The Protector of Memories (The Veil of Death Book 1) by D. K. Manning Page A

man she knew as ‘Taff’ and wedged the rucksack filled with the money between his sleeping body and the slatted wood of the bench.
    “You will know what to do with this Taff. It will keep you all stocked with wine, food and shelter… for a while at least.”
    When Hope reached the wrought iron gates, she turned and looked at the people who she considered to be friends. She recollected the stories that they had shared with her; love’s found and lost; broken hearts and promises – pain, guilt and despair. That was what was etched into their hearts. They had each shown Hope understanding, kindness, warmth and compassion. She cared not for the ‘whys’ behind their actions. “Thank you,” she whispered and made her way toward Sam’s book shop.

Chapter 10
     
    When Faith left Hope, she continued to walk in the direction of Marylebone - cutting through the Park called Regents, she sat on one of the benches nearest to the exit that led out onto Baker Street.
    She breathed in the fresh, cold air and looked up toward the sky.
    The ghosts relayed their messages and relief arrived to her within that moment. She looked into her mind and could see the wealth of canyons; castles and caves created within it. The ghosts spoke to her and she listened to each message with clarity.
    There was no clawing, itching or clambering but that of peace. “Thank you,” she whispered to her mother. “Now that I have peace of mind I can even hear that of my own thoughts.”
    Faith leant back and enjoyed the view in the park.
    She looked out and across the park’s lake and watched paddle boats the colour of blues and yellows treading water. She listened to the sounds of laughter as people tried to steer their boats away from other boats, the ducks or the edge of the lake.
    Ghosts were sitting with the mortals and remembering how good it felt to enjoy the essence of Joy.
    Faith waved back to the children who waved to her, nodded her head in acknowledgement to the vast amounts of ghosts visiting their loved ones. She blew out a breath of air and watched it mingle with the coldness of Earth’s air.
    A middle-aged couple; a man and a woman - walked along the pathway and the moment they drew near to Faith, she felt a shift within the air.
    Before she had gotten a chance to react, another creature similar to the one that had woven itself into Charity was crawling its way up Faith’s right arm. But this one had fifteen spindly, thread-like tendrils and Faith moved her left hand toward the creature and when it did not flinch, she tentatively stroked one of the tendrils and it felt smooth and silky to the touch… and tickly – like that of a spider’s cobweb.
    Faith peered closer toward the creature and noticed that the crimson and inky blue was actually a liquid that pulsated within the tendrils and that each one was attached to a minute, shiny black sac… it was a pin-prick of a size and could barely be seen.
    The creature moved up her arm and then her shoulder.
    Faith sniffed the air around the creature and caught the slightest scent of tar, acid and… stardust.
    “Who are you?” Faith asked but the creature crawled up and over her face and she shivered at the sensation of thousands of insects crawling all over her.
    We mean you no harm. We want you to remember us as we once were.
    Faith nodded at the collective voice that had spoken.
    An image pierced itself into her mind.
    She saw limbs and torsos scattered; blood soaked the soil – hair, skin and fingernails hung from the branches of scorched, blackened trees.
    The images disappeared and a fragrance drifted in and out of her mind… flowers, apples, almond blossoms, pine cones and earth.
    Realisation flooded into Faith’s awareness – what she smelt for the briefest of moments was the scent of Femininity before it was consumed by acid, scorched flesh and the pungent smell of tar.
    Tears welled up into Faith’s eyes, “I see you. I can see you all.” She whispered.
    The creature