House of Cards Read Online Free PDF

to rippled along the wood brought back no memory to the small little piece of wood that so intricately fit into the carvings but stuck out just enough to open the door to one of the hidden rooms.
                  Her breathing hitched when her feet bumped into the wall at the end of the hall. Rae opened her eyes, a carving of a man with a raised axe inches from her face. The rapid beating of her heart distracted any other noise she might hear, like the noises she actually needed to be listing for.
                  She dropped to the floor and leaned her head into her hands. Moistness covered her palms. She’d been sweating. She had no idea if the sweat came from her forehead or her hands. Probably both.
                  Flashes of the battle with Kraigan flashed through her head like lightning. Kraigan lifting her up and tossing her against the wall, spinning her like a ragdoll, stealing all her tatùs so she had nothing left to fight him with. He’d broken her arm, cut her face, slapped her, and worse. It had been done with such hatred and malice, from a step-brother she’d never known existed.
                  Forcing a shaky breath through her lips, she forced herself to get up. She had never thought she would be scared coming back in here. She shook her head. “I’ve been through enough crap in my life, I should know better. I should’ve come later in the day, when the room sat full of students.” She snorted. “Great. Now I’m mumbling to myself out loud.”
    Her hand brushed against a strangely familiar piece of wood. She had been walking without even realizing it. With two fingers gently holding the tip, she pushed the wood up. Stale air filled her nostrils , as Rae slipped inside the opened door and pulled out her mini flashlight.
    The light bounced off the walls and illuminated the small room with shadows and small bits of round light. She went straight to the bed, and dropped down to look underneath it.
    Dust bunnies the size of Texas filled most of the space. “Guess the cleaning lady doesn’t make regular visits here.” She leaned down on an elbow and concentrated on finding the spot where the settled dust had been forced to dance, which would indicate a recent disturbance. The flashlight moved back and forth in one fluid motion. “Bingo,” Rae whispered when she saw some slide marks in the dust beneath where the pillows lay. The journal lay partially opened and angled against the far bedpost.
    Rae stuffed the stem of the flashlight into her mouth and stretched out her arm, trying to reach the journal instead of some dust bunny family member. The tips of her fingers brushed against one corner. “Crap!” The book slid away as she tried to grasp it. She tried unsuccessfully again and again. Flipping onto her back, she figured she would be able to get her shoulder under the narrow space between the bed and floor.
    No go.
    Of course the bed was against two walls meeting with the journal right in the corner.
    Rae sat up and tapped her fingers against the floor. What tatù to use? She only had about a dozen to choose from. That was next to nothing compared to her inventory pre-fight to the attempted death with Kraigan. Devon’s tatù wouldn’t help, nor would Julian’s, Carter’s or Jennifer’s. “I could use Lanford’s levitation right now,” she muttered. “The only thing that was good in him.”
    Pursing her lips she quickly went through her list. Electricity…wind… crow… leopard… Hold it, wind?
    She lay back down and rolled her head sideways to see un der the bed with the flashlight. What if she sent wind against the wall, could it bounce back and push the journal within reach?
    She tried a small burst. Nothing. She pushed the image of a breeze out of her head and focused on a gust. A big one. She flicked her hands and went flying across the room to the other wall, banging her back and head hard against the wood.
    “Ow!” She rubbed the