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

had gone. He could feel the pull that Alyssa created at his side, her closeness making him feel as though they were magnetic, but as he tried out his newly discovered power, he was unable to find his mother.
    “I think so,” he replied as he stared into the trees.
    “Good,” replied Alyssa playfully. “Let’s get you into something a little more comfortable.”
    Their eyes met and Test was instantly aroused by the tone in her voice. With the sudden excitement choking his words, he opened the back door and motioned for her to pass.
     
    ****
     
    Stopping only occasionally for her to recharge, Lauren and Cliff found themselves standing at Thad’s door several hours after they’d left Washington. Lauren had spent more time in the spirit realm in the past few days than she had in a long while and she found herself feeling we a k. Though they really hadn’t discussed a game plan once they’d arrived in Kansas City , she knew that in her present condition she would be no match for Ikuhabe should they meet . She wore a long sleeved hoodie, hood up, in an effort to hide from the unknown. All she knew was that there was a chance that there were Reapers in the city, and if she stayed too long, especially knowing that she was going to have to fuel Cliff’s spirit at least once, it would be inevitable that they would find her.
    Hidden from the sight of the living, Cliff watched as Lauren lifted her right arm to knock on the door. With a dull thud, her knocking echoed loudly through the hallway of the apartment complex. As she raised her hand to knock once more, the door cracked open, the security chain allowing it to only open a few inches.
    “I don’t need anything,” said Thad as he peered through the opening. His words were slurred.
    With her hood and hair obscuring her face, Lauren replied. “ We need you.”
    Thad positioned his head so as to attempt to see whoever else might be standing in the hall. Seeing no one, he asked slovenly, “Who’s we?”
    Her voice devoid of any emotion, Lauren replied coldly and in a matter of fact tone. “Me,” she paused, allowing the energy within to begin to pulse. “Me and your grandfather.”
    Thad watched as the empty space to the left of the woman began to fill with a small form. It began as a dark shadow, like he’d seen earlier that morning in his apartment, only this time the shadow continued to develop until he could see the whites of a man’s eyes.
    Terrified, he slammed the door. Lauren and Cliff could hear him shouting on the other side.
    “Holy shit! Holy shit! This isn’t happening!”
    Lauren turned to Cliff, who was now standing in full solid form next to her. “What do you want to do now?” she asked.
    “I don’t know,” replied the old man. “ I hadn’t counted on him being drunk. I don’t know what good it’d be to talk to him right now.”
    Frustrated, Lauren leaned on the door while everything on the other side had grown conspicuously silent. “Well damn, Cliff, I don’t think we have time to go and get a cup of coffee!”
    “Take it easy, Lauren , I figure we can handle this ourselves.”
    “What do you mean ? Y ou and I go to get the girl?”
    “Yeah, why not?” replied Cliff.
    Lauren removed the hood from her head and pulled the hair back from her face. In an effort to settle her reaction, she took a deep breath and replied. “That won’t work.”
    Cliff could tell that she was trying to stay calm, but he didn’t quite understand her reluctance . “Why not? I figure we just go over there and get her.”
    With the back of her head leaning against the door, she could hear Thad turn the deadbolt lock on the other side. She pushed herself away from the door, and with a grin, replied. “I’m weak, Cliff. If you remember, though I’m not human, I’m not a spirit either. To spend so much time on your side takes a lot of energy.” With each word spoken, her intensity grew and grew until she had finally beg un to shout. “That, and now