As the three men moved through the frozen crowd, Uma ran up the steps and quickly whispered something to Leahnora, gesturing toward Evelyn with obvious urgency.The mayor's expression shifted as she processed this new information, understanding passing between the two women without need for detailed explanation.
"Wait," Uma called out, raising her hand."Before we deal with the...situation...I have an announcement."
Leahnora nodded and gestured for Uma to continue, recognizing that some revelations were too important to delay even in the midst of a dimensional crisis.
"Everyone," Uma said, her voice carrying clearly across the silent square, "I want to introduce you to the most amazing and talented romance author in life and death...”
From the edge of the crowd, Cornelius Lennox saw what was about to happen.His solid form rose into the air.He shot toward the stage at tremendous speed.The sight was both impressive and terrifying.His approach created a sonic boom that shattered the silence Leahnora had imposed.
The crowd, seeing his dramatic approach, began to murmur with anticipation.But Evelyn continued to step forward, her newly confident voice carrying across the square.She spoke into the mic, "My name is Evelyn Marsh, and I am the true author of every Cornelius Lennox romance novel ever published."
Cornelius arrived at the stage at the same moment, blazing with fury."SILENCE!"he roared, knocking the microphone to the ground and grabbing Evelyn by the throat."I told you to stay quiet!You are nothing without me.Every word you’ve written.They are mine.All mine.I am the face of those romances.Not you.They will never be yours."
As Evelyn choked in his grip, Sean and Roam reacted with the lightning reflexes of trained protectors, but Evelyn was faster.Still holding the flask in her hand, in one swift motion, she smashed the starlight potion over Cornelius's head.The sparkling water splashed over the both of them, like an explosion of glitter.
The effect was immediate and dramatic.Cornelius released her, stumbling backward as the ancient magic recognized the true nature of his soul.While Evelyn became even brighter, her hair shinier, her porcelain skin glowing, Cornelius’ solid form began to flicker rapidly, cycling between corporeal and translucent.He dulled, and seemed to fade into a colorless form with no light.
"No...NO!"he cried out in desperation."I was back!I was myself!I am famous!I'M THE AUTHOR!"
But the magic was unavoidable and unstoppable.He was once again a ghost.And his ghostly form began to flatten, becoming thin as paper.In one quick motion he wrinkled like a sheet of paper that had been crumpled in an angry fist, and straightened back out.Before the horrified eyes of the entire crowd, Cornelius Lennox had dehydrated, his essence condensing into something that looked disturbingly like parchment.
With a small sound, a puff, the paper-thin sheet that had once been a celebrated author suddenly exploded into a million tiny pieces that scattered on the town hall steps like confetti.
Again, silence fell over Cauldron Falls like the final curtain on a very strange play.
Everyone—living, dead, and temporarily solid—stood as still as the night itself, staring at the empty space where Cornelius Lennox had met his ultimate fate.
Chapter 22
Divine Interruption
The silence stretching across Cauldron Falls town square was broken by the soft scraping sound of a broom materializing in Butcher's massive hands.The zombie caretaker moved with his characteristic orderly care, summoning a matching dustpan as he began sweeping up the scattered remains of what had once been Cornelius Lennox.
The irony wasn't lost on anyone present—a fake author reduced to paper scraps, being swept into the trash like discarded rough drafts.Butcher worked quietly, his gravelly breathing the only sound as he collected every fragment with the thoroughness of someone who took his cleaning duties very seriously.
"Oh my," Leahnora's voice finally broke the stunned silence."That was...rather intense."
"What the hell happened to him?"Roam demanded, reeling from witnessing something that defied every law of physics he knew.
"I have no idea," Sean replied grimly, though his Irish accent carried a note of deep concern."But this looks like serious trouble for me."
Just then, a crack of thunder split the night sky, though not a single cloud was visible among the stars.The ancient ginkgo tree where the second loophole had first appeared began to glow, and a figure descended from the heavens with the theatrical flair that could only belong to one being in all the supernatural realms.
The Goddess of Death touched down gracefully beneath the golden canopy, her flaming red hair glowing as her bedazzled red wings folded behind her.She wore her signature red leather jumpsuit, and her presence immediately drew every eye in the square.
"Well, well, well," she said, her voice carrying the weight of someone who literally held the power of life and death in her hands."What do we have here?"Her sharp eyes swept over the crowd of solid ghosts with obvious amusement."I see a lot of ghosts in rare form this evening."
Murphy O'Reilly immediately tried to duck behind Leahnora's petite frame, though his stocky build made the attempt rather unsuccessful.
The Goddess of Death took in the kegs of Ghost Draught vapor and the general chaos that had erupted in what was supposed to be a peaceful magical town hosting a simple ghost convention.
"Now then," she continued, moving toward the town hall steps with fluid grace."Let's see what kind of trouble you've all gotten yourselves into."
As she reached the top of the steps, she gestured with one perfectly manicured finger.Butcher's broom froze mid-sweep, and the dustpan lifted toward her, floating at eye level so she could examine its contents.
"Hmm," she mused, peering into the dustpan with focused attention.The paper fragments began to swirl and gather into a compact ball above the container.Her expression grew serious as she examined the magical residue clinging to the scraps.
"Very interesting indeed," she said, her tone shifting to something more ominous.She looked up at the assembled crowd, her eyes flashing with recognition and divine irritation.
