Page 42 of Safe in Shadow
“That doesn’t make a lot of sense. How were you able to do that?”
In answer, Nyx appeared as a shadow at her feet, then gloating in the corner of the kitchen the next second, and then back as a plume of smoke, slowly gathering itself into the shape of a man yet again. “You see?”
“But that’s something you can do now. When you’re dead. Are you telling me you killed this person as a ghost?”
“Shade. I am a shade.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes.”
“But that’s not likely, is it? Because you were already dead, no offense. How could you do that if you just seem like shadows and patches of darkness to most people?Whywould you do it? Wasn’t Cynthia your—”
“Miss Sanderson!”
Grace yelped, jumped, and bashed her elbow on the kitchen counter. She peered out the kitchen window and saw a leaden, overcast sky. “What time is it? How long did I sleep?” she hissed, looking around the kitchen for something that would turn her outfit of an oversized tank top into visitor-appropriate apparel. “Just a minute!”
“Take your time! It’s Mr. Minegold from the Welcome Wagon!”
Grace froze as she ran towards the steps. “Nyx! He’s one of the ones!”
Nyx was beside her. “What ones?”
“The haunted ones! The ones that don’t age! He has red eyes!”
“A vampire, dear!” called the voice from outside. “We also have excellent hearing, in addition to the occasional red tinge.”
Grace swallowed hard. “Go away.”Vampires aren’t real.
I’m sorry, you were just talking to someone who can turn into a sex squid. Real is no longer in our vocabulary.
“I have muffins! Oh, and I don’t bite.”
Her stomach grumbled.
“I’ll handle this.” Nyx shot away from her, black and billowing, a bullet made of darkness.
“Wait, I... I’ll go with you! Can he hurt you?” she hissed.
Nyx didn’t answer.
“Ugh! I don’t have a robe or anything!”
Death or decency?
And what can two dead guys do to each other?
She paled and raced up the stairs. “Don’t do anything until I get back!” she bellowed.
“HELLO! I AM MR. MINEGOLD. Very nice to meet you, Mr. — ?”
“Nyx. Why are you here?” Nyx stared at the man in a burgundy turtleneck, black jacket, and charcoal gray fedora who stood in his territory.
Hadn’t he seen him before? He’d surely heard that voice...
Mr. Minegold held out a basket of muffins and a dark green folder with the town’s logo on the front. “It’s my week for the Welcome Wagon. I have muffins from The Pine Loft Coffee Shop and this folder about the services for the town. Here. Can you—” Mr. Minegold held out the cellophane-wrapped basket tied with a white ribbon. It crashed through Nyx’s hand and landed with a thud on the porch. “Oh, goodness. I’m sorry about that. Some ghosts can hold things, you know. I believe anyone can learn with practice. I have a few friends with spirit bottles that I could bring over to offer a demonstration if—”
“I’m not a ghost. I’m a shade. I am more than human. I am partially dark energy, and the energy is bound to this house, and I am bound to it. I can touch what is in my domain, what belongs tome. You are in my space, bothering my human. Now, leave.” Nyx spoke in a harsh tone, surprised at himself. Oh, not that he was harsh, but that he had explained things so quickly and thrown Grace in at the end as “my human.”
