My Soul Keeper Read Online Free Page B

collect his soul.
    “Hello, Matthew, what do you have there?” I ask as he chews on something in his chubby little hand.
    “Yummy.”
    A smile tilts my lips. “It looks yummy.”
    “Hey, mister. Who are you talking to?” His mother comes in to wipe his messy face. “I think it’s bath time,” she tells him, scooping him up into her arms.
    “I’ll see you soon, buddy,” I tell him with a little wave. I leave, appearing in my corporeal form just as Gabrielle is coming out from Simone’s house. She’s on the phone, talking in a hushed, nervous tone. She’s edgy.
    “So things are getting close. We need to act tonight, or it’s all for nothing. There are only so many times I can interrupt.” She angrily talks into her cell, pacing the length of the drive. “I know and I will but she has to be something special,” she continues. I’m curious to whom she’s talking to, to know if it’s related to Simone somehow. I was becoming insane with the need for knowledge on her, and beginning to hate myself for how I’d become some kind of obsessed school geek with a crush on the head cheerleader.
    She notices me and looks back to the house, then to me. “I have to go. Yes, tonight. Okay.” She quickly wraps up the call.
    She flips her phone closed and walks toward me. “What are you doing here, Shamar?”
    “Just checking in, thought I’d say hi. You look stressed, everything okay?”
    “Yes, fine,” she snaps.
    I see the curtain twitch and then she looks straight at me... Simone. Her blue eyes draw me in, my heart rate spikes and I’m held in her thrall. Her gaze glues me to the spot; she’s so beautiful.
    “Shamar!” Gabrielle growls, breaking the connection.
    “I’m going,” I tell her, without having to hear her berate me.

I take Junior from his pram and hand him to Mom. “How was your walk? Where is everyone?” she asks.
    “The walk was nice. Jacob’s gone to get some supplies for a party, and Gabrielle is outside taking a call but she’s not staying.”
    I pull the curtain back and look out to see bright blue eyes looking back at me. They’re almost turquoise. His dark wavy hair makes the colour even more striking. He’s beautiful. His prolonged gaze back at me makes me feel lightheaded. I want to reach for him, but Gabrielle says something to him, and he turns and walks away. Air rushes into my lungs in a sharp whoosh; I realize I had been holding my breath. What is up with my hormones lately? Why can two complete strangers have an effect on my body, but my own boyfriend doesn’t?
    I go to the back garden to lie on the hammock for a while before I need to get ready for Jacob’s party. Grey clouds roll in but the sun’s orange glow burns behind them. It’s like watching a fire blaze through a misty window.
    I sense the usual pull, like Heaven’s reaching out for me to take its hand. I close my eyes and the blue eyes of the stranger appear in my thoughts. Full lips dampened by his tongue, perfect smooth skin… Small pellets of rain moisten my skin and the breeze licks at the drops, turning them to icy tingles on my face.
    “There you are, honey.”
    I startle, opening my eyes to the darkness of night. I bolt upright. “Oh my God, how long was I out here?”
    “Well, it’s eight o’clock. Your phone’s been going crazy on the counter.”
    “I’m meant to be at Jacob’s. I’m not even ready. I must have fallen asleep.”
    I jump to my feet and rush up the stairs. I pull a few items from my closet and decide to go casual in low-rise jeans and an off the shoulder top I borrowed from Leah. I leave my hair to flow loose down my back and apply a little mascara and lip-gloss.
    My phone rings; I hit the connect button. “Where are you?”
    “I’m sorry, Jacob. I fell asleep. I’m on my way.”
    “Is this about us, Simone? About finally having sex? Because I’ve been patient, but I’m getting fed up with waiting.”
    “I just dropped off to sleep, Jacob. I’m on my way. Why are