Read Hell's Gate: Amelia for Free Online

Barrett’s a regular. I’ve never seen him so smitten with anyone before. Either way, he’s a nice guy. On to business. The reason I had Honey bring you here was so we could talk to you. She’s the witch who enchanted your ring. Plus, she was here reinforcing the wards in the club. I noticed some things were coming in that shouldn’t have been here. I wanted to know if you were going to be keeping your room on the second level.”
    Amelia nodded. “I was hoping I could. It’s nice to know I can relax somewhere when I don’t have to be mingling with the people here.”
    “Okay. Since you are, we’re going to have to figure out a work schedule for you. If you stay here, then you have to pay your own way. It’s the way I work with all my boarders.”
    “How can I do anything? I’m dead.” She blanched.
    Leah glanced at Honey. “Well, technically, during the night and when you wear the ring, you’re alivish . The ring is tied into the energy of the club. Hell’s Gate sits on a nexus of leylines . I build my spells using that energy. Some people say the club glows because of all the energy flowing through the bricks. That’s what makes it so you’re semi-alive. Feel warm and have a heartbeat. That’s the reason you can only be corporeal within the walls, and the magic is stronger at night.”
    Amelia nodded. It sounded logical. When she had come to the club it did have a glow from what she remembered. “Okay, so why do I still phase out if I focus on something too hard? Wouldn’t that make it difficult for me to work for you, Leah?”
    “You’re still a ghost. The ring doesn’t rob you of the very essence of your being. If you want to fade away, then you will. I am sure you can work something out. Well, I have to be going. Leah, call me if you or the pack needs anything else.” Honey smiled. Leah waved at her and then turned her face toward Amelia.
    Amelia tried to smile, but her thoughts were fixed on Barrett. The more she thought about him, the more she realized that she did have feelings for him. It wasn’t just an attraction, there was more there. The thought of not seeing him again shredded her heart and shattered her soul. Maybe she was falling on love. Still, being with him would never work. She was dead and couldn’t leave the club. Besides, he knew what she was and didn’t want to be with her anyway. Leah squeezed her hand and brought her back to reality.
    “Look, I know you’re worried about Barrett. We can figure out the work thing later. I’ll talk to Tig about setting you up on the house account so you can order food or clothes. Essentials, nothing too extravagant.”
    “Thanks.” Amelia sobbed. The brevity of Barrett’s situation hit her. It was the right thing to tell him who she was. But that didn’t stop her from longing to feel his lips on hers once more or even have him trail his fingers along her legs. Maybe even suck her toes. That will never happen now. I pray he lives and gets on with his life. He deserves to have a good woman and doesn’t need me.
    “Why don’t you get some rest?”
    Amelia nodded and then left the office. She went down to her room and sat on the bed. She sat with her back to the wall, feeling the firmness against her spine. It helped remind her that she, too, was real. Time passed, but all she could do was stare at the blank gray walls. This was the world she lived in. The one she had drifted in for almost a century.
    Amelia studied the wall long enough that she had come to see the pattern in the paint. It was a wolf baying at the moon. She could see the mountains behind it. The cliff the wolf stood on looked over a lake. Every detail was burned into her mind. When she blinked, the world snapped into view. Amelia shivered. A chill moved over her limbs. Her arms and legs were stiff from sitting so long. She stretched and stood up. Music from above shook the ceiling and the need to be among people came over her. She went upstairs. There she went to the