Read Online The Everlasting by Tim Lebbon - Free Book Online

seeing Helen’s fear—confirmed that he had not simply been imagining things. Reality crashed in and ebbed around the events of the past day, and, unimaginable as theywere, Scott could now view the situation from a point of knowledge. This
was
a ghost standing before him, and the letter
had
arrived. The future began at that moment, and it was a very different place.
    Lewis shook his head. “Perhaps not,” he said. “Maybe Papa really didn’t show you the book. Old fool that he was, maybe he thought he’d be keeping you safe.”
    â€œHe’d never do anything to hurt me,” Scott said. He was looking directly at Helen now, trying to offer her calmness through his gaze.
    â€œBut now you’ve heard from him,” Lewis said. “Now you’ve been told. I know that. Your wider self is richer. It’s in your eyes. You’ve heard from him, and now there’s more to life than you ever believed before.”
    â€œPapa is dead. How could I have heard from him?”
    â€œ
I’m
dead! And at Papa’s hand! But it doesn’t always have to be this way.”
    Helen whined and started struggling, and Lewis held her tighter.
    â€œGood,” he said. “It’s getting easier.”
    â€œWhat about the book?” Scott said. In spite of what was happening, he found himself interested.
    â€œThe Chord of Souls,” Lewis said. “It contains the spells for eternal life. Ruling the Wide. Immortality. And more. You
have
to give it to me. It’s . . .
important
!”
    â€œYou’re a ghost.”
    Lewis frowned, as though confused by the term. He looked at Helen, glanced back at Scott, then shook his head. “Scott, I’m much less than a ghost. Didn’t he tell you? Didn’t you ever hear?”
    â€œHear what?”
    Lewis spoke the words, and shadows filled with shadows. He gauged Scott’s reaction and nodded. “Then you
have
seen them before.”
    Helen tried to break free. Scott stepped forward and Lewis tensed, the motion fluid, as though seen underwater.
    â€œYou have no idea what I can do,” the less-than-a-ghost said.
    He’s right
, Scott thought.
I have no idea. Papa told me a little, but nowhere near enough. He told me enough to put me in danger, but not enough to save me
.
    The ghosts stood there, vague echoes of people. They watched. Some of them moved. And Scott wondered for the first time whether Lewis had any control over them at all.
    â€œYou have to find the book,” Lewis said.
    Scott shook his head. “I have no idea.”
    â€œYou heard from Papa.”
    â€œNot really. A whisper. Maybe I was asleep.”
    â€œThat poor old bastard can’t whisper.”
    Scott’s calmness was amazing him, and he saw confusion in Helen’s eyes. “What’s the Wide?”
    Lewis smiled, and it was a horrendous sight.
No dead person should ever smile,
Scott thought. It didn’t become them.
    â€œThat’s for you to find out, just like your grandfather and I did. It’s a knowledge hard come by.”
    Scott looked at Helen, saw the terror and confusion she was feeling, and made a decision. “You’re not here,” he said. “I’m asleep. Dreaming. I thought ofPapa yesterday and now he’s in my dreams, and you’re there too because he killed you. I love him and trust him. You must have deserved to die.”
    â€œI deserve to live forever, damn him! He can stay where he is and I—”
    Scott shook his head and smiled. “You’re not real. And now I’m going to wake up.” He closed his eyes, wondering for a second whether what he said was actually the truth.
    Then he heard the scream. Helen, her voice telling him of her pain and fear.
    Lewis muttered as Scott opened his eyes again, similar to what Papa had said in the woods but the chant longer, rising and falling, words twisting into and through one another as though they