“Right.”Gloria nodded.“That makes sense.”
Overhearing this simple explanation, the edges of Evelyn's ghostly form blurred with distress.If only they knew the truth about that "dreadful final book"—how it had been written entirely by Cornelius himself, without her, revealing the poverty of his actual talent when left to his own devices.
Cornelius began.Witty and verbose.Spinning a yarn about his newest novel and how the idea was sparked the moment he crossed over to the afterlife.
At the back of the crowd, Vivienne Crawford was holding court with a group of fascinated spirits, her voice carrying just enough to create an undercurrent of excitement.
"Well, darlings," she was saying with theatrical whispers, "I shouldn't tell you this, but I heard the most delicious rumors about tonight's festivities.Apparently, there might be opportunities for...shall we say, extended adventures beyond our usual boundaries."
Her timing was spot-on, creating just enough distraction to pull attention away from Cornelius's presentation.The promise of adventure beyond the mundane convention activities proved irresistible to spirits who had spent decades in the static existence of death.
"What kind of adventures?"asked a curious spirit in Regency dress.
"The kind that involve experiencing the living world in ways we haven't enjoyed since we were breathing," Vivienne replied with a meaningful wink."Though you didn't hear it from me!"
Cornelius, mid-sentence in his description of the book's romantic themes, caught fragments of Vivienne's conversation.He faltered slightly as he noticed heads turning away from his presentation toward the more exciting conversation.
The competition for attention was infuriating.Here he was, offering them romance brilliance and emotional depth, while they were being seduced by gossip about party tricks.It was a textbook metaphor for everything wrong with audiences, both living and dead.
"As I was saying," he continued, raising his voice slightly, "this novel explores the deepest mysteries of the heart, the way love can conquer even the ultimate separation..."
But more ghosts were drifting toward Vivienne's group.Cornelius's jaw tightened as his audience continued to thin.
The sight of his carefully planned presentation being upstaged by a silly party girl triggered every insecurity and resentment he'd accumulated throughout his career.
Just then, Uma, Honey, and Maisie arrived at the edge of the grove, having hurried from the cemetery to catch the book launch.They positioned themselves where they could observe the crowd while staying relatively inconspicuous among the trees.
Their arrival went unnoticed by most of the spirits, but they all immediately picked up on the tension between the formal presentation and the more exciting conversations happening at the crowd's edges.
"...and so I present to you," Cornelius announced with forced enthusiasm to his diminishing audience, "'Second Chances'—a testament to the enduring power of love!"
The applause was polite but distracted.Cornelius's charming facade cracked visibly.As the formal presentation concluded and ghosts began to mill about, he made his way directly toward Evelyn, who was still lurking in the shadows.
His movement through the crowd was purposeful and predatory, cutting through the celebration with single-minded determination.The assembled spirits parted unconsciously before him, sensing the dangerous energy.
"This is unacceptable," he hissed, his voice low but sharp enough that Uma and her companions could hear from their position."I give them brilliance, and they're more interested in blather?"
"The book is wonderful.I worked all night to finish it.”Evelyn said softly, her eyes drifting toward a smaller crowd where spirits were discussing the book."Listen to them—they're praising the writing, the way the characters feel so real—"
“You need to go find that trio of goofy men, Fez, Chuck, and Bob, right now," Cornelius commanded curtly."You'll track them down and get the specifics.If it’s real, I want in.If it’s not…well, I’ll take care of that my way.I’ll go see the troublemaker woman and find out what is more interesting than me.”
Her form wavering like smoke in a breeze."But...the reception is just starting.People are discussing the book, asking questions about the characters.I've never heard readers respond to my—to the work like this."
For a moment, her eyes sparkled, revealing the desperate hunger for recognition that had been building inside her soul.These spirits were praising her creativity, her emotional insight, her ability to craft believable relationships—and she was being sent away from the very validation she'd dreamed of receiving.
"Your work?"Cornelius's eyes flashed with cold fury."Don't you ever—EVER—let me hear you say those words again."
Evelyn shrank back, quivering with fear.
"You are a typist, Evelyn.Nothing more," Cornelius continued with quiet venom."I am the author.I am the star.I am the face of this franchise.These books are mine and mine alone.You seem to have forgotten your place."
The words hit with surgical precision, designed to cut away any sense of self-worth or creative ownership she might have developed.This was psychological warfare refined to an art form, the systematic destruction of another person's identity for personal gain.
"I...I just meant—"
"You meant nothing," he cut her off sharply."You typed what I told you to type.The creative genius, the emotional depth, the characters that readers love—that all comes from me.You are just the lowly writer who puts my vision on paper."
Evelyn grew dim, and Uma felt a surge of anger at witnessing such cruelty.
