Special Circumstances

Spirited

Not too long later, Mist found herself sitting cross-legged on the ground in the living room of Helena's apartment. Various herbs, incense, and candles burned around them as Helena laid out her spirit board on the low coffee table. The lights were off and the glow of the candles provided the only light. She'd done a quick cleanse of the room with some sage, and now they were ready to begin.

Helena and Quinn sat opposite to Mist and Alpha.

"So, you think this will work?" Mist asked. "You think Special has been trying to talk to you?"

Helena pursed her lips and shrugged.

"I mean, someone's been pretty insistent for the past day or so. Usually I get human spirits passing by, but this one didn't quite feel the same as them."

It was no secret Helena had a gift for speaking with spirits. Amongst the Clergy, at least. The regular Siblings weren't aware. It was rumoured her great-grandmother was her guide, but Mist didn't know her well enough to ask her outright about it.

"I thought I was seeing things. I've been missing him so much lately, and I thought it was just that. My mind playing tricks. Just wishful thinking."

Alpha put a reassuring arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. She leaned into him and took comfort from him, because she could feel herself trembling.

This had all happened out of the blue.

For the past few years, Mist had struggled with the lack of closure and the abruptness of Special's departure. People had told her she should move on from it, get on with her life, and let the guilt go.

She hadn't been able to do that, though.

The biggest regret of her life was the last conversation they'd had, and the mundaneness of it. It had been a discussion about the weather, of all things. Mist had replayed that conversation over and over and over in her head, and every time, it had been the same; emotionless.

There had been no chance to say goodbye to him. No opportunity to say the things she'd wanted to say to him. If she'd known it would be the last time she'd ever get to speak to him, she'd have been brave and told him just what he meant to her. That she regretted being so stupid and denying her feelings for so long. She'd have told him he was the one for her.

"This is just the kind of shit Special would pull," Quinn said fondly. "He never was one to do things in the usual way."

Mist smiled at that. He was right. Special had always been eccentric, even amongst ghouls, so if this was him, no doubt he'd found some obscure back door or loophole to contact them. She hoped so, at least.

"There was nothing usual about Special," she said.

Alpha huffed a laugh.

"I miss that little shit, something rotten."

Helena smiled at them both.

"Are you ready? If he's close by, this is the quickest way to get his attention."

Mist took a deep breath and nodded, straightening her spine.

"Let's do it."

Quinn was the designated note taker. He mumbled something about 'not touching that fucking thing again' under his breath, earning a snort from Helena.

"Okay," she said. "So, put your two fingers on the planchette like this. Just a light touch. Make sure you're relaxed." She showed them what she meant, placing her first two fingers on the wooden pointer. Alpha and Mist copied her and waited to see where this would go. Helena took a couple of deep breaths and blew them out again before she spoke. "We call upon the good-hearted spirits nearby and invite you to speak with us. Is there anyone here who would like to communicate?"