The Aura Read Online Free PDF Page A

scream echoed over the pond. I glanced up to see Sophie’s mother running towards us, ungainly in her shiny padded coat and tight jeans.
    “Sophie, oh my God. What did you do?” she shouted at me.
    Then the grassy area was suddenly crowded with paramedics, calm, strong men in yellow jackets, with blankets and oxygen tanks. An ambulance parked a hundred yards away at the edge of the lawn, its blue light whirling.
    I stood up and moved away to give the paramedics room to work. Sophie’s mother screamed and yelled while I sank to my knees on the wet lawn, vomiting up foul green water. I couldn’t stop shaking. The child had been well and happy just ten minutes ago. Now she was fighting for her life.
    Images from the past flashed past my eyes. Visions of a tiny white casket, mourners in black, the smell of white carnations and blue hyacinths. So long ago, yet it felt like no time at all. This couldn’t be happening again.
    One of the paramedics came over, wrapped a blanket around me, took my pulse and listened to my chest. His face was close to mine and he smelled of peppermint and something herbal, eucalyptus maybe.
    “Good,” he said. “Pulse a little high but steady. No water in the lungs. But you should come in for a check-up at the hospital.”
    “No, I’m okay. Just look after the little girl.”
    “She’s in good hands,” he said. “And you did a terrific job.”
    Just as he walked away, a uniformed police officer appeared, helped me to my feet and led me to the steps of the ambulance, where he asked a lot of questions about what had happened. I did my best to answer them, aware the whole time of the screams of Sophie’s mother.
    Finally, the officer thanked me and helped me into the back of a police car. He told the driver take me home. My legs were like pillars of lead. It took forever to climb the stairs to my apartment. I tore my soaked running pants and sports bra off, threw them with the blanket on the bathroom floor, and pulled on my robe.
    In the kitchen, I put the kettle on and stared, mesmerized, at the steam rising from the spout. It looked like the moving air over Sophie. It had been there, clear and distinct over her little pink beret. What did it mean? After I’d showered and dressed, I drank a cup of tea, leaning against the counter, watching my hand shake as I lifted the china mug to my lips. I wasn’t sure I should drive to Oxford, but I also knew I had to go. Leo was already concerned about me. If I didn’t turn up, he’d be at my door in a few hours.

CHAPTER FIVE
    “Hi everyone!” I called as I let myself into my brother’s house, a red brick, semi-detached on the outskirts of Oxford. I’d made good time on the drive up from London, in light of Saturday afternoon traffic.
    “Hi Aunt Kate.”
    Aidan and Gabe were leaning over the coffee table with remotes in hand, concentrating closely on whatever computer game they were playing. Their blonde heads were almost touching, and their long legs were splayed out in identical blue jeans and Converse sneakers so it was hard to tell which limbs belonged to which boy. I continued on to the kitchen where I could hear the clink of dishes.
    “Kate!” Leo straightened up from loading the dishwasher. He leaned forward to give me a peck on the cheek. He was six inches taller than me, his lean body clad in a black t-shirt and skinny jeans. His dark brown hair was thick and glossy, and he had the same blue eyes and long dark lashes as me. Everyone said we looked like twins.
    “What do you have there?” he asked, eyeing the bags I was carrying.
    “Dinner,” I said, pushing a pile of plates to one side and unloading everything on to the counter. “I thought we could go Italian. I brought prosciutto, Parmesan, those little stuffed peppers you like, and olives. Bread of course, and a bottle of Brunello…” I stopped when I saw Leo’s expression.
    “What?”
    “I promised the boys we would have fish and chips tonight,” he said.
    “They