The Hundredth Queen
Emily R. King
Published by: Skyscape
Publication date: June 1st 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
As an orphan ward of the Sisterhood, eighteen-year-old Kalinda is destined for nothing more than a life of seclusion and prayer. Plagued by fevers, she’s an unlikely candidate for even a servant’s position, let alone a courtesan or wife. Her sole dream is to continue living in peace in the Sisterhood’s mountain temple.But a visit from the tyrant Rajah Tarek disrupts Kalinda’s life. Within hours, she is ripped from the comfort of her home, set on a desert trek, and ordered to fight for her place among the rajah’s ninety-nine wives and numerous courtesans. Her only solace comes in the company of her guard, the stoic but kind Captain Deven Naik.Faced with the danger of a tournament to the death—and her growing affection for Deven—Kalinda’s only hope for escape lies in an arcane, forbidden power that’s buried within her.In Emily R. King’s thrilling fantasy debut, an orphan girl blossoms into a warrior, summoning courage and confidence in her fearless quest to upend tradition, overthrow an empire, and reclaim her life as her own.
Emily R. King is a reader of everything and a writer of fantasy. Born in Canada and raised in the USA, she has perfected the use of “eh” and “y’all” and uses both interchangeably. Shark advocate, consumer of gummy bears, and islander at heart, Emily’s greatest interests are her four children. She’s a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and an active participant in her local writers’ community. She lives in Northern Utah with her family and their cantankerous cat.
I am so
excited that ROSEBLOOD by A.G.
Howard releases today and that I get to share the news!
If you
haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author A.G. Howard, be sure to
check out all the details below.
This blitz
also includes a giveaway for a signed ROSEBLOOD poster and a mask courtesy of
A.G. and Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the
Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.
About The Book:
Title: ROSEBLOOD
Author: A.G.
Howard
Pub.
Date: January 10, 2016
Publisher: Amulet
Books
Pages: 432
Formats: Hardcover,
paperback, eBook
In this modern day spin on Leroux’s gothic tale of unrequited love turned
to madness, seventeen-year-old Rune Germain has a mysterious affliction linked
to her operatic talent, and a horrifying mistake she’s trying to hide. Hoping
creative direction will help her, Rune’s mother sends her to a French arts
conservatory for her senior year, located in an opera house rumored to have
ties to The Phantom of the Opera.
At RoseBlood, Rune secretly befriends the masked Thorn—an elusive
violinist who not only guides her musical transformation through dreams that
seem more real than reality itself, but somehow knows who she is behind her own
masks. As the two discover an otherworldly connection and a soul-deep romance
blossoms, Thorn’s dark agenda comes to light and he’s forced to make a deadly
choice: lead Rune to her destruction, or face the wrath of the phantom who has
haunted the opera house for a century, and is the only father he’s ever known.
When she's not writing, A.G.'s pastimes are reading, rollerblading, gardening, and family vacations which often include impromptu side trips to 18th century graveyards or condemned schoolhouses to appease her overactive muse.
1 winner will
receive a signed ROSEBLOOD poster and a Mask. US Only.
Ends on January
17th at Midnight EST!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I am so
excited that THE GLITTERING COURT by
Richelle Mead releases today and that I get to share the news, along with a
special giveaway!
If you
haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author Richelle Mead, be sure to
check out all the details below.
This blitz
also includes a giveaway for a signed copy of the book and a $25 Sephora Gift
Card courtesy of Richelle, Penguin Teen, and Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d
like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.
About The Book:
Title: THE GLITTERING COURT
Author: Richelle Mead
Pub. Date: April 5, 2016
Publisher: Razorbill
Format: Hardcover, eBook, & audiobook
Find it: Amazon | Barnes
& Noble | iBooks | Goodreads
The
Selection meets Reign in this dazzling trilogy of interwoven novels about three
girls on a quest for freedom and true love from #1 internationally bestselling
author Richelle Mead.
"Brilliant and original, Mead’s new series starts off with a bang and will leave readers on the edge of their seats until the very end."
—School
Library Journal
For a select group of girls, the Glittering Court offers a shot at a life they’ve only ever dreamed of, one of luxury, glamour, and leisure. To high-born Adelaide, whose wealthy family is forcing her into a loveless marriage, the Glittering Court represents something else: the chance to chart her own destiny, and adventure in an unspoiled, prosperous new land across the sea.
After a chance meeting with the dazzling Cedric Thorn, Adelaide poses as a servant to join the crop of impoverished girls he promises to transform into proper ladies. But her familiarity with upper class life comes with a price: she must hide her identity from her new friends, mysterious refugee Mira and fiery former laundress Tamsin, and most importantly, from Cedric himself—even though she’s falling in love with him.
Everything begins to crumble when Cedric discovers Adelaide’s ruse, and she catches the eye of a powerful young governor, who wants her for a wife. She didn’t leave the gilded cage of her old life behind just to become someone else's property. But nothing is as daunting—or as wonderful—as the potent, forbidden attraction simmering between Adelaide and Cedric. One that, if acted on, would make them both outcasts in a wild, dangerous, uncharted world, and possibly lead them to their deaths.
Exclusive Excerpt:
About Richelle:
Richelle Mead has
written over twenty-five novels for teens and adults. She is the author of the
international #1 bestselling Vampire Academy series and its spinoff series,
Bloodlines. Her recent standalone novel, Soundless, draws upon Chinese
mythology and history, and her forthcoming series, The Glittering Court,
follows the adventures of girls destined for arranged marriages in a fantasy
world inspired by colonial America. A lifelong reader, Richelle has always had
a particular fascination with mythology and folklore. When she can actually
tear herself away from books (either reading or writing them), she enjoys bad
reality TV, traveling, trying interesting cocktails, and shopping for dresses
to wear on tour. She is a self-professed coffee addict, works in her pajamas,
and has a passion for all things wacky and humorous. Originally from Michigan,
Richelle now lives in Seattle, Washington, where she is hard at work on her
next novel.
Giveaway Details:
1 winner
will receive a hardcover of THE GLITTERING COURT & a $25 Sephora Gift Card.
US Only.
Ends on April
15th at Midnight EST!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Today we’re featuring Megan Linski, author
of the Kingdom Saga, as she talks about the various motivations behind her
characters in her newest novel, Prince of
Fire, which you can find here: http://goo.gl/7mIt1b
Summary:
Thief
lord. Wanted criminal. College student.
Zayde
Amirmoez is in his last year of college at Ashana University, and he couldn’t
be more eager to leave. A talented thief, Zayde makes a living by robbing
jewelry stores in order to care for his ailing mother, who grows sicker each
passing day.
Then
the dreams begin. Zayde’s nightmares echo memories of a land from another time,
visions of a mysterious princess who lived two thousand years ago. At the
insistence of his annoying history professor, Zayde becomes friends with the
beautiful freshman who loves to dance…the girl who looks exactly like the
princess in his dreams.
As a
dangerous new Dean and his spiteful son take the helm at Ashana University,
Zayde learns of the legends of Queen Bennua, which are eerily similar to his
nightmares. Could Zayde’s dreams be a coincidence? Or is it possible that
Bennua and Zahid have returned, to save Sahrahn once more?
How
did it compare when writing Zayde’s voice as opposed to Bashira’s?
It was very different writing Zayde’s
(Zahid’s reincarnation) rather than Bashira’s this time around (Bennua’s
reincarnation). Bashira likes to think on things and use all these complicated
words, and ponders each situation before she goes into it. Zayde gets straight
to the point and doesn’t like describing anything or being fancy in any way.
Even when something bad is going on, he’ll try to make the situation humorous,
or shrug it off instead of taking it head-on like Bashira. Bashira also likes
talking about her emotions a lot, while Zayde doesn’t reveal anything about how
he feels, even to himself. Everything’s very cut and dry with him. He’ll tell
you enough to move the story along and make it interesting, but you have to
read between the lines with him because he has to conceal everything. He likes
living in the shadows and being quiet, and that’s just how he is.
What
are some of the main differences between Zahid/Zayde and Bennua/Bashira, and
how are they going to be covered in Prince
of Fire?
Bashira tends to be worried about
everything, and Zayde takes everything in stride. As he sees it, bad things
will happen when they happen, and he’ll deal with chaos when it comes, but not
a second before. He doesn’t tend to get as riled up as she does. The world
could be ending for Bashira, but for Zayde, it’s just another day. Something
that did surprise me, though, was the dark side in him. It’s a lot bigger than
I thought it was, and he hides it well, but sometimes his sadness and despair
peeks out at the most surprising at times. It was a blast playing inside his head,
because he’s so honest with you as a character. In the previous Kingdom novels,
Bennua took so much more work because I had to cut through the layers and
layers of her in order to discover who she really was. It took multiple drafts
of Kingdom From Ashes to get her to
open up, whereas Zayde in Prince of Fire
was like, “Here it is, and this is as good as it’s gonna get, so you can take
it or leave it.”
Who
do you believe is your most complex character within the Kingdom Saga?
I believe, more so than any of my other
characters, that Bennua is more misunderstood than all the rest. I can agree
with readers when they write me and tell me Alora (from the novel of the same
name) is too prideful, too arrogant, when they say Kiatana (from Kiatana’s Journey) is aggressive and
bratty, because that is who they are and who I made them to be. Bennua,
however, is vastly more complicated than either of these two. There is always a
hidden meaning behind her actions that few see or understand. Even she has
trouble comprehending her decisions at times. Bennua has been referred to as
brave, sacrificial, a true leader and hero, but has also been called selfish,
eco-centric, and immature by the same readers who adore her. There are reasons
why Bennua does the things she is apt to, and none of them come from a feeling
of selfishness. Rather, her entire focal point as a character is centered
around other people, much like Zahid. She makes decisions not on how they’ll
affect her, but everyone else.
So
do you believe Bennua obtains undeserved criticism from readers?
I wouldn’t say undeserved, as she does make
irrational choices. Many readers forget Bennua has had no easy journey; she has
lost multiple friends and members of her family along the way to bring peace to
Sahrahn, as well as has been subjected to some of the worst experiences mankind
has to offer at the ages of seventeen, eighteen, and twenty-one. Not to mention
she’s felt the repercussions of a repressive society and a judgmental (and
sometimes abusive) family during her childhood. The mistakes she made, and
continues to make, come from a place of fear within her. Her worst fear,
ultimately, is to be abandoned, and so she will do what it takes to work around
that fear and keep the people in her life safe and happy, even if it means
making herself miserable. This fear leads her to quick and misplaced decisions
that wreak more havoc than she realizes. She longs to help too much, in an
effort to be loved, and so it leads to chaos.
What
about Zahid?
Readers are more willing to let Zahid’s
flaws go because he conceals them, and so, we hardly ever see them. His true
feelings and desires are rarely revealed to anyone, even Bennua, so it is easy
to understand the things he does. It can be hard to sympathize with Bennua at points,
but what readers must understand is that she’s willing to share her true
thoughts. Zahid’s not. Many readers haven’t yet noticed that Zahid can be
rather distant in his relationship with Bennua, which I cover more in Prince of Fire. Zahid’s biggest issue is
that he shuts others out, and has a tendency to continue on regardless of the
problem at hand. You could have a knife to his throat, and he still won’t talk
about how he really feels. In Prince of
Fire, readers are going to see that Zahid does have a darker side to him, a
flawed side, that Bennua loves just as much as all the other parts. His
darkness makes him the man readers fell for.
Faith
is a huge theme in The Kingdom Saga. Was this influenced by any personal
beliefs of yours?
I’ll always tell people that if you want to
know what my beliefs are about a higher power, go read the Kingdom Saga. My
faith parallels Bennua’s, while my doubt rivals Zahid’s. Only together do they
make up what makes my faith, my faith. In recent years, I’d say one can’t get
by without the other, even though I’ve spent plenty of time in both camps. The
entire series has been an evaluation from where I started with “Alshams” until
now. It’s definitely not always pretty, and the answers are few and far
between, but regardless of whatever happens that higher power is always a
central part of my life. Even if I try to escape it, that faith seems to tie my
story together, just like it ties together the story of Bennua and Zahid.
Stay tuned for the Prince Of Fire review coming soon!
Joshua’s life is on the line, as he attempts to navigate through the magical world of Forestium to find the truth about his father. He and his companions will need to use all their cunning to stay alive and avoid the dark forces of the Goat. Will he find the magical orbs and open the Portallas, a magical gateway to other worlds, before he’s killed?
Joshua sets out to learn the truth about his father. Along the way, he finds friends, enemies, adventure, romance and himself.
GET TO KNOW THE AUTHOR!
What do you do for a living?
Hmmm.
Well, the way I make money is in IT. I manage an IT department for a hosting
company. I've been in IT for the past *cough* 30 years or so (has it really
been that long already?!).
What else do you get up to?
Well,
probably the one thing that takes up most of my time is the volunteer work I do
in the community. I'm very involved with a local community group here in our
suburb in Victoria (located about 40k from Melbourne in the South East
suburbs). I also serve on the odd committee here and there and from time to
time.
Do you spend a lot of your time writing?
Over the past year, I've devoted
quite a bit of time to my PORTALLAS series of novels, which I have been
thoroughly enjoying.
Have you travelled?
Oh
yes, extensively. I've lived and worked in England twice (which is where I grew
up), The Netherlands, The United States and now Australia. Back in 2002, my
wife and I sold our house in Jacksonville, Florida, and we spent about 18 months
(over the course of about two and a half years) backpacking around the world -
unemployed, homeless, transient bums, as I used to call us at the time. I think
the current tally is 40 countries and 13 states in America. Still plenty of the
world left to see yet, though.
Family?
Yes, I've been
married for nearly 30 years and have 2 wonderful children in primary school. I
also have a large, extended family.
Interests?
Writing,
education (I run a small education supplies company called Bounce Learning
Kids), mathematics, civics and computers.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
Hmmm. That's a good question. Retired
might be nice.
TV & movie likes and dislikes?
I enjoy pretty much anything to do with Star Trek and have spent
endless hours watching all the TNG, DS9 & Voyager series (we don't talk
about the Enterprise series. Shhh! Let's pretend those don't exist). I'm also a
big fan of Star Wars and generally enjoy anything relating to cosmology,
science, mathematics or natural history.
Who are your heroes?
Wow!
There are so many to choose from but I would go with the great names in
science, such as Newton, Einstein, Hawking, Bohr, Mendeleev, Galileo, Euler,
Euclid, Darwin, Kepler, Copernicus, Heisenberg, Feynman, etc.
Do you have pets?
Yes,
I have 2 cats, a guinea pig and an aquarium full of fish. I don't count the
flies, mosquitoes or spiders.
Where did you grow up?
England,
but I'd lived in several countries and am currently living in Australia.
What's your favourite book?
Hmmm.
That's tough. I really enjoyed Spycatcher, by Peter Wright.
Who is your favourite author and why? Another good one. I really admire JK Rowling and the inspiration she
provided to so many children to pick up a book and read.
Find out more about his inspiration and writing on his blog!
This giveaway is open internationally and the winner will be chosen on the 10th! I will be giving your email deirectly to the author and he will send the ebook! Please don't cheat, i will be checking the entries and if you do win, posting a review of the book once you're done would be a great help! Make sure you put the correct email address and good luck to all! MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR ;)
The Letting
Release Date: 12/15/14
335 pages
Summary from Goodreads:
What if the Devil doesn’t know he’s the Devil?
This is the question Veronica “Ronnie” Billings poses to Phoenix, her sworn enemy, the leader of the Peaceful Revolution, and the one she loves.
Kidnapped by Phoenix’s rebels, Ronnie learns how wrong she has been. She had no idea that her patriotism was wasted on a corrupt government. Ronnie was proud to be a Leader; taking hundreds of harvested girls to the Letting facility. After all, she was saving them from future Couplings and bringing them to the safety of the New World. Or so she thought…
Confused, Ronnie realizes the only way to discover the truth is to trust her heart. Together, Phoenix and Ronnie devise a plan to stop their corrupt government and preempt the dangerous rebel coup which is approaching. But when their plan goes awry, will Ronnie be strong enough to save Phoenix, her country, and herself?
This is the question Veronica “Ronnie” Billings poses to Phoenix, her sworn enemy, the leader of the Peaceful Revolution, and the one she loves.
Kidnapped by Phoenix’s rebels, Ronnie learns how wrong she has been. She had no idea that her patriotism was wasted on a corrupt government. Ronnie was proud to be a Leader; taking hundreds of harvested girls to the Letting facility. After all, she was saving them from future Couplings and bringing them to the safety of the New World. Or so she thought…
Confused, Ronnie realizes the only way to discover the truth is to trust her heart. Together, Phoenix and Ronnie devise a plan to stop their corrupt government and preempt the dangerous rebel coup which is approaching. But when their plan goes awry, will Ronnie be strong enough to save Phoenix, her country, and herself?
THE LETTING IS ON SALE FOR ONLY $.99 March 11-25!
Buy Links:
Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books│TWRP│Google Play│All Romance
Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books│TWRP│Google Play│All Romance
EXCERPT:
"What if the Devil doesn't know he's the Devil?" I ask.
Phoenix shakes his head, confused. "What?"
"Why? Why does the bad I've done have to define me?"
"Because you're a murdering sadist," he snaps back at me.
"No, I am not." I clench my teeth, standing my ground. I am
tired of these labels I am suddenly wearing. "I never, I mean never knew
what happened to those girls I led to the Lettings. I am so very sorry I played
any role in this vile enterprise in which we exist, but I was clueless. Maybe
I'm ignorant, or downright stupid, but I would rather have been dead than be
responsible for hurting anyone. And before you go throwing malicious names
around, maybe it's time you consider maybe you're wrong...? What if you
kidnapped and tortured me in the name of a revolution that is wrong?"
"It's not," he argues.
"But I didn't think I was wrong, either." I am exasperated.
"Don't you get it?"
He takes a step back away from me, but I go on.
"We are completely turned around. The only information we're fed
is from a corrupt enterprise. What makes you think your information is any more
accurate than mine?"
For the first time ever, he looks terrified. I let a moment go by
before I gesture for Raven to come over, and she hurries to my side.
"This is Raven," I say, slowly, talking to Phoenix.
"She's your sister."
Given my love for cities and all that is gritty, my new obsession with trees really has me stumped. (Sorry.) Maybe it's because trees are the inspiration behind my new YA/NA novel, THE LETTING.
Whatever the reason for my new infatuation, some things remain constant -- like my love for: coffee (although sadly, it's now decaf); yoga; Luna bars (I am petitioning for them to bring back Chocolate Raspberry!); running in my neighborhood; Hemingway; Bukowski... and, above all, my husband and my girls.
I am the author of the bestselling novel, Sleeping With Mortals: The Story of a New York Mistress, and I'm also a playwright. I have my B.A. in English and my M.A. in Theatre.
Author Links:
Book Blitz Organized by:
240+ Pages
WITH BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHS
~ Kira Sutherland ~
After a near fatal accident (and getting cheated on by her
'boyfriend'), and beating up the lead cheerleader (with whom the boyfriend
cheated...), and being labeled as
having 'issues' in her school because she, uhm, sees ghosts, Kira is left with two choices:
1. Continue her 'therapy' (where she's told the ghost is a
hallucination and also gets her legs ogled too often...)
Or
2. Go to Starkfield
Academy, a boarding school for "Crazies and Convicts" (as the
social media sites call them.)
She chooses the latter...
~ Cory Rand ~
Cory Rand has not had an easy life. His mother died in a car
accident when he was twelve, and so did his mother's best friend...sort of. You
see, Janice made a promise to take care of Cory just before she died, and so
she lingers. Undead. A ghost that watches out for him.
Brought up in an abusive home, Cory quickly falls into a
life of disreputable behavior. After his third offense (which was prompted by a
girl, as usual - he has a weakness) he's left with two choices:
1. Be tried as an adult and share a cell with a guy named
Bubba (he thinks...)
Or
2. Go to Starkfield
Academy, which Cory is pretty sure is run by vampires. But, hey, at least
he'll get an education.
He chooses the latter...
It's at Starkfield
that Kira meets Cory Rand, a boy with an insatiable Rage who sees ghosts, too.
As well as other things, other things from his past, things that confuse him,
things like fire and witches and demons.
Things he's always ignored.
Until now.
Genres:
Young
Adult Romance
Paranormal
Romance
High
School
Vampires,
Demons, Witches
Dark
Fantasy
Horror
Buy Links
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/
$20 Amazon Gift Voucher Giveaway
At
the back of the book there is a giveaway link. Once the book hits fifty reviews
on Amazon, one of those reviewers will win a $20 (US Dollars) Amazon Gift
Voucher!
Author Bio
R P Channing started writing three years ago, but never
published anything even after churning out over a million words of fiction. Thirst: Blood of my Blood is the first
book he dared to publish. When asked why, he said, “Because it’s the first
thing I wrote that my wife actually enjoyed reading.” When not hammering away
(most literally) at his keyboard, he can be found buried in a book, reading
anything from romance to horror to young adult to non-fiction to comedy.
Author Links
Website
http://blog.rpchanning.com
http://blog.rpchanning.com
Twitter
https://twitter.com/RPChanning
Amazon
http://amazon.com/author/rpchanning
PROLOGUE
-1-
The Puppy Eyes
My life was perfect.
I had the perfect shoes and the perfect friends and I
lived in the perfect house. My nails were perfect and my hair was perfect
(except on Sundays, it was always windy on Sundays) and I had the perfect clothes.
My lips were a perfect red and my hair perfectly straight. My eyeshadow was
perfect, my hips were...okay, and my
waist...well...also okay. Nothing was
wrong in my life.
But then there was Jack.
Jack was a problem.
He needed to go. I mean, when you’re dead, you’re dead! I had told him this endlessly.
Somehow, Jack didn’t get it. I mean, I felt sorry for the guy. Sure. Being
stuck between this life and the next. But just because I found him, does that
mean I needed to keep him?
I think not!
Sadly, when Jack got that look in his eyes, that
weary, almost teary (if his tear-ducts worked) look, I melted. I just couldn’t
send him away. Not even Jack knew where he would go after he died.
Would he, like, die?
As in — dead, nada, kaput, finito, gone,
no more? Bye bye, sayonara, ciao, hasta la vista baby and all that?
I couldn’t have that on my conscience. No way.
I lay on my bed, wondering what to do about him.
“Jaaaaaaack,” I hollered.
“Jaaaaaaack!”
Still no answer.
“Jack!”
Jack...materialized.
His eyes rolled down to the ground. He was making
those puppy eyes again. “Jack, I told you not to do that. I told you not to
play on my sympathies.”
His puppy eyes became worse.
His skin was gray and, well, dead.
“Oh, brother,” I said. “I have to do something about
you. If mom finds out I have another ‘imaginary friend’ — at my age — well, I’d
die of embarrassment. But, like, really
die. Not like you.” I wondered about this. Would
I die? Was Jack a freak accident, or did all people live on like him? Think of the cemeteries...
The idea excited me somewhat.
“What would you
have me do, Miss Kira?”
“Knock off the Miss Kira crap. I told you it’s just Kira.”
“Yes, Miss Kira.”
The dead. There’s just no reasoning.
“Fine, Miss Kira it is then.” Rover barked like a
lunatic in the garden. No one else might be able to see Jack, but I was sure my
dog could.
“I have to
do something about this,” I mumbled.
-2-
The Rat
Mike knocked on the door before I had time to leave
the house. Mike was the guy I thought (at the time) was perfect.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me, baby.”
Baby, urgh — I wasn’t his baby. I dated Mike because he was the quarterback, because girls
are supposed to like the quarterback,
because it’s just so darn perfect to
be seen with the quarterback, like we’re brainwashed into thinking these things
from the first romantic doll set mom buys us.
This was my previous life.
“Mike.”
“Uh-huh. Gonna let me in?”
So you
can try rub me up and then complain when I don’t let you? This, dear reader, was the big problem with Mike. The second we first
kissed, his hand went way too far south
for me to be comfortable — and I pulled back.
Mike suddenly wasn’t so perfect.
“Uhm, I was just on my way out,” I said.
“Kira? C’mon, open the door.” He sounded upset. “Is
there someone in there with you?”
Boys. As if.
I didn’t know much about love (nothing, actually) but I knew this wasn’t it.
“Uhm, now’s not the time, Mike.”
“C’mon, Kira, what’s going on?” He banged harder.
When in doubt...lie. I opened the door a crack.
“There’s a dead rat in the house, Mike. Been here for days. I gotta go get some
detergent and stuff to handle the stench.”
Mike stepped back. He peered through the crack of the
door.
“It’s really bad,” I said.
“I’ll drive you.”
“I’m afraid the smell” — I stuck my armpit to my nose
— “has found its way all over me.
I’ll drive myself.”
“O — okay. Fine.” And then he grinned like he wanted
something. “Later? My place?”
Urgh. “Uhm, sure...er...later. Not sure when though.”
“Six.”
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. According to girls
at school, he was apparently so damn good looking — theoretically. But for me
personally, he did nothing. Moved nothing. Twisted nothing. “Look, I gotta go, Mike. I gotta — ”
“Kira.” His eyes grew stern. “You’ve been avoiding
me...”
Bingo! Well done contestant number one! And what have
you won? A brain!
I tilted my head. “Mike, look, this...rat — I need to deal with it. We’ll talk
later, okay? Bye.” I closed the door, not waiting for an answer, and peered out
the peep hole. Mike hung around for a second, shoulders wide and eyes glaring
straight at me through the door. Could he see me? Did he know I was looking at
him?
He kicked something off the ground, and I had the
distinct impression he mouthed the word Bitch
before leaving. But I wasn’t sure...
-3-
The Mack
“Roll down the window, Jack.” Jack was recently dead, so he still had a smell
about him. (Which only I could
smell...)
I had purposely skipped breakfast. Maybe Jack would
help me lose weight. I was (still am) a little wide, although it had never
stopped guys flirting with me. I know how to dress.
But I could be skinnier.
Lucy Rogers was skinny. All bones and no boobs.
Charlene Carverton was a babe. Cheerleader. Big chest
(which she pushed out generously with a push-up — if only guys knew). Toned
thighs. Charlene only dated college boys (back then), which I still think is
pretty gross for a girl her age.
“He’s not for
you,” Jack said out the blue.
“Hmm?”
“This...Mike — he’s wrong for you, Miss Kira.” For
all Jack’s faults (mainly, being dead),
he has a good heart. Factually, probably it’s why I kept him around at first.
“You think I don’t know that?”
“Then why don’t
you dump him?”
I braked at a stop sign. Looked left and right.
“Because I’d look like an idiot. I flirted with him and showed interest, and
one kiss later I can’t stand the sight of him.”
“So dump him.”
“It’s not that simple. Kids at school — they can be
vicious. I have to let it fade slowly. If I drop the bomb on him, I’ll never
hear the end of it through senior year.”
“And you care?”
Yes, I did. Forget Guantanamo, schools are rough. “You don’t understand, Jack.
Maybe school was different in your day. But in mine, well, we walk through
metal detectors.”
“Schools weren’t
too different in my day.” I noted the sadness in his voice.
“You okay?”
“I’m dead.”
Right. “You miss...your life?”
Jack shrugged. “I
like being with you, Miss Kira. And I don’t remember much of my life. I think
I’m in limbo.”
“Limbo?”
“Yes, like I
have some unfinished business. If only I could remember...what...it is...”
He scratched his head.
“Any ideas?”
“Well, it can’t
be love. If it were love, I’d be a vampire. That’s who teenage girls fall in
love with these days.”
“A vampire? That’s just what I need — two undead beings stalking me.”
“I feel I have
something to do around you, Miss Kira. I don’t know what, but something.
Something important.”
I looked over at him. “Me?”
I was still looking at him when I missed the stop
sign.
The Mack truck drove straight into us.
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