Page 25 of The Neighborhood Ghost

“I . . .” Alice said. “You’re . . .”

Elizabeth nodded. “It’s wonderful to finally meet you, Alice Primrose. Hugo told me so much about you.”

“Is he with you?” Alice asked. “Is that why he wouldn’t respond? Can I see him?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “He’s not here. Hugo’s not with me. He used to talk to me in his private moments. I heard his every word. I wanted to speak to him so much, but I’m happy Hugo was able to meet someone else and he wasn’t alone.”

A tear fell down Alice’s cheek. She didn’t let go to wipe it away. She couldn’t risk breaking this connection. A chill ran up Alice’s spine. Her body shook, and her jaw trembled. “Where is he?” Alice asked.

Elizabeth’s smile faded. “Hugo’s in trouble. He needs you. He’s in a dark place, a place I can’t get to. He was taken there, called there by some dark force. You have to get him out of there.”

“How? I don’t know where. He’s not answering.”

“Your house is connected to him. Keep trying. You have to pull him out or else he’ll be lost forever.”

Alice shook her head. “I can try. I can keep trying.”

“If there was anyone I could trust, it’s you. Go. Go save our Hugo.”

“Whatever it takes.”

“Whatever it takes,” Elizabeth answered. She paused. “I really like your purple house. It’s unique.”

Alice smiled. She sniffled to hold back more tears. “Hugo told me you would have said that.”

Elizabeth smiled again before saying, “Do me a favor.”

“Anything.”

“Tell Hugo I’m safe, I love him, and I’m happy for both of you.”

“Of course.”

“Take care, Alice Primrose. It was wonderful to meet you.”

“Take care, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth’s hands let go of Alice, and the world went dark as her eyelids closed on their own. Alice floated in the void once again. Weightless and disoriented. She didn’t know where she was or when. Alice tried to open her eyes, but she couldn’t. She struggled, but her lids held tight. Another set of hands squeezed hers again. A familiar pair.

Alice opened her eyes, and she was back in the alcove. The real alcove. The sounds of customers returned with the smells of the candles and incense. Her hat waited for her on the floor. Madame Sophia sat across from her.

Tears fell down her face. Her eyes flared in a mixture of amazement and anger.

“What happened? What did you do?” Alice said in a raised voice. “Was that a trick?”

Madame Sophia let go of Alice’s hands and sat back in her seat. “It was no trick. A cosmic witch never reveals her true secrets in public.”

Alice slumped back in her chair. She wiped away her tears and gave a chuckle. “Wait, you’re a witch? Did Ez send you?”

“She did not,” Madame Sophia said, crossing her arms. “Do you feel better?”

Alice glanced down at her hat and nodded. “I do, actually. Sort of. But why are you helping me now? Why didn’t you help against the vampires? I could have used the help.”

“I’m a member of the Coven of the Watch. We’re sworn to protect the veil against threats seeking to come through. I was assigned to protect this town from the very threat holding your fiancé hostage. I was able to scry on them, watch them between the two worlds, before the dark forces holding him cut me off. They’ll use him. They’ll bend him to their will. I need to make certain they never break through. You need to get him back.”

Alice picked up her hat and flung it on top of her head. She pulled down on the brim to secure its place. “I’ll get him. I promise . . . I’ll get him back.”

“Good,” Madame Sophia said. “For the sake of us all, you cannot fail.”

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