Read Online Strega (Strega Series) by Karen Monahan Fernandes - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Karen Monahan Fernandes
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go over a few things —he's going to cover my classes for a few days next month. Ron is well versed in Roman military strategy, so we are going to put together an interesting agenda."
Ron settled in on the other swiveling chair next to Mr. Baker's desk.
"I'm so sorry, Jay. I have to get ready for our meeting. Can we talk more about this later?" he said, nodding toward the blade on his desk while shuffling through his papers.
"Talk about what? Did I interrupt something?" Ron said, as if my being in Mr. Baker's office with the door closed wasn't an indicator. He stretched his neck out to get a closer look at the blade. "What's that?"
Before I could grab it, he reached for it and picked it up.
"Wow...," he managed to say before I took the blade from him. His grip on it was so tight that I had to pry it out of his hands. As he released it, I saw a hint of wrath in his eyes. I shoved it back into my bag, and my face erupted with annoyance that I didn't try to hide.
"When are you free?" I asked Mr. Baker. He probably had nothing more to add, but I was desperate and out of alternatives. He scratched his head as he contemplated my question.
"I'm tied up all morning and most of the afternoon, unfortunately. But I'll tell you what...Mr. Whitmore might have some thoughts. He studied symbology and ancient languages in grad school. He might know more than I do about this particular blade. If you don't mind leaving it with me, I'll try to catch him this morning. We have a staff meeting so he'll be in soon."
Suddenly Ron shot out of his chair as he pulled his sleeve away from his watch. "Mitch, we really need to get going."
I looked at the clock on the wall above Mr. Baker's desk. It was only 9:45. Mr. Baker nervously shifted gears and ruffled through his disorganized pile of papers again.
I pulled the blade back out of my bag and made sure it was concealed before I placed it back on his desk. Ron stared at it like a hungry animal. Something about him really annoyed me. I didn't want him touching it. I lingered for a moment to be sure he didn't.
"I'll call you when I've had a chance to talk to Mr. Whitmore," Mr. Baker said.
"OK. Thanks. I'll talk to you soon." I smiled and waved goodbye to him. I glanced at Ron on my way out and felt my smile fade.
XVII
I wandered around campus aimlessly before I finally got back into my car. I needed to occupy myself somehow so that I didn't go crazy waiting for Mr. Baker. I headed downtown and found a parking spot on State Street just outside the library. Rao's was only a few blocks away, and a coffee was a good place to start.
"I just feel so lost. I don't know what to do...It's like I'm getting deeper each step I take."
For a second, I wondered if my own internal dialogue was loud enough for everyone to hear. As I stepped onto the brick sidewalk in front of the library, I noticed two women walking in my direction. It was their conversation I was hearing.
"I just don't know if he's the 'one,'" the woman continued. I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well," her friend responded, "the answer will come to you. You just have to keep your eyes open. Signs are all around you. Messengers. Pay attention to what they are trying to tell you."
Her words were like a splash of cold water in my face. Before I could look away, her eyes locked with mine and a sharp energy shot across the space between us, jolting me with such force that I felt my heart jump out of my chest.
Before I could pull myself together, a row of trees outside the library caught my attention. Their beautiful green-and-gold foliage rustled in the gentle wind. People sat on the grass nearby, talking and laughing.
Suddenly, a bolt of fiery blue lightning from the clear sky above struck the tallest tree. Within seconds, bright orange flames consumed its leaves and then vanished, leaving behind an ashy skeleton.
I gasped, but the people on the grass continued their conversations as if nothing had happened. Others walked past me toward
Ron settled in on the other swiveling chair next to Mr. Baker's desk.
"I'm so sorry, Jay. I have to get ready for our meeting. Can we talk more about this later?" he said, nodding toward the blade on his desk while shuffling through his papers.
"Talk about what? Did I interrupt something?" Ron said, as if my being in Mr. Baker's office with the door closed wasn't an indicator. He stretched his neck out to get a closer look at the blade. "What's that?"
Before I could grab it, he reached for it and picked it up.
"Wow...," he managed to say before I took the blade from him. His grip on it was so tight that I had to pry it out of his hands. As he released it, I saw a hint of wrath in his eyes. I shoved it back into my bag, and my face erupted with annoyance that I didn't try to hide.
"When are you free?" I asked Mr. Baker. He probably had nothing more to add, but I was desperate and out of alternatives. He scratched his head as he contemplated my question.
"I'm tied up all morning and most of the afternoon, unfortunately. But I'll tell you what...Mr. Whitmore might have some thoughts. He studied symbology and ancient languages in grad school. He might know more than I do about this particular blade. If you don't mind leaving it with me, I'll try to catch him this morning. We have a staff meeting so he'll be in soon."
Suddenly Ron shot out of his chair as he pulled his sleeve away from his watch. "Mitch, we really need to get going."
I looked at the clock on the wall above Mr. Baker's desk. It was only 9:45. Mr. Baker nervously shifted gears and ruffled through his disorganized pile of papers again.
I pulled the blade back out of my bag and made sure it was concealed before I placed it back on his desk. Ron stared at it like a hungry animal. Something about him really annoyed me. I didn't want him touching it. I lingered for a moment to be sure he didn't.
"I'll call you when I've had a chance to talk to Mr. Whitmore," Mr. Baker said.
"OK. Thanks. I'll talk to you soon." I smiled and waved goodbye to him. I glanced at Ron on my way out and felt my smile fade.
XVII
I wandered around campus aimlessly before I finally got back into my car. I needed to occupy myself somehow so that I didn't go crazy waiting for Mr. Baker. I headed downtown and found a parking spot on State Street just outside the library. Rao's was only a few blocks away, and a coffee was a good place to start.
"I just feel so lost. I don't know what to do...It's like I'm getting deeper each step I take."
For a second, I wondered if my own internal dialogue was loud enough for everyone to hear. As I stepped onto the brick sidewalk in front of the library, I noticed two women walking in my direction. It was their conversation I was hearing.
"I just don't know if he's the 'one,'" the woman continued. I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well," her friend responded, "the answer will come to you. You just have to keep your eyes open. Signs are all around you. Messengers. Pay attention to what they are trying to tell you."
Her words were like a splash of cold water in my face. Before I could look away, her eyes locked with mine and a sharp energy shot across the space between us, jolting me with such force that I felt my heart jump out of my chest.
Before I could pull myself together, a row of trees outside the library caught my attention. Their beautiful green-and-gold foliage rustled in the gentle wind. People sat on the grass nearby, talking and laughing.
Suddenly, a bolt of fiery blue lightning from the clear sky above struck the tallest tree. Within seconds, bright orange flames consumed its leaves and then vanished, leaving behind an ashy skeleton.
I gasped, but the people on the grass continued their conversations as if nothing had happened. Others walked past me toward
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