssa furrowed her brow in confusion.
    “I get a feeling, like someone is pulling me. It centers on my chest and as you move, the sensation moves. As long as I keep it centered on my chest, I know I’m moving in the right direction.”
    “When did you learn that trick?” she asked.
    “This morning, with Lauren,” he replied. “I think it’s something I’ve always felt, for a while now anyways, but I never knew what it was. I just wrote it off as a byproduct of stress.” He grinned, hoping to see a glimmer of relief on her face, but it