Page 22 of A Soul's Curse
“Okay. If that’s what you want, I can do that. But if you need help, I can—”
“They like to use abandoned office complexes and warehouses to store things, or more likely people. Maybe try searching those places nearby first. I don’t know who I can still trust, but I know some people. I’ll ask around if anyone has heard something about your friend.” She nervously scratched her arm.
“Really? Thank you, Stella. I really appreciate that.”
“Yeah. Sure. I’m gonna head out now. Gotta start rebuilding my life, I guess. Find a job and a place to stay.” With her shoulders slumped, she started walking toward the front door, placing her hand on the lever.
“Hey, Stella?” I asked. She paused. “Sly will be out for a while … for real, this time. If you need to take a shower or something,you’re welcome to. You can even hang out in my room for the night if you need a place to stay. Sly won’t go in there.”
“Oh.” She looked like a deer in headlights, not knowing how to respond to such generosity. “Thanks, but I’ll figure it out, although I’m sure ‘being trapped as a bird’ for the past year isn’t a skill high on the list of things most employers are looking for.”
“Well, what did you do before everything happened?”
She curled her hair behind her ear and looked away. “I don’t want to go back to that life. I want to start something new.”
“Okay. Then forget that.” I smiled at her. “What do you like to do? Do you have any hobbies?”
“I always enjoyed drawing. Flowers, in particular, since they resemble my magic. But I doubt there are any jobs out there that require someone with moderate art skills to sketch flowers.”
I hummed in thought until an idea popped into my head. “You should go see Ivy at the grocery store. They always have these elaborate chalkboard display signs. Or, I know it’s not quite the same, but maybe the bakery department needs someone to help decorate cakes.”
“Oh.” Her green eyes lit up. “That might be cool. I’ll think about it.”
“And take these.” I tossed her a bag of gummies. “Your magic was suppressed for an entire year. I’m sure it probably feels … off. These will help restore it. And if you need me, my number and email address are on the label.”
She stared down at the colorful candies. “You realize I don’t have a phone or a computer, right?”
I ran a hand through my hair. “Oh. Right. Well, if you get one, you’ll know how to reach me. And if you can’t find a place to stay, I know Nick will welcome you at Emberheart Place. There’s also no one living in the upstairs apartment here. I’m sure I could sneak you in for a little while.”
The faintest of smiles stretched across her lips, relief loosening her tense shoulders. “Thanks, Theo.”
One day, my kindness might get me killed, but if it was the price to pay for all the comforting smiles it brought to others, at least I’d die knowing I did something right with my life.
10
Thebriskcoolnessoffall was laced within the gentle breeze sweeping through the porch as I anxiously walked in circles while waiting for Ren to pick me up. Ellie’s ghost was standing beside me, but wasn’t in a very chatty mood. It left me alone with my thoughts, and I began to dwell on the whole situation. How was I going to get Ellie’s body back? And the Syndicate—an organization I had never even heard of until yesterday—was coming after me for some reason I had yet to figure out. On top of that, a demon had broken into my house to make breakfast, and my pet bird was really a fairy who had been spying on me for the past year.
I stopped pacing.Wasshe spying on me? Ren said I had already been on the Syndicate’s radar, and Stella warned me about prying into her past. Maybe they sent her to keep an eye on me.
I shook away the thoughts. My sister would remind me that I was too trusting of people, but I didn’t get bad vibes from Stella.She was definitely hidingsomethingfrom me, but she said it had nothing to do with the Syndicate—and I didn’t think it had anything to do with me. My gut said I could believe her, and I believed Ren too.
“Hey, Theo,” Ellie’s soft voice caught my attention. Her magic was flickering like a dying flame in the wind and she was rubbing her chest like she had a severe case of heartburn. Normally, ghosts wouldn’t be able to feel, but since Ellie was still technically alive, her painful discomfort was being channeled through her magic. “Since you mentioned Stella is asking around for information, tonight while you’re at work, I figured I’d start asking some ghosts about the Syndicate.”
“You don’t have to do that, Ellie.” Although it was a brilliant idea—Who better to spy on the Syndicate than ghosts they quite literally couldn’t see?—I knew she was suffering enough as it was. There was no need to bring her more distress.
“It’s okay,” she answered. “Staying busy is the only way to distract myself from the pain.”
My heart broke in two. For all my ability to help others heal, this was one thing that terrified me the most. I could do nothing to help ease her discomfort. “Okay, just … be careful I guess. I know people can’t see you, but you’re sort of like a half ghost and I don’t know how other types of magic will affect you.”
Ren’s black sedan pulled up and parked in front of the neighbor’s house.Smart, I thought, even if it embarrassed me I had to hide him. I had told him not to honk or knock on my door, but the fact he didn’t pull up into the driveway either, and parked next to the neighbor’s house, was good thinking on his part.
“Hey,” I said as I tugged the passenger side door shut. My hands were a little numb from waiting outside in the cold, but I wanted to avoid the possibility of Sly asking me questions if he saw me waiting by the front door. His bedroom also faced thefront of the house, and he had woken up earlier than I expected. I had to make sure I made as little noise as possible leaving the house.
“Hey,” Ren answered, then quickly drove off down the street.
The radio was playing some local rock station. I turned it down so we could talk. Carson’s Pizza wasn’t more than a ten-minute drive from my house, so we didn’t have time to waste.
“Thank you,” I told him, hugging my backpack in front of me. “I know I said it already, but I want to say it again. Thank you for saving me yesterday and for agreeing to help me now.”
