Read Spectral for Free Online

my intruding thoughts. I turned it up and lay back down, putting my pillow over my head.
    Finally I fell asleep and into a deep dream. It was like I was reliving the night when I heard my grandmother saying I was the Spectral. I glided down over the stairs but it was as though there was no roof on the house and the foggy night enveloped me, misting my skin. When I peeked into the kitchen as before, Uncle Boris pounded on the ominous card on the table, his face full of rage. My grandmother reached over, touched his hand, and he became silent. He lifted his hand away from the card. I strained my neck to see the image on the card, obscured by the fog. My feet dangled into the air, and I started to float across the room, moving closer to the table.
    I floated above the table, face down, my hair dangling around me. The whole table shook as everyone around it held hands, murmuring under their breath as though in a séance. The card rose into the air until I could plainly see an image of a girl with long dark hair painted on it. She wore a knee length, sleeveless, black dress and she held a golden dagger in her hands pointing upward. Then I saw it—a Red Crescent moon-shaped mark on her leg.
    Aunt Eva’s head shot up at me, eyes narrowed. “She bears the mark,” she hissed.
    “No!” I screamed, bolting upright in bed.
    I yanked out my ear buds and snatched up the clock on the nightstand. It was eight o’clock and the sun poured in my room from the window. Swinging my feet over the side of the bed, I pulled off my shirt and reached to my right shoulder, my gaze following my fingers.
    The Red Crescent moon-shaped birthmark I’d been told to keep covered all my life, blazed back.

Chapter Seven
     
    Willow followed me out of the bathroom where I’d taken the longest shower ever. I couldn’t stop looking at my birthmark in the mirror. I’d seen it a million times before, but now it seemed different. I always knew I had to cover it. I assumed what my parents said was true—that it was too big an identifying mark. I figured the mob could readily identify me if they saw it.
    But now I was beginning to think everything—the moving, the hiding, the secrets—didn’t have anything to do with my dad and the mob. What was worse was that my new suspicions seemed even more frightening, if that were even possible.
    I decided to leave my hair down since I was having a good hair day and the jeans Grandma Raine bought me surprisingly fit and were a welcome change. Maybe Taylor would lay off on the makeover bit now.
    I put on a black fitted t-shirt and flip-flops. Pretty much everything in my closet was black, except for a few jade green tops. Ensuring my birthmark was covered by my sleeve, I stepped outside to sit on the front bench to wait for Taylor. Willow curled up beside me on the swing.
    When Taylor arrived, she jumped out of the car and bounced up a couple steps to the front porch until she saw Willow and froze.
    I crooked a brow. “Don’t tell me you’re scared of cats?”
    She laughed. “Not at all. Just allergic. I don’t look good sporting red spots,” she joked.
    “No prob. I’ll meet you in the car.” I put a struggling Willow back in the house and closed the door. She meowed relentlessly as I walked away. “I’ll be back soon,” I told her as if she understood.
    I headed to the car, but just when I thought the coast was clear, Aunt Eva came outside. “Have you got your phone?” she asked straight-faced.
    I opened the door to Taylor’s car and waved my cell in the air with my other hand. Aunt Eva stood with her hands on her hips. “Make sure you answer it when it rings.”
    “Oohh she’s like a pit-bull on a poodle,” Taylor said as she backed out of the driveway.
    I nodded and laughed. “For real,” I said, feeling relieved to be out of there.
    “So what do ya wanna go to the library for? Or do I sense a little scam action going on?”
    “Yeah—I mean no. Well, yes I do wanna go to the library. And