on, the Hale mansion felt like a stage se

e counter cold against my forearms, watc

somehow felt smaller than our old apartment kitchen, where the cabin

ch I hadn't asked for. Organic

wrapped in wax pap

darting toward

ed, as if Edmund were a rare, skittish

of orange juice. "I'm

t heavier tha

in her hands. "The bus? Jane, Richar

kno

have to take th

ym

rt of my life

o," I sai

't anger. It was something worse -

e where Edmund and I descended the staircase toge

hard to mother had cornered me in the dark and wa

s, a do

traightened

ross the landing, s

lazer already on, tie perfectly knotted. He

His presence fill

my mother s

arely perce

or half a second - assessing, unr

hotograph. No menti

looked at that picture li

g," he said, grabbing a

uncil?" my

es

i

y I knew it was

ithout an

or shut with

she'd been holding her

nly part of the day th

ly of gasoline and cheap body spray. A woman in scr

ction vest dozed a

who Richard Hale

st the vibrating glass and

hedges to gates with security cameras

o Blackwell, the qu

udents boarded a

t me and quick

ecogni

the girl in Ed

tes, I stepped off into air that smelled

ately felt

y

spe

gh the courtyard lik

pillars, her purple hair vivid against the

you didn't sl

t," I

oment longer than usual

or

d up he

yearbook photo from Lin

Graffiti-covered

aptio

incoln High, but you can't tak

ents wer

Charity case. Guess H

use of the insults, but becau

ing my past into the present l

t care,

ou should. This i

red across the courtyard, flanked by two g

look at m

dn't h

sm

at was

was suf

hose were easy - but because I c

dn't

look at

her asked a question, i

wered

ered th

heard his voice - ste

't just

compe

making sure

, I felt his

t turn

I

the whispers h

dn't feel usual anymore. Students passed slower tha

iting," Ril

r w

ou to

e, Jessica

t. She stood

said lightly, "to

down. P

abou

lied. "It just scr

rby girls

at rise u

outh to respond, b

uld igno

oked

stood b

ry. Not

tro

s," he continued, eyes fixed

for your adv

w tigh

dn't ha

ent in his tone today. Not

sur

at Tyler's this w

nked. "Ty

es

mund continued, still lookin

" I a

ou're

sugg

pecta

said quietly, "and you're go

ou care?"

thing sharp, almost wounded - bef

k weak, it reflects

e it

all a

ay before I

after him. "W

n't a

I didn

nal be

bus stop, my thought

s that pulled up beside

dow rol

ch

sn't warm. It was

as g

in, J

di

aled with a

g lot nois

to talk,"

your f

rden c

been an

g between us

st tig

nd of in

ed smoothly. "Your

roared in

he h

aid. "But these situatio

ala

d at my

d to s

," Richard replied. "No visi

was sym

ear

oftly, "we also need to th

ned s

what

f word spreads that your father was involved in

sti

bil

uta

at felt

to keep your name out of t

sage wa

epends on me. Your fut

st of the way w

he mansion fe

qu

ng at the ceiling,

Edmund's command.

thirst drove me

llway

air

brary, I saw light

eard

ssical. M

n't have

I

I saw Edmund sitting on the f

is h

otog

sion wasn'

sn't

something had been carved ou

floor creaked. His hea

shield slammed back into place. "Who's ther

." "You were lingering." He stepped closer. The air shifted. "Y

," I whispered. His eyes flashed. "What did you say?" "You're terri

re a guest here, Jane," he said coldly. "Don't

way. Or you'll regret ever s

oulder brushing mine.

mething terrifying. This wasn't just about

of ghosts. And I h

toward the bus stop, a sleek bl

veal not Edmund, but Richard

G

Ja

armth replaced by a ha

eed t

e warden called. Ther