Jewels of the Past by Jynelle (best classic books to read .txt) 📖

of wood, the trunk opened so easily as if it hadn't been glued shut just moments ago.

"I don't care what you look through," I told her as she bent down and shoved an old dress aside. "I just want that thing found before that creature comes back."

~*~ 13 ~*~

It’s early. I turn to the clock beside my bed, and it reads 7:15 AM. I dislike waking up this early when there’s no dire need. Something woke me up, and while I turn to cuddle against Adam, I realize his absence must have been what woke me up. I can’t help myself, but I know I become clingy whenever he’s home, and my waking up to him not being in bed with me wasn’t at all surprising.

I get out of bed, throw my robe on, and just happen to look out my window and spot him standing out by his pond outside. His back is turned toward me. He’s fully clothed for the day, making me wonder how long he’s been up for. The sun is just barely rising in the east, so he couldn’t have been out there for long, I hope.

I make my way to him, the wetness of the dew on the grass making my slippers wet with every step I take. He turns and looks at me, smiling when he sees me. I happily walk into his open arms.

“Good morning, Sleeping Beauty,” he says, placing a quick kiss on the top of my head.

I hold him tightly, trying to meld my body into his. I hadn’t realized how cold it is this morning until he wraps his arms around me.

“What are you doing out here?” I look at the fish pond. The happy fish are bustling about, probably looking for food, or just happy to have their daddy back.

“Thinking.”

I look up at him. “Bout what?”

He smiles at me again. “Let’s get you back to bed. It’s too cold for to be out here in your robe.” He holds me in such a way that I know he wants to do more than just make sure I’m safe out of the cold.

~~

I never did find out what he was thinking about. It wasn’t a special day; he had just come home late the previous night from a three month trip.

Now, I stand there by the pond at 7:15 AM, just thinking, and that scene popped in my head. All the fish from that morning had since died, and Adam recently filled the pond with new ones. Little adolescent fish who can’t be more than three months old.

I threw in the rest of the food I was holding, and whispered sweet nothings to the fish. I never understood why Adam talked to his fish like he did. I always thought it was because he thought of them like his own children. I asked him once, why he talked to the fish like that. He smiled and avoided the question.

If I wasn’t so in love with him, I’d have been worried he was crazy.

I wasn’t sure how long I was out by the pond, but I knew some time had passed when Landen walked up to me.

“You have a letter,” he said.

I took the letter from him. “It’s too early for mail, isn’t it?” My name was written on the envelope, but no return address.

“There’s no mail today at all. It’s Sunday.”

I saw the empty corner where a stamp should have been. I smiled at Landen, thanked him, and watched as he walked back to the house. I waited until he was inside before I opened the envelope. The handwriting in which my name was written looked familiar, I just hoped it wasn’t who I knew it to be from.

Adam had a friend who lived in Las Vegas who was into the Black Market. The friend would sell a few artifacts Adam gave him, for a large profit in which he got to keep, in return for whatever Adam wanted that was black market material. In other words, illegal. I didn’t want to know what he needed from the black market, but that information could be useful now that he was dead.

My darling Lilly,


First off, my deepest condolences for your loss. Adam meant more to me than my own mother at times. Now, you know I don’t like to beat around the bush, so here’s why I’m writing:


A few weeks ago, Adam put an order out, and the order arrived for him recently. Now that I know the reason he hasn’t been returning my calls, I’m asking for you to meet with me. This is a custom order, and I can’t send it back. I would like to get together with you to discuss payment.


Again, my deepest sympathy.


John

Sighing, I folded the letter and placed it back into the envelope.

John. Of course, that wasn’t his real name. He’s been introduced to me as so many different aliases that I don’t think I know his real name.

I was a little worried about him wanting to meet with me. Adam never allowed the two of us to be alone together. I never understood why, but he creeped me out so much I didn’t press the matter. I didn’t want to be anywhere near the pudgy little man without Adam’s presence. Even with Landen looking after me, my insecurity towards the man was being pushed a little over the edge.

To be honest, I could have cared less about the merchandise Adam purchased, and if this man wasn’t serious about his work, I would have tossed the letter into the wind and forgotten about it. Had I done that, he would end up making an unannounced visit, and I would be forced to deal with him in the most unpleasant circumstances anyway. I would rather have avoided any and all trouble with this man.

Walking back to the house, I decided I would give him a call. Adam had his number in the office. Yes, Adam did do more than a few dealings with this man, and that comment about his mother didn’t surprise me as it probably should have.
Imprint

Text: A fanfiction of the Anita Blake vampire hunter series, by Laurell K. Hamilton. Anita, Edward, and the RPIT are hers. Everything else, though, is mine.
Publication Date: 10-09-2010

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