Page 6 of Mortal Desires

Like always, she could taste my sadness in the air. To counterbalance, her expression was open, a small smile adorning her lips trying to get me out of my funk.

It wasn’t that I regretted helping these souls, it was just that I missed too many things in my life to do so. I sighed, knowing I couldn’t do anything about that as I followed my best friend upstairs.

Penny died in 2008 when she was only eighteen. It had to be somewhere close because she found her way to the manor while still in shock from her death and making very little sense. I was little at the time and she was just the second ghost I’d ever seen. She remembered nothing but her name and that she missed her flip phone.

The atrocious outfit she died in was quintessential early 2000’s. A snug white top layered over a purple one, comfy pants, UGG boots, and her curtain bangs hung to one side, almost covering her right eye.

She was frozen in time, forever asking me about boys, and clothes while rewatching rom-coms. In other ways, she raised me, even if now I was older than she had been at the time of her death.

Penny wasn’t just my best friend, but the only exception to the rule. To her, the ground never opened.

I followed her upstairs, looking around to see if I could spot Anora, my familiar, but she was shy and All Hallows’ Eve was more exciting than her little mousy heart could take.

Penny talked non-stop while I showered, telling me all that happened while I was away helping that man. Gossiping about my sister’s dresses while I scrubbed possible spider webs out of my hair.

When I took the towel from the stand and headed to the bedroom, she tilted her head, almost like something called to her.

“You should wear the ring tonight.”

My eyebrows soared, surprised she’d even remembered. I have had my abuela’s ruby ring since before Penny came into my life. I kept it secure in a locked drawer, first because I was afraid my father would find out and after because I never wanted to explain to the girls why I had it.

Usually, ghosts stayed only a short time after their death. Most of the time, they just moaned to the walls, speaking nonsense until I got to them. My abuela was dead for a long time before she came to me. Once I had the ring, she disappeared and never visited again. She didn’t leave in a cloud of jasmine like the others, nor did she fall into the dark abyss. She just left.

I wasn’t sure if a spell brought her back, but she was the first ghost I saw, and right away she made me take something that wasn’t mine.

For that, I kept the encounter a secret.

“Why do you think that?” I asked, pretending my heart wasn’t skipping a beat when I went to my wardrobe and pulled out the dress I bought for tonight.

“I don’t know.” Penny shrugged. “I just feel today is the day. Funny. Hey, I think Legally Blonde is on.”

She nodded to the remote just beside her, that she couldn’t pick it up. I turned the TV on, finding the movie quickly on a streaming service rather than waiting to find it on a channel. Some parts of the present Penny wasn’t completely sold on just yet.

I turned back to my dress, pulling it over my head, feeling the soft lace over my skin while I buttoned the intricate neck. We always dressed up for All Hallows’ Eve. It was the most important night of the year.

I blow-dried my hair with a diffuser, separating the clumps of curl with my fingers before pinning it away from my face. Lastly, I placed the velvet pointy hat and smiled at my reflection. Sometimes I did look like a witch.

“You know what really bothers me?” Penny said. “Warner is ugly. He’s not just an ass. He’s ugly too.”

I hummed my agreement, not really paying attention, my eyes darting to the locked drawer where the ring sat.

“Penny?” Even I could hear the tremor in my voice.

“Mmm?”

I gulped. “Why do you think I should wear the ring tonight?”

She took her eyes off the screen, realizing my distress for the first time.

“Sometimes it’s like…” she made a face, “I know something. I know it but I don't know how I know.”

I nodded. “Is it like intuition?”

“More than that. I know for a fact you have to wear the ring today. It’s like if you’re asking me who’s the actress playing Elle Woods.” She pointed at the TV. “I know it’s Reese Witherspoon.”

Penny never played around with rom-coms, so I knew she was serious.

I kept the key around my neck, a constant reminder I once stole something from under my father’s nose. With shaky hands I opened the drawer, closing my fingers on the smooth velvet box. I opened it carefully, mindful that it had been a long time since I dared to look at it.

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