Capturing Today (TimeShifters Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

who sees how special you are.”
    Good or bad, Erik talking about Michael feels wrong. I carry the memory of Michael too close to my heart for some quasi Shade king to bring up his name. “Let’s leave Michael out of this.”
    “But I can’t.” His eyes cloud over, like speaking against what I ask pains him. He presses his hand across his chest. “Michael’s involved in all this. In the turmoil you feel inside. Isn’t he?” Erik talks like a counselor, soft and comforting. “You want to see him again, don’t you?”
    “Of course I do.” Since we parted, I’ve thought about Michael more than I care to admit. My motivations for wanting to shift again aren’t as noble as I like to believe. It’s not always about getting my mother back. Some days I wonder if I want to shift again just to see Michael. What I wouldn’t do to hear the soft rumble of his laugh and see his ready smile again.
    Erik leans into my personal space. His face inches from mine as he raises his eyebrows. “I can make it happen.”
    I don’t move. If he’s trying to intimidate me, I’m not going to let him. “How?”
    He rocks back and crosses his arms. “The Shifters probably didn’t tell you this—” He laughs. “Actually, I’m sure they’ve kept you quite in the dark about a lot of things. But Shades control their own travel. They shift through time whenever and to wherever they want.”
    “I don’t believe you.”
    His lips form a grim line. “Why should I deprive them of the power to move as they wish? I don’t need puppets, Gabby. Those who leave the Shifters and come to me—who are brave enough to walk away from Keleusma—they are my family. Don’t you see that? I only want them to be taken care of and to enjoy their lives. I only wish to free them from Nicholas.”
    “But—”
    His brow lowers. “They really messed with your head there, didn’t they?” He lets out a long stream of air. “I worried they’d try to brainwash you. I just didn’t realize how—”
    “No one brainwashed me.”
    “Right. Of course not. You’re smart enough to see around attempts like that. Forgive me.” He holds up his hands. “And the Shifters are not bad. I don’t want you to believe I think ill of them. Most of the Shifters are correct in their pure intentions to do good. They’ve just fallen prey to a puppet master, I’m afraid.”
    “So tell me. If you’re so magnanimous and allow people to move whenever they wish, why hasn’t my mother ever come home? She would have. Unless she …” The word ‘died’ sticks in my mouth. I don’t know why. It’s not like I ever knew her—not really. I’ve considered her dead my entire life. But tears burn the back of my throat, and if I say the word, I know my voice will crack.
    “Let me put you at ease then.” He lays a hand on each of my shoulders. “Your mother is alive and well.”
    I meet his eyes again. “Then why hasn’t she come home?” I hate the quiver in my voice.
    “Gabby, Gabby, don’t you see?” Erik gently shakes me back and forth. “She’s terrified to see you. To disappoint you.” His hands move to my biceps, and he squeezes lightly. “Terrified that you’ll be upset with her after what she did.” His hands slip down my arms, and he ends up cradling both of my hands. “But she wants to meet you. She talks about you all the time.”
     “She does?” I can’t hold in my tears any longer. My mom is alive. She wants to see me. She might come home. My dad can be happy again. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted.
    “She does.” He rubs his thumbs over the backs of my hands.
    “Wh-where is she then?”
    “Rosa lives in Mónatos, which is the equivalent of your Keleusma.”
    “Is she happy?”
    “I like to think so.” The corners of his lips tug up. The right higher than the left. “Your mother is one of my closest friends.” He pauses. “See, that’s another way I’m different from Nick. I live among the Shades. Mónatos is my home.