by Linda Joy Singleton
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SCENE FROM "PHANTOM OF THE PROM" short story in Leap/SPIRITED anthology:
We get to work right away—and, man, is there work. It’s like Wilshire Castle has been vacant for centuries, although Pen tells me it’s only been a decade. “Since the tragedy,” she says in a hushed tone as she hands me a broom.
“What tragedy?” My sixth sense must be off, because I’m not picking up any otherworldly vibes. Only dust, which makes me sneeze.
“I can’t believe you don’t know.”
“All I heard is it might be haunted.”
“Ignore those ridiculous rumors,” Penny-Love scoffs. “Ghosts aren’t real.”
I could prove otherwise, but why shock her with reality? Most people are content to live their earth lives without ever seeing a ghost. Not me. Spirits are my normal, and even though I complain sometimes, I love my special connection to the other side.
“So what was the tragedy?” I ask.
“The dude who built this castle, Jeremiah Wilshire, murdered his wife. Everyone knows he buried her on this property, but no one’s ever found the grave, so he wasn’t even arrested. He lived alone for years until he fell down the stairs and died here.”
My shivers return. Dizzy, I lean on the broom for balance. Darkness sweeps me somewhere else, back to another time in this ballroom, only the walls are newer with gilded-framed paintings, and high above the center of the ballroom, a chandelier glitters like cascading diamonds. A young bearded guy in a tux holds hands with a freckled red-headed girl wearing a lacy white gown. Bride and groom, I realize, warmed by the honey-sweetness of their love for each other. The groom draws his bride close, and she leans her head against his shoulder. They dance beneath the silvery shine of the chandelier.
“Sabine!”
The broom slips from my fingers at the snap of Ransom’s voice.
CHARACTER INTRO – Sabine Rose
My story PHANTOM OF THE PROM stars characters from THE SEER series. The heroine, Sabine Rose, is a reluctant psychic who keeps her abilities undercover while at school but shares with a trusted group of friends. She's fallen in love with a mysterious guy, Dominic, who is being mentored by her grandmother in otherworldly arts, and he has an amazing ability to communicate with animals.
Inspiration for Sabine Rose
The inspiration for Sabine came in a dream, as if the character were a real person sharing her life with me. For research into psychic abilities, I read biographies of psychics and attended psychic fairs. Sabine's collection of nightlights comes from a comment made by a real psychic about not liking the dark so always keeping a nightlight on.
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Guest post created by Linda Joy Singleton, author of Phantom of the Prom from the Spirited anthology
© 2012. All rights reserved.
AUTHOR BIO
Linda Joy Singleton is the author of more than 35 books, including THE SEER series,DEAD GIRL trilogy, and BURIED: Goth Girl Mystery. Free short stories, a contest, book excerpts, and writing advice can be found at www.LindaJoySingleton.com.
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by Linda Joy Singleton
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READ Linda's story here...
edited by Kat O'Shea
Release date: March 28, 2012
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