Read Online The Bonds of Blood by Travis Simmons - Free Book Online Page B

writing of
the book Grace had given her that very morning.
    “The math book?” Joya asked
incredulously. “You are here to teach me geometry?” Joya was not at
all happy about being woken by this voice any longer, and she
jammed the book back on the shelf.
    Before her hand could leave the binding
though, the book flared back to the bright white color, this time
stinging Joya’s eyes. The birthmark on the back of her neck lanced
pain through her, and Joya fell to her knees, one hand glued to the
book the other flung back to grasp the back of her neck as the pain
arched her back and drew a silent scream from her mouth.
    Do not be so
insolent , the voice said, now sounding
dalua, and no longer the weak, creaking voice of an old hag. You will either know me, or I will possess you. I
will destroy you, Joya Neferis; I will become every part of
you. The voice fell silent, and Joya felt
the pain suddenly leave her body. She crumpled to the floor, weak,
crying in pain, and wondering what she had done to aggravate the
voice.
    I would much rather you
work with me, rather than being controlled by me. The soothing voice from before was back, and Joya
felt serene once more, no longer in pain, no longer hated by this
unseen force.
    “But it is only geometry,” Joya said
weakly from the floor.
    Only geometry? the voice asked with astonishment. Maybe you should talk to your sister Angelica
some more to understand the significance of geometry.
    “Who are you?” Joya pleaded, rising up
to sit on her knees from where she had fallen on the floor. She was
now speaking to the softly glowing light before her on the
bookshelf.
    In time, child, you will
know me but for now, study my instrument, and then the voice was gone.
    A scream tore through the plantation,
and Joya jumped to her feet. She stumbled a bit as the pain had
made her knees incredible weak, and only her hands on the deep set
windowsill stopped her from falling again. Below she saw two green
glowing orbs near the pond, and Joya gasped.
    “Amber,” she cried, recognizing who the
scream had come from that brought the entire house to life. As
usual, though Amber’s room was right next to hers, Joya seemed to
be the last to her side.
    “What is it, Amber?” Jovian asked, his
hands firm on his sister’s shoulders.
    “A hand,” she gasped, tears pouring
down her face, “at the end of the bed … a black hand like death.”
Amber was obviously terrified by what she had seen. “It glowed,
like it was a lamp! Dear Goddess, it was on fire!” She was sobbing
so hard that it was nearly impossible to make out the words that
poured from her trembling lips.
    “There is nothing here, darling,” Dauin
said, standing at the foot of her bed in his long robe. “Are you
sure it wasn’t a dream?”
    “It was a dream,” Amber confirmed,
rubbing the tears from her eyes. “Yet it was so much more than a
dream. There was a black figure, right where you stand, holding a
blazing dead hand.”
    Dauin frowned and shook his head. “It
was only a dream, dear heart. Go back to sleep.” He paced to the
door. “I don’t think it would be wise for you to consume that much
dandelion wine in the future.”
    Amber scowled as he left the
room.
    “Don’t mind him,” Angelica assured
Amber, sitting at the foot of the bed so that Joya could crowd in
on the opposite side of Jovian to be with her sister. “You know how
Father is when he is woken up like that. However, if all of the
excitement is over, I think I’ll catch the summary of what happened
in the morning.”
    “That is fine, Angie,” Amber said,
starting to calm now that others were with her and she could
clearly see that there truly hadn’t been any apparition in the room
with her before her shrill outcry. “I am sure it was nothing to be
worried about, and I am sorry to have woken you. I love you,” she
said, conjuring a smile for the sake of all gathered.
    “I love you too,” Angelica returned,
rising. “Don’t worry about