Vision of Shadows Read Online Free PDF

“That’s the second time you’ve said something that reminds me of Eve.”
    “Grandpa,” Zack called . “We got Bristol.”
    “That right?” a gravelly voice called from the other room. “Well, it’s about time. She’s about seventeen years late.”
    Uncle Mark gave me an apologetic smile. “Come say hello to your granddaughter.”
    I watched as a man in his early sixties limped forward with a cane and five o’clock shadow. He paused for a brief moment as he entered the room and gave me a cursory glance before he made his way to me. He grabbed my face and examined it like a bottle of wine. He turned my face and appraised me from several angles before letting go with a grunt and walking away.
    “She’ll do I guess,” Grandp a said. “Oh, by the way, sorry ’bout your parents and welcome home.”
    Z ack thought it was hilarious and kept reenacting the encounter. Simon wondered out loud if Grandpa was getting dementia. Uncle Mark was simply mortified at his father’s actions and couldn’t stop apologizing.
    I didn’t bother to mention that in th e moment when Grandpa had looked me over, dozens of ghosts appeared. They were sitting in chairs, lying on the table, standing in the fireplace, and even looking in from the window, each of them nodding in approval.

Chapter Three
     
    We Finally Meet
     
     
    I went to bed quickly, but I had a hard time falling asleep. I was used to the city sounds of cars honking and police sirens wailing. I managed to nod off for a bit . I woke in a panic—where the hell was I?
    Slowly , it started to come back to me. Oh yeah—parents killed, now living upstate with one nice uncle, one brainy cousin, one adorable cousin, and one slightly disturbed grandfather. 
    Suddenly, my thoughts became focused on one thing: food.
    I could smell the coffee brewing and bacon cooking. It smelled like my favorite breakfast place in the city.
    I pushed aside whatever trepidation I felt in facing my grandfather. I secured my robe around me, made my way into the bathroom to prepare myself, and then went downstairs quickly but quietly. 
    “Dad, should I go and wake Bristol?” I heard Simon ask.
    After a moment filled with the sizzle of bacon, Uncle Mark said, “No, let her sleep for now. Poor thing must be exhausted. I can make up some more breakfast when she’s ready.”
    “This would be a good test,” Grandpa said. “If she’s really a Blackburn, she’ll be down soon. Bacon, eggs, coffee. It calls to our kind.”
    “Can I have coffee?” Zack asked.
    “No!” came the unified response of both father and grandfather.
    “But it’s the call of our kind,” Zack complained. “I’m a Blackburn.”
    “So , you can hear the call,” Grandpa replied. “That doesn’t mean you have to answer.”
    “Aw .”
    “You want to stay short the rest of your life?” Grandpa retorted. “Even for your age you’re on the tiny side .”
    “I’m not tiny ,” Zack complained.
    I decided now was the time to make my entrance , if only to spare poor Zack from any more humiliation. “Good morning,” I said as I entered, stepping around the two dogs who were waiting for a scrap of food to be dropped. 
    As I received a chorus of morning greetings back, I looked at the meal being prepared by my uncle. He was moving a small omelet that looked to contain veggies and cheese to a plate. He handed it to Simon , who eagerly took it, adding a few slices of buttered toast and strips of bacon.
    “What can I make for you? You must be starved. You like omelets? What do you like in ‘em? ”
    I shrugged and pointed to Simon’s plate. “That looked nice, thanks .”
    Uncle Mark smiled and started to crack eggs. “No problem.”
    “So, I assume we’ll use the lodge tomorrow?” Grandpa said without preamble as he sipped coffee.
    “For what?” I asked.
    “After the funeral,” Grandpa answered. “So the family can get together. That’s how we do it here. Maybe in the city you just put your dead out at