Page 143 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

“You’re morbid.” I chuckle.

“Morbidly yours.” He winks.

I gulp down and look away, afraid that if he gazes at me like this much longer, I will forget all about who I am, my duty, and the reason why we’re here in the first place.

“But I thought you can’t kill humans?”

“I never said I’d kill you. But I would have my pound of flesh.”

“Your pound of flesh, huh? That means that I am yours, too?” He licks his lips as he takes one more step toward me. He’s now so close I can smell his fresh soap—a relief considering the musty, old smell of this room.

“You are, Mine. You are.” Patting him on the chest, I try to ignore the way my heart beats in my chest or the fact that my cheeks are likely scarlet red. I move past him and walk further into the castle.

Mine’s chuckle echoes behind me. That scoundrel! He’s probably gloating that he’s able to tease me like this.

The grand hall stretches out before us, its soaring ceilings accentuated by clear glass that gives a glimpse of the sky. The walls are adorned with ornate tapestries, and sparkling chandeliers hang from above, casting a warm glow over the space.

“And Tommy—” My words are cut off when I spot him from the corner of my eye.

He’s coming back into the grand hall from another entrance, and he’s not alone.

“That is…”

“Major, Miss Minnie!” he calls out to us. “I met someone,” he adds effusively as he gestures us to the ghost of a young lady. Seemingly in her late teens, she’s dressed in a long linen gown that is tattered around the hem. The color is washed out, with spots of a vivid green and others of a pale green. Her black hair is braided down her back, with a few strands curling down her face.

“This is Annie. She’s been here a long time.”

“Oh, I bet,” I mutter under my breath.

Mine shakes his head and releases a long sigh.

“Some four hundred years?” He ventures a guess.

Tommy’s eyes widen. “How did you know?”

“She’s dressed in a seventeenth century dress,” he notes drily.

Tommy stares in wonder at him, probably idolizing him even more now. The girl, Annie, however, regards us both with suspicion.

I put on my best smile. It’s never wise to upset an old ghost. After a hundred years or so, they start gaining enough power to blast a human. And the last thing I want is the ghost of a young girl blasting me.

“How did you come to be here? Did you live in the castle?”

She’s still staring at me intently. But she doesn’t answer.

“Uh, Annie? Can you answer Miss Minnie? She’s a nice lady, I promise,” Tommy interjects.

Her hand shoots out and she grabs Tommy’s arm, the hold bruising, but in a ghostly way. I frown. His energy signature flickers in and out under her touch.

“Minnie, stay back,” Mine whispers as he pulls me close to him.

“Something’s not right.”

He nods.

“Tommy, can you come here?”

“Why? Annie’s nice. Right, Annie?” He turns to look at her. Her lips curl up in a sinister smile.

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