Page 15 of Edge of Wonder

“Alice…”

“I’m leaving! I swear.” She closed one eye, stalling for another second before she vanished.

Her saucy smirk imprinted in my mind, and even though I knew she was gone, there was a charge in the air. An unexpected feeling settled inside my chest. I let it live there for a moment before forcing it away.

Regardless of a brief lapse in judgment, Alice was just a paycheck.

***

“Have you ever done this before?” Alice asked as I prepared the bonding spell.

I poured a circle of salt on the floor, and then placed a dark red candle, followed by a piece of parchment, in the center. Using a match, I lit the wick and allowed the wax to melt a bit before answering.

“No. But I read about it in a book once.”

“A book? I thought you did these types of things all the time. You’re supposed to be a professional.”

“I am, but I don’t go around attaching ghosts to me every chance I get. What if I can’t get them detached?” She didn’t realize it, but that was a serious possibility if something went wrong. I angled my head and narrowed my eyes at her. “I prefer to work alone. I don’t want a partner, especially not a dead one.”

Alice scoffed. “I get it. You’re a lone wolf. Trust me, I wouldn’t want to be eternally attached to you, either.”

“Don’t worry, you won’t be. Now come here and step inside the circle.”

Alice floated to the edge of the salt, mumbling something under her breath. She took her place in front of the candle and smoothed the folds of her too-short gown, then clasped her fingers together.

“You may proceed,” she said as if she were royalty speaking to a peasant.

I let it slide and pulled a blade from the sheath at my waist. Alice’s eyes went wide as I sliced through my thumb. Blood pooled on my skin, and a few drops hit the floor, staining the wooden beams. Kneeling in front of the parchment, I traced the letter A onto the paper.

“You have to write my name in blood? That’s barbaric!” Alice knelt beside me, horrified as I continued with the rest of the letters.

“It’s part of the spell. You want to leave this house, don’t you?” Finished, I stuck my thumb in my mouth to stem the blood.

“Yes, but…” She glanced up from the red-smudged parchment, concern glazing her eyes. “Are you okay? I mean, does it hurt?”

I laughed softly and examined my thumb. “I think I’ll live.”

Our eyes met, and my tactless remark hung between us.

She broke the silence, her voice oddly rough. “Yeah, I suppose you will. Silly me.”

“Alice, I didn’t mean it like that.”

She shook her head and returned her gaze to the parchment. “Let’s just forget it.”

I cleared my throat, trying to loosen the shame-induced knot, but it only grew worse. Forcing myself to speak, I activated the spell using the incantation, then blew out the candle and tipped it over to spill a line of wax over her name.

“That’s it. The spell will last until I melt the wax and burn the parchment.”

Alice floated toward the door. “What’s the range on the spell?”

“You can’t leave town if that’s what you’re thinking. You have to stay within my sight at all times.”

“Sounds easy enough.” She reached her hand through the entrance and then floated onto the porch, where she stopped as if she were afraid to move further.

“Ready?” I picked up my pack and followed her onto the landing.

“As I’ll ever be.” She hesitated before floating down the steps. Her head tipped back and she marveled at the sun peeking through the tops of the trees. Stretching her arms out in front of her, she turned up her palms as if she intended to soak in the warm air.

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