Page 51 of Monsters of Desire and Nightmares of Passion

“I had to see if you’re a squishy demon. You’re not or you would have gone up in flames.”

“Listen, all I know is that the bitch Pegg killed me. I was dead and, for a short time, there was nothing, and now my ass is here.” Lisa looks so lost. My heart breaks for her.

Khal dissolves into his shadow self. Tendrils of darkness pull at the edges of my consciousness and then he’s gone.

“Does he do that often?” Lisa asks.

I take my own cup of Earl Grey with milk and sugar before offering a cup to the ghost. I sit and have tea in my kitchen with Lisa, the ghost, who can’t drink tea but enjoys watching her hand dissolve in the steam rising from the cup.

The only thing I can think to say is. “I find that creepy.”

“Girl, it is creepy. Is this your place? It’s nice.” Lisa adds a whistle of admiration.

“Yes, but I had no idea it was mine until yesterday. How did you know to come here?”

Lisa tries to grab the cup several times, eventually giving up, then leans against the counter. She has mastered that, this time not sinking into it.

“I… I can’t explain it. I was in that place that’s dark and lonely, then suddenly I’m here. I’m not stalking you or anything. I really don’t know why or how I’m here.”

I want to hug Lisa. She’s just a young girl.

“How long have you known Khal?” she asks.

“That question has two answers. All my life, and since yesterday.”

“Let me in on that, girl. Throw me a bone. I’m dead and all. I’m bored as fuck.” Lisa smiles and walks around the kitchen, trying to touch plates and surfaces, only to watch her hand sink into them.

“I suffered a memory lost when I was nineteen and couldn’t remember anything from that time. It seems I have some sort of sight.” Looking at Lisa, I’m not sure how much I should tell her.

“Jinx, girl. Me, too. Well, at least according to Khal. He says I have the sight and that’s why I see all kinds of weird, trippy shit. Do you get those weird visions, too?”

Just as I’m about to answer, Mrez and Draw appear next to Khal in the kitchen. Draw is in his human form. He walks over and wraps his strong arms around me.

“Hey, love. Are you okay?” He kisses my forehead and holds me for a few minutes.

“Yes, I’m fine. Do you guys know Lisa? She was a patient at the hospital.”

“Yes. Khal told us about her.” Draw has that way of being calm and assertive, of making me relax.

“Lisa, this is Draw and Mrez. They’re friends of mine.” I feel I should at least play host and say something. I’m not sure what the protocol is with ghosts.

Lisa makes a hello gesture with her hand. “So, you guys are like Khal?”

“He’d like to be as cool as me,” Mrez says with a smile.

Khal walks up and smacks him over the head.

Lisa walks up to Khal. “So, this is awkward, and I hate to bother you, but… I don’t know exactly what to do or how I can get away from here.”

“You can stay as long as you like as my guest,” I offer.

Khal gives me a look.

“Thanks. That’s so nice of you.”

I almost want to hug Lisa. She reminds me so much of myself when I had woken up from the coma and felt lost. Only she’s dead and I still have my whole life ahead of me.

Khal bares his teeth. “Ivy, we need to talk.”

---