Ghost of a Chance Read Online Free Page A

long
time.”
    “First six months?”
    His smile changed slightly. “I’m going to
use the house for a little moneymaking venture.”
    “Oh.” I thought about what he was asking,
what it took out of me to exterminate a house, what it would mean
living with even more Otherworld beings. Then I thought about the
alternative.
    “All right,” I said, ignoring my father’s
horrified gasp. “I’ll do it. I’ll clean the house for you, and then
you’re out of my life.”
    “Forever,” Spider promised with yet another
of his smug smiles.
    Ironically, it was one of the rare times in
his life when Spider actually spoke the truth.

 
3
    “So, what, you expect me to be your slave or
something? Like my life isn’t hell enough, now I have to play cozy
family with you? I don’t even know you!”
    I slammed shut the car door, giving the dog
crate inside another quick glance to make sure it was escape-proof
before turning to my surly companion. “Listen, Pixie—”
    “I told you, my name is Desdemona !
Desdemona Macabre!”
    The girl had a world-record pout; I’d give
her that. The rest of her… well, that wasn’t quite so perfect. She
radiated hostility and anger, her hands fluttering madly to
emphasize words when she spoke. Dark, distrustful eyes peered out
from brows pulled together in a seemingly perpetual scowl. If her
roots and fair coloring were anything to go by, she was a natural
blonde, but she’d dyed her hair a dull black, no doubt to match her
Goth ensemble of a long black opera cape, a black lace skirt, black
and white-striped leggings, a black and red-striped bustier, black
fingerless gloves, and a knee-length scarlet gauze scarf.
    “I realize that you’d much rather be left
alone, but unfortunately you’re only fifteen, and the League home
has asked that I take care of you for a bit while things are sorted
out. So why don’t we try to make this month as drama free as
possible?”
    “ Deus! You just don’t understand!”
She stomped around to the far side of the car and flung herself
into the passenger seat.
    “Quite possibly, that’s true,” I agreed,
surprising her enough to shoot me a puzzled glance. I slid into the
driver’s seat, praying for the strength to get through the next
month. “I’m sorry to rush you out like this when you just got here,
but I have an appointment I must keep. Why don’t we use the time to
get to know each other a little better? Were both your parents
polters?”
    “I knew it! I knew you were going to start
grilling me the second I got here!” she snarled. “My parents aren’t
any of your business!”
    “Whoa, calm down. I just asked a polite
question. You don’t have to answer it.”
    “Oh, sure, you say that now, but what
happens if I don’t answer? Are you going to send me back to the
home?”
    I slid her a curious look. She was really
upset about this. “Of course not. I was just trying to make
conversation, not pry into your life. I’m sorry. I guess I forgot
just how emotional everything is at your age.”
    “Age discrimination! I knew it!” she said
with a triumphant glare.
    I sighed. “That’s not what I meant.”
    “Oh, right.” She stared out the front
window, bristling with hostility. “Well, go on. Is there anything else you want to know about my life, Mrs. Nosy? Like when I
had my last period ; or if I’m still a virgin , or what
size shoes I wear?”
    “The League worker who brought you said that
your parents died as a result of a drunk driver. I’m very sorry
that you’ve had to endure such a tragedy, but as I just said, I
didn’t intend to pry, so please lower the hostility level a few
notches. Let’s move on to something a little less personal… The
League woman said you were working on a novel; maybe you’d like to
tell me about that.”
    “No one listens to me!” she said, looking
pointedly out the window. “I am a poet ! I write poetry ! And no, you can’t read any of it. It’s personal .”
    I rubbed the back of