Into Thin Air Read Online Free Page A

Ellie could appear in the flesh, then vanish into thin air. Nicklesby himself was an Angel, once upon a time. He'd certainly have guidance to offer.
    As in what, by the devil's hoof, was Gawan to do about Ellie in such a short amount of time?
    As he entered the kitchen, Nicklesby met him at the arch, a blue-checked oven mitt on each hand.
    Nicklesby lifted one mitted hand and rubbed his chin. "Did you by chance mention to the girl anything about your present occupation, or how the outcome of her situation will determine your fate?"
    Gawan frowned. "Of a certainty, Nicklesby. Right after I informed her of how I acquired all the markings on my skin nigh onto a thousand years before. And then I stripped me tunic off, called forth me wings, and flapped them a time or two."
    Nicklesby grunted. "Passing grumpy today, aye?"
    Walking to the open kitchen hearth, Gawan stared into the flames. "Nay, not grumpy. Just frustrated." He glanced at Nicklesby over his shoulder. "Twenty-four days, man. I had twenty-four more days before retirement, and then her." He shook his head and returned his gaze to the flames.
    "Trust me. Over nine hundred years of Guardianship, one starts fancying the idea of living out the rest of a mortal life once and for all not as a gwarcheidiol."
    "No doubt," Nicklesby said. "Sit, sir, and eat your supper. Things will be clearer come the morn."
    Never had a night been so black. Of course, it could simply be because there wasn't even a sliver of moon out. Cold, too. Cold and black. Or was it really night? Could be a dark room, right? Things could be worse, though. Much worse.

    Couldn't they?
    Ellie lifted her hand in front of her face and squinted hard. then blinked several times, trying to make out her appendage. Hmm. Not even a shadowy outline showed. The electricity must be out—
    Ellie jumped, trying to get her bearings, yet unsure that her hand waved before her face, unsure that her foot felt for the floor. It was just so dark. And empty.
    She smelled ... hay? No, not hay. Something more earthy. Warmth replaced the cold.
    My name's not Ellie ...
    She thought she closed her eyes as her mind spun, gathering scattered memories. What was her name? The man who helped her—what was his name? Talk about intense. Cute, but intense. His looks betrayed an inner strength—the quiet type, she thought. Tall, broad, with shoulder-length dark brown hair that hung in disarrayed curls. Not tight curls, but loose, carefree ones. And eyes so brown, they seemed to have no pupils.
    Gawan, he'd said his name was.
    She couldn't be sure, but something had seemed odd about him. Maybe not odd, but out of place?
    His mannerisms, maybe, or was it his speech? Definitely an unusual accent. Cute, too.
    Welsh, he'd said.
    Sighing, she tried once more to rise, to call out, but the darkness grew heavier, an oppressing force daring her to challenge it. She seriously wanted to, but something held her back.
    Then before her mind could recall another thing, the heaviness began to lift and fade, and a tiny spot of light appeared far in the distance. Headlights? No, she didn't think she was outside. Ellie willed herself toward it, hoping it would at least be someone who could tell her what the heck was going on ...
    "So what you're saying"—Gawan scratched his brow—"is that Ellie, or whoever, has had something near-fatal happen to her. And she is somehow trapped between life and death?"
    "More like suspended," Nicklesby answered. "Her life force teeters precariously, if what I know of the affliction proves aright."
    "Oy." Gawan rose from the dining room table and began to pace. "She obviously doesn't realize it."
    "Aye, and 'twill be your duty to tell her the tale, being you were the one who rescued her. 'Tis why she can appear in the flesh as she does. Even though your Earth-bound powers are limited, they're just powerful enough to gain a few senses of import with a soul who is In-Betwinxt." The man clucked. "Just in time, she is. I daresay