Order of the Omni: A Supernatural Romantic Suspense Novel (The Immortalies Book 1) Penny Knight (100 best novels of all time TXT) 📖

take in the luscious greenery. I’m being pulled to the lonesome tree, in the middle of a large field surrounded by a fence framed with old rusty wire.

There is nothing scary here, no pain, no sounds. No birds chirping. It’s quiet, peaceful. I can feel the wind on my face, and the silent air cleanses me.

Something is there, by the lonely tree. A figure. The shadow by the tree grows clearer as I approach. The figure of a child. A small girl. She senses when I approach and turns. The air leaves my lungs, and I am stilled.

The child, no older than five, with long brown hair and deep blue eyes. So beautiful, yet so familiar.

“It’s time, Mother.” She reaches out for me.

Mother?

“Time for what, Anna?” I say, taking her delicate hand.

How do I know her name?

“Everything,” she says, pulling me down to sit with her, under the tree. “I’ve been waiting a long time for you here.” My heart aches at the thought of her alone. The field is stunning, but I don’t want her by herself.

“You can’t stay here for long. You have to go back soon.” Sadness flickers in her eyes. Just for a moment.

“Anna, I don’t understand. Why weren’t you with me when I was alive?” I must have died. Is this Heaven? I don’t remember ever being pregnant. I would know, wouldn’t I?

“You are alive, silly,” she giggles. The sweet sound stops all too short. “We don’t have much time. You need to know, it’s not your fault. Everything will change for you now. It’s ok though, it’s all meant to happen,” she says.

I try to form words, but they do not come. I’m lost. Clueless to what she is talking about.

She gets to her feet, now in front of me. Both of us, the same height. She raises her hands and swallows.

“I am sorry, Mummy.”

Her hands land on my head. Pain like lightning bolts radiate through me. Screams filled with anguish surround me. It takes a moment to realise they’re mine.

It hurts, like sharp nails piercing my brain. She grasps me tighter as I try in vain to pry her hands away, tears streaming down my face.

“It’s ok, Mummy. It’s nearly over,” her voice comforts but not enough.

White dots are forming, growing larger and brighter. My head is going to explode. The dots cover her face, I can’t see her anymore.

No, come back. Help me. Stop. Don’t do this to me.

I feel warm lips on my cheek as the brightness takes over.

“See you soon, Mummy. I love you.” Is the last thing I remember.

My eyes fly open, and I jolt upright, panting hard. I can hear my heart thumping in my ears. My hands move to my chest, working to mask the loud beating, trying to urge it to calm down.

“Thank God, she’s up,” I hear Topher’s voice. He rises from a mauve velvet couch around a glass table. It’s then I realise, I don’t know where I am. This isn’t home. The cream wall is bordered with a strip of wallpaper. A stunning mirrored clock sits right above the three-seater lounge where Topher was sitting. Two floor length white lamps frame the lounge along with two cream fabric occasional chairs. Modern and expensive. This isn’t home, that’s for damn sure.

“I was so worried. Oh my god. I thought I was gonna lose her,” he says. I look to Topher as he slides the white leather chair from the corner desk to sit by the bed. He leans closer.

“I was so worried, E. How are you feeling?” he asks.

“Okay,” I say, confused. The play button is pushed in my mind, the memories roll like a movie. The hotel, the woman, the pain. Oh god, the pain, that’s right. “Where are we?” Looking through the sheer curtains covering the large windows, I see rolling hills in the background.

“Our room. We’re still at the Chancellor,” he says. That makes sense. The room screams five stars. “I should have taken you to the hospital,” he adds.

My head snaps to him.

“No, no hospital. You did the right thing. I’m fine.” I am so glad he didn’t take me there. He knows me well enough to know I’d hate that. It was probably hard for him to resist since I passed out in the middle of a hotel lobby.

“What?” Topher screws up his face. “What are you talking about?”

“Huh?” my face mirrors his. “You said you should have taken me to the hospital. Whatever, I’m just glad you didn’t.”

“Uh, no, I ’didn’t,” he says.

“Yes, you did.” He did. I heard it.

No, I didn’t. I know better than to say that out loud to you.

My eyes are transfixed on his mouth. I heard him. He just said he didn’t. I know he did, but nothing moved. His mouth didn’t move. Not an inch or a millimetre. Nothing. Zip. Zilch. Did I hit my head when I fell? I run my hand over the back of my head, checking for a lump.

“E, are you ok?” Topher asks. I know this because his mouth moved. He said that. I must have imagined it before.

“Yeah, actually I’m feeling ok. My head doesn’t hurt anymore.” The fire from the back of my neck has gone, too.

What the fuck happened? I hear Topher again. And again, his mouth does not move.

“That,” I say. “How are you doing that?”

Topher grabs my hand to calm me. She’s lost it.

What the hell? It happened again.

“Doing what? Elita, you’re worrying me.” This time his mouth moves.

It’s frustrating. Why is he doing this now? I am already freaked out enough after everything. How long was I out for? Did he learn ventriloquism in that time?

“I don’t know what you are playing at,” I grit out. My frustration levels are shooting off the charts. “But you need to stop, please. The whole talking and not moving your lips thing is cute, but