Dying Forever (Waking Forever Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

ideas about the practice came from overly exaggerated accounts in books and movies.
    “I can tell by your tone and your expression this isn’t sitting well with you.” Tom stopped and put the half smoked cigarette out on the sole of his western style boot, tossing the butt in a nearby trash can.
    “I do object to over sensationalizing what are clearly serious crimes in an attempt to-” Alison stopped. It occurred to her before she got on her soap box, she didn’t actually know what this man’s motivations were, and she reminded herself to be open minded. “I’m sorry, what are you getting at with all this?”
    Tom smiled , his teeth whiter than they should have been given the years of smoking. “First, I know that most forms of witchcraft are offshoots of traditional Judeo-Christian based religions, not some Satan-fueled fun fest.” He winked at Alison, and she felt a blush rise to her cheeks. “Second,  based on what I’ve read, I can appreciate your skepticism as to my motives. Witches have been scapegoated for centuries as an easy way of explaining away any number of misfortunes.”
    Alison like d Tom. He was clearly intelligent, and though she wasn’t certain she would end up helping him, she was certainly intrigued. “You’ve got my attention, but I have to get to class.” She pulled a pen and a scrap of paper from her bag. “Here’s my email. Message me and we can talk.”
    Taking the slip of paper from Alison, Tom grin ned from ear to ear. “Can we make it dinner? A date?”
    Alison was walking away, but turned her head to answer the exuberant man over her shoulder. “Sorry, Tom. I don’t bat for that team.” She couldn’t help but laugh at the slack jawed expression that replaced his smile .
***
    “Are you flossing? And don’t lie to me, Ali, I can tell.” Chad Bailey stood over his older sister with a long, sharp, metal pick in his right hand. Alison’s mouth was open and her eyes narrowed at her brother.
    “M bm treeng.” Alison muttered.
    “Trying or doing, Ali?” Chad picked at the back of Alison’s bottom teeth. The scraping sound was like nails down a chalkboard, and she struggled not to cringe.
    “M bugy.” Alison could feel the spit pooling in her mouth.
    “We’re all busy, but if you don’t take care of your teeth now, you’ll pay for it tenfold later.” Chad laid the metal instrument on the elevated stainless steel tray to his right and nodded to his assistant Amber.
    The young brown haired woman, dressed in pink scrubs, her face covered with a splash guard, inserted a narrow tube in Alison’s mouth that sounded like a large vacuum. “Close your mouth, Ms. Bailey.” Alison did as she was told and felt the suction pulling at her tongue and cheek.
    Relieved to have the excess spit removed, Alison turned her attention to her brother. Chad was over six feet tall, with dark brown hair and a square jaw to accent his angular features. A handsome man, he was oblivious to his good looks and a bit of a nerd. Alison had never known any other twelve year olds who, like Chad, had wanted nothing more than to be a dentist when they grew up.
    Amber got up, removed her splash guard , and left the exam room. “How’s Gayle?” Alison took the opportunity to ask after Chad’s wife. The couple had dated for nearly ten years, throughout their undergraduate and graduate studies. They had finally been married a little over three years ago and were trying desperately to have a child. Chad didn’t talk about it often, but from what Alison had gleaned from him and their mother, Gayle had begun taking fertility treatments.
    Chad removed his white latex gloves and skillfully tossed them across the exam room and into the trash can. He sat back on the stool he was straddling. “She’ s okay. It’s been tough, but she’s determined.”
    Alison could see from the pained expression on her brother’s face things were far from okay. But with the exception of herself, the Bailey family had