Page 31 of A Soul's Curse
“I’m gonna forever regret eating that salad for lunch.” My gaze shot open to see Ellie’s apparition hovering before me, staring at my half-eaten grilled cheese. Her edges shimmered like heat waves, her form barely holding together. The dark circles beneath her eyes weren’t physical, but they clung to her expression all the same—tired, disoriented, unraveling. Even hervoice had lost its sharpness, like it was struggling to hold onto whatever fragile thread still tethered her here. “If I knew I was gonna be trapped as a ghost, I would have stuffed my face with potato skins and chocolate cake instead of vegetables.”
“I’ll fix this,” was all I could respond, hugging my knees tighter against my chest. I shared a connection to ghosts, which is why Ellie must have felt my need for her and suddenly appeared. I wondered if it would work the same way with Capsian, being a half-ghost. Would he come if I called him? What would I do if I came face-to-face with him?
Ellie shrugged, floating over toward the couch to sit down next to me. She didn’t really sit, but hovered above the cushion. Her form looked like it was bleeding magic, wisps of energy curling off her fingers and trailing from her mouth when she spoke. “You know, it’s not all that bad. I got to speak to my great-great-great-great-grandfather. How many people can saythat, huh?” She tried to elbow me, her magic like a static electricity against my skin. I knew she was trying to distract me, but I was already half paying attention to her as I picked up my phone and started scrolling through it.
“What are you doing?” Ellie asked.
“Stella mentioned the Syndicate likes to use abandoned office buildings and warehouses. I know it’s a long shot, but I figured I’d do a little research to see if anything popped up recently in the area. You never know.”
“Oh. Well, you have your own ghost friends, right?” I glanced over at Ellie, my brow furrowing with confusion. A mischievous smile danced across her ghostly face. “I put out some feelers for you, checking in with ghosts who might have heard about this Caspian guy or where my body might be. Most of them were eager to help out. I bet half the city of Salem knows you’re looking for Caspian by now. But, if the Syndicate really has no one who can see or hear ghosts, use that to your advantage.”
“How so?”
Ellie scratched her chin. “It’s not like they have anything overly exciting to do with their time. Have them check out some of these places. Maybe even spy on some people. Even weak ghosts can manipulate emotions to some extent … you know, like that creepy feeling of being watched or followed? Have them mess with Leon a bit. Maybe he’ll slip up.”
My phone buzzed in my hand. The number listed was unknown, so I ignored it.
“That’s a great idea. I never actually thought about—”My phone buzzed again. The same unknown number. I let it go to voicemail, but it rang a third time.
“Hello?” I finally answered.
There was some crackling, but then a male voice spoke. “Word on the street is you’re looking for someone, Theodore Kingston.”
My hands started shaking and my stomach dropped. I put the call on speaker so Ellie could hear. “Who is this?”
“I go by Gray, but I know who you’re really looking for.”
“I’m looking for Caspian Vale,” I said just for clarification. I looked at Ellie, her eyes wide with intrigue. “Do you know where he is? How can I find him?”
Ellie came closer to the phone.
“I … I need to talk to him. About something.” Shit. I wasn’t expecting anything to happen so soon. From what Leon told me, Caspian lived in the shadows as a phantom. For someone to directly call me about his whereabouts, hours after I made the deal with the Syndicate, was a blessing and a curse. It saved me the effort of searching for him, assuming I could trust what this person was going to tell me, but I hadn’t even thought about a plan, or what to say when I actually spoke with the phantom.
“Breathe,” Ellie motioned with her hands as she elaborately inhaled and exhaled. “Just tell him you want to meet.”
“I’ll tell you what,” Gray continued before I could. “Caspian is a cautious, calculating man who has been betrayed many times over the last hundred years by people he thought he could trust. Very few are granted an audience with him, but he’s intrigued by you. Many ghosts sing your praises, but he has no reason to. Prove to him that he should trust you. Help him with something, and he’ll consider listening to what you have to say.”
“O-okay.” Striking new deals just to uphold past ones. This was going to go over well.
“Head over to the Salem Inn. There’s something there he wants you to get for him.”
“Wait, right now?” I clenched my t-shirt, fanning it out as I started sweating. “Now’s not a good time. I can’t—”
“Do you want a chance to speak to Caspian or not?” Gray’s tone turned irritated and bitter. “This is a time-sensitive matter. It happens now or never.”
“Of course I do! But … no offense, how do I know I can trust you? That you aren’t someone trying to trick me?”
“You’re only being offered one chance at this, Theo. If you trust me or not is up to you.”
“You wanted to do something, Theo. This is your chance,” Ellie whispered, and she was right. It could have been a trick, but if what Gray said was true, that I’d be given the opportunity to speak with Caspian, then I had to take it.
“Okay. I’ll do it.” I wished my answer came out more confident than it did.
“Good. You’ll find out more details when you get there. Hurry up. You’re already behind schedule.” There was a beep as he ended the call.
“I’ll head over there—” Ellie had one hand through the wall before I stopped her.
“No,” I snapped, racing to the front door to snatch my hoodie and backpack. “Caspian is part ghost, and he probably hasothers watching out for him. He’ll see you. You should stay back.”
