Sword Play Read Online Free PDF

card in my pocket and went back to the couch.
    When the chimes rang a minute later, I handed out goodie bags to two fanged monsters, a princess, and a Spiderman with two missing front teeth. The little ghoulies kept coming for another hour. When the chimes finally quieted, I fell asleep on the couch.
    I awoke to the sound of the door opening and a burst of voices.
    Lifting my head, I saw my sisters laughing as they entered the house. They were both still in costume; Sherlock “Amy” Holmes with a pipe and magnifying glass and Ashley as a punk rocker with spiked purple hair. They were willowy and tall, looking much older than ten. This was the first year the twins didn’t wear matching costumes, which made me a little sad.
    “You missed the most amazing party!” Ashley exclaimed, bouncing on the couch by me and waving her jeweled guitar in the air.
    “Astute deduction, my dear Ashley,” Amy said, puffing on her toy pipe and blowing soap bubbles.
    “I’m glad you had fun.” I sat up and yawned.
    “Mom stayed behind to clean up and discuss some boring committee,” Amy told me. “Leanna’s dad dropped us off.”
    She gestured behind her and that’s when I noticed a slightly overweight man with his arm around a slender girl in a cat costume. Short, dark curls framed Leanna’s large, night-black eyes.The young girl didn’t smile, but hung back shyly.
    Or was it more than shyness? I caught an odd look exchanged between my sisters and sensed that something was going on I didn’t understand. I waited for them to introduce me, but instead they turned abruptly away.
    “Thanks for the ride,” Ashley said to Leanna’s father.
    “No problem,” he said.”Your mother does so much for the kids, it’s the least I can do.”
    “Thanks and happy Halloween,” Amy said in a too-cheerful tone. Something was definitely going on. I felt shut out and hurt that my sisters were either too ashamed or embarrassed to introduce me.
    Leanna’s hand was poised on the door as if she was eager to escape. Her gaze shifted in my direction, wide-eyed and tight-lipped. She looked terrified.
    Of me?
    I offered her a smile, hoping to show I was harmless. Only she didn’t smile back. And as I watched, a glowing shape appeared over her dark curls. Round, pale with dark eyes, a nose and mouth.
    A disembodied head—Kip Hurst!
    Kip winked at me, then floated like a ghostly balloon so he was face-to-face with Leanna. I wanted to shout at him to get away from her. Instead, my hand flew over my mouth or I would have gasped as Leanna’s human face and Kip’s ghostly face blended together like a double-exposed photograph.
    They looked uncannily alike; similar dark eyes, rounded chins, and dark brown curly hair. And I realized something astonishing. No wonder Leanna’s name sounded familiar. She was the reason my mother hadn’t wanted me to attend my sisters’ tenth birthday party. My mother feared my presence would upset Leanna.
    I knew why Kip had appeared—even more importantly—why he was hovering by Leanna. He was Leanna’s brother.

My hand slipped from my mouth and I cried out.
    All heads turned toward me, including the disembodied one smirking with ghostly amusement.
    “What is it, Sabine?” Amy asked anxiously.
    “I—I … saw … a—”
    My heart raced, but I realized I must look and sound like a crazy person. But I couldn’t exactly blurt out to Leanna, “I saw your brother’s head.” The last thing I needed was to start new rumors about my weird abilities. Besides, it was obvious no one else could see Kip.
    “What is it, Sabine?” Amy persisted.
    “Nothing.”
    “But something startled you.”
    Kip had his mouth open in a silent laugh—the dead jerk. How dare he think this was funny? Well I wouldn’t let him make a fool of me.
    “I saw a spider,” I lied.
    “Where?” Ashley cried out in alarm, looking around. “Is it near me?”
    “No, it was crawling on my arm.”
    “Ooh, gross. I hate spiders.”
    “Me,