Marci glared at him suspiciously. Then again, though, if anyone could help the dead, it would probably be a death spirit. Ghost was so creepy sometimes it was easy to think of him as evil, but everything Marci had learned about spirits suggested they didn’t function along simple lines of morality. Or, at least, not human morality. They were more like forces of nature, and naturally speaking, death was just another part of life. Not that she felt that way at the moment, clutching the box that held her father’s ashes, but Ghost was looking at her desperately now, and it wasn’t like he could make the boy’s situation worse.
“You won’t hurt him?”
She knew how silly that question sounded even before the words were out of her mouth, but she couldn’t help herself. He might be dead, but he’d still been human. Thankfully, Ghost answered her straight.No,he said solemnly.Help.He tugged on the gathered magic again.Help.
Marci blew out a long breath. Then, slowly, she unclenched her mental fist. “All right,” she said. “But just a—”
She didn’t get to finish. The moment she let go, Ghost snatched the magic she’d pushed out to her bracelets and yanked it back. As always, the power burned coming back in, but it only hurt for a second before Ghost sucked it down, drinking the magic into himself and leaving only the bitter cold of the grave behind.
She was half-frozen by the time he finished. Ghost, on the other hand, was glowing brighter than ever. He dropped into the dumpster, landing on the boy’s chest as magic began to hum the air. Not her magic, either, but something else. Something dark and heavy. Marci was trying to get a better feel for it when Ghost threw back his head in a silent yowl, and the entire alley began to move.
All around them, shadows began to creep inward. When they entered the circle of Ghost’s blue-white light, though, she saw they weren’t shadows at all. They were cats. Hungry strays, their eyes shining with Ghost’s reflected light, poured out of the dark alley and into the dumpster. It was just like when they’d come for Oslo when he’d attacked her and Julius at her house last month. Back then, she’d been delighted. This time, all Marci felt was horror.
“What did you do?” she cried, jumping away from the tide of cats running past her legs. “You said you were going tohelphim! How is being eaten by cats helpful?”
Ghost looked surprised by her outburst.It is helpful to the cats.
Marci supposed that was true, but she was too busy staring at Ghost to say so. The spirit had jumped back up on the edge of the dumpster as he’d spoken, and while his light was dimmer than it had been when he’d taken her magic, it was still much brighter than usual. His voice in her head was stronger, too, the words louder and clearer than she’d ever heard them.
He was forgotten,Ghost said, swishing his tail, which was slightly less transparent than before.Now his flesh returns to the cycle while his soul is remembered.He gave her a slow blink.Very helpful, yes?
Marci didn’t answer. Instead, she turned to face her spirit. The one she was now very certain wasnota death spirit for cats.
“What are you?”
Ghost gave her a Cheshire Cat smile.Names are expensive.Make me more, and I’ll tell you mine. We can be very powerful together.
He leaned on their link as he said this, and Marci realized she could feel him much more strongly than before. Whatever had just happened, it had changed something fundamental in their bond, and she wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad one.
“All right,” she said, crossing her arms tight to ward off the cold shiver that had just run down her spine. “This is officially too creepy. I’m not doing anything else until I know more about…whatever this is.” She pointed at the cats that were still jumping into the dumpster.
I told you already,Ghost said irritably.He called, I helped.
“But why?” she said. “How does a dead body call, and why you? And how did you even know he was back here? Can you explain that?”
Ghost shifted uncomfortably.No.
She scowled. “Why not?”
The cat’s expression turned belligerent. But then, just when Marci was about to start grilling him again, he said,I don’t know.
“How do you not know?”
Because I don’t, he grumbled, looking away.I don’t know how I do these things or why, just that I have to. I don’t know my name, either.
That struck Marci as incredibly sad. “How don’t you know your own name?”
Ghost flicked his ears.Like I said, names are expensive. When I woke, I had nothing. Just cats and death. Then you.He looked up. I thought you could help me, so I accepted your binding. But you won’t help.
“I never said that,” Marci said quickly. “I’m completely willing to help you with whatever you need. I just want to know what’s going on first, maybe run a few tests. Once I’m convinced I’m not going to be doing something I’ll regret, we’ll take it from there. Is that an acceptable compromise?”
Sufficient,Ghost said, hopping down from the dumpster.But not right now.He yawned.Tired.
“Then why don’t you go home and get some sleep?” she said, trying not to sound too eager. Her fingers were already itching to start researching what could cause a spirit to make such an obvious jump in intelligence, or at least talkativeness, and that would be a lot less awkward if he wasn’t looking over her shoulder. Fortunately, Ghost didn’t seem to mind being sent away. He was already fading, taking his light with him.Unfortunately, this left Marci alone, in the dark, with the cats.
The sound of their eating was even worse now that she couldn’t see. Trying not to gag, Marci stumbled away, tripping over the uneven pavement as she rushed out of the alley. She didn’t slow down until she was back in the underground parking deck. Even then, she was so happy to finally be back somewhere with light and no dead bodies, she didn’t even notice the man in the navy blue Algonquin security uniform waiting by her car until he said her name.
“Marci Novalli?”
