I chuckled as they walked away.
“Please excuse us,” Mom said. “The séance will begin in twenty minutes.”
When Nora finished her coffee, Dice and Daphne accompanied her to her room with London and Diablo.
“Your mom and Dice have a neat relationship,” I said.
“He lived with us for a while,” Ink said between mouthfuls of pie. “When we were at the farm. I didn’t tell you about that?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think so, but I was a little nervous that night.”
“I wasn’t,” he joked. “But, yeah, Dice was sixteen or seventeen when the farm was raided. His parents decided to leave, but he didn’t want to go with them. He lived with me and Mom until he was old enough to move out on his own. She plays the ‘responsible yet comforting aunt’ in his story.”
“There they are,” I said when I saw Dice and Daphne in the hall. “Are you ready?”
“Yeah,” he said and wiped his mouth before kissing my cheek. “The pie was delicious.”
We caught up with Dice and Daphne as the elevator was opening.
“Wait for us!” Buck shouted, with Walter on his heels.
“You know it comes back, right?” Ink asked.
“I want to get there early to get a good seat,” Buck said.
“Why are we having a séance in the library?” Dice asked.
Daphne shook her head. “Alice told us during the tour on the first day. That’s where the dungeon used to be.”
When we entered the library, Mom and Dad were seated at a large round table covered with a dark tablecloth. A large crystal ball was the main centerpiece with lit candles, tarot cards, picture frames, and crystals scattered around the table.
“Where’s the Ouija board?” Ink mumbled.
“Right here,” Mom said, pointing to the gameboard hidden by scattered tarot cards.
After we took our seats, Mom began. “I’ve never done this before, so I can’t make any promises.”
“Sorry, Mom,” I interrupted. “Did you say what we’re trying to do?”
“No, I suppose I didn’t. The purpose of this séance is to contact any of the spirits haunting Silvermoon Castle.”
The lights shut off, plunging us into darkness. I grabbed Ink’s arm. Someone screamed. It might’ve been me.
“Oh, come on,” Ink said. “That’s quite the coincidence. The lights went out as soon as she stated our intentions.”
“I’m kinda scared,” I whispered and pressed myself closer against him.
“There’s nothing to be scared of,” he said and wrapped his arms around me. “Unless you’re afraid of the dark.”
“No one’s afraid of the dark,” I said. “People are afraid ofnot being alonein the dark.”
“Say what now?”
“People are afraidsomeoneis going to get them in the dark, notdarkness.”
“Never thought about it like that before, but yeah, you’re probably right,” he said thoughtfully.
“Can someone turn the damn light on?” Walter asked.
