“That’s me,” he says. His gaze drops to the card I’m still holding in my hand and his eyes narrow. “Where did you get that?” He points to the card.
“I, uh…” I step closer. “We ran into each other outside Whitechapel Occult Books & Curiosities the other day.”
“I know.”
“Yes, well, um, you dropped this as you were walking away. I tried to call out to you, but when I looked up you were gone,” I explain.
“That’s impossible,” he scoffs. “I didn’t have any of those cards with me that day. They’re very special. I don’t just give them to anyone.”
“Um, I don’t mean to be rude but… you’re a witch?” I blurt out, not sure if I intended that as a question or a statement. “I need some help.”
He studies me closely, his head at a slight tilt and his full lips pursed. “You don’t need a witch, you need an exorcist.”
“Excuse you!” Dusty busts out indignantly and I grimace. Although it’s my voice she’s using, her tone and inflections are completely different from my demeanour. I can only imagine I come across as someone with a multiple personality disorder.
“You have someone in there who doesn’t belong, Mr Everett,” he says calmly.
“How do you know my name?” My eyes narrow in suspicion.
“Does it matter?” He raises one perfect eyebrow.
“To be honest, I don’t really care,” I reply, feeling utterly wretched. “I just want my body back. This whole thing with Dusty was just bad luck, bad timing, bad everything, and we don’t know how to separate ourselves. She was just trying to protect me.”
“I see,” he murmurs as he continues to study me.
“Please,” I say quietly.
“You are a curious one, aren’t you?” he murmurs.
“What does that mean?” I reply in confusion.
“Look here, Ginger Spice,” Dusty snaps, shoving me into the back of my mind. “Are you just going to talk in riddles all day, or are you going to help us? I know that you don’t know us, and you’ve no reason to help, but Tristan is the kindest, sweetest man you could ever meet. None of this is his fault. He helps people… okay, dead people, but they’re still people. He’s patient and loyal and really funny.”
“Do you want me to help him or date him?” Harrison replies with a smirk.
“Very funny, but I don’t think his sexy-as-hell detective boyfriend would appreciate that,” Dusty says flatly. “We kind of got caught up in a situation where I had to make a quick judgement call, which may or may not have been a dumb-arse thing to do. If you don’t help us, Tris won’t be able to get his body back and move in with his super-hot boyfriend. Delores won’t be able to resolve her unfinished business and go into the light. The mortuary won’t end up in the stupid science journal because of the stitching thingy. Henrietta won’t get her new fridge for the staff room, and I’ll have to explain to Bruce that I’m stuck in someone else’s body, and we’re supposed to be going on a date for Dia de los Muertos. His family are expecting us and trust me, his abuela is not going to be happy if we’re a no-show.”
“Dusty, is it?” She nods. “Brace yourself.”
“What?” she replies, a bit baffled.
He rubs his hands together like he’s the Karate Kid, and I swear I see tiny little microbursts of lightning lick across his palms. He suddenly presses his hands to my chest, and it’s like I’ve been hit with a defibrillator. The sudden shock of power hits me so forcefully, it throws me back, taking my feet out from under me. I hit the floor hard, knocking the air from my lungs.
For a second I lie here, stunned as to what the hell happened, while trying desperately to suck in some air, but I’m severely winded. I slowly see Harrison’s face appear above me, studying me appraisingly before nodding in satisfaction. He extends a hand and I reach up and grab hold. Once on my feet, I straighten up shakily. I feel like my skin is tingling and my hair is standing on end, but otherwise I feel… normal. My body no longer feels like an overstuffed sausage that’s going to burst any moment.
I hear a pained groan behind me and as I turn to look, I see Dusty sit up on the floor, her eyes wide and her hair enormous and smoking slightly.
“What the hell was that?” She blinks. “Did we get hit by a bolt of lightning?”
“You’re welcome,” Harrison says easily.
“Thank you so much.” I turn to him and pat my body down like I’m looking for something. “I can’t tell you how good it feels to be me again. I don’t know how I can ever thank you enough.”
“Just try not to let your body get hijacked again. The Higher Powers don’t like things like that. It messes with their grand plan.”
“What grand plan?” I ask, but he just shrugs before reaching out and gently grasping my chin with his cool fingers. He tilts my head as if to get a better angle to peer at my face.
“You’ve been marked,” he mutters.
