The Sibyl (eBook)

Cynthia D. Witherspoon (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2018 | 1. Auflage
490 Seiten
Publishdrive (Verlag)
978-0-00-013893-4 (ISBN)

Infos

Every Ghost Has A Story. 
I was going to find that out the hard way. I should have known the second Apollo's sixth Sibyl tricked me into taking her place that my life was going to be hell after that.
It was easier to convince myself I'd gone crazy. Hell, I'd signed up to be on television. That was the first clue my head was screwed up. The second?
When I started seeing ghosts in the mirrors. Spirits who told me their horrible tales. Or like the one I faced on my first episode who slit my damn throat. Just as hers had been.
For better or worse, I was now a messenger of the dead thanks to a greek god I couldn't believe actually existed. I had two choices. Succeed or relinquish this crazy life to someone else.
And in the process, lose my own.
Includes bonus anthology Grave Messages: Season One!

My name is Eva McRayne, and you don't know me yet, but you will. I am the co-host of a paranormal documentary show called Grave Messages. I am also the Sibyl.

What's the Sibyl?

Apollo's messenger for the dead. Yeah, that Apollo. The same god from the Greek mythology stories we were all forced to read in high school.

Except, the stories aren't stories. The gods are real. The ghosts are real.

And my choice is a simple one. Use my new immortality to bring followers to Apollo or commit the suicide I had so desperately wanted before the gods and ghosts invaded my life.

It's not much of a choice. Then again, it was never meant to be. Succeed or relinquish this crazy life to someone else.

And in the process, lose my own.

My name is Eva McRayne, and you don't know me yet, but you will. I am the co-host of a paranormal documentary show called Grave Messages. I am also the Sibyl.

What's the Sibyl?

Apollo's messenger for the dead. Yeah, that Apollo. The same god from the Greek mythology stories we were all forced to read in high school.

Except, the stories aren't stories. The gods are real. The ghosts are real.

And my choice is a simple one. Use my new immortality to bring followers to Apollo or commit the suicide I had so desperately wanted before the gods and ghosts invaded my life.

It's not much of a choice. Then again, it was never meant to be. Succeed or relinquish this crazy life to someone else.

And in the process, lose my own.

Textauszug

CHAPTER ONE

Eva McRayne

No. There was no way in hell I was going to be on television. None. Nada. Never going to happen.

Elliot Lancaster had lost his mind. That was the only explanation I could come up with. No wonder he had wanted to meet face-to-face. I couldn't hang up on him in person.

My best friend kept talking as if I wasn't staring at him in utter disbelief. I didn't know whether to laugh or leave, but the more he talked, the more I was banking on leaving.

When Elliot had said he had found a job for me, this was not what I had expected. Something in an office. Something in a classroom, maybe. But not a television show. See, I was in the middle of an unemployment crisis. We'd graduated from the University of Georgia over three months ago and I was getting desperate.

But not that desperate.

“Hold up, Eli.” I waved my hand to interrupt him. “I think you’ve lost me.”

“Where?” Elliot Lancaster gave me his million-dollar smile as he tore a drink napkin into pieces. “I can’t give you all the details because we haven’t figured them all out yet. Connor wants us to start organizing the show as soon as we sign the contracts.”

“Who’s Connor again?” I picked up the pieces he had scattered all over the table then piled them between us. “Is he important?”

“Yes, he’s important. Connor Garrison. He’s going to be our executive producer.” Elliot grabbed my hand across the table. “By god, Eva, have you not heard a single word I’ve said?”

“No, I’ve been listening.” I squeezed his hand. “You got a gig on television. I think that’s fantastic. But I can’t do this with you.”

“Why?” He dropped my hand and folded his arms across his chest. “Give me one good reason as to why you can’t be on the show.”

“I have no experience being on television. That’s plenty reason enough.”

“You don’t need experience. You’ll be a presenter. The only experience you need is to know how to talk.”

“Fine.” I snorted as I mirrored his defensive stance. “In case you haven’t noticed, I am exceptional at making a fool out of myself. And I stutter when I’m nervous. What makes you think I won’t do that during filming?”

“We’ll edit out any instances where you make an idiot out of yourself.” Elliot smirked. “And I have never heard you stutter before. When’d you start doing that?”

He decided to change tactics on me when he reached for his beer. Elliot didn’t take a drink of it though. He began gesturing with it instead.

“This isn’t just any gig on television, Eva. Think about it. This could be our chance to travel the world. Make a difference.”

“So, let me get this straight.” I snatched the bottle out of his hand and took a swig. “You want to go around to dusty old houses to talk about the scary ghosts who live there. That’s not what I call traveling, Eli. And I’m going to need you to explain to me how you’re going to make a difference doing a reality show.”

“Documentary series.” He took his nasty beer back. “We will prove that life doesn’t end at death.”

“Just like every other ghost hunter. Just like every religious fanatic.” I shook my head. “Eli, don’t take this the wrong way. But what do you have that the others don’t?”

“I got you.”

I started laughing before I could stop. Here was my dearest friend offering me the chance of a lifetime. A ridiculous chance. I couldn’t be on television. Much less spend my time chasing after tragedies best left forgotten. I managed to stop laughing long enough to take a sip of my tea.

“Ok, look,” I shook my head. “I’m flattered, truly I am. But I have my concerns.”

“Which are?”

“One, you know how bad I am about speaking in front of crowds.” I held up my hand, ticking off my argument with my fingers. “Two, have you seen me? I’m not exactly camera ready. Three…”

“Eva McRayne, you are far too hard on yourself.” Elliot pushed down each finger I had raised as he outlined his own argument. “First off, you won’t be speaking in front of crowds. It’ll be just me, you, and a cameraman. Second, have you seen yourself? I think you'll be perfect."

I went back to picking at the small squares of paper in an attempt to ignore him, but it was hard. I was drawn to Elliot. We’d been practically inseparable since our first class at UGA together. In the four years we’d known each other, I never thought I’d be having this conversation with him. And I never thought I’d be able to refuse him anything.

I was two for two today.

“Elliot, I just can’t.” I sighed. “There are a million girls who would kill to be having this conversation with you. I’m just not one of them. I want a steady job. Nine-to-five. Not a television show.”

“You want boring.”

“No, I want security.” I pushed my chair away from the table. “And if you’re going to make fun of me for it, then we’re done with this conversation.”

“I’m not trying to make fun of you.” He reached for my hand again, but I was quicker this time. I snatched it away. “I really do want this to work, and I want this to work with you. Connor was ecstatic when I told him about you. I need you, Evie.”

“No.” I threw a few dollars down on the table and stood. “I’ll be sure to tune in though. Sounds like a real riot.”

“The studio is going to provide us with a furnished condo.” Elliot was studying the chair I’d just vacated. “Not to mention the salary. Five figures per show to start.”

That got my attention. Not the condo, but the money. I crossed my arms over my chest as I stared him down.

“Per show?”

Elliot nodded. He tried to look dejected, but I was sure he was resisting the urge to grin. “Yeah. But hey, I understand. If you don’t want to do this, you don’t have to.”

“You’re not playing fair.” I let my words come out slowly. Carefully. “Besides, I’m sure your dad has more to do with the perks than this Garrison guy.”

“Now who’s not playing fair?”

Elliot’s face lost the neutral look he had conveyed so well. He was right. I wasn’t playing fair. I knew better than most how he hated to be under the shadow of his father. The great Joseph Lancaster of Theia Productions, LLC. I can’t tell you how many times I’d heard him confess his fears of not measuring up to his old man.

I considered apologizing, but it was too late. My friend took a final swig of his beer, threw more ones on top of mine, and stood. He linked our arms in one smooth motion to lead us out of the diner.

“No, Dad has nothing to do with this. Granted, I knew the right people to talk to at his office, but for once this is all me.” Elliot’s dark eyes gleamed as we stepped out into the Georgia sun. “I pitched the show to Connor and his boys myself. They loved the idea. We'll have a blast, Evie. Traveling around the world together to investigate notorious and nefarious places. I’ll document all the paranormal stuff. You’ll make fun of me. It’ll be fun.”

“Notorious and nefarious?” I smirked. “What century are you in again?”

“You know what I mean.”

“I’m more attracted to the salary than enjoyment.”

Money was my main concern. I’d spent all of my savings to survive as I went on the job hunt. So far, my prospects were null. Sure, I could have went to my parents for help. But I didn't want them to worry. And I sure as hell didn't want to ask them for money. I knew exactly what kind of lecture I would get if I did that.

I released his arm to dig through my purse. “I still don’t like the idea of being on national television.”

“It’ll be on cable, Evie.” Elliot’s smile was back as he realized my resolve was cracking. “It’s not...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 20.12.2018
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Fantasy / Science Fiction ► Fantasy
• ISBN-10: 0-00-013893-2 / 0000138932
• ISBN-13: 978-0-00-013893-4 / 9780000138934