Eye of the Storm (The Charmed)

Eye of the Storm (The Charmed) by Dianne Nutting Page B

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Authors: Dianne Nutting
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located throughout the shelving. Posters of old rock icons littered the walls. A tapestry hung behind the counter in blues and reds and somewhere, he could tell a sprig of incense was burning the familiar scent of pine.
    Sam moved the beads aside and walked into the back of the store. This area was larger than the front. Amanda, the storekeeper was waiting at the couch located just inside the open doorway. He looked around, this was clearly her home. He wondered if her lease included her living here, he seriously doubted it. The walls were covered in red and orange paint and off to the left he could see a kitchen with a small table overlooking the view of the water. To the left of the kitchen was a door he could only guess was her bedroom. Sam sat in a chair opposite Amanda. A large round table separated them and on that table sat a large beaten leather-bound book with a symbol Sam recognized, the symbol of Occlumency.
    “Where did you find it, Amanda?”
    She and Sam went way back. She was the last of the group his parents formed that studied, ate and breathed the affliction called Occlumency. When he took the fanaticism up in high school after his parents died, she had kept an eye on him.
    “I didn’t find it, it found me.” Her eyes sparkled.
    Sam stopped and lowered his glasses at her. “Say what?”
    “I ordered a box from overseas of old books. The owner died and the widow was unloading all his books. I told her I’d take whatever she had. I don’t know how she managed to be on the end of the phone talking to me when there are a million book shops around the world.” She scratched her head. “Guess it was fate. I’m too old to chase an urban legend anyway…” She trailed off staring out the window.
    “What if I told you it wasn’t?”
    Amanda turned her intense light blue eyes toward Sam. Years of wariness etched in her features, line upon line of weathering on her face, her gray hair a mop of curls and frizz. Amanda stood, her bracelets jangling at the motion. She wrapped her red shawl around her shoulders as if a chill entered the room. She walked in soft leather moccasins toward the large window overlooking the water and traffic below.
    “Then maybe it’s not an accident the book ended up here. Have you been followed, Sam?”
    “Possibly.”
    “Then I would tell you to take that book and run.”
    “Don’t you want to hear?”
    “Sam, I chased that dream for so long, I forgot to have a family. If it’s true as you say, then that book will only bring me more unhappiness. Conceal it. Look at the contents as soon as possible because you never know who might be right around the corner.”
    Sam shook his head. “Then thank you.” Sam closed his eyes, placed a hand over the book. To the unobservant eye, it was now The Shining by Stephen King. To Sam though, he knew to handle it with care. These pages would crumble from very little movement, he placed the book in his bag.
    “Is there a back way out?”
    Amanda turned from the window. “Yes, follow me.” She motioned for him to follow her. She walked to the door by the kitchen and opened it to a small bedroom. She walked into the adjoining bathroom and pointed at the bathtub, a door appeared just behind it. She stepped back. “Whoever opens that door need only to think of where he wants to be and they will.”
    Sam bristled with excitement. “I’ve heard of portals like this.” He placed a hand on the wood.
    “Why do you think I live here? Imagine what would happen if this was in the wrong hands! Before you leave, how is Jaden?”
    Sam gave her a small smile. “He’s been well, he’s a great kid, when all this blows over, we’ll come visit for a while.”
    She smiled back. “I’d like that, now go before my store gets blown to smithereens.”
    Sam opened the door, “Thank you, Amanda.” He stepped through the door and directly into his car five streets away. He gripped the steering wheel. “Amazing.” He ran his hand along the rim and

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