Crushed Seraphim Read Online Free Page B

mother followed not his small, injured body, but the three boys that had dealt the blows. He and Emma trailed behind her, holding hands tightly. His mother tracked those boys right into their backyard. When they noticed her, they quickly adopted a respectful manner.
    “Mrs. Parish! Hello ma’am. Are looking for our mother?”
    His mother smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
    Filthy little bastards.
    “Boys, are you having a nice day?” She held her umbrella in her hands like an offering.
    “Yes, ma’am. No, ma’am.” They all spoke at once, and Jason could read the fear in their heads as well.
    “I saw you put your hands on my Jason.” She let the words sink in.
    They did, and the boys began to shift with guilt.
    “If any of you come near him again, I’ll beat you to death with this umbrella. Is that understood?” She looked in the face of each boy.
    They were shocked. It was the promise in her eyes that scared them. They were sure she was crazy, but she was speaking in a soft, pleasant voice.
    “Yes, ma’am. Of course, ma’am.” They mumbled their answers.
    “Very well, I bid you good day.” She turned to leave, but thought better of it. She smiled at the tallest one, then whipped the umbrella down hard on the top of his head. A sickening thwack resounded in the air. “Now I feel better.”
    She used the umbrella as a walking stick as she sauntered away from the now-whimpering child.
    Jason was shocked as he looked at Emma. “I had no idea she did that.”
    Emma forced Jason to continue following his mother. “Listen to her! Do it!”
    His mother’s mind was loud now, her worry giving it volume. Jason would die for a blind, old dog. Where did that child come from? He certainly doesn’t take after me. His mother pictured his face, brave and determined, and she poured her achingly deep love over his image. He was everything to her. She walked faster, almost running in her rush to get home and tend to her son.
    Emma pulled him closer. “See? You had love in its most basic form. You’ve seen what I’d intended you to. Hang on.”
    The rollercoaster through time with Emma as his safety belt began again. She made sure he focused on her face, which made him wonder what he’d see if he looked away. Would my whole life be flashing by us?

    Landing softly in the snow, back in the recognizable, present-day woods, Jason found himself grateful for the quiet — the lack of other people’s thoughts inside his head. He treasured the solid memory he now had of his mother’s face. He’d keep her with him always — the sound of her voice, the strength of her love.
    He still held Emma’s hand tightly. So tightly, in fact, that had she been human her hand would’ve been broken. The pure bells of her laugh filled the woods, and he turned to see what was so funny.
    Emma was again clothed in crisp white, but now she wore a long, slim dress and a huge hat with a white flower.
    “Dressing me in period clothing? Really, half-breed, am I your dress-up doll?” She wiggled free of his grasp and took a few of the small steps her skirt required.
    Jason closed one eye, realizing that in his pondering of the time jump, he’d also mused about how beautiful Emma would look with her hair up. And she did look beautiful.
    You clearly exceed the standard of beauty for that time. But I apologize. What would you prefer to wear?
    She blinked, flattered by his thoughtfulness in spite of herself. “Honestly? I’d love to try out some pajamas. They look wonderful from above — much better than a frilly nightdress I had to wear when I was alive.” Shaking her head roughly, she looked down at the hem of her skirt.
    What is it?
    “I’m here for you, despite my slim chance of success. I still have one wing, and I’m duty bound to give you proper guidance. So I feel a bit selfish requesting something as silly as clothes.”
    Smiling, Jason gestured to her, and at the same moment she was wrapped in glorious white cashmere. She