“Yeah. I asked if he remembered why he was in my house and he called me a novice and said I’d come to him, which isn’t possible, so I have no idea what he meant. Then he asked if I was one of your people and when I said I knew you, he basically told us all to fuck off and leave him alone. Then he disappeared.”
“He always said he hated drama, then he pulls something like that,” Ori muttered under their breath. “Go back, though. He said you’d come to him? What was around you? Did you see where he was?”
I shook my head. “We were still standing in my bookstore. I can’t go out looking for someone. That’s not how my power works, so he must’ve been confused and not realized he’d somehow wandered into my house. I hate to keep pushing, because I don’t want him to be, but are you certain he’s still…”
“Alive?” Ori asked when I trailed off. “I’m sure. His brother would have called me if anything happened. I’ll double-check, though, because I can tell you still don’t believe me.”
There was an old landline phone sitting on the tiny desk in their office, and Ori quickly dialed a number. They were surprisingly calm, considering the circumstances. I didn’t want their friend to be dead, of course, but I didn’t see the living, so there really weren’t that many other options.
“Hey, Lil. Sorry to bother you. I just wanted to check in.” Ori paused, a little smile quirking their lips at whatever the other person said. I leaned in a little closer, but I couldn’t make out the other half of the conversation or discern who Ori was talking to. I didn’t know anyone named Lil, though. A few months ago, I would have said I knew everyone in town at least by sight, but now I found myself wondering if I knew a damn thing about the town I’d made my haven.
“Yeah, that’s what Tir said. That’s part of why I was calling, actually. Have you seen your brother today?” Ori paused, then sighed. I hadn’t even realized they’d tensed up until the tension released and they leaned back in their chair. “I figured you would call me if anything changed, but I just wanted to be sure. If he gets cranky, tell him I’ll come over and sage his house again.” Ori chuckled at the person’s response before exchanging a few pleasantries and finally disconnecting.
“Who was that?” I asked, practically vibrating with curiosity. Only Donovan’s hand on my shoulder kept me from jumping out of my chair. “What did they say? Is your friend really alright?”
“Take a breath,” Ori laughed. “That was my friend Lil. I guarantee you don’t know him. He’s Rian’s brother and looks out for him. Rian is currently at his house right now, being an asshole. He’s as fine as he gets and not even close to dead.”
Great. Had being possessed somehow opened some metaphysical door and now anyone with any kind of ability, living or dead, just wander into my life? “I’m glad he’s okay, but I don’t get it. How did he find me if he’s not dead? That’s not how any of this works.”
“Are you sure?”
“What do you mean?” I frowned, unsure if I liked the look on Ori’s face when they asked that.
“Are you sure that’s how your power works?”
“I’ve been dealing with this for almost nineteen years, so yes, I’m pretty sure I know how my own ability works.”
Ori turned in their chair to face me directly and I decided that, no, I did not like the look on their face.
“I’m saying this as your friend, Alex, so please don’t take this personally,” they said, which did not bode well. “But, as you said, you’ve been ‘dealing with’ your power. From what you’ve told me, you suffer through it, do what you need to, then try to act like it doesn’t exist the rest of the time.”
Of course, I immediately took it personally. “Anyone who was in my shoes would probably do the same. Who wants to spend their days seeing dead people?”
“I’m not blaming you. All I’m trying to say is that you can’t be sure that’s the extent of your power if you’ve never tested it. It’s been a passive ability, something that happens to you. I’m just suggesting that perhaps there might be more to it.”
“Like what?” It came out sharper than I’d intended, but I couldn’t help myself. If what Ori said was true, then everything I’d thought I knew about myself was wrong. I absolutely could not handle an existential crisis on a random weekday afternoon, especially not after just recovering from the fallout of fighting with Donovan.
As if thinking his name summoned him, Donovan wrapping his arms around my shoulders from behind in a loose hug, his chin resting on my head. I soaked up the silent support, clinging to it as I tried to keep it together.
“I’m not sure, but I think Rian was right.” Ori spoke cautiously, like they realized how close I was to falling apart. “It sounds likeyoufoundhim, because I know him and he’d never go to anyone for help, even if he’d lost a limb and was bleeding out.”
“That was graphic.”
“But true. So if he didn’t seek you out, then the only other option is that you found him.”
“Why, though?” I protested and even to my own ears, I sounded whiny. “I’ve never been able to find someone like this, especially not while they’re still alive. It’s always been the other way around. It’s just not possible.”
“How do you know? Have you ever tried to find anyone? Have you ever tried toactivelyuse your ability?” they countered.
I didn’t respond. I didn’t have to. We both knew the answer to that. I’d spent over half my life hiding from this power, doing the bare minimum to avoid being stalked by ghosts, then hidden it away in the back of my mind until the inevitable next time. I heard the echo of Camille’s voice in my head from the day we’d first come to see Ori.
“You’ve resigned yourself to it.”
Ori and Camille were right. I hadn’t accepted my ability and I certainly hadn’t tried to learn to control it. They’d given me the tools to learn, but for the most part, I’d ignored them, falling back on my old reluctant resignation.
“I’m not judging you, Alex,” Ori said, softer now. “You’re right. If I were in your shoes, dealing with something like that with no one to support me, I’d probably do the same as you.”
“He does have support, though,” Donovan countered, hugging me tighter. “Not just me, either.”
