Tomorrows Child Read Online Free PDF Page A

frowned and
looked at me again with that same intense gaze, the look that
pulled at my soul and searched for answers. I was still suspicious,
I guess, but maybe that was just his way.
    The ground
trembled beneath our feet. Another aftershock maybe, or a tiny
earthquake; it’s hard to tell. We were getting used to them now,
more or less.
    “We should be
getting back; Libby will think I kidnapped you.” We stood up,
turned around, took no more than fifty steps and were back in the
garden, but now we stood at the top of the garden, directly
opposite the place we had entered the forest a few hours
earlier.
    “I thought you
were supposed to show me how to find my way and not get lost. I
don’t think you were very successful.” A minute ago, I was quietly
confident, but as I absorbed the view in front of me, I realised
there was no way I could have found my way home. I thought I knew
where we were. I was wrong. I looked at Phoenix, heaved a sigh and
stomped off towards the house, leaving Phoenix behind. In the
distance, I heard the rumble of thunder.
    Dinner was
ready and the house was warm and inviting. It was autumn but
already the night air had begun to chill. It’s not unusual to get
frost this time of year, I’m told, and it already felt as if this
year would be especially cold.
    “How’d you go?”
Libby asked and I waited for Phoenix to respond. My anger dissolved
as quickly as it had formed. I knew how my day had been, but I
wondered what he thought.
    “She’s a fast
learner, Libby, so that makes the late start a bit easier for
everyone.” He looked at me then and shook his head. “But I wouldn’t
let her out alone just yet. I expect she’ll get quite lost.”
Phoenix was laughing and they spoke about me as if I weren’t there.
It was obvious that Phoenix spent a lot of time with Libby. They
were comfortable with each other and I relaxed in the warmth of
their company. Libby never tried to replace Mum by asserting
parental authority, except for the day she forced me out of my room
and made me promise to live. She had shown me respect and treated
me like a friend, the same way she treated Phoenix.
    Phoenix was
watching me as Libby went about getting dinner. I watched her and
Phoenix watched me. Every now and again I would sneak a peek to see
if he had grown tired of waiting for whatever it was he seemed to
be waiting for. Each time my eyes met his, I found the same look,
seeking… searching… waiting… This time, Phoenix smiled, perhaps he
had finally found the answers he sought.
    I left the pair
in the kitchen and hurried off to shower and change. I had muddy
feet and my jeans were stained from rotting bark and streaks of
moss. The shower was soothing once I warmed to the temperature of
the water, but water was precious and showers were a privilege, so
I hurried to finish.
    I was thinking
about how easily the tiny ball of magick had formed in my hand. It
wasn’t really a world-changing achievement, but it was amazing. I
hadn’t seen the swirling colours that Phoenix assumed I had, but
the energy was real. Surely, there must be more to magick than
that? Whispers greeted me as I opened the bathroom door. I listened
harder and instantly felt like an intruder.
    “Did you know?”
Phoenix questioned, I didn’t have a clue what they were talking
about and knew it was none of my business, but I was still
curious.
    “I guessed, but
I couldn’t be sure, there was no real way to know.”
    “You should
have told me, given me some warning. What do I do now? Do I tell
her? I thought I was here to help,” Phoenix said, sounding as if he
were afraid or annoyed. “I didn’t know she would be the one. How
can that be helpful?”
    “You would give
your life for her, Phoenix. How much more helpful can you be?”
    It sounded like
they were talking about me, but it wasn’t a subject I could grasp.
What on earth were they talking about? Why would anyone have to
give their life for her or anyone else for that