Page 86 of Ghost
“That would be correct.” Mr. Williams—who had been misnamed—smirked. “And you, dear one, are the first person I’ve been able totouch. I’ve never met a medium that I could feel before. Generally only other spirits can evoke such sensations.”
The room felt dark despite the light streaming in through the frosted windows. The heavy door—which was behind Mr. Williams—seemed to be so far away.
I had to keep him talking. “How did you actually die?”
“That’s an interesting story,” Mr. Williams mused. But that was all he said, he clearly had no intention on answering.
This was one of the worst ideas of my life.I was going to fail to make him leave, and I didn’t even care anymore. All I wanted was to go back outside and watch Miles beat the crap out of someone.
My head was beginning to ache. The only thing that prevented me from throwing up in fear was a pressing need to keep him locked in my sight. “This is your last chance to leave, otherwise I’ll let you stew here.”
“I’d rather stay.” Mr. Williams lunged after me suddenly, barely missing my arm as I jerked backwards. “A tasty little fae such as yourself, who can also be treated as if you’re of my realm? I might not be hungry anymore, but I wonder…”
That was enough, it was past time to leave.
I barely made it a step before there was a flurry of movement in front of me. A growl echoed through the room, and where Mr. Williams stood only a second before, was the spiritual form of a large wolf.
Of course this would happen right after Miles warned me about this. I backed up until my butt was pressed against the counter. My mind was numb with fear. I couldn’t get out, and Miles was scared of ghosts. I couldn’t bring him into this situation. He couldn’t even see them.
Now would have been a great time for Damen to show up and flirt.
“Please don’t eat me,” I pleaded. “Damen would be angry. He’s the xing, you know.”
The wolf, who had been stalking toward me, paused—tilting his head.
Yes, Mr. Williams knew about Damen! “That’s right! His shikigami, Kasai, is a close and personal friend of mine. He’ll probably eat you in return. Or exorcise you. I’m not sure which is worse, but he’d pick it.”
The wolf shook its head, his shimmery fur swaying, before his dark eyes returned to me. Something in his gaze flickered—the doubt that had been there a second before vanished.
As if Mr. Williams decided eating me was worth the risk.
He leaped forward, and all thoughts of protecting bystanders vanished as I curled into a ball and screamed. My head was throbbing, the pain almost overriding my terror.
I didn’t want to die.
I couldn’t think past the pressure and fear, so it took me a moment to realize things were quiet.Was it over already? Where was the immense pain of being devoured?
Bracing myself, I opened my eyes.
Mr. Williams stood some feet away, glowering in my direction. Even though he no longer moved toward me, his ears were straight out and his teeth barred. I wasn’t certain what was happening, but his lupine frame quivered with suppressed fury.
It was almost as though he couldn’t move.
I slid across the sink, not caring if he was playing with me. If an opportunity to escape came up, I was going to take it. Careful to remain out of his reach, I began to slip past him. And the world faded as my eyes remained fixated on the snarling wolf.
The closer the door came—and I was high-tailing it now—the less panic overshadowed my thoughts. Perhaps he had changed his mind? Unexpected, but not impossible.
A snapping sound rang throughout the room, and the atmosphere shifted in response. Mr. Williams jumped toward me so quickly I didn’t even have time to close my eyes.
So I didn’t miss the light that shot through the air and collided into Mr. Williams.
The wolf was thrown to his side, halfway across the room. But he wasn’t hurt by the fall. Snarling, he rolled back onto his feet, striking a defensive pose against the intruder.
In the meantime, a Siberian tiger—also a spirit—paced between me and Mr. Williams.
I stood, uncertain, as my body was now numb from my near-death experience. It was the tiger now, that had my attention. And a warm, almost familiar, feeling began to spread through my chest the longer I watched it.
I had no idea where it had come from, but judging from the fearful look Mr. Williams was throwing it, it must have been a shikigami. Unless, of course, wolves were afraid of tigers in the wild? I wasn’t certain.
