Page 50 of Monsters of Desire and Nightmares of Passion

“Yup. It’s me, funny Lisa. The Church of Light fuckers killed me. Well, to be more precise, Pegg, the one I call Miss Piggy, did it. She didn’t even offer me a chance to slap her fucking face to a pulp.”

I’m not surprised by anything anymore, but I still step back. As far as I know, all types of creatures hunt me. There’s no way I’m putting down my knife.

“I’m sorry you’re dead. I mean… you are dead, like in dead dead?”

Lisa shrugs. “I assume I’m all the way dead. I’m not here to harm you. Ghost’s honor.”

“How did you get here?”

Lisa shrugs again. She tries to lean against the counter but slips through. The wooden surface swallows her and she pulls back quickly.

“That’s like damn wood diving. Wow.” Lisa returns her attention to me. “I don’t know exactly how or why I’m here. I assume I’m a damn ghost. Pegg that bitch killed me. She came into my room, pumped up me full of drugs, slit my wrists, then left a message on the wall for Khal. Is he here? I think we need to talk.”

My mouth goes dry and it’s hard to swallow. Sweet Pegg? Did she really kill this girl? But then, didn’t Pegg try to kill me? Maybe I didn’t know her at all. Maybe she played nice to give me a false feeling of security. Who knows anything anymore? Ugh.

I try to pick up Powder. He’s still scared and keeps hissing like a mad cat. Powder jumps from my arms and lands on the floor with a soft thud, looks at Lisa, and walks straight through her. My mind goes running blank. She’s a ghost, just like in the movies.

“Khal,” I call out and wait while staring at this girl who so casually stands in my kitchen and talks about her death.

“We never had a chance to talk. I’m really sorry for this.”

God, how dumb can I possibly sound? She’s a kindred spirit and wants to offer some sort of consolation, and I sound like a fool.

Lisa shrugs, more interested in pushing her hand into the counter and pulling it back out.

“My life was shit. I was haunted by all kinds of visions of horror, some of them so dark and violent I’d smack my head against the bed and the headboard until I’ll passed out. I bit my tongue more often than I can count. My life was not fun, not a bit.”

“And now… how is this possible?” I make an awkward sign toward her appearance.

The kettle water boils and the whistle blows.

At that moment, Khal runs down the stairs in his monster form, ready to fight. He jumps next to me.

“Ivy? Are you okay?”

“Hi, Khal,” Lisa says with a smile that looks weird on her frozen features.

“Dark Lord, Lisa. What happened? You’re dead. I checked on you but arrived too late.”

Lisa shrugs. “Can I get a cup of tea, Ivy?”

“Sure.” Who am I to refuse the request of a ghost, especially when she asks so nicely? “Khal, do you want one?”

“No.”

I busy myself fixing two cups of tea while Khal talks to Lisa

“You were dead. I saw you. I smelled you.”

“Yes, and now it looks like I’m undead in this realm.” Lisa shrugs again. All she does is shrug.

“But there are no recorded cases of ghosts in over a hundred years.” Khal speaks slowly and analytical.

“Well, fuck. Ain’t I special?”

“Do you feel anything?” He pokes her with one of his long claws.

Lisa rolls her eyes. “No, but damn, don’t do that. It feels fucking weird.”

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