Page 14 of Bewitched By the Headless Horseman
Stevie laughed and grasped her mom by the shoulders. “No, it’s definitely not that. He wants help with a little unfinished business is all.” He just seemed to have a hard time spilling the beans on what it was.
Her mom pressed her lips into a tight line. “There’s something you’re not telling me. I used to be the queen of lies, remember? What else is it?”
Stevie battled with herself on what to say, but she didn’t want to weaken her mom’s heart further since she’d been more tired than usual. If lie detector was a paranormal ability, her momheld that benefit. “It’s nothing,” Stevie said slowly. “The ghost was just in my car on the way here.”
“What? So the ghost is stalking you now?” Her eyes widened and she ran a hand down the side of her face.
“Not exactly. He’s only a nuisance and not dangerous to me. One positive aspect to note is it isn’t like he’s a demon or anything.” Stevie told her pretty much the entire situation that had happened, about going into the abandoned house, and him following her home, only leaving out the detail about the ghost being the Headless Horseman.
“Well,” her mom huffed. “Even if he’s not a demon that doesn’t mean anything. A ghost can still be an asshole. If this man or any other ghost fucks with you, I’ll round up every witch I know and they won’t like what’s coming.”
“Don’t worry, I have it in check.” She handed her mom the sack of crystals. “Oh, and here’s your order. Lucia could’ve just given them to you for free.”
“Nope, I’m not doing that. I’m helping my babies’ shop make money.” Stevie always liked how her mom considered Lucia to be one of her own.
“Fine. Have it your way.” Stevie grinned.
Her mom winced and placed a hand over her chest.
“Is your heart all right?” Stevie grasped her mom’s arm. “I knew I shouldn’t have told you about the ghost.”
“My heart is strong as a bull. You don’t have to worry about me every month. When it’s my time, it’s my time. But it won’t be any time soon. And always be honest with me—you know I won’t ever judge you.” She wrapped her arms around Stevie. “Now, I gotta finish getting ready for my date. I love you.”
Stevie pulled into a parking spot in the back of the strip center where both the apothecary and comic book shop were located. She went inside her brother’s store, finding Georgie—a woman in her mid-forties with a scarf covering her hair as usual since her gorgon ability could be a bit risky—at the front desk.
“Is Gideon in the back?” Stevie asked.
“He’s at the antique shop next door, but he should be back any minute now.” Georgie slapped her hands on the counter and pushed forward. “Did you hear about the Eye opening?”
Stevie nodded. “I did!” Amongst other things.
“I guess I’ll find out if anyone I know is still lingering about at the next new moon.”
“Definitely.” A glimpse of white in the corner drew Stevie’s attention, and she left Georgie to go and officially meet the store’s resident ghost who was there more often than not. And when he was, he always had a comic book in his hand. The dead could touch and pick up things, but once they held them, they vanished from the living’s sight—besides a seer’s. So it wasn’t like the movies where things mysteriously floated around.
She crept closer to the ghost who wore jeans and a T-shirt, his backpack beside him, and his fingers flipping through a comic. He was maybe close to thirty, his hair drawn back into a knot at his nape. Roxy always visited and let him pet her when she was with Stevie.
“Hey, you,” Stevie said. “At last we can finally meet!”
The guy looked up from his comic and pointed at himself as he blinked. “You can already see me before the second Eye opens?” His face was all sharp angles, and a small bump rested along the bridge of his nose.
“Mm-hmm.” Stevie stepped closer and skimmed her fingers across the top of the comics beside her.
“That means you’re a—”
“Seer.” She knelt next to him. “I wanted to thank you for being nice to my fox.”
“She’s yours?” he asked, a crooked canine showing. “She’s a sweet little thing.”
“Her name’s Roxy in case you ever wondered.” She peeked at the comic book in his hand. “What are you reading anyway?”
He held the withering comic up—X-Men. “I’ve read every issue multiple times.”
“So has my brother,” she said, then paused. “Any unfinished business you need help solving?”
“No, I like it here and have a few more comics to get through.” He chuckled. “But a lot of the other ghosts are also waiting until after the new moon passes.”
She stood and adjusted her purse. “That makes sense, and I’m sure I’d do the same thing. I’m Stevie, by the way.”
