Excerpt: 'Ghost House' by Alexandra Adornetto

Alexandra Adornetto joins HEA to share a scene from Ghost House (coming Sept. 1) that really gets to her.

First, here's the blurb about Ghost House (courtesy of Harlequin Teen):

After the loss of her mother, Chloe Kennedy starts seeing the ghosts that haunted her as a young girl again. Spending time at her grandmother's country estate in the south of England is her chance to get away from her grief and the spirits that haunt her. Until she meets a mysterious stranger…

Alexander Reade is 157 years dead, with secrets darker than the lake surrounding Grange Hall and a lifelike presence that draws Chloe more strongly than any ghost before. But the bond between them awakens the vengeful spirit of Alexander's past love, Isobel. And she will stop at nothing to destroy anyone who threatens to take him from her.

To stop Isobel, Chloe must push her developing abilities to their most dangerous limits, even if it means losing Alex forever…and giving the hungry dead a chance to claim her for their own.

And here's Alexandra on why the following scene is so special to her …

Alexandra: I chose this scene because the death of Chloe Kennedy's mother is the catalyst for the return of the ghosts in her life. It's the reason she is sent to England in the first place and the funeral scene at the beginning of the book is when she realizes the dead are back to haunt her. Dealing with the death of a parent is incredibly hard, especially for a teenager who still needs so much guidance. Because her mother died suddenly, Chloe never had a chance to say goodbye, and this scene offers her that chance, even if it's only for a few minutes.

I'll admit, I cried while writing this, because the idea of being able to see a loved one after they have passed on and then having to let them go again would be torture. Her mother appears to her in this sequence because Chloe is on the verge of giving up and letting Isobel drag her into the shadow world. She's on the brink of life and death, and she knows that in death she will be reunited with her mom. That's a very tempting idea, but her mother tells her she has to keep fighting because she has everything to live for and it's not her time to go yet. She gives Chloe the inner strength she needs at this critical juncture.

The scene …

Her spirit invaded my body like a million tiny electrical currents. The alien presence made me feel like I was literally being split in two. I wanted to scratch and tear at myself, but I knew I couldn't get her out. Already I could feel the ghost sapping my energy, siphoning away my life force. Sharing a body with the dead was enervating, and I was losing the battle fast. Alex watched on, horror scrawled all over his face. His body was braced as if he wanted to run forward, but there was no point now. Isobel was beyond his reach. How could he stop her without hurting me? For minutes the internal tug of war continued and I was certain I would never come out of this alive.

"Let her be!" his tortured cry rang out. "Isobel, stop!"

"You always knew this was how it would end." The voice of Isobel spoke through me. It was alarming to feel my mouth move and know that I wasn't controlling it.

"Haven't we seen enough death?" Alex implored. "Do not force an innocent girl into the same fate. Even you are not that cruel. This is your chance for redemption. Take it!"

"She's not innocent," Isobel hissed. "She will destroy us both." I felt myself struggle to the surface for a brief moment. "Alex!" I managed to croak out before Isobel beat me down and resumed control once again.

I screamed as I felt my internal organs shift, but the scream quickly morphed into a maniacal laugh. Isobel forced my body to the ground, pressing my face into the mud. My arms and legs thrashed as I struggled with myself. I couldn't tell anymore which movements were my own and which belonged to her. I could feel myself edging closer to the shadow world. There was a strong swallowing sensation, like I was headed toward a whirlpool, but I couldn't command my legs to stop moving. I tried to send messages to my brain, but the interference blocked them. The shadow world whispered to me, voices from the beyond calling out. Some were crying, some moaning. The light had waned now and I was looking into a skeletal land that looked as if it were made from nothing but dust and bones. I was right on the fringe, on the verge of taking the final step. A host of spirit beings appeared, hovering above the ground, their faces wasted and reedy arms extended in welcome. Something was happening. I could feel my spirit starting to detach, leaving my body behind, an empty vessel.

An indistinct figure appeared in my path, glowing with a soft light. The outline of a woman emerged; her face rubbed out like a news show where they try to protect the identity of a witness. I could see that she was wearing flowing clothes, and her dark curly hair hung lose around her shoulders. I recognized that hair. I saw it every day on my little brother.

"Mom?" I whispered.

The vision grew clearer, her face coming into focus until there she was, standing right in front of me like it was just another ordinary day. She was wearing her favorite blue sweater, and it was the only speck of color in the gray wasteland behind her. I was gripped with a sudden fear. I didn't want the vision to end. I couldn't lose my mother a second time.

"Surrender," Isobel's taunt rang in my ears. "And you shall never be separated from her again."

I stood and took a decisive step forward, longing to run into my mother's arms.

"Chloe, wait." She held up her hands and smiled at me like I was a child again. "This isn't what I want for you."

"Mom..." I heard my voice crack. "I miss you so much. Why did you have to leave?"

"My time was up," she said. "I'm sorry, Chloe, I never wanted to go."

"Then let me come with you."

"No, my darling." She shook her head. "Your life is just beginning."

I hugged myself, trying to keep from falling apart. "It's too hard without you," I whispered. "I can't do it."

"You've always been strong," she replied. "Even when you were just a little girl. You told those ghosts to leave, and they did. You can do it again."

I could feel her presence now, like a protective shield around me, an unexpected ally. But my mom was not a spirit in torment. She didn't belong here. She had already passed on to the next life, and I knew she wouldn't be able to stay for long. I might never get another opportunity to see or speak to her again. Right now she was so close, within reach. But it couldn't last.

"Don't you want me with you?" The hot tears I'd been holding back sprang forth now to course down my cheeks.

"I want you to live, Chloe," she said. "Remember all your dreams? I want to see them realized, every last one. One day we'll be together again. But not today."

"When, Mom?" I whispered. I was so reluctant to let her go; I wanted to grab her and hang on for dear life.

"When it's time," she answered. "You're going to do great things with your life, I've always known you would. And I'll be watching. Just remember who you are and make me proud, okay?" She was already starting to fade.

"Okay," I said, then added as a desperate afterthought. "I love you! I don't think I said that enough."

"I know you do." She smiled. "I love you too, my darling girl. I'm always with you."

"Wait! How will I know if I'm making the right decisions?"

Mom smiled as if she had total confidence in me. It was the same smile that had gotten me through countless challenges in life so far. I felt bolstered by it.

"You'll know because they'll be yours."

Then, just like that, she was gone.

Find out more about Alexandra and her books on Facebook.