Read Online Wayfarer by R.J. Anderson - Free Book Online Page A

warned, stalking down the stairs with his hand outstretched. “Or I’ll call the police.”
    â€œYou don’t understand!” she pleaded with him, backing away. “You have to come with me! Now!”
    â€œDon’t listen to her, Timothy,” said Veronica’s throatyvoice from the doorway. “She’s a thief and a liar.” Her face softened as she walked out onto the step. “This has all been so confusing for you. I’m sorry. Why don’t you come back inside with me, and we’ll talk about it?”
    Linden watched Timothy waver, his gaze shifting from her to Veronica and back again. The other faery’s magical disguise was back in place, and her words were laced with enticement. Though Linden’s head still throbbed from the spells she’d cast already, she knew what she had to do: She grabbed Timothy’s hand, and willed him to see Veronica as she truly was.
    One glimpse of the face behind the glamour, and he recoiled. No longer an enticing twin of the girl in his mother’s photograph, but a pale, sharp-faced blonde whose beauty was far from human…
    Linden handed the guitar case back to Timothy, a silent pledge of her good faith. If he didn’t come with her now, he never would.
    â€œRun,” she whispered. “Please.”
    He ran.
    Â 
    â€œWe need a place to hide,” Linden said breathlessly as the two of them dashed down the street. “Somewhere with lots of people, where she won’t dare to try anything even if she finds us….”
    Timothy barely heard her: His head was still reeling from all that had just happened to him. How could Veronicahave made herself look like Miriam, when in reality the two girls were nothing alike? What had she meant about taking his music, and how had Linden shown up so suddenly to rescue him? The guitar case thumped against his leg as he sprinted along, shivering. He’d left his jacket back at Sanctuary, but there was no way he was going to turn around and get it now.
    â€œI can’t see her anymore,” Linden said after a few minutes, slowing to a trot. “Maybe we’ve lost her, or else she’s given up—”
    â€œThis way.” Timothy panted, grabbing her arm and yanking her beneath the glow of a fast-food restaurant sign. Through the window he could make out a scattering of diners and a boy in uniform mopping the tile. Not exactly lots of people, but it should be safe enough. Timothy tugged the door open and wrestled himself and his luggage inside.
    He was leaning against the wall trying to catch his breath when he realized Linden was no longer with him. He turned to see her still standing on the sidewalk outside, her hands pressed helplessly to the glass.
    Well? he mouthed at her, beckoning, but she seemed unable to open the door or even find the handle. Frustrated, Timothy dropped his guitar and his backpack and pushed it wide for her. “Come on!”
    Linden stumbled into the restaurant after him, looking ready to collapse. “I couldn’t get in by myself,” she gasped. “Not until you invited me. That’s never happened to mebefore—it must be because I’ve got magic now. But that means she won’t be able to come in here unless someone invites her, either.”
    He wished she wouldn’t keep talking nonsense; it made him nervous. Timothy shoved his baggage beneath the table and slid into one of the high-backed booths, keeping his head low so he wouldn’t be visible from the street. Hesitantly Linden padded to join him.
    â€œNo shoes,” said the boy with the mop, pointing to Linden. “Can’t serve you like that.”
    â€œIt’s not her fault,” snapped Timothy. “Give us a minute.”
    â€œIt’s all right,” said Linden. She reached behind her back and pulled out a pair of slippers that hadn’t been there a second before. “I have some.”
    She bent to put them