I wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans, swallowing hard. “You can say that.”
“You also failed to mention that you met someone else in the catacombs of Bloodstone on the evening you saw the specter.”
“Yeah, I did leave that part out.” I rub the back of my neck. “Were you able to trap the ghost again?”
“Yes, for now. The wards are weak, and I can’t reinforce them without Solomon. I want to know exactly what happened.”
I let out a heavy sigh. No point trying to hide the truth now. “I was following Niko when the ghost found me. She tried to hurt me, but then Sophie appeared and saved my as—I mean, she saved me.”
“So you don’t know what she was doing in the catacombs before you met the specter?”
“No.”
Isadora stands suddenly. “Well… I’d like to have a chat with the girl. Bring her to my house in an hour.”
“Uh… all right. I’ll try.”
The High Witch levels me with a hard stare. “Don’t try, Vaughn. Do it.”
SOPHIE
Despite everything, I wake up in the best of moods. I made plans to see Vaughn tonight that hopefully will be stress free. I’m giddy, which is a novelty for me. During my entire existence, I felt dead inside, unable to feel any emotion besides anger. Vaughn managed to change that in the course of an evening. I could spend hours dwelling on the marvels of it and not come up with an explanation. Instead, I use my time to get ready for our first official date under the watchful eye of Tish, who appointed herself as my stylist.
She told me which pieces of clothing to take out of the closet and lay down on the bed, and now she’s moving shit around for the optimum combination.
“Vaughn will be here any minute. I need to get dressed.”
“It’s your first date with Mr. Cutie. The outfit needs to be perfect.”
“I don’t think he cares about what I wear.”
Tish gives me a droll stare. “Trust me, Soph. All guys care.”
“How about that black skirt with the cropped top?”
“It’s cute, but all black, though. Isn’t it a bit goth?”
“I like it. Why are you so invested in what I wear anyway?”
“Do you even have to ask?” There’s a tone of hurt in her voice, making me feel guilty.
“You miss being able to wear pretty clothes.” I sit next to her on the bed. “I’ll start looking again for a way to undo your hex. I promise.”
“You can’t promise that. You’ve been tasked with ending a war that’s been going on for centuries. You have a lot on your plate.”
“I can still find the time to help you.” I try to pet her head, but she leaps out of my reach.
The doorbell rings, making me jump to my feet. “Shit. That must be Vaughn, and I’m still in my underwear.”
“I’m sure he won’t mind,” Tish teases. “I can make myself scarce for a couple of hours if you want me to.”
Excitement and fear mingle together. I want to spend time alone with Vaughn, but I’m afraid the intimacy will trigger another panic attack. My phone pings with a text message, and upon checking it, I confirm it’s Vaughn standing outside my door.
VAUGHN: I’m here.
I reply quickly.
Give me a sec.
