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knowledge at Pendrell that I saw ghosts. Most of my peers already knew what I could do—or that I claimed I could do it—so it was probably only a matter of time until the alumni knew as well. My real secrets were still safe. At least I hadn’t confessed those.
    I could just imagine what the school rumor mill would do if they knew that Brent and I could not only astral project, but also move objects with our minds. Telekinesis was a rare skill, even for those whose spirits could leave their bodies. Brent was much more skilled than I, but he’d been helping me strengthen my abilities. And no one but Brent, Cherie and Steve knew he’d been training me to manipulate the weather like he could. All in all, I hadn’t revealed anything the alumni wouldn’t have found out soon enough anyway, but somehow that didn’t brighten my mood.
    I pressed the palms of my trembling hands into my eyes, fighting back tears, grateful for waterproof mascara. My neck and shoulders clenched from the tension and I rolled my head to the side to stretch my stiff muscles, feeling them relax. Everything was going to be okay. I exhaled slowly and opened my eyes. I had to bite back a scream. In front of me lay a large pool.
    I’d been so upset I’d allowed myself to get within feet of it. No one knew how terrified I was of water since my death last year. The fear made sense, but still, it felt like a weakness, and I hated it. I avoided taking baths, going to the beach, or soaking in hot tubs. Even showers longer than a few minutes were frightening. And the smell of chorine almost completely debilitated me. Not even Brent knew how terrified I felt at the idea of swimming or going near a pool.
    I forced myself to look at the water. It looked so tranquil and innocent. People were milling around the pool, carrying plates of food, laughing and mingling as floating candles bobbed in the water. But fear stung me like a thousand angry wasps as I watched the water twinkle and glisten in the light of the fading sun and the candles dancing along the surface.
    I feared that if I went anywhere near the water, death would reach out to me with a siren song, trying to lure me back and retake what had been stolen. A strange sensation washed over me, a nibbling at the edges of my mind. It enticed me, calling in my ear, and my body stiffened. It sang for me, begging me to dive into its depth. Water had been doing that to me for months and I had a pretty good idea why. Death wanted me back.
    Sweat trickled down my spine and suddenly I was on my feet—pulled by some irresistible urge—gliding toward the pool’s edge. I stood close enough now to see my reflection in the surface, but instead of my own image, memories of my death flashed before my eyes. The struggle, the weight of my dress, the buttons I couldn’t loosen, the battle against my fate, and the weight of the knowledge that help wasn’t going to arrive in time.
    I squeezed my eyes closed, trying to block out the nightmarish reel of events. Behind the safety of closed lids, the lure of the pool quieted, freeing me from the hold the water had over me. Once the call was no more than a whisper, I wheeled around, forcing my eyes open and wound my way inside the house. I was shaking, terrified that I had almost given in to the water’s call. For a moment, I had been a girl possessed, and it scared me.
    A waiter walked by and I grabbed another sparkling cider. I gulped it down, almost wishing for something stronger than cider. I paused when the hairs on the nape of my neck stood on alert. I recognized that feeling. Someone was watching me.
    Chapter Two
    My fingers gripped the stem of my glass, my suddenly sweaty palms mixing with the condensation on the crystal. I took a deep breath and reminded myself that of course I was being watched. I was here to parade around, flaunt my stuff and land an internship. Still, this felt different.
    Pretending to look for someone, I turned casually and found a pair of green