Timekeeper (28 page)

Thank you to James and Dorothy Robertiello for all the kindness, laughter and special times. Jimmy, I feel so lucky to have known you and will always remember the way you lived every day with love.

Lisa Kay, thank you for your beautiful spirit and for sharing your gifts with the world. The character of Elizabeth Jade in this book is inspired by you!

Chessa Latifi and Ross Donaldson, I’ll never forget those summer days staying at your beach house while I brainstormed this book. Chessa, thank you for being a trusty beta reader and like a sister to me. Ross, thanks for the great writing advice, invaluable technology help during the crucial editing stages—and letting me turn your ancestor into a Timekeeper!

Josh Bratman, thank you for all your great feedback and support of my writing, and for inspiring me to include
Handbook
of the Time Society
excerpts in this book. Lots of love to you, Alex, and the whole Bratman clan!

Mia Antonelli, ever since we started our epic instant-messenger chats eleven years ago, I knew that I’d found a best friend for life! Thank you for being such a wonderful, supportive friend throughout the years.

Sainaz Mokhtari—soon to be sister-in-law!—thank you for your great friendship and support of my projects.

Christina Harmon, thank you for bringing so much light into my life, and for all your sweet enthusiasm about the Timeless books. I appreciate you and your Chris so much!

Endless amounts of love to my Saleh and Madjidi grandparents and relatives across the globe; I’m so grateful for you all!

Thanks and love to awesome, supportive friends Camilla Moshayedi, Dan Kiger and Heather Williams, Jon and Emily Sandler, Marise Freitas, and Stacie Surabian.

To the Ameri, Cohanim, and McCartt families, thank you for believing in me since I was the little kid autographing your fence and insisting that we write and film movies at every one of our playdates.

And of course, thanks to a doggie so special, she brings miracles everywhere she goes: Honey, you are the sweetest companion!

In memory of Monir Vakili, who left an incredible legacy that inspires me every day.

HEAR THE ORIGINAL SONGS FROM

D
OWNLOAD THE ORIGINAL SONGS FEATURED IN THE BOOK
!

V
ISIT
ALEXANDRAMONIR.COM
FOR DETAILS, THEN ENJOY LISTENING WHILE YOU READ FOR THE COMPLETE EXPERIENCE
!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alexandra Monir broke into the world of YA novels with her debut,
Timeless
. She is a singer/songwriter and recorded original music to accompany both
Timeless
and
Timekeeper
, her second novel. She lives in Los Angeles. Check out
alexandramonir.com
for music and more!

Read Alexandra’s exclusive eBook original short story,

Secrets of the Time Society

And continue reading for an excerpt from her first novel,

Timeless

1

Michele stood alone in the center of a hall of mirrors. The glass revealed a girl identical to Michele, with the same chestnut hair, ivory skin, and hazel eyes; even wearing the same outfit of dark denim jeans and black tank top. But when Michele moved forward, the girl in the glass remained still. And while Michele’s own neck was bare, the reflection in the mirror wore a strange key hanging from a gold chain, a key unlike anything Michele had ever seen
.

It was a gold skeleton key in a shape similar to a cross, but with a circular bow at the top. The image of a sundial was carved into the bow. The key looked weathered and somehow wise, as though it weren’t inanimate, but a living being with over a century’s worth of stories to share. Michele was momentarily seized by an urge to reach through the glass and touch the curious key. But all she felt
was the cool surface of the mirror, and the girl with Michele’s face betrayed no notice of her
.

“Who are you?” Michele whispered. But the mirror image didn’t respond, didn’t even appear to have heard. Michele shivered nervously, and squeezed her eyes shut. What was this?

And then, suddenly, the silence was broken. Someone was whistling, a slow melody that created goose bumps on the back of Michele’s neck. Her eyes snapped open, and she watched in shock as someone joined the girl in the mirror. Michele’s breath caught in her throat. She felt paralyzed, unable to do anything but stare at him through the glass
.

His eyes were such a deep blue they seemed to dazzle against his contrasting thick dark hair. Eyes the color of sapphires. And though she could somehow tell that he was around her age, he was dressed like none of the other boys she knew. He wore a crisp white collared shirt under a white silk vest and tie, formal black pants, and black patent leather shoes. In his white-gloved hands, he held a black top hat lined with silk. The formal clothing suited him. He was more than good-looking, much more than could be conveyed by the word “handsome.” Michele felt an unfamiliar ache as she watched him
.

Her heart racing, she stared at him as he carelessly peeled off his gloves and dropped his hat, the three items falling together in a heap on the floor. He then reached for the hand of the girl in the mirror. And to Michele’s astonishment, she felt his touch. She quickly looked down, but though her hand was empty, she could feel his fingers interlacing with hers, the sensation causing a flutter inside her
.

What’s happening to me?
Michele thought frantically. But
suddenly she couldn’t think anymore, for as she looked at the boy and girl embracing in the mirror, she felt strong arms encircling her own waist
.

“I’m waiting for you,” he murmured, smiling a slow, familiar grin that seemed to hint at a secret between them
.

And for the first time, Michele and the mirror reflection were in sync as they both whispered, “Me too.”

Michele Windsor awoke with a shock, gasping for breath. As she took in the sight of her darkened bedroom, her heartbeat slowed and she remembered—it was just The Dream. The same strange, intoxicating dream that had haunted her on and off for years. As always, waking up from it brought the pain of disappointment into the pit of Michele’s stomach, as she found herself missing him—this person who didn’t even exist.

She’d been just a little girl when she’d first begun dreaming of him, so young that she hadn’t yet resembled the teenager in the mirror. The dreams were infrequent then; they came just once or twice a year. But as she grew up, looking like the twin of the girl in the mirror, the dreams began to flood her consciousness with a new urgency, as if they were trying to
tell
her something. Michele frowned as she slumped back against her pillows, wondering if she would ever understand. But then, Confusion and Mystery had been principal players in her life since the day she was born.

Michele rolled over onto her side, facing her bedroom window, and listening to the waves lapping the shore outside
the Venice Beach bungalow. The sound usually lulled her to sleep quickly, but not that night. She couldn’t seem to get those sapphire eyes out of her head. Eyes that she had practically memorized, without ever having seen them in her waking life.