Read Online Keepers: A Timeless Novella by Laura Kreitzer - Free Book Online

I
was across the street from my house. Several of the angels were
talking with the police and firemen as they worked together to
contain the fire. My house was completely engulfed in flames, and
at this point, there was no saving it. Mostly, they were focusing
on my neighbors’ homes, though Melvin’s house could burn for all I
cared. That was when I remembered why I needed rescuing in the
first place.
    “ Where’s Jules? Firen?” The
words left me in a rush of anxiety.
    “ Jules is perfectly fine,”
Firen said from behind me.
    I rose to my feet and
pivoted to face the Fallen Angel. “How’d you get her out of there
so fast?” I asked.
    “ I went outside to make
sure no one had gotten through the perimeter the FBI had set up,”
Firen said. “As I came around the side of the house, I saw a
vehicle creeping by. I thought it was odd and was about to
investigate when a flaming bottle hurtled from inside the car. It
hit the front door and burst into flames. Several more were flung
from the vehicle.”
    I cut her off. “Did you see
who it was?” Whoever had done this to my house and put my family at
risk would pay dearly. Moreover, how did that person get through
security?
    “ Yes,” Firen
answered.
    “ Did you recognize them
from the crowds?” I prodded.
    “ It’s someone you know,”
she said, unsure if she should tell me, which was good because I
needed a moment to let that information sink in.
    “ Then what happened?” I
asked.
    Firen watched me carefully
before continuing. “I ran around back and got Jules out of the
house before the alarms started going off. I was about to go back
in for you and Jenna, but then I saw Jenna come out of your window.
When I realized you weren’t right behind her, I decided to go in
after you, but Jenna was already on the phone with the Illuminator.
Before I had a chance to move ten feet, the Illuminator had already
gone in after you.”
    “ What can I say,” Gabby
said, tone ironic, “I’d totally miss your stellar cooking skills if
you died, especially your breakfast. So I had to save
you.”
    My lips tilted up, and I
found it funny that we’d switched roles. Normally I was the one
trying to be upbeat in the face of tragedy.
    “ Seriously, Joseph, you’re
going to be the death of me. All the swooping in and saving you
that I have to do on a regular basis.”
    My grin widened. “Awe, but
if you die, who’s going to keep me out of trouble? You’re one of
the only friends I have with super powers.”
    “ Well, the only reason
we’re friends is because you can rock a tweed suit,” she informed,
tone mock serious. “So if you want to keep me around, I expect more
tweed.”
    “ And here I thought it was
my charming looks and personality that kept you around,” I said.
But then the smile melted away as I asked the dreaded question
burning in the back of my throat: “Firen, who did this?” I gestured
toward the pile of wood that was once my house.
    Andrew stepped into our
little circle. He glanced between Jenna and me, and he grinned
suddenly. “I’m going to go out on a
limb and say it was the ex-girlfriend,”
Andrew said, winking at Jenna.
    For a few seconds, no one
said anything, but then Jenna burst into a fit of hysterical
laughter. Gabby joined in, adding, “I’ve been teaching him new
phrases.”
    I smiled at them, knowing
they were just trying to break the tension, but I had to know who
had almost killed my family. “Firen, was it Sara?” I asked, having
to speak over the giggling sisters.
    Firen nodded, and my
fingers curled into fists at my side. Sara had finally gone too
far, and I had no one to blame but myself. The laughter hastily cut
off, and Jenna and Gabby shared the same look I knew was splayed
across my face: rage.

CHAPTER 9: HIT THE NAIL
ON THE HEAD
     
    I needed a vacation.
Understatement, to be sure, but it needed to be said. There had
been so much crap piled on me, I was honestly surprised I hadn’t
broken in half already or, at