The Keeper Set - Summer Spirit Novellas 7 - 9 Read online

  The Keeper Set

  The Summer Spirit Novellas

  Volumes 7-9

  Samantha Jacobey

  Lavish Publishing, LLC ~ Midland

  Copyright © 2017 Samantha Jacobey

  All rights reserved.

  Paperback ISBN:

  ISBN-13: 978-1974330447

  ISBN-10: 1974330443

  Cover Design by Wycked Ink

  Cover Photos from Adobe Stock

  www.LavishPublishing.com

  Keeper of Truth

  A Summer Spirit Novella

  Volume 7

  Samantha Jacobey

  Lavish Publishing, LLC ~ Midland

  Copyright

  This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  KEEPER OF TRUTH. Copyright 2017 ©

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Lavish Publishing, LLC.

  First Edition

  Summer Spirit Novella Series, book 7

  Ebook Edition

  All Rights Reserved

  Published in the United States by Lavish Publishing, LLC, Midland, Texas

  www.LavishPublishing.com

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Mindless Wander

  A Visitor

  The Path to Purgatory

  Purest of Souls

  Clouds in the Distance

  The Presence of Greatness

  Search for the Master

  Meddling Passion

  Faithful Servant

  Tidbits of Tomorrow

  Keeper’s Truth

  Prologue

  A stiff wind rustling his sandy brown curls that sprouted around the edges of his toboggan, Charlie ran his hands roughly over his stubble-covered face. Feeling the bite in the breeze, he used his powers as if they were second nature, producing soft leather gloves to cover his fingers. Shoving each hand into a jacket pocket as added protection, he glared at the headstone before him.

  John Fredrick Phillips, the bold block letters stood out from the gray background of marble. Swallowing hard, “Jesus, dad. If you only knew,” he sighed aloud.

  Over six months had passed since he had spent his last night in Karma’s haven. Summer had come and gone, and he struggled each day to keep his promise to Clarisse. As the warmth faded with the coming fall, a feeling of darkness had settled over him. An eerie realization that the cold creeping in meant more than winter lay before them.

  He had given his word that he would not share himself with Karma again. But the oath had grown heavy, a burden as the need to know more consumed him. He had come to visit his father’s grave more and more often, especially when the urge to break his word to his wife seemed to be overtaking him.

  Sniffing, he curled his lips, sucking them into his teeth to chew on briefly before he wiped away an escaped tear. Drawing a deep breath, he whispered, “I know, dad. I said I’d be loyal, an’ I will. But everything’s changin’, an’ Karma won’t tell me any more unless I give her what she wants.”

  As if his father’s reply arrived on a heavy blast of air, Charlie chuckled. “Yeah, I can take it. I’m a man, after all. My birthday bash was extreme,” he grinned at the recollection. “I’m legal in every way now, an’ Purgatory celebrated for a solid week.”

  He sighed, his mind drawn to the memory of his twenty-first birthday for a moment. A frown seeped onto his features as he recalled his mother’s phone call on his special day. “She hasn’t forgotten you, dad,” he consoled. “It’s jus’ that she needs t’ move on. Really.”

  He had called Bethany out of obligation; the woman had given birth to him, after all. However, discovering that she was in the process of settling into her new home at the time had not bode well, and with a small amount of prying, he had understood why. “Phil and I need our own place. A fresh start,” her words echoed in his mind. Phil.

  A fellow Forgotten Angel and occupant of Purgatory, Phillip Parson had neglected to mention this bit of news to Charlie; a fact that took the younger man by surprise. And made him suspicious. Phil had taken every opportunity to gloat about his relationship with the boy’s mother, rubbing his nose in it when they had become physically involved.

  Asshole, Charlie grimaced, grinding his teeth. He had hated Phillip since their first meeting and living with him within Karma’s walls had only added fuel to his loathing. He didn’t deserve a woman like Beth, and the fact that Karma allowed it to happen seemed a bad omen.

  “There has t’ be another way,” he spoke aloud. “Some way t’ find out the truth about what Karma’s hidin’ without breakin’ my vows to her or Clarisse.”

  “Indeed,” a deep male voice replied, causing Charlie to jump with a start.

  “Who’s there?” he cast his mahogany orbs around him, catching sight of the tall dark stranger in a flowing brown robe standing to his left and slightly behind him. “Keeper!” he shouted more loudly than he intended. Ratcheting his voice down, he continued, “What the hell are you doing here?”

  “You asked for the truth, did you not?” the older being’s lips thinned into a slight grin.

  “Yeah, but that don’ mean I got anything to say to you!”

  “Oh, Charlie,” the deity donned a full smile. “I am the Keeper of Truth. You don’t need Karma to learn anything. I possess all the answers that you seek.”

  “Yeah, right,” the younger man lifted his chin defiantly. “But you guard them like they were gold an’ hide them under so many lies, no one can tell which is which,” he accused.

  “Yes, it would seem to be so,” Keeper agreed, stepping forward to stand side by side with his companion. “But time is moving faster, Charlie. We must prepare.”

  “Time is moving faster,” he parroted in a whisper, “Karma said that to me once. What does it mean? Time is a constant; it doesn’ move any faster or slower… ever.”

  A loud sigh escaped from the greatest of the Angels and he shook his head slowly. “I thought you had come further than this, my son.”

  “Don’t call me that,” Charlie’s eyes narrowed as he watched the wind toy with the old man’s hood, which allowed him glimpses of his ancient face. “You’re not my father. This is his grave, an’ I won’ have you desecrate it by speaking that way here!”

  His mouth drawn into a pucker for a moment, Keeper’s hand dropped to his side, and he fondled a pouch that hung from the sash that served as his belt. Charlie’s eyes followed the action, and a sound resembling marbles in a bag met his ears for a moment before the wind carried the noise away.

  “That is the way, isn’t it,” Keeper lifted his chin, his brown eyes growing lighter as they met the young man’s head on. “Yes; I believe that it is.” In an instant, he disappeared, and Charlie tried for a moment to trace where he had gone, as if he intended to follow.

  Realizing the effort to be futile, Charlie grit his teeth and growled in disgust; “Stupid ol’ bat. Why the hell can’t they jus’ leave me alone?” Turning his gaze back to the headstone, he sighed; “Sorry, dad. I didn’ mean to get you mixed up in thi
s.”

  Mindless Wander

  Standing in the graveyard until he couldn’t take the bitter wind any longer, Charlie eventually transported across the small community. Arriving in front of his childhood home, he glanced around to ensure the area appeared vacant before he crossed the plane.

  Before him, the dwelling sported a bright green color, one that had been applied at the time of his previous visit; the one during which his world had gone from mild chaos to full on idiocrasy. “Dammit,” he muttered under his breath while observing the lacy curtains hanging in the window of what had once been his room.

  Charlie briefly considered if Tabs and Brett’s baby had arrived yet, certain the child would be a girl based on the color of the sheer material. His heart fluttered with guilt at the idea that she had ended up with him after they had spent so much time avoiding him and his hurtful crew of followers. “Dammit,” he mumbled again while turning towards the familiar path that led to the Dairy Queen.

  Lifting his collar on his jacket, he braced himself against the wind that had only gained in strength since his arrival in Texas a few hours before. Noting the sun had begun its descent, he felt he should return to Arizona, but couldn’t bring himself to leave. Arriving at the glass doors of the local teen-hangout and fast food joint, he managed to prevent it from slamming against the wall as he pried it open and slipped inside.

  Glancing around, he pursed his lips at the tables, half of which were occupied by happy, dining families. Noting that the typical crowd of young people was nowhere to be seen, he sighed to himself, What am I doing here? He felt restless and out of place, as if he didn’t belong there anymore and shouldn’t have come. Scooping his stocking cap off his head, he ambled over to the counter where a young man almost his height stood waiting to take his order.

  “Coffee, please,” Charlie stammered while looking the boy up and down. He seemed familiar, but not quite enough to recognize. The tag pinned on his shirt read David, but the name in itself didn’t ring any bells.

  “Right away, sir.” Turning to the coffeepot, David the cashier pulled a cup from the stack and filled it with steaming black brew. Back at the register, he accepted Charlie’s money and handed him his drink.

  Dismissed, Charlie turned and selected a cushioned seat at the back, along the wall that lay next to the bathrooms. From there, he could see the entire dining room, as well as the front counter. Having arrived there for no particular reason, and in no hurry to go home, he linked his fingers over the back of his hands, palms facing, and leaned his head against the space formed between his index fingers and thumbs.

  So much in Charlie’s life could not be explained. Too many things were beyond sharing with virtually anyone. Breathing deeply, as if searching for some ounce of strength or clarity of thought, he waited; for what, he couldn’t say.

  Hearing the bell on the door, he lifted his head slightly, but only enough to see a short young woman enter. Watching her covertly without exposing his face, he recognized her immediately. By the size of her round belly, he knew their child had not arrived yet, but it would happen any day.

  Removing her coat, Tabitha spoke to the young man running the front in a warm tone, “How are things this afternoon, David?”

  “Just fine, ma’am.”

  Charlie lifted his head a little more at the reply, thinking it odd to hear his once best friend referred to as ma’am.

  “That’s wonderful,” Tabs inspected the counter and area behind the register before straightening and looking around the lobby. If she noticed Charlie, she made no sign. Turning on her heel, she placed her right hand on her back and applied pressure to the area at the base of her ribs. Her coat in her left hand, she disappeared towards the back, where the kitchen and office lay on the other side of the wall to Charlie’s left.

  Sitting for a moment, he felt tempted to shift to the magical plane and follow her. Thinking better of it, he got to his feet, cup in hand, and made his way to the front. “Could you let Tabitha know that I’m here?” he asked in a quiet voice.

  Staring at him, the acne on the young man’s face glistened in the harsh overhead lights. “Does she know you?” he asked after a long pause.

  “Yeah, jus’ tell her Charlie’s here,” he grunted, more than a little annoyed at the interrogation.

  Shuffling his feet, David didn’t budge. “She’s busy,” he stated flatly.

  “An’ how do you know? Unless you go ask her?” Blinking a few times, green eyes glared at him, and he kept his tone as even as he could muster. “Please. Go t’ the back an’ tell Tabs that Charlie Phillips is here t’ see her.”

  A glimmer of recognition flashed in the emerald orbs, and a smile emerged. “Yeah, sure. I’ll let her know.” Sauntering through the swinging doors, his muffled voice carried to the front as he informed the young woman that her presence had been requested.

  An instant later, the doors slammed back, and an out of breath Tabitha stood before him, hands on her hips as she glared up at him. “What are you doing here?” she bit in a tone hard to read.

  Anxiously studying her, Charlie resisted the urge to invade her thoughts and get to the bottom of her behavior. “I’m in town for a brief visit and wandered in for a cup o’ coffee,” he held up the drink as if to provide evidence in his favor. “I saw you come in, an’ thought you might like t’ share a cup with me.” He forced a smile, suddenly afraid that she would have him thrown out.

  “A year,” she huffed. “Over a year since I hear from you, and you show up now, of all nights, for coffee.”

  “What’s wrong with tonight?” he shook his head slightly, his resolve faltering.

  “You don’t know what today is?” she questioned, her hand tracing the line of her full belly.

  “No, I don’t,” he grinned, taking a step towards her. “Grab a cup an’ sit with me. You can fill me in,” he offered.

  “David, can you make me a cup o’ hot tea an’ bring it out to me?” she asked quietly, turning her back on Charlie.

  “Yes, ma’am,” the young man replied, getting right to it.

  Making her way through the sea of tables and patrons, Tabitha selected a chair and sat with her back to the room. “I bet this must come as some surprise,” she said forcefully once he had seated himself across from her.

  “No,” he smiled genuinely. “I know about you an’ Brett,” he conceded. “I heard you bought our old house from his father. You guys are married, an’ it looks like your baby’ll be here any time now.”

  “Yeah,” she agreed, accepting her warm cup, “Thanks, hun,” she flicked the younger male a brief smile.

  “You’re welcome,” David grinned, shooting Charlie a quick glance before he returned to his post.

  “So, what’s so special about today?” Charlie demanded, leaning towards her with his arms on the flat surface between them.

  “This is our wedding anniversary,” the girl supplied. “Brett an’ I’ve been married a year… today.”

  “Oh,” Charlie sat up straighter, surprised at the coincidence. “I’m sorry, I had no idea. You’re working on your anniversary?” he asked doubtfully.

  “Brett an’ I own this store,” she breathed in irritation, closing her eyes for a moment as if in pain. “Look, Charlie; I’d really like t’ know what you’re doin’ here. Brett’ll be here as soon as he’s done over at the shop. He usually closes it up about five, an’ we’re meeting here tonight… for dinner,” she lied, hiding their plans to drive to the next town to a more suitable restaurant for celebrating.

  “Oh,” Charlie repeated himself, sounding a bit thrown off at the news. He knew he could learn all that he wanted to know with a bit of snooping, but somehow listening to her explain soothed him; satisfied him more than the actual knowledge that she disclosed. “How did you two end up together?” he gently prodded, taking a sip of his lukewarm beverage.

  “We became friends after his mother died,” she said stiffly. “You should have seen him, Charlie. He was transformed, almos
t overnight. Devastated; lost. I think if I hadn’t been there for him…” her voice trailed away and she drew a ragged breath. “Then, his father was killed just three months ago. Things have been hard,” she finished in a low tone.

  “You mean he lost both o’ his parents… in the last year?”

  “A little over a year, but yeah; both of his parents are gone. Everything in town, practically, belongs to us now.”

  A chill settled over the couple and Charlie breathed, “So that’s how you ended up with him.”

  Sliding her chair back violently, Tabitha got to her feet. “Finish your coffee, Charlie. Then… go back t’ where ever it is that you’ve been.” Turning her back on him, she stomped around the corner and he could hear the fwap of the swinging doors as she returned to her haven in the back.

  Charlie had sensed the change in the air around him before Tabitha’s departure and wondered for a moment if Gous, or some other Dark Angel, had been responsible for her foul mood. Finishing off his drink, he tapped the empty cup on the table a few times, his eyes wandering over the patrons. He knew the bathroom lay behind him, and if he slipped inside, he could transition to the other plane without any of them being the wiser.

  But then, of course, they would never see him exit the lavatory, and he wondered if any of them would notice. While he considered the conundrum, he felt a presence brush his arm, as if it had taken the seat next to him. “Gous?” he hissed, hardly above a whisper.

  Not getting a response, he tried again, “Baby, is that you?” he glanced around him, waiting.

  When the silence grew long, but the impression that he was not alone did not fade, a slow chill crept up his spine. Getting to his feet, he dropped the paper cup in the trash on his way out the door. Pulling his cap on over his head and his gloves into place as he strolled along the path in the near dark, he waited until he had cleared the curve and there would be no one around to observe his shift.