Eximere (The River Book 4) Read Online Free

effect.”
    “Have you done this before?” Steven asked.
    “A couple of times,” she replied. “Not often. Usually there
are too many egos involved, and it doesn’t always work.”
    Steven had seen his father go into a trance on several
occasions. Both Steven and his father were able to jump into “the River” at
will. He suspected the others in the room also had this ability – with perhaps
the exception of Kent Percival. The River was a stream, constantly flowing
through everything, filled with an alternative perspective. The ability to
enter the River was what most people meant when they said that someone was
“gifted.” Before Steven’s father had shown him how to enter the River, Steven
had no idea how to do it, or even that he could do it. Steven had been a
rational non-believer in all things supernatural, and to find that his father
could do such things had seemed incredible to him. Not only could they enter
the River, but Roy was able to enter a trance state where he could go deeper.
Steven had been learning from Roy how to do this, but he had only tranced a few
times, and not entirely successfully. He was still learning. Roy was passing
down the skills he’d learned throughout his lifetime to him, but it was taking
some time.
    Apparently all of the others had the ability to trance as
well, and that’s why Jonathan had invited them – so they could all trance at
the same time – a “focus,” he’d called it. He let his mind return to the
conversation around the table.
    “…without knowing exactly what we’re trying to accomplish. A
focus can be very powerful. By its nature it must be directed and very
specific, or it can be dangerous,” Myrna said.
    “The object of the focus,” Jonathan said, “will be to uncover
what spirits haunt this house. We’ll start there. Once we learn what we’re dealing
with, we’ll form a plan. This isn’t anything unusual; we’ve all done it
before.”
    “Usually we’ve uncovered those answers without a focus,”
Eliza said. “Are you sure?”
    “Based on what Kent has told me,” Jonathan said, “I think
it’s the only way. And certainly the quickest way. The focus will get us to the
heart of the matter much more rapidly than individually trying to piece it
together.”
    “I have superior control during focus sessions,” Russell
said, “so I’m confident I can help the group keep it together.”
    “What is it you do, exactly?” Roy asked Russell.
    “He’s a hack,” Marilyn said.
    Russell turned to her, angry. The dog in Marilyn’s arms
lurched at Russell, snapping and yelping. Marilyn increased her hold on the dog
and pulled him back towards her chest, silencing him.
    “He’s a television medium who scams people,” Marilyn said.
    “That’s a scurrilous lie,” Russell said. “I’ve never scammed
anyone.”
    “You give what we do a bad name!” Marilyn said, her voice
rising with emotion.
    “Just because I’m more successful than you doesn’t mean you
need to lash out,” Russell said.
    “So you go on the TV and, what, read people’s minds, that
kind of thing?” Roy asked.
    “Haven’t you ever seen ‘The Other Side with Russell Powers’?”
asked Eliza. “That’s his show.”
    “No, I haven’t,” Roy said. “Sounds like garbage.”
    “Jonathan,” Russell said, “you asked me here. I don’t need
these attacks from people I’m trying to help.”
    “You’re not helping me,” Marilyn said, “or any of us.”
    “Guys,” Jonathan said, “let’s lay off each other. We’re not
here to snipe at each other’s credentials or personalities. We’re here to help Mr.
Percival.”
    “I like your show,” Eliza said, smiling at Russell. Steven
watched as Russell melted and beamed back at Eliza. “It’s entertaining.”
    “He has no credentials,” Marilyn said.
    “That’s not true, either,” Russell said. “I attended East
Maynard where I received a board certification.”
    “How did you graduate from an