Through the Shadows by Gloria Teague Read Free Book Online Page B

beneath an outcropping of rock, which formed a cave for the lovers to meet in secret. He whispered words of love in her eager ear and held her in his lover’s embrace. Mankala stood watch over his master and his woman, raising his head occasionally to survey the land, just as his master did. Avery kissed her softly, tenderly removing the green velvet dress from her trembling body. Her back arched in acceptance and desire…
    And water poured over the edge of the tub to soak the carpet.
    “Oh man! Stand here daydreaming like a sex-starved fool and ruining the floor! I shouldn’t let my imagination take over unless I’m in the safety of the computer room. God, what a mess!”
    It took every towel she owned to damp dry the mess. She threw all of them in the washer then went to take her bath. Annoyance evaporated as she worked shampoo through her long hair. Artificial light cast shimmering glints across the copper curls. Tori leaned back to allow the warm water to ease aching muscles and she fell into a deep sleep, almost immediately.
    An arctic blast of air touched her body, causing the flesh to pucker in reaction to the drop in temperature. Tori jumped from the tub, pulling the plug as she stood on the damp carpet. Feeling as if someone were watching her, she spun around to grab her towel. But, of course, there was no one there.
    Looking around the bathroom, and seeing nothing out of the ordinary, Tori, nevertheless, shut the door. She knew it was a silly thing to do, since there was no one in the house but herself. She just felt more secure with the black hallway being shielded from view.
    Preparations for bed became more frenzied as Tori wanted to just get out of the bathroom to search the rest of the house. Rationally, she knew there was no one else there and nothing to harm her. Psychically, she was beginning to feel as if she wasn’t alone.
    Pulling her bathrobe over her wet body, Tori opened the door cautiously. Droplets of water made a spattering noise on the varnished floor of the hall as she peered into the darkness. She heard a moan that rooted her to the floor, until she realized she was the one making the sound.
    O God, why didn’t I leave the lights on?
    Taking a deep breath, Tori raced to the end of the hall, slamming her hand against the light switch. Instantly, the hall and part of the living room were bathed in welcoming light. Feeling a little braver with illumination, Tori rushed through the house, turning on all the lights. Only then did she take time to search each room completely, with her largest butcher knife in her hand, held behind her back so she could use the element of surprise against an invader.
    Deciding that, indeed, the house was empty, Tori dropped the knife back into the kitchen drawer. She leaned against the cool tile of the counter top and laughed at herself. One of those movies that had scared her so badly a few years before flashed through her mind. She recalled how a psychic had been called to rid a house, and its occupants, of a mean-spirited ghost. Smoothing her hair back in imitation of the small-statured woman from the movie, Tori made a declaration to herself.
    “This house is clean.”
    She forced herself to extinguish the light in the kitchen, but allowed herself the luxury of leaving every other light burning. She hurriedly dried her hair, just knowing that the blow dryer was covering up the sound of someone sneaking up on her. She brushed her teeth as she stared in the mirror for the shape of a man coming into the room. Her nerves were twitching and adrenaline pulsed through her veins, causing her heart to race.
    I can’t go to sleep when I can feel the blood pounding in my ears.I wonder if I still have one of those sleeping pills Mom insisted the doctor give me after my divorce.
    Opening the medicine cabinet, Tori found the bottle of prescription drugs next to the aspirin. Her hands were shaking as she struggled to open it. Dropping one into her hand, she got a drink of