Audrey Claire - Libby Grace 02 - How to Blackmail a Ghost Read Online Free PDF Page B

to stop it?”
    Ian stopped walking and faced me. “I have no authority over death.”
    “That’s interesting coming from you!”
    Frustrated, I tried to think of some other topic for discussion, but nothing unrelated came to mind. I recalled how it always seemed that Ian could read my thoughts. He said he couldn’t, but I didn’t believe him. I suspected Ian would lie when it suited him. As he had said, his moral code did not match a human one, and he saw no reason for it to. I had never seen Ian drink blood, but I believed him when he said he was a vampire. To see and feel his power when he controlled Luis Riley and forced him to confess, as well as the time he wiped both Luis and Clark’s memories, I did not doubt Ian’s ability. I had seen him move beyond what the human eye could detect. I had even seen how he cast a spell that repelled me from his person and from his house. He was beyond anything or anyone I had ever dealt with, and for now, he was on my side.
    “Luis…”
    Ian began walking again, and I rushed to stay close. “Luis Riley does not know where your body is. He did not know before coming to your house that it was missing.”
    “Then that leaves us at a dead end.”
    “Yes,” he agreed, “I am afraid it does.”

Chapter Five
     
    “Mom, are we going to be late? Where are you?”
    I darted through several walls to reach the bathroom. Then I stepped into the hall fully visible. Sometimes I lost track of time. I had no need to sleep, but with hours to kill as Jake rested and Monica slept at her own house, I sometimes wandered mentally. Ian spent nights awake, but I didn’t want to leave Jake alone in my house to talk with Ian. Besides, Ian enjoyed reading when he wasn’t hunting his next meal. Maybe I needed a hobby.
    “I’m here, Jake. Did you see the clothes I set out?” I walked into my room behind my son as he stood looking around it. He started and turned.
    “You always do that, Mom. It’s not funny.”
    I laughed and ruffled his hair. “Go brush your teeth. Breakfast will be on the table by the time you’re dressed.”
    I felt proud of myself. No only could I make sure Jake was ready in the morning, I could cook him breakfast and take him to school. Okay, I couldn’t drive a car. Monica still needed to go with us for that, but I could walk Jake into the school if I was careful. We were almost normal.
    “Mom?”
    “Yes, sweetie?”
    Jake hesitated. I touched his hair again, but I made sure not to brush his skin too often. Like Monica had said, I gave off a different feel than I used to. Hugging Jake around a jacket or shirt seemed fine. The energy of a ghostly touch to bare skin was trickier, and so far Jake hadn’t commented, but I saw the speculation in his gaze. I had as naturally as possible moved my once a day kiss just before we left for school to the top of his head. That had helped.
    “Can you not walk me into school?”
    All thoughts of kisses left my mind. “Why?”
    Jake shuffled his feet and stared at the floor. For a seven-year-old, he was small built and rather thin. I tried feeding him more, but it meant nothing. Maybe when he reached puberty, he would spring up and fill out some.
    “I’m getting too big. My friends think I’m a baby because my mom walks me inside the building.” Jake’s face flamed, and I wanted to cry. Here was another change. He had already limited me to kisses and hugs in private. Then again to once just before school. Why did they have to grow up so fast?
    “I see nothing wrong with—”
    “ Please , Mom?”
    I cut off a groan. “How about we see how it goes today? I just want to know you’re safe, Jake.”
    “I’m not going to get lost from the car to my class,” he reasoned. “Plus, nothing ever happens in Summit’s Edge. You always say it’s the best place to live.”
    He had me there. “Fine, okay. We’ll test it out.”
    “Yay, thanks, Mom.” He scampered off to finish getting ready for school, and I indulged in a