He flickered more strongly and then was gone the longest time yet, maybe ten or twelve seconds. As I was beginning to think he was gone for good, he appeared. “I-i-it’s a-a-all-l-l a-a-a-bout his-s-story-y-y a-a-nd m-m-math-th-th,” he said.
“I have no idea what that means,” I cried. “You’ve got to tell me more.”
But this time, when he flickered out, it was almost like there was a pop and he didn’t return.
Henry and I stood at the edge of the deck for several minutes, but then my brother finally sighed. “Ghosts are always talking in riddles.” He picked up our cups as I stared at him in surprise. What was that supposed to mean?
“When have you seen ghosts?” I asked. I was genuinely curious and debating about having a full-on sit down with him once I'd had a chance to catch my breath from everything. I needed to know what he knew about the supernatural world, and what he didn't. It would help me protect him in the future.
He didn’t directly answer me though, as was often his way. “When I play my game, I’m always a mage, and my ghost friends always talk in riddles.”
Maybe he’d just meant his game. Perhaps he was so used to ghosts in his fictional world that he’d been okay with Thomas in this one. That had to be right, didn't it?
I just needed someone to tell me that he hadn't been able to see ghosts his whole life and been unable to tell me. If he had been dealing with this and felt like he couldn't talk to me? I wasn't sure I'd be able to handle that. Maybe he saw ghosts all the time though? Maybe this was just an average Tuesday to him?
All I knew was that my head was spinning and as Henry disappeared inside with the cups I wasn't sure what to do next. How could I track down this murderer and protect my brother and help Thomas? It was too much.
Chapter Eighteen
Emma
Even though I was beyond exhausted, I called my girls and they came right over. Henry was lost in his online world, apparently going on the raid he mentioned earlier, as we sat around the kitchen table and I told them about the ghost.
“I think it’s time to visit the graveyard,” Deva said. “Maybe with the four of us, and the fact that this is a full moon, we’ll be able to get someone from the beyond who knows what the heck is going on.”
Beth and Carol exchanged glances with me, eyebrows raised, like, why not? I mean I could think of a few reasons, for one, I was exhausted, for another, there was a murderer on the loose, wouldn't going to a graveyard kind of give him an easy place to hide the bodies?
They seemed pretty gung-ho about it even though I yawned. I sighed and said, “Okay, but as soon as this is settled, I’m sleeping for a month.”
“Deal,” Carol said. “You deserve it.”
"I think we all do," Beth mumbled as she caught my yawn. She stretched as she stood before shaking herself awake once more.
“So,” I started slowly, “was Mystic Hollowalwaysthis interesting?”
Beth shook her head, brows drawing together. “No, there have always been issues, which is why my business stays so busy, but you’ve definitely brought some chaos into Mystic Hollow.”
I felt a little guilt. “Sorry.”
Deva smiled. “It’s not your fault. Besides, life was getting a little boring before you showed up.”
“What you all wouldn’t give forboringnow, huh?”
They laughed.
We had a conversation with the officer, telling him our plan, before piling into Deva’s car after. He agreed to follow us to the entrance to the cemetery, but then leave us be so we could do our thing. He winked, making me think he knew about the supernatural side of life. Most of the police force in Mystic Hollow did. In their line of work they saw too much to not realize there was more to this world.
We pulled into the cemetery and true to his word, Officer McCoy parked at the entrance. He’d also promised not to let anyone in, so it wasn't a complete surprise when his patrol car literally parked across the entrance. This particular graveyard had a private area in the back with benches and only one way in or out, unless by woods.
The sun was just starting to set as we pulled around the bend and parked by the ‘contemplation gardens’.
Nobody wanted to contemplate with the dead. Grieve, sure. Summon, sometimes. Contemplate? Not so much.
“Okay, so what’s the deal?” I asked. “What are we doing?”
“Well, we need to summon some ghosts,” Deva said. “Easier said than done, but it’s a full moon, a new moon, and near the autumn solstice. We’ll be able to pull extra power from the moon."
We sat in a circle and let Beth lead. She felt like she could do this, so heck, I was happy to let her try.
