Page 40 of Malice

The weight on my shoulder leaves and I follow Otto’s eyes to the space on the other side of the coffee table. The more I look, the more I see, as a shimmery image of a man appears before me, but it’s gone quickly.

“Wow.” Scrubbing my hand over my face, I bounce my leg to shake off the excess energy coursing through me. “Thanks.”

I yelp as my phone rings in my back pocket.

Okay. I’m jumpy. I pull the phone out and answer quickly. “Hello.”

“It’s me, Hud. How are things?”

“Hey, Joss. Let’s see. My house is a disaster thanks to my pissed off stalker ghost, it’s also full of other spirits who apparently don’t mind me being here, Aster dipped to the underworld for some help or guidance, and I just saw my first ghost.”

“What the fuck?”

“Yeah. Exactly.”

“You’re alone?”

“No. Not exactly. The ghost I saw is Aster’s guide. He’s protecting me.”

“Holy shit.”

“It’s a lot.” I clear my throat as my voice shakes. Otto jumps from my arms and twirls around what I assume is the guide’s form. “I actually feel pretty safe right now though.”

“Aster can visit the underworld?”

“That’s what he said.”

“I’ve never heard of a medium who can do that.”

“I don’t think he’s a medium. He told me it’s a job he has and he was assigned to me. He’s in charge of getting spirits like Chester back where they belong.”

“How the fuck do you get a job like that?”

“He said it was complicated. Have you seen a ghost before?”

“Yeah, not the way Aster describes it though. I’ve seen shadows and mist and strange happenings, but nothing like a fully formed person or even anything I could focus on for too long.”

“Do you wish you could?”

“Not without being able to control it. I don’t think that would be very nice.”

“No. I kind of wish I could see the ones that live here. I don’t know if ‘live’ is the right word.”

Jocelyn chuckles. “Inhabit maybe. Linger.”

“Yeah. I… I felt his guide interact with me. I felt his hand on my shoulder and saw a glimpse of him.”

“Whoa. That’s trippy. Is he there now?”

“Yeah. Otto’s playing with him.”

“I wish I could be there, Hud. I hate leaving you like this.”

“It’s not your fault. We should listen to Aster. I believe that he’s really here to protect me.”

“I do too. I wouldn’t have left otherwise. I called to check on you but also to let you know that me and Elaina and the dogs are renting a house in Salem until this is over. I want to be close to you.”

My eyes immediately fill with tears. I tried so hard to be self-sufficient after my parents disowned me. I didn’t want Jocelyn to worry about me, but I can’t deny how good it feels to know she’s here for me.

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