“You know I can’t do gravework.”
“Right, sorry, completely forgot about that. No worries, I’ll figure it out.” I had no idea how, but the hours were ticking down. Rose had given an oath to her coven to stay out of graveyards. I had asked why, but apparently the coven didn’t give out information to non-members, so I’d been chill with that, but now I kind of wanted to know.
Rose played with the silver hoop in her left ear. “You know, I heard about a new magic person in town that might be able to help with your golden problem. I meant to tell you about him. Technically, I’ve never met him, but I know where you can find him.”
“At this point, I’ll take whatever help you can give, short of the dying-first thing.”
“His name is Harold. He’s down in Marina. Some call him an other-walker, but I think it’s bull—I’ve never met one besides you. Josie had a nasty spirit-crusting problem while you were up visiting your stepdad last week, and she went to visit him. After that, she was fine. The only thing was she didn’t really remember what had gone on. But I don’t suppose that really matters in your case. Do or die, right?”
“Thanks for boiling that down.” I pressed my lips together, considering. There were no other plane walkers in San Francisco. It was probably going to be a waste of time, but it wasn’t like we had other options.
“Look, since I can’t do your spirit raising, you can take what you need for your custom, on the house. Go to see Harold. It’s probably worth the risk if you can get rid of him.” She nodded at Ranth who glared back at her.
“I’m not a parasite,” he protested.
She looked at him, Crocs to neck scar, and crossed her arms. “Actually, I think you are.” Her eyes were locked with Ranth while she handed me a waxed fabric pouch holding the fresh petals.
“Thanks,” I said, standing between her and Ranth to break the tension. “Can I also get some of these?” I pulled down rose heads drying on strings and hanging from the ceiling.
“Sure thing, hon. Really, whatever you need to get rid of him.”
Ranth crossed his arms.
“You’re the best,” I said, giving Rose a hug. Her signature scent of tonka and rosewood wafted around me like a memory spell.
I waved at Ranth to come with me to the front. He watched as I gathered rose quartz, frankincense resin, raw coconut, lily petals, and a special first-bloom night jasmine oil. The intention oil would be easy, but Rose was right. We should go see Harold before I tried to do spellcraft for others.
“Can I get some paper?” I asked Rose. She’d followed us into the front and was tracking Ranth’s every move, like he was a sticky-fingered customer. But as he bent over the fungus table and the rippling litheness of his torso peeked out from the pink T-shirt, she cracked a smile. Was she ogling him? I couldn’t tell.
I grinned. I’d drank some elderflower wine with Rose once, and she’d begun to share some of her closer secrets. She had way more real-life experience than I did, and she had the best quality dried product. I swore she had a second sense when to pick it. Really, I couldn’t get much better unless I made it myself—and I did. My drying shack was my lifeblood. In bumper months, I sold my extra stock to her, and she threw me store credit for what I needed that I couldn’t make.
Our relationship worked. When I needed help, she was there for me, and she called me when she needed extra hands. We respected each other, and I valued her opinion. She was good people. If she said Harold might be able to help us, it was worth a shot.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Outside Sage, Flame, & Crystal, I yanked Ranth into the alley that ran between two buildings. We were close enough to the address Rose had given me in the Marina district, so going there first seemed like a good plan.
“We should lay some rules down before we go to our next location.” I was starting to feel like we were in a video game.
“I’m listening.” He folded his arms, flashing his bare midriff as he leaned against the wall. I didn’t usually judge what people wore, but the vampire kitty T-shirt, paired with camo track pants and blue shoes, made him stand out. If he was going to be around for a while, we’d need something that fit him.
“I know you explained why everyone sees you now, but when I went to Brenda’s, you were invisible, even to me. So can you turn it off like that?”
His hair swung around his chin, and he pushed it back. “I could if I chose to. I like having a body again.”
“Too bad. You choose. I don’t want Harold to know you’re in the room. Actually, I’d prefer if no one else saw you other than who we’ve already talked to.”
“What’s the advantage in that for me?” He sucked his teeth, and if I was the kind of person who hit people, I would have slapped him.
“How about, I’d really like you to?” I cocked my head.
His intense eyes narrowed. “How about if you ask nicely, then I’ll stay out of view—but only if you grant me three favors.”
“What am I, a genie?”
“What’s a genie?”
“Never mind. What are the favors?” I crossed my arms.
