The ghost turned to Mélanie. “I presume that you are capable of performing such a binding?”
She smiled at Claude. “Yes, old friend. Just drink your fill of blood and enjoy. I’ll do the rest.”
Claude did as she said, neatly setting the cup down when he was finished.
Mélanie raised her hands to the ceiling. “May two join as one until the living’s work is done. May two join as one until the living’s work is done. May two join as one until the living’s work is done.” A purple ball of light glowed in her hand, and she stretched it toward Eva. “Capistrum.”
Claude gasped and soared toward Eva as if he was being sucked through a wind tunnel. When the ghost hit my friend, she let out a yelp and closed her eyes as she gripped her head.
A heartbeat passed in silence, two, then three. I drew in a breath, realizing that I’d quit breathing some time ago. And still Eva didn’t move, didn’t speak, didn’t even open her eyes.
My lips parted to ask a question, but Mélanie held up a hand, stopping me.
After seconds that stretched on like an eternity, she stepped toward Eva and placed her hand on her shoulder. “The binding is now complete.”
Eva gasped and her eyes flew open. “Whoa! What was that last bit that happened?”
Mélanie nodded. “Claude was trying to find a place to settle. For an incorporeal being, it is difficult to inhabit a restrictive form again. When he found a place, he let me know. He is safe, not obtrusive, and willing to serve and protect you from the royals.”
Eva’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, my dear. It is the least I can do. I too have family and hope my line will live through the centuries.” She dropped her hand from Eva’s shoulder and turned to me. “And now, it’s your turn.”
I switched places with Eva in the circle.
The process went exactly the same, and when my ghost, a woman named Louise, dressed in a fine gown and done up with a full face of makeup, arrived, we had a little chat.
It didn’t take long before she too agreed to help. All I’d needed to mention was that she’d feel alive inside me, and Louise was ready to hop into my head.
Mélanie ran through the ritual, and I steadied myself for the moment the ghost would enter my head. When she did, I understood why Eva had been deadly silent. It was unlike anything I’d ever experienced, as if someone was rifling through the inside of my mind, flitting about.
I could even hear Louise laughing. It was loud, and made me cringe.
After a few moments of this, unease trickled through me—like bugs walking on my arms and legs. She was taking a long time . . . much longer than Claude.
Mélanie began tapping her foot, and my instinct that Louise was taking her precious time solidified.
Everything okay in there?I thought, before I could even stop to question if she could hear me.
Of course! I’m looking through your memories,Louise called back as if what she was doing was natural.Your gentleman friend is rather handsome, isn’t he? Though his hair is quite odd. So short!
My throat tightened. I hadn’t even considered that the ghost in my head would be able to see my memories. But of course they would.
Internally, I groaned, sure she was peeking at some of my most intimate moments, things I could barely tell Eva most of the time. But I didn’t want to rock the boat and risk losing her protection. That, and Louise was from a different time. Maybe people were more up in each others’ business in her era?
Oh!Louise added a moment later.And your name isn’t Claire! It’s Odette! I can see that being bound to you will be very interesting indeed!
Can you please not do that and settle in?I tried to keep my cool.Mélanie needs to finish binding us.
Oops! Sorry!the ghost chirped. She ceased moving, and the feeling of spiders crawling on my skin ground to a halt.
I sighed.
“She is nosy, isn’t she?” Mélanie asked, raising an eyebrow that made me wonder if she heard the bit about my name. “Are you sure about this one?”
I studied the spirit worker carefully. If Mélanie had heard Louise’s comment, it didn’t seem like she’d say anything around the poisoner. I moved on and contemplated her question. While I wasn’t at all sure about Louise, the only other option was too much like La Voisin. I wouldn’t be able to trust him at all.
“Yes.”
