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

sure that she’d be okay. The next mornin’ she got up and went to this coffee shop a short bit away. I stayed with her. I felt sorry for her and was tryin’ to think of a way to help her out.”
    “Does this story get to a point?” asked Lauren spitefully. She promptly received a tap on the shoulder and a scornful look from Maggie.
    Cliff wrinkled his nose and continued. “As I was sayin’,” he cleared his throat, “She was standin’ in line, tryin’ to get some food, but didn’t have any money. From nowhere this man came from the end of the line and paid for her food and a cup of coffee.”
    Lauren crossed her arms forcefully , her impatience lay heavy in the room.
    “Here’s where the fate comes in,” Cliff continued. “Turns out that man was my grandson.”
    Expecting an “aha” moment from the two women, Cliff waited patiently. When he didn’t see it realized, he continued once more.
    “If you remember, in my previous life, I had a gift. I could see things that hadn’t happened yet.” A quick look to Maggie revealed a twinkle of understanding in her eyes. “My grandson has that gift.”
    The two women were now completely focused. Tucking her hair behind her ears, Lauren began to shake her head.
    “When my grandson introduced himself as Thadeus Johnston, ” Cliff continued, “ Nicole immediately noticed something in him that reminded her of me. When she asked if he was related, he told her yes and s he immediately took off for the door. I let her go, awestruck that I’d inadvertently found Thad.”
    In her best attempt at being sympathetic, Lauren spoke. “Cliff, this is all very—special—but by the time you finish this story, Isaac is going to have killed the girl already.”
    Cliff responded with one of his trademark chuckles. “I’m getting’ there, I’m getting’ there.” He paused to remember where he’d left off. “Now, when Thadeus left the coffee shop, I went with him , for what I hope are obvious reasons. When we arrived at his apartment, I discovered a notebook that he’d been writin ’ in. That’s when I learned he’d inherited the gift. For whatever reason, my grandson has been seeing visions of one of the Reapers taking Nicole.”
    Lauren immediately exploded with a question. “Does he know when?”
    “No, I don’t think so,” Cliff replied. “The gift don’t really say when somethin’s gonna happen, just that it is. I do know where it will happen though,” he paused as a grim look came over his face, “and who the Reaper is.”
    Maggie watched their exchange with a twisted look of fear on her face. There was nothing she could do but listen.
    “Who is it?” Lauren asked though she already had an idea.
    “The Indian.”
    Lauren walked past the old man and stood in the doorway. “That’s what I figured.”
    “So,” said Cliff, “no w what are we going to do?”
    Lauren stood stoically biting her lip as she stared at the floor. “We don’t have a choice, we have to go now.”
    Maggie began to walk towards the door. “I’ll go find Test,” she said.
    Lauren grabbed her arm as she passed. “No,” she replied quickly . “We’re better off if just me and the old man go. If Test sees this Nicole girl again, and if she’s as bad off as Cliff says she is, his emotions will get the better of him and it will leave him vulnerable.” She looked to Cliff with a quiet confidence. “We’ll take care of it.”
    Without a word, Cliff nodded back to her.

Chapter 8
     
    Test and Alyssa had spent several hours walking through the majestic wilderness that was the Hoh rainforest. Few words were spoken, but the quiet time spent together was exactly what each of them had needed.
    As they stepped through the tree line and out into the clearing of Lauren’s back yard, Alyssa stopped and marveled at the beauty of the area. She then turned and examined Lauren’s home. W hile more extravagant on the inside than those who knew her would expect , the exterior of the