Read Online Fathomless by Anne M. Pillsworth - Free Book Online Page A

backwards before. “I guess it makes sense, theory first.” It almost choked him, but he added, “And so waiting for a mentor makes sense, too.”
    â€œI’m glad you see that,” Marvell said with a brisk finality that cut off any further discussion. When he came around the table, right hand out, what could Sean do but shake it and seal the deal? Then Marvell checked his watch. “I’m late for the acquisitions meeting,” he told Helen. To Sean, he said, “I’ll see you and Daniel tomorrow at nine.”
    After he’d left, Helen collected glasses and notes. “It’s a load off my mind, Sean, telling you about Orne. Are you okay with it? Well, reasonably okay?”
    To tell the truth, the no-mentor announcement had smacked him so hard, he’d half-forgotten about Orne. “I guess. Orne was stalking me before. Only change, now I get why.”
    â€œLook, if you want to talk, I’m available. So is your father. He said to call him whenever you want.”
    â€œYeah, I will. But it’s not an emergency. I don’t have to get him up in the middle of the night or anything.”
    Helen passed him, binder under one arm, tray in her hands. She still managed to give him an elbow-to-elbow bump. “Better get back to Eddy and Daniel before they decide we’ve thrown you in the dungeon.”
    â€œYou’ve got a dungeon?”
    â€œHaven’t found it yet, but there has to be one in a house like this.”
    Sean opened the library doors for Helen, but didn’t follow her out. Instead he turned back toward the Founding windows. Since he couldn’t flip off Orne to prove the big reveal hadn’t freaked him out, he flipped off Orne’s boss, Nyarlathotep. The Dark Pharaoh didn’t react, of course, but his crow familiar—did it flare out a halo like the one he’d glimpsed yesterday? Any extra brilliance was gone before he could focus on the stupid bird, and the more impressive window phenomenon was Eddy, bobbing and flailing in an east wall casement as if doing jumping jacks. Her mouth worked without producing a peep; the ward that squelched obnoxious exterior noise must have considered her one.
    Eddy would love hearing that, so Sean headed for the garden to tell her.

 
    5
    Dominating the side garden was a copper beech so massive, it must have been planted the same year the house was built. Eddy swung on a low branch. Far above, a loafered foot dangled before disappearing into the canopy. “That’s Daniel?” Sean asked.
    â€œYeah, he’s a freaking squirrel.” Eddy left the under-tree shade and sat on a marble bench otherwise occupied by copies of Franny and Zooey . She took them onto her lap to make room for Sean. “I was worried he couldn’t climb with his hands scarred, so I’m like, ‘Helen’s going to kill me if you fall.’”
    â€œI saw the scars. They’re pretty weird.”
    â€œI asked him what happened. He said his hands were burned so bad, they couldn’t save any of the skin. So they took skin off another part of his body—”
    â€œWhich?”
    â€œHe didn’t say. Probably his butt. Anyhow, they sewed the new skin on his hands like gloves, which is why the scars look like seams. His toes are the same way, he said.”
    Loafers dangled again, followed by khaki legs. The khaki butt didn’t look big enough to provide skin for two hands and ten toes, though couldn’t they stick balloons under your skin and slowly pump them up to stretch it? If Daniel had gone through that, two burgeoning cheeks and nurses always checking on the progress, he deserved major sympathy.
    The rest of Daniel appeared. He waved at them before continuing his descent.
    â€œDid he say anything else about the car wreck?” Sean asked.
    â€œNo, except that it wasn’t the wreck that killed his mom.”
    â€œWait, what?”
    Eddy scooted closer, her