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    The Ghost
    The Ghost
    The Ghost
    Ebook94 pages1 hour

    The Ghost

    By Christine Rains

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    About this ebook

    Chiharo Black lives with six supernatural tenants in a haunted building's mysterious thirteenth floor. Of course, no one knows she's there except the cats. Being a ghost can be a bit frustrating and lonely, but it isn't as bad as her mother made it out to be.
    Until another ghost intrudes on her territory. Jeremy Emerson wants revenge on the vampire that killed him and won't stop until he has it. To top it off, a nightmarish shade sneaks in and leeches the energy from the building's residents before setting its sights on Chiharo and the thirteenth floor. She can't decide which one is more frightening: the one wanting to eat her soul or the one who might win her heart.
    Chiharo must convince Jeremy to stand with her against the hellish parasite. If they cannot work together, the greedy fiend will not only drain their energy but everything that supports the thirteenth floor's existence.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherChristine Rains
    Release dateJul 8, 2013
    ISBN9781301161089
    The Ghost
    Author

    Christine Rains

    Christine Rains is a writer, blogger, and geek mom. When she's not playing games with her son, she's playing games with her friends. She has four degrees which do not help at all with motherhood but make her a great Jeopardy player. Christine is the author of the 13th Floor series and her newest urban fantasy novel, Of Blood and Sorrow. She has several novellas and short stories published. She is a member of S.C.I.F.I. and Untethered Realms. Her writing covers all genres of dark fiction, but she loves to lose herself in paranormal romance most of all.

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      Book preview

      The Ghost - Christine Rains

      THE GHOST

      The Sixth and Final Book of The 13th Floor Series

      By Christine Rains

      THE GHOST

      By Christine Rains

      Copyright 2013

      Cover design by Christine Rains Copyright 2013

      Smashwords Edition

      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.

      This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

      OTHER BOOKS BY CHRISTINE RAINS

      Fearless

      L’il Gal Al and the Zombies of Amarillo

      1301 – The Marquis

      1302 – The Alpha

      1303 – The Dragonslayer

      1304 – The Harbinger

      1305 & 1306 – The Oracle and the Vampire

      DEDICATION

      For Cherie’s mom Kathie,

      who said this series needed a ghost

      and Chiharo Black was born.

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      Chapter 1

      Chapter 2

      Chapter 3

      Chapter 4

      Chapter 5

      Chapter 6

      Chapter 7

      Chapter 8

      Chapter 9

      Chapter 10

      Chapter 11

      Chapter 12

      Chapter 13

      Chapter 14

      Chapter 15

      Acknowledgements

      About the Author

      CHAPTER 1

      Who’s going to die? Chiharo cupped her hands around her mouth to amplify her voice, but it didn’t make a difference.

      Only a fool would try a thing a hundred times and expect a different response. Chiharo had been trying the past few years to get Harriet to notice her with no success. But Chiharo had to know who Harriet’s foretelling was about. Besides, the circumstances were always different. Maybe a little more electricity in the air or an alignment of the planets. One day, Harriet might hear her.

      Chiharo shouted her question again as Harriet got ready to go out. The only response was the tabby cat Elli’s soft growl. You know, if you were any kind of familiar, you’d tell Harriet I need to talk to her.

      Chiharo’s mother had taught her to not take any guff from animals. They needed to know who was in charge. Her mother had been dead for twenty years, but Chiharo still heeded her wise words. Still, the cats ruled here.

      Harriet tripped over the other cat as she walked down the hall. She didn’t cry out or groan, but picked herself up and bid a fond good-bye to the felines as she slipped out the apartment door.

      From the bedroom, Chiharo sighed and shook her head. You know you’re lucky to have her. She’s too good to you.

      Elli hissed, and the big gray tom named Kerr turned his back to both of them. Chiharo rolled her eyes and walked through the wall and into the corridor. She didn’t flinch as she had the first few years of ghostdom. Was that even a word? Ghosthood?

      Her throat tightened. What she wouldn’t give to hear her mom lecture her or just to have someone to talk to. Witches were supposed to see spirits. At least that’s what her mother always said. Why couldn’t Harriet see her?

      Though, maybe Harriet wasn’t the type of witch who could see spirits. Chiharo had never seen her preform any magic. Harriet made healing potions and soothing teas. Not exactly exciting witchcraft, but it was obvious Harriet loved what she did as much as she loved singing in the shower.

      Harriet! Chiharo zipped in front of her, but Harriet didn’t slow her steps. Chiharo had tried irritating the cats and moving things, and now it was time for the next trick.

      Summoning up her energy, Chiharo pushed the stairwell door and held it open for Harriet. Hello? I’m here. I know you know you didn’t open the door. Why were you screaming in the hall last night? Whose death did you see?

      Chiharo nibbled her lower lip. Stefanie came back wet, muddy, and naked last night. Was the trouble she’d been hiding from going to find her? Xan did dangerous work. Maybe a dragon would finally get him. Or that pretty reporter he stashed away in his apartment.

      A squeaky noise brought her attention back. She gasped as Kiral and Harriet stood face to face on the landing.

      Oh my god! Chiharo’s hands fluttered. "This is it, Harriet! He’s finally seeing you. Say something!"

      She clapped her hands together to keep them from flapping around. Harriet had the biggest crush on Kiral except they’d never really seen each other. Well, not like this. Not while Harriet was in her natural form rather than that of a crone.

      Chiharo wasn’t a big TV watcher, and televisions tended to get fuzzy with static when she was around anyway. The lives of the people in the building entertained her, and her favorite tenants were on the thirteenth floor. This was an episode she’d been waiting for. Sure, Kiral was a vampire with some problems. Yet he tried really hard to be good, and he was more gorgeous than Shaun Cassidy in The Hardy Boys.

      He was looking pretty rough this morning, though. More than rough. He looked horrible.

      Then Kiral had Harriet pinned to the wall, hands flat against the wall on either side of her head. The witch yelped, but still didn’t say anything.

      What are you doing? Chiharo didn’t expect a reply. He’d moved so fast, she hadn’t even seen a blur.

      You smell so good. Kiral breathed in deeply.

      Oh, um, wow. Chiharo moved to the side to see both their faces. Their gazes were locked. Was it love at first sight? Was that possible?

      Sometimes she felt like an objective observer, studying the tenants as they went about their lives. Okay, it was like that almost all the time. This was a rare moment, though. An unpredicted first-time meeting that would have her on the edge of her seat, if she were sitting. All she needed was a big bowl of popcorn to munch as she watched.

      So good, he murmured again. Kiral squeezed his eyes shut, lifting himself from Harriet an inch. He forced out a growl. Please. Run. Get away from me. I don’t think I can control myself much longer.

      Chiharo then recognized the look in his eyes. Not love but hunger. He hadn’t fed in a while. Oh no, oh no.

      Should

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