Ghost Perfume | ✔

Chapter 8: Talk to Me (Part 1)

"Rose,'' Jane whispered.

I stirred awake.

"One of your living friends is knocking at the door. Kind of aggressively.''

Oh no.

"What do -'' I croaked and cleared my throat. "What do they look like?''

"He was at that big house where I found you yesterday. I didn't catch his name.''

Relief spread through me that it was one of my Alistair brothers. Not Colin or Tommy or another of his friends.

My head pounded. I glanced outside and saw that it was dark, the sky washed out, the street shadowed. The alarm clock showed seven pm. I'd simply fallen face-down on my pillow sometime in the late afternoon, after helping the fourth or fifth ghost, while Jane promised that she'd field those who waited and any newcomers ... I was glad I hadn't slept too long. I stumbled to the bathroom to run water over my face, gulping some down at the same time.

"Are all your friends sexy gods?'' Jane asked, hovering creepily with her body halfway through the mirror above the sink.

"Well, there's you,'' I said hoarsely.

She giggled, pretending to slap my arm.

With the water shut off, I could hear knocking at the door downstairs.

My reflection showed me white and puffy skin, bloodless lips, red-rimmed eyes, wild hair. My gaze traced the delicate blue circles under the eyes.

They screamed fragile.

I rubbed at my cheeks to give them color and hurriedly combed my fingers through my hair. Where were all the ghosts, how many had come as I'd slept?

I closed my eyes and focused inward like I had before calling Jackal. I sensed a tangle of red, not far, at least twelve or fifteen souls ...

"Did you put people in the master bedroom?'' I asked.

"Yeah. The bedroom across yours. We've designated it the holding cell,'' Jane said, doing a cartwheel in the mirror.

"Thank you,'' I whispered.

"I got you, girl,'' she said.

She flew out to check on what was happening outside, as I hurried to brush my teeth and wash the crust out of the corners of my eyes.

"He's pacing. He looks like he's trying to decide something. He's got his phone out,'' Jane called.

I rushed back to my room to change my shirt, sniffing madly at the shirts thrown on my floor to find a clean one.

"He's calling someone,'' Jane yelled from downstairs.

I ran downstairs and unlocked the door.

Gabriel turned to me, so handsome and broad-shouldered in a dark green coat and grey scarf, his chestnut hair loose on his shoulders. His face relaxed as he saw me.

There'd been something like terror in his expression. Gone now, though he was unsmiling.

"Hi,'' I said breathlessly.

"Forget it,'' he said into his phone and hung it up.

He tucked his phone into his pocket, coming closer. "What's wrong with your voice? Are you okay?''

"Of course,'' I said, startled. "Um, I was just taking a nap.''

His eyes searched mine. He must have realized how his face had tightened into severe lines, because he made an effort to smile. "How do you feel? Compared to this morning?''