Page 8 of Edge of Wonder

The hint of amusement returned to his eyes, but he avoided the subject when he spoke, “I thought you were in hiding. Have you come to your senses about the inevitability of your situation? It’s time for you to cross over.”

“I’ve reflected on it quite a bit,” I said, nodding solemnly as if his words had been directly responsible for my change of heart.

Ha! Try years of waiting around for some mysterious reason.The monotony of it all would send anyone leaping into the afterlife.

My answer pleased him, and a smug look crossed his face. At the rate things were going, I’d have to seal my mouth shut to keep me from saying something I shouldn’t.

“I’m glad you see things my way. As I explained to you earlier, there are two ways we can do this.”

I grimaced. “Let me guess. There’s an easy way and a hard way.”

“Good guess.”

“Fine. What’s the easy way?”

He leaned back in his chair and placed a booted foot on his knee. “I help you achieve your final wishes, and you walk into the light. It’s what we call a win-win. You get spiritual resolution, and I get paid.”

My gaze ran the length of his expensive jacket and fine linen shirt. Even his boots were made of the richest leather. I raised an eyebrow, refusing to compare his wardrobe to my simple ghostly attire. “Business must be booming.”

A wicked smile crested his lips. “It is, love.”

“I have a name, you know, and it isn’t love, sweetheart, or some other shallow endearment. You should save your charms for the living.”

His smile deepened, and the playful glint in his eyes made me grateful ghosts couldn’t blush.

“All right then, what’s your name?”

“It’s Alice.”

He went still. So still I worried his heart had stopped, and he was about to join me in the spirits-only club.

“Sebastian?” I whispered his name, growing increasingly alarmed by the horrified look on his face. It was the same look a deer gets right before an arrow plugs him between the eyes.

Sebastian laughed softly, snapping out of whatever spell had captured him. “Well played,” he muttered.

“What do you mean?”

“I knew an Alice once. A long time ago.” He still appeared haunted, and I tried to smooth things over.

“It’s a common name.”

“No. It’s a sign.” He pushed out of his chair and spun on his heel, searching for his rucksack. Finding it at the base of the bed, he shoved everything within reach inside.

“My name is a sign? What for?”

“It’s a sign I shouldn’t have come here. A sign I need to keep moving before my past comes back to bite me.”

“You’re leaving?” My mouth dropped open as he slung the pack over his shoulder and stalked toward the door. The man wasn’t making any sense. What did it matter if he’d met another Alice? The village had like five Davids. You didn’t see me throwing salt over my shoulder and buying a carriage ride out of town. I mean, I would if I could, but that was because I’d do anything to get out of this house, not because I was afraid of meeting two Davids at the pub.

“You can’t leave! You have a job to do. What about your reputation?”

“My reputation can take a hit.”

He was already in the hall, boots pounding down the staircase. Panic clenched my throat. This couldn’t be happening. Not now! Not when I was so close to getting out.

Closing my eyes, I focused my energy and reappeared in front of him. He jerked to a stop, nearly walking through me.

“Don’t leave,” I begged. “You don’t know what it’s like here. I can’t be invisible again. I won’t.”

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