Ghostwriting by Traci Harding Read Free Book Online Page A

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    â€˜I’ll call you, Asta, as soon as I have any word.’ Amy was trying to get rid of Asta quickly, so as to get on with the task at hand.
    â€˜You know what we will have to do, if you can’t find it, don’t you?’
    Asta’s query made Amy furious, sending her inspiration out the window and, in its place, her feeling of dread returned. ‘I’ll find it, Asta, and if I don’t, then you can do as you see fit. Goodbye.’ She hung up in her ear. As soon as the handset hit thereceiver, Amy was filled with remorse. ‘There I go, again … Why do I allow people to push my buttons like that?’ Her eyes turned to all the pieces of paper that comprised her puzzle, and she gave a heavy sigh. ‘Now, how to get excited about this again?’
    From the notes Olivia had made beside her text, it was obvious that she was far more disposed toward the alchemic perception of the Grail. This tradition referred to the Grail as ‘The Philosopher’s Stone’, which represented unification with God and was the mystical substance of self-transformation. Jung had explained the Grail quest as the search for truth and the real self, but alchemy was the art of attuning consciousness to higher states of awareness whereby direct contact with the divine was possible.
    Amy switched on her computer to make some notes; she considered it her computer as Olivia never touched it. The spiritualist had denied having techno-fear; she claimed the computer interfered with her vibrational frequencies and she had placed a mass of crystals around it to absorb the excess electromagnetic radiation it emitted. Amy had suggested moving the work station to another room in the house, but Olivia preferred that they work together — probably so she could keep an eye on her.
    â€˜It figures that you’d bloody well leave me on my own, just when I really need you,’ Amy scoffed, creating a new file on the computer for her notes on Olivia’s summations.
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    Liam hadn’t spied Amy since she’d disappeared into the office six hours ago, so he thought it best to go and check that she hadn’t done herself in.
    Before he’d even ascended the attic stairs he could hear her stomping around, yelling curses at his mother.
    â€˜If it wasn’t bad enough that you dropped dead before finishing this accursed thing. With your dying wish you ask me to do the impossible! Though, incidentally, I am not convinced you did.’ Suspicion mingled with her anger. ‘Asta wants this manuscript completed awfully bad —’
    Liam gave a timid knock on the door.
    â€˜Christ!’ Amy had forgotten all about Liam. She wiped the tears of frustration from her eyes with the sleeve of her jumper. There was no mirror in the office to check how dreadful she looked, so Amy grabbed a CD, but gazing at her reflection just made her want to burst into tears all over again. She slouched into her desk chair and grabbed a tissue to blow her nose. ‘Enter at your own risk.’
    Liam suppressed his rosy demeanour as he walked inside to assess the damage.
    Head bowed low, Amy’s face was hidden by her straight, dark brown hair which fell to just past her shoulders. She discarded her tissue and came out of hiding, turning her swollen, red eyes his way.
    â€˜I’m going to burn it,’ she announced in jest, forcing a grin.
    A look of empathy dulled Liam’s smile as he wandered over to give Amy’s shoulders a rub. ‘I’m sure it’s not that bad.’ Then he noticed the blank page on the computer screen. ‘Well, maybe it is …’
    â€˜I made a whole pile of notes,’ Amy sniffled. ‘I thought it was going really well!’ Her tears began to build for a second coming. ‘But when it came down to the actual writing … it’s useless, it just won’t happen.’ She let the tears flow, and grabbed another