Dream Whispers

Dream Whispers

By K. L. Bauman

Copyright © 2011 K. L. Bauman

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1 ~ The Way It Began

Chapter 2 ~ Angel

Chapter 3 ~ Becca

Chapter 4 ~ The Creepy Kasden House

Chapter 5 ~ Lost

Chapter 6 ~ Crash

Chapter 7 ~The Touch

Chapter 8 ~ The Bully and the Hero

Chapter 9 ~ The Picnic

Chapter 10 ~ Oh! The Irony!

Chapter 11 ~ At First Sight

Chapter 12 ~ Fear

Chapter 13 ~ Too Many Questions

Chapter 14 ~ The Locket

Chapter 15 ~ Convictions

Chapter 16 ~ Enough

Chapter 17 ~ The Darkness

Chapter 18 ~ Music Mage

Chapter 19 ~ Dark Spell

Chapter 20 ~ Torn Heart

Chapter 21 ~ Black

Chapter 22 ~ Memory Echos

Chapter 23 ~ The Discovery

Chapter 24 ~ Missing Faces

Chapter 25 ~ Clues

Chapter 26 ~ Ghost Hunter

Chapter 27 ~ Evidence

Chapter 28 ~ Mysterious Gift

Chapter 29 ~ Kayde Harper

Chapter 30 ~ The Basement

Chapter 31 ~ Broken Pieces

Chapter 32 ~ The True Mage Master

Chapter 33 ~ Open Your Heart

Chapter 34 ~ Capturing the Gift

Chapter 35~ Just Sing

Chapter 36 ~ Life

Chapter 37 ~ The Reveal

Chapter 38 ~ Forever

About the Author

Connect with the Author Online

Prologue

His eyes followed the pale, pre-dawn light as it brushed across Becca’s porcelain cheek. He traced her pink rose-petal eyelids with his ghostly fingers, though his touch was nothing but air against her skin. His eyes followed the path of his fingers as they trailed the side of her face, over her cheek, along her jaw line, and to her mouth. Her lips were parted in a pout, allowing her soft breath to escape. Gentle wisps of strawberry blond hair, that amazing color of a blushing sun, caressed her cheek and neck. Music played in his mind; Becca’s song—that sweet, haunting melody he heard any time he was with her or even thought of her. It was music void of words, but filled with a supernatural intensity that drew him to her.

He traced her mouth, wishing desperately he could kiss her, feel her warmth, hold her. Sadness stabbed him, piercing his transparent skin and cutting his invisible heart like shards of ice. How could this be happening?

Becca sighed and smiled, causing him to pull away. After waiting a moment, he leaned close to her ear and, brushing his mouth against her hair, spoke her name; his voice flowed past his lips in a caressing whisper, Rabecca.

He gasped when Becca’s eyes snapped open. Their ice blue color leapt out at him before she lurched upright, passing through his form. He jolted to his feet in shock. Had she actually heard him? His ghostly heart nearly beat its way out of his chest. (Was his real heart doing the same?) He watched her cock her head and hold her breath. She was waiting, listening!

Daring to hope, he whispered her name again. A sigh of wind whispered through the screen of Becca’s open bedroom window as her name escaped his lips. Her head jerked toward the sound before she released her breath and flopped back to her pillow. He stood frozen in anticipation. Mumbling something about whispering dreams, Becca closed her eyes and breathed evenly.

He slowly released the air from his lungs as hope fled the room. A summer storm rumbled in the distance as it left the area. He felt himself fading. He tightened his hands in frustrated fists. Somehow, he had to make her remember. She had to remember him before it was too late…

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Becca was completely absorbed in a vivid dream—the kind that happens during the first gray light of morning before the sun peeks over the horizon. She dreamed of her love, his messy hair shining as brilliantly as his mischievous smile. Mysterious eyes looked into hers. They laughed as they danced to the sweet spell of an intoxicating song that swirled in the air around them, drawing them closer together.

The man’s face sobered, and he looked at Becca with an intensity that made her heart forget its purpose. He touched her heated face with fingertips as cool and soft as a spring breeze. She remained still, mesmerized as he traced her cheek, her jaw line, and then trailed his fingers to her lips. He lightly traced her mouth, his feathery touch tickling her. She smiled and sighed, but then the feeling vanished.

A sudden deep sadness enveloped her as the man leaned close to her ear. She closed her eyes as his caressing voice whispered…

Becca jolted awake, and for the very brief moment before she lurched to a sitting position, thought she saw the man’s face leaning close to hers. Cool air washed over her as she cocked her head to the side and held her breath, listening. She thought she’d actually heard someone speak her name.

A breeze whispered softly through her open window, and she jerked her head. After staring at her screen for a minute, she released her breath and plopped back to her pillow. Dream whispers, she mumbled as she closed her eyes.

The enchanting music and the face of the man from her dream quickly dissolved from her memory as she drifted to sleep.

Chapter One

The Way It Began

The wheels of Kayde Harper’s motorcycle slid to one side as they touched crusting slush and ice, throwing him off balance. He gripped tighter with his gloved hands and made a gentle correction to keep from hitting a snow drift. What was he doing out here? Snow blasted against his 2006 Honda Shadow, nearly sending him to the ditch. In all of his nineteen years, he’d never experienced anything like this. He’d hated the miserable hot Texas summer days, but at least spring there was tolerable. The weather knew to be warm in the spring back home.

The snow was getting thicker. His bike seemed to groan as he pushed forward. This is insane! he thought. The wind gusts pushed against him, threatening to topple him over. Snowflakes as big as golf balls blurred his vision. A sign a few miles back had alerted him to an upcoming town. If he could just stay on the road long enough to get there…

If it wasn’t for the stupid, consuming music he wouldn’t be out here. The thought seemed ridiculous at that moment as a haunting whistle of wind blasted around his helmeted head. Kayde had grown up in a house engorged with music. It was part of his family’s DNA—like having a crooked nose or thin lips. But they weren’t like other families with musical abilities. Their music carried a kind of power—supernatural-like. His dad had tried to dig into their history, to find out where this had all begun. But their genealogies mysteriously cut off at about 130 years back, leaving a million unanswered questions.

Scowling again, Kayde tried not to think about it all. But he couldn’t escape the music. It was like a consuming fire. The more he tried to resist hearing it or tried to avoid its dark influence, the more it seemed to grow, washing over and around him like a raging mudslide, suffocating him. It haunted him. Or should he say hunted him? No matter where he was, it chased after him like a predator ready to pounce and devour. It thrilled him—and terrified him. The things he’d done…

The bike’s engine sputtered, slowing the machine down from its previous .2 mph. Kayde quickly pulled over to where he thought the side of the road was—who could tell for sure? Everything was white. The motorcycle died as Kayde came to a stop. What now? He turned the key, attempting to bring the machine back to life, but it only coughed and died again. Could a motorcycle catch cold?

Rubbing the snow from the gauges, Kayde groaned. Could I be more idiotic? he wondered. The needle on the gas gauge was buried under the ‘E’. He’d run out of gas in the middle of nowhere during a freak spring blizzard!

After cursing and stomping his feet like a ten year old who’d just had his video game taken away, Kayde calmed enough to remember that sign a ways back. Glenville, Montana. A town called Glenville was somewhere close. Why did that name sound so familiar? Had it been one of the towns his dad or grandpa had talked about? He wasn’t sure.

He should start walking, but he didn’t want to leave his bike. Someone was bound to come by and see him. How couldn’t they? Kayde was the only black thing out here in the middle of a sea of white; black helmet, black coveralls, thick black coat, black gloves, black boots. He must look like a burnt Stay Puff marshmallow man. He struggled with zippers and buttons to reach his cell phone. No service. Figured. He stuffed the useless thing back in his puffy pocket.

A faint tune played in the back of Kayde’s mind. He groaned. The sounds of his dad’s music boxes, although magical and beautiful, always carried bubbly emotions or unwanted memories. This was a familiar melody from a music box his dad had made specifically for him. The last words his dad has spoken to him echoed in his memories. I hope you find yourself out there, Son. I hope you find the answers you’re searching for. Be careful and know you’re always welcome to come back home. You know we all love you.

Kayde swallowed the lump that threatened to form in his throat as his thoughts returned to the present. He didn’t want to be thinking about home right now. He needed to get as far away from home as possible. Besides, other than the gear he now wore, his dad hadn’t been any help. He needed to keep going.

A subtle voice whispered in his head, Where will you run?

Kayde put on a determined scowl. He knew exactly where he was going. He was focused on getting to the Canadian border. He wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was because he knew his grandpa had been born and raised in Canada. Maybe Kayde could feel closer to him there—feel the peace and comfort he’d felt before losing the only person who’d ever understood him; the one who’d given him the bike that had carried him all of these miles.

Or maybe just because it was so different from what he was used to; the opposite end of the States and as far away from Texas and all the suffocating music as he could get. Too bad he hadn’t been as focused on his gas gauge as he had been on his destination.

The wind picked up, sending biting bits of snow and ice at him. His body stayed warm enough under all his gear. But his feet started to feel the chill. Would he stand out there until his toes turned as black as his boots? Maybe this road trip hadn’t been such a great idea. But he had no other choice.

Kayde froze—well, not literally. He became still as music suddenly sounded clearly through the air, mixing in and through the roaring wind. He jerked his head around, trying to find the source as his heart beat a quick rhythm; nothing but swirling snow in every direction. Great. Just what I need! The music grew louder. Kayde ripped the helmet off of his head, revealing a black (of course) ski mask. The wind cut through the fabric like tiny knives. His ears were almost numb before he realized the music was coming from his brain—or something. It was coming from inside of him somewhere.

Kayde angrily shoved the helmet back on his head, hoping the motion would jar the sound out of his skull. It didn’t. He tilted his head back as he closed his eyes and sighed. The music was louder, forcing its way into his mind and heart, into his core. Kayde attempted to silence it for a moment, but then stopped.

This music was different. No music box tinkling or dark images or deep, empty caverns. A melody played—sweet, intoxicating, and haunting; but haunting in a good way. Kayde listened more closely as the melody hummed in his ears. Strange emotions erupted inside of him. Warmth seeped into his skin and a crazy weightlessness enveloped his body. Something was drawing him closer. He could almost see something in his mind’s eye; a form, a presence…

Chapter Two

Angel

Hello? Do you need help? A voice cut through the music and the blasting wind, causing Kayde to jump as he opened his eyes. How could he have not heard that truck pull up in front of him? A pair of pale blue eyes stared at him from behind the open window of a silver Ford F150 pickup. Kayde took a step toward a girl sitting in the truck. Is she real? he wondered. Those amazing eyes were set on a porcelain face—smooth, white skin, pink cheeks. Short, blond hair touched with a warm, strawberry color haloed the doll-face and formed soft spikes behind her ears and neck. She looked like an angel.

Maybe she was.

Uh, yeah. I ran out of gas— Kayde started to say.

What? I’m sorry, I can’t hear you, the angel interrupted, leaning out the window, allowing the wind to tug at her hair.

Kayde opened his mouth to speak again, but stopped at the girl’s confused expression. Oh! You idiot! A definite dork moment. He pulled the helmet off of his head and stepped forward, catching a reflection of himself in the back window of the extended cab. Why was this girl not screaming, stomping on the gas, and leaving him in her powder? He looked like a text book terrorist! Kayde quickly ripped the ski mask off, allowing the wind to slap snow and ice against his skin. It hurt.

I ran out of gas. Could I get a ride? I could sit in the back. I’m dressed for the weather. He didn’t want to freak her out by jumping in cab. She was his only hope of survival.

The angel’s eyes were wide for a moment, most likely with fear. But then she laughed and pulled on some thick blue gloves and ear muffs, their color enhancing her eyes. You can ride in front where there’s heat. But let’s get your bike in the back, shall we?

Yep. Definitely an angel. What earthly girl would care about some strange guy’s bike enough to get out in the cold and help him load it in her truck?

As the angel helped Kayde he thought, Okay, one: she showed up out of nowhere just when I needed help--accompanied by strange, sweet music; two: she has perfect, angelic features; three: super strength. The girl couldn’t have been taller than a twelve-year old, but she was able to help Kayde lift the heavy machine into the truck box with little struggle. Once they made certain it was secure, (she had bungees with hooks, naturally) Kayde stood and stared at her in disbelief. The wind and snow had no more power over him as he surveyed this petite miracle.

The angel gazed back at him, amusement shining in her eyes. What? Do I have icicles hanging from my nostrils? She giggled, her voice sounding like---oh dear Lord! Like the tinkling of a perfectly tuned music box! Pure beauty.

Kayde shook his head. Sorry. His mind was too addled to think of anything else to say, so he jumped down from the back of the truck. The angel followed suit and they climbed into the cab. A wall of heat struck Kayde, causing his ears to sting. It was like a thousand tiny insects were biting his lobes.

My brother has a dirt bike, the girl said in explanation as she gestured with her head toward the back of the truck. But he doesn’t ride much anymore since… The she said, but her sentence trailed away and sadness washed into her features. She cleared her throat and put the truck in gear. Looking into her rear-view mirror, she clicked her signal light on and pulled onto the highway. Kayde suppressed a snort. The signal was a little over the top, considering no one was within a hundred miles from them. But then again, angels were probably supposed to always follow the rules.

A brilliant smile replaced the angel’s previous sadness. So, where are you heading? Do you have family nearby? Is there somewhere I can take you?

The truck moved slowly, its four-wheel-drive plowing through drifts that had formed along the road. Kayde was suddenly thankful he’d run out of gas. He wasn’t sure he would’ve been able to pass through some of those. A gas station would be great, he said, attempting to smile. His cheeks flamed with embarrassment. Hopefully, she would think they were just red from the cold.

You’re not seriously considering riding more today, are you? Concern caused amazingly cute creases to form between her brows.

The heat was suddenly unbearable inside the cab. Kayde unzipped the top of his coat and cleared his throat. His voice cracked a little when he answered, No, probably not. Is there a hotel nearby?

The girl leaned forward to turn the heater fan down. Her movement sent waves of some unseen energy rippling towards Kayde. The music started playing in his head again. He pulled at his collar, trying to cool down.

The hotel burned down earlier this winter. Some people think it was arson, but others think the cook in the restaurant fell asleep on the job. He’s kind of the town drunk—uh, when he’s not working. Usually. But Mrs. Kline has a bed and breakfast just outside of town. She usually doesn’t have much business during this time of the year. I’m sure she’ll be happy to give you a room. She’s really nice. She let me stay with her after my parents died until my brother could get settled and get us a house and everything, the girl spoke in a rush.

Kayde nodded, though he’d barely heard anything she’d said—except the part about her parents. He wondered if she felt the way he did over the death of his grandfather. An all too familiar ached squeezed his heart. That ache, combined with the intoxicating music swirling around in his head was overwhelming him. He needed air!

Are you okay? Oh, I’m so sorry. I should open a window, the angel said as she pushed the button to lower Kayde’s window. Blessed frozen wind washed into the cab, clearing his senses a little. He resisted the urge to stick his head out the window like a dog. I should’ve realized how hot you’d get with all that on, the girl said.

Breathing in slowly, Kayde nodded and then exhaled as slowly. Thanks, he managed to whisper. What was the matter with him?

He was just tired. That had to be it. Too long on the road, too much thinking about the very things he was trying not to think about. He focused his attention in tracing one of the snaps on his coat with his thumb to keep his thoughts clear. Neither of them spoke for a several minutes. The girl pulled at a tuft of hair at her neck, twisting the short spike around her finger. Awkward silence filled the cab. Eventually, the shadow of a town formed through the swirling snow ahead of them. A sense of foreboding hit Kayde out of nowhere. He didn’t understand it, so he quickly shrugged it off and focused on the road.

Almost there, the girl spoke. Just in time, too. I think the storm’s getting worse. I hope you didn’t have to be somewhere by a certain time? she put a questioning sound at the end of the statement and Kayde shook his head. The girl’s radiant smile caused waves of heat to wash over him again. Good! Maybe we can have lunch or something tomorrow. I mean, since you don’t know anyone in town and you can’t really go anywhere. If you want to, that is. If you don’t that’s okay, too. I don’t want you to feel weird or anything.

The previously suppressed snort made its way through Kayde’s nostrils. He couldn’t feel any weirder than he already did. The girl’s cheeks flamed and she shifted nervously in her seat.

They still hadn’t reached the shadowy town when she pulled the truck to a stop in front of a large, cottage style house. Stones of various shapes and sizes lined the bottom of the two-story building and smoke swirled into the cold from a stone chimney. Leafless trees mingled with several evergreens as they attempted to shelter the building from the rage of Old Man Winter. Everything was coated with snow and ice. The scene looked like something straight out of one of those paintings Kayde’s mother liked so much.

Here we are, the angel said. Let’s make sure Mrs. Kline has a spot for you before we get your bike down, she said as she unbuckled her seat belt. Kayde had forgotten to use his. He probably wouldn’t have been able to get it around his coat anyway.

What happens if she doesn’t have a room? he asked.

The girl chuckled. It’s not really a busy season. But if she is by some strange phenomenon busy, we’ll figure something out. She pushed the button to close Kayde’s window, turned off the ignition, and opened her door.

Stepping out into the storm, Kayde followed the girl