The Secrets of Life and Death by Rebecca Alexander

Author:Rebecca Alexander [Alexander, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-0-8041-4069-0
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2014-10-06T16:00:00+00:00

Felix followed Jack upstairs and held the stepladder as she drew symbols on the bathroom tiles in permanent marker.

“You do realize I could probably draw these better than you could?” he said. “I’ve been studying them from the medals as well as the girl … the one who died.”

She paused, looking down at him. “Carla. That must be a horrible job. I mean, looking at dead bodies.” She inscribed another sigil on a tile by the ceiling. The upper floor was disturbed, but less wrecked than downstairs.

“How did she die?” he asked.

“She got out of the circle after four months. It was too early. I only went out to walk the dog. When I got back, the door was open, and money was gone from my purse. She must have run to the station. I tried to catch her, but was caught behind the level crossing. The train was already pulling out.” She swallowed hard, and Felix stepped closer.

“I’m sorry.” She could feel the warmth from his body.

“She was dead by the time I caught up with her at the last station. I thought, if I could just get her between the circles in the car … but it was too late.” She looked down at him, her face tight with the effort of not crying. “I tried to explain it to her, but she wouldn’t listen.” She closed her eyes, the face against the window vivid in her mind. “She was just dead.”

“I know.” His baritone was soft, as if it rumbled straight into her brain. “She died a very gentle death, you know. Just fell asleep. If she was dying when you found her, she had four extra months, good months, off the streets.”

She opened her eyes, looked at his face, and stepped down from the ladder, close to him. This time the emotion was un-mistakeable, she could feel the attraction between them pulling him, as he glanced at her mouth.

“I’m going to run Sadie a bath.” She felt uncertain, unsettled. She bent to turn the hot tap on. “Then I’ll draw the sigils on the floor.”

“Jack …”

She straightened up and he put one hand on her waist, as if to steady her. He bent slowly. She stood still as his lips brushed hers. She didn’t respond, but felt every nerve ending come to life where he touched her.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know …” He stepped back.

A clatter from downstairs broke the spell, and Jack stepped away, hands up.

“I can’t …” She slid around him so she didn’t touch him, and turned off the tap. “Could you carry Sadie upstairs? You’ll have to be quick, although the stairs are sigiled.”

“Of course.” His voice was soft, and he stepped onto the landing, taking the stepladder with him.

Jack tipped in a good slug of bubble bath, before she knelt to inscribe each floor tile, enveloped in a fog of lavender. The imprint of his lips and fingers seemed to linger on her skin.

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