Shattered Souls Read Online Free PDF Page A

that you experienced, my dear?” Aunt Vieta asked, frowning.
    “Her father spoke to her ,” Logan answered, looking directly into my Aunt’s eyes.
    “Did you see him?” my mom asked, her fingers trembling as she placed the cup on the ground.
    “No. I couldn’t see him. I couldn’t see anything.” The heat in my palms was excruciating. I needed to release, but I wasn’t sure what brought it on. I had come so close to controlling this ‘gift’. I didn’t understand the sudden setback.
    “How so?” Aunt Vieta asked.
    “There was nothing to see. Everything was dark.” I expected them to dismiss my statements or confirm that it was nothing more than hallucinations, but they did nothing of the sort. My mom jumped up from the pillow, nearly spilling her tea, and ran to my side.
    “You didn’t have anything to do with this, did you?” she questioned Logan who quickly shook his head.
    “It’s not something to mess with,” Aunt Vieta confirmed.
    “I wouldn’t do that,” Logan replied , anger biting his words. “I’d never open up those gates without someone knowing. Ever.”
    “Why would you think that?” I demanded.
    “I just had to check,” my mom said, half apologetically. She kneeled next to me and grabbed my hand, which felt as if it was on fire now and her touch only made it worse. I felt the tiny droplets of sweat begin to form at my hairline. “If you have this ability, it’s something that can help guide. Very few can communicate with the dead without—”
    “Trying,” my aunt concluded, noticing the dampness on my forehead. “And it doesn’t sound like you tried to do so.”
    Now would have been the perfect opportunity to discuss the fact that this seemed to be one of many “special abilities”, but I didn’t have it in me. It would lead directly to me confiding that I was a Trifecta witch, and undoubtedly the Divinus witch, and I wasn’t ready to expose that. Truthfully, my mother wasn’t ready to cope with it either.
    “I think it’s time for you to speak with Madeline,” Aunt Vieta said, glancing at my mom.
    “Yes. I think it’s time,” my mom acknowledged. She folded her hands in her lap and l ooked out the window. “I hoped you’d never have to be exposed to these things.”
    Her voice was we aker than it had been all night, and it told me our hunch to keep her out of things, at least for now, was the right thought.
    “Madeline?” I asked.
    “She’s someone who will be able to train you to deal with this special skill,” Aunt Vieta said, pressing her lips together. My aunt was aware of the other skills that I had already developed, but I could tell she, too, was keeping them quiet from my mother. “She’s a sole practitioner.”
    Things were falling into place.
    “And where can she be found?” I asked my aunt but was surprised when Logan answered.
    “The undercity. It’s where a lot of the sole practitioners hide out. It’s safer for them,” Logan said quietly, catching my gaze. “Safer for everyone.”
    “Safer?”
    “You’ll see,” Logan said, smiling.
    “I think it’s time we take off,” my aunt said. “We need to get in contact with Maddie and…”
    “What about dinner?” I interrupted. “You guys made it. You should enjoy it.”
    “You’re looking tired. You’ve been through a lot. We’ve got food at home,” my aunt stated, prompting me with her eyes. “Besides, I’m sure you and Logan would like your privacy before your mom comes back home.” My aunt laughed as my mom shook her head and started toward the kitchen.
    My aunt quickly tapped her forehead when my mom was out of sight, and I realized the sweat was running down my scalp and face. My aunt was trying to get my mom out of here before she caught on.
    “Thank you,” I mouthed to my aunt as I wiped my forehead with my sleeve. I needed to get my release and figure out what started this.
    “Veronica, would you mind grabbing some of that delicious blueberry tea?” Aunt Vieta