Page 39 of School Spirits
“Isolde, I do not know how many times I have to tell you this, but Torin is useless more often than not. If you need advice or help with something, you come to me, and be honest and upfront.”
“Like you’re being with all your ‘research’?” As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I regretted them.
Movements stiff, Mom walked to the pantry and pulled out two canisters of salt. “This should be enough,” she said, handing them to me. “Go salt the grave, stop the haunting, and get back here. Then we can talk more about this Prodigium boy.”
“Fine,” I said, taking the salt more roughly than I’d intended. Mom didn’t say anything, though, and I headed upstairs to get my backpack.
Torin was already chilling out in my mirror when I opened the door. He brightened when I came in. “Oh, good, you’re here. Is it time to watch a new episode ofIvy Springs? If Everton asks Rebecca to the prom instead of Leslie—”
“I don’t have time tonight,” I told him, shoving the salt into my bag.
If I hadn’t known better, I would’ve sworn that Torin seemed hurt. “You never have time anymore. I’ve barely seen you in the past few weeks, and what on earth could be more important thanIvy Springs?”
“Ghost busting,” I answered.
“Ah,” he said, nodding toward the backpack. “That explains it. And here I thought you perhaps had a sodium problem.”
I picked up one of the ponytail holders by my bed and flicked it at him. It bounced harmlessly off the glass. “After you get back from destroying the ghost, then can we bemoan Everton and Leslie’s tragic love?” he asked, picking at the lace on his cuffs.
“Sure,” I said, but he frowned.
“Why do you seem so sad, Isolde?”
“I’m not,” I answered immediately. “I’m just… Mom and I are having a thing right now.”
Torin snorted. “You and Aislinn are always having ‘a thing.’ I think it’s more than that.” Leaning forward, he squinted at me. “Isolde, are you…are you saddened to be leaving this wretched place so soon?”
“No,” I replied quickly. Too quickly. Torin settled back against my bed in the mirror, a smug smile on his face.
“Youare,” he said. “You don’t want to leave. One mere sample of the cornucopia that is a regular American high school, and you have developed a taste for it.”
Rolling my eyes, I shoved my arms through the sleeves of a black jacket. “You’ve completely cracked.”
Scowling, Torin folded his arms over his chest. “You know I don’t appreciate mirror jokes.”
Doing my best to look contrite, I picked up my backpack. “I’m sorry, Torin. I’ll try toreflecton my actions.”
“All right, now you are just being mean.”
He was still grumbling when I left, which should’ve made me smile. Annoying Torin was one of my favorite pastimes. But it was hard to grin when his words still sat in my stomach like a rock.
One of the great things about the tininess of Ideal was how easy it was to walk to everything. The graveyard where Mary Evans was buried was only a few blocks from my house. So even with all my deep thoughts weighing me down, I was there in no time.
Most people think graveyards are creepy, but I’d been in enough of them over the years that this one just felt kind of…homey. I made my way past the newer graves, into the older section of the cemetery. Mary Evans’s grave wasn’t hard to find. There was a huge marble statue marking her final resting place.
I paused, reading the inscription:MARY ANNE EVANS 1890–1908 FOREVER OUR ANGEL, FOREVER AT REST.
“I really hope so,” I murmured as I pulled my backpack off my shoulders. I grabbed one of the salt canisters and pried open its funnel. The entire grave would have to be covered with salt in order to bring her spirit back and lock her in.
“Sorry to ground you like this, Mary,” I whispered. I had just started pouring when a voice said, “Fancy meeting you here.”
I whirled around.
Dex.
CHAPTER 19
Ifroze, but the salt kept pouring out of the nozzle, making a little pyramid on top of the grave. For a long beat, Dex just watched it trickle out.
