Hidden (Papa IV X Male)

Chapter 14 - Ghost

I must've been imagining this. My body tensed up, and I couldn't think to do anything but pinch myself. But this wasn't a dream.

"Listen, you can't manipulate me anymore." Copia's aggravation was slowly working up towards anger.

"You're being childish. I don't understand why Sister wanted you in this position in the first place-"

"I am not being childish!" His yelling made me flinch, freezing me with fear. "You are just being selfish! You wanted somebody you could control and I looked up to you. We take your endless shit and as soon as somebody steps out of line, you get rid of them."

"I am your superior!" The ghostly man was growing angry as well. He slammed his fist on the counter, but it made no sound.

"Not anymore! Maybe when I was Cardinal, but not anymore. You're fucking dead, I don't have to listen to you." Copia pointed an accusing finger.

"Imperator does. And so does Sultarian. The Clergy thinks you're weak." He spat out the word. "If I give the order, you're done."

Copia shook his head, turning away from the ghostly figure. "Get out. I cant take this right now."

Just like that, the man was gone, vanished into thin air as if nobody had been there in the first place. Copia ran a towel under the dressing room sink and wiped his face, removing most of the black and white paint. His face was red with anger. It only occured to me then that this was the first time I'd really seen his skin at all aside from some smudged paint around his temples and his ears. He was usually wearing gloves. As I peaked through the crack in the door, it opened a little more with a small creak. This place would benefit from some WD-40. Copia whipped his head around, revealing his fuming expression. His eyebrows were furrowed and he wore a frown very similar to the ones depicted on the stained glass windows.

His face softened when he saw it was me, and he gave me the go ahead to come in. I was ashamed for eavesdropping, but even more ashamed that I had been caught. I leaned on the counter where the ghost had been standing.

Copia finished wiping off his face paint, trying to give me a weak smile. "Good evening, Nicholas."

"Are you alright?"

He sat down next to me, not able to make eye contact. "Do you want the joke answer or the real answer?" Copia let out a sad laugh.

I put my hand on his shoulder, startling him a bit. He finally looked at me. "How much of that did you see?"

I don't know why, but I was afraid to tell the truth. I had seen a goddamn ghost, so I was obviously a little frazzled. I trusted Copia, but I still felt it was in my best interest to lie. "See? None. But I heard everything."

He nodded. "I'm sorry. That's-" he sighed. "Thats really embarrassing."

"You shouldnt be embarrassed. We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but-" I hesitated. "I care about you." I gave his arm a nudge,

"Thank you." He took a deep breath in and made a gesture with his hands like he was rewinding. "How was the show? You seemed suprised."

"I can't say I was expecting to be grabbed like that, but it was amazing! What song was that, anyway?"

"It's called Cirice." He paused, but smiled again towards me. "My brother wrote it. He was always a much better performer and writer than me."

I rolled my eyes. "Quit being modest. You're great."

Was a better performer?

"That means a lot." He leaned his cheek on my shoulder, startling me. I didn't mind though, so I just let him sit there. He started to sing quietly, and it was another song I didn't recognize.

"We were speeding together, Down the dark avenues. But besides all the stardom, All we got was blues..."

The song felt old, like something lovers would sing to eachother in the 60s.

"You go down just like Holy Mary, Mary on a, Mary on a cross. Not just another Bloody Mary, Mary on a, Mary on a cross. If you choose to run away with me, I will tickle you internally. And I see nothing wrong with that..."

Again with those lyrics. They made my face go red, but they still felt beautiful in some ways. Of course, right as I was blushing he moved his head from my shoulder, looking up at me and starting to laugh.

"Sorry, that songs a bit dirty, isn't it?"

"No, that's alright." I didn't want to look him in the eyes for fear of him just making me blush even deeper.

Without looking at me, he asked, "Why don't you just stay for a while longer? In the church, I mean."

That was the kicker. The ghouls were a whole other story but now Papa himself was asking me to stay.

"I'm sorry was that weird?" He apologized.

"No, it's alright. I mean, I would really love to stay here-"

"Then do it." He laughed, looking up towards me.

"I can't just leave my job, my house, my family. Hell, my phone doesn't even work here." I looked down at him, giving a joking accusatory stare and raising my eyebrow at him like he so often did. "I don't even know you people."

He smiled but then stopped, face going blank. He looked up at me, alarmed. "Family?"

"Oh," I exclaimed. "I just meant my mom and dad."

He sighed a sigh of relief.

We laughed, and in a moment of I guess vulnerability, I leaned my head on his.

"Alright, well don't stay then. But come back and visit. We've always got a place for you to stay, and the ghouls really like you."

"What about you?"

He thought about it. "Maybe I like you a little bit too."