Page 153 of Cast in Atonement

“Hope—be careful! I don’t think the green means to hurt me!”

You are BLEEDING.

“Yes, I noticed that.”

Barely, Severn said pointedly.

Do not bleed in the green. Do not bleed near the dead—it might remind them of the life they no longer have!

“I didn’t exactly cut my own arms, Hope!”

Learn how to use what you were given, Chosen!

“Who would you suggest as a teacher?” she demanded.

“Dear,” Mrs. Erickson said, her soft voice cutting through the miasma of frustration and near humiliation. “I’m sorry, but I can’t hear him speaking if you’re all shouting like that.” Her tone was apologetic, but it was steel.

Kaylin swallowed; Hope shut up. Severn hadn’t shouted out loud, so he wouldn’t be in the bad books.

“I would like your help,” she added, apology rising above momentary irritation.

“With what?”

Mrs. Erickson turned to Kaylin; the old woman’s feet weren’t rooted in the ground. She could traverse the distance with ease. In this case, that was a couple of steps, but she had that determined look on her face that implied she would have walked a few miles if necessary without minding at all.

Her brows rose. “Dear, you’re bleeding. Your hands...”

“It doesn’t hurt, and yes, I’ve been told.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

The worst thing about Mrs. Erickson was the instant guilt one felt if one snapped at her. “No, it’s fine—I’d’ve said the same thing.”

Mrs. Erickson reached for the hem of her skirt; Kaylin belatedly realized that she meant to try to tear off some of its fabric in order to form makeshift bandages.

“I’m honestly fine—please don’t do that. Look—the blood is dry. It only bled for a little bit.”

Liar.

Kaylin rolled eyes at her familiar. I don’t want her to ruin her clothing for nothing.

Oh, don’t mistake me. You seldom lie—and that almost sounded convincing. Sadly, almost doesn’t cut it.

Mrs. Erickson had a different problem; her clothing was unremarkable in all ways, but it was very solid, and the old woman’s hands weren’t made for tearing cloth.

“Mrs. Erickson—I’m really fine.” Kaylin exhaled. “Imelda.”

The surprise caused Mrs. Erickson’s hands to stop.

“Please—you said you needed my help, not the other way around. I don’t mean to pressure you, but I think what you need right now is more important.”

“I’m really not certain about that. But I’ll try. This ghost isn’t like other ghosts I’ve met.”

“Is it like the ghosts we brought home from the Imperial Library?”

“No. And yes, a little. I find his form much more solid, but...if I met him outside, I’d know he was dead. Remember what I told you before? As a child, I couldn’t tell the difference. I had to learn to see the person in context. Did others see them? Did others attempt to help them or interact with them at all? Did they attempt to reach out? That last part was more about the length of time they’d been dead.

“But I would know this man was dead the first time I saw him. I would know the ghosts I’ve been living with were dead.”

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