Chapter Three

"You Want Me to Do What?"

Tabitha

The moment Casper agreed to give me some space for the night, I exhaled like I had been holding my breath for hours. Which, in a way, I had been. Having a literal ghost float around your apartment didn't exactly scream "relaxing evening." Even if that ghost was the one man I thought I'd never hear from again—and certainly not in this way. "Fine," he said, flashing that maddeningly boyish grin that I'll bet used to get him out of trouble far too easily. Until now, of course.

"I'll leave you alone," he promised. "Since I have no need for sleep anymore, I'll just be...hanging around until you wake up."

He floated a few inches higher, hovering near the ceiling, arms folded across his chest as if this were the most normal thing in the world. For him, I supposed, it was.

"You better not watch me undressing," I warned as I noticed him following me as I marched into my bedroom and grabbed my oversized sleep shirt from the dresser.

Casper's grin widened, his green eyes sparkling mischievously. "I can't promise anything," he teased, leaning back in mid-air as though lounging on an invisible couch. "I mean, ghost perks and all."

I shot him a withering glare, though the corner of my mouth twitched in amusement. "Casper."

He chuckled, his form flickering slightly. "Alright, alright. I'll keep my ghostly eyes to myself. Scout's honor." He made a dramatic show of turning away, hovering up and down in that casual, carefree way he did everything. The fact that he was dead hadn't changed his annoyingly charming sense of humor.

With one final look to make sure he wasn't peeking, I slipped into the bathroom to change. As I pulled on my t-shirt, I caught my reflection in the mirror. My hair was a wild mess as usual, half frizzy, half tangled, and my eyes were rimmed with exhaustion. I couldn't blame myself. It wasn't every day the guy you'd been dating got unalived and came around begging for your help to reverse the spell that did it.

Sliding into bed, I let out a long sigh, and sank between the cool sheets. Part of me still half-expected to wake up and find this all had been a crazy, feverish dream brought on by the combination of sniffing too much incense at Moonlit Mystics and eating my weight in popcorn. But then again, I was glad Casper really hadn't meant to ghost me. At least he had a good excuse for not calling me back.

As sleep tugged at me, I let my thoughts drift back to the three perfect dates we'd had. I remembered his laugh, his eyes, the way he'd look at me like he could see right into my soul. I had started to fall for him, and just when I thought we were heading somewhere real, he vanished. Now I knew why. Maybe I'd be able to forgive him, once we found a way out of this mess.

With that bittersweet thought, I finally let myself succumb to slumber, half-smiling at the irony of it all.

When I woke up, the soft light of morning was creeping through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. I rubbed my eyes and sat up. Nothing—no strange sounds, no ghosts appearing through walls. Had I really dreamed that Casper had shown up again?

Just then he floated in, at least doing me the courtesy of coming through the open doorway.

"Morning, sunshine," he said, his voice far too chipper for someone who hadn't slept in several days.

I groaned and clapped my hands over my face. "Oh God, it's all real."

"Afraid so," he said, coming closer and lowering to my level. "But to make up for it, I've made breakfast."

At first, I thought he was joking, but then I noticed the tray hovering beside him, perfectly balanced in mid-air. And not just any breakfast—this was a full-on, gourmet spread. Fluffy golden waffles topped with cinnamon apples and whipped cream, savory sausage links that were still steaming, freshly squeezed orange juice, and a cappuccino with the perfect swirl of foam. My stomach growled at the sight of it.

"Are you buttering me up?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I pulled the tray onto my lap.

Casper shrugged, flashing that infuriatingly handsome grin again. "Maybe. I figured this might boost my apology."

"Well, I'm starving, so I'll take it." I took a bite of the waffles and closed my eyes, savoring the sweet cinnamon flavor. "If you keep making breakfast like this, I might forgive you for the whole ‘not calling me back because you were cursed by your ex-girlfriend' thing."

He laughed, floating beside me as I ate. "That's a start."

As I devoured the meal, he watched me with a wistful look in his eyes. "You don't know how good that looks right now," he said, his voice softening. "I miss food. It's one of those things you don't appreciate until it's gone."

I glanced at him, a pang of sympathy tugging at my chest. "Well, I'll enjoy it for both of us, then."

"Thanks," he said, his smile a little sadder now. "Until I get back to normal, I'll just have to live vicariously through you."

We chatted as I finished my breakfast, falling back into an easy rhythm that almost made me forget the strangeness of our situation. Casper was still the same guy I'd connected with all those months ago—quick-witted, thoughtful, with that irresistible spark of humor that had drawn me to him in the first place. It was easy to slip into conversation with him, almost too easy. If he weren't see-through, it would have felt like nothing had changed.

Once I finished eating, I stretched and stood. "Okay, now that I'm fueled up, why don't I take a quick shower and get dressed, and then we can figure out our next move."

Casper nodded. "Great plan. Need some help scrubbing your back?"

I flipped my hair over my shoulder, turning towards the bathroom. "I'd prefer to wait until you're flesh and blood again, if you don't mind."

He sighed, waving his fingers in the air so the tray with the dirty dishes began floating again. "If you insist."

I hurried into the shower and then dressed quickly, pulling on a soft knit purple sweater, jeans, and boots. After applying a touch of foundation and some color to my cheeks, I blasted my hair with the dryer before joining Casper at my kitchen table, where he was hovering over the middle in a crossed-legged position with his eyes closed and hands folded in prayer.

"I didn't know you meditated," I exclaimed.

He blinked his eyes open and shrugged.

"Helps me center myself," he said. "I visited an ashram several years ago when I was in India and took a few classes. You should try it sometime."

Interesting; I hadn't expected him to be the spiritual type, but I suppose it made sense.

"Maybe you could teach me?" I suggested.

He smiled. "Sure thing."

I sighed. "First, we need to find Morticia. Halloween is only three days away, so we don't have much time. I highly doubt she's cruel enough to send you away for good, though. Otherwise, what could you possibly have seen in her?"

"I certainly hope you're right," Casper replied. "But I think you can understand why I don't want to take the risk. She's an attorney with a reputation for being ruthless."

"Oh," I frowned. That did put a different spin on things.

"At first, I was attracted to her intelligence—and she's not terrible to look at—but then I realized we just didn't have the type of connection I've been looking for. The kind I have with you."

I sucked in my breath, feeling heat rise in my cheeks.

"That's good to know," I said softly. "I take it you've tried looking for her already?"

He nodded. "I went by her office— Bellamy she was a witch. If she had disappeared, there was a good chance she wasn't hiding in a place we'd normally think to check.

"She's a witch, Casper. Which means she probably has a coven. We need help from someone who knows the magical side of things better than we do."

He raised an eyebrow. "Like whom?"

"Like my best friend, Daphne, and her aunt, Esme Moonflower. They own Moonlit Mystics , Sweetberry Hollow's occult shop."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Casper asked. "Let's go."

Moonlit Mystics was the kind of place that made you feel like you were stepping into another world. The shop was a maze of crystals, herbs, candles, and more mystical paraphernalia than you could shake a broomstick at. The scent of sage and lavender filled the air, and soft music played from somewhere in the background, creating a peaceful, otherworldly atmosphere.

Daphne was behind the counter when we walked in, arranging a display of moonstone necklaces. She glanced up when the bell above the door jingled, her eyes widening when she saw Casper floating next to me.

"Tabitha!" she exclaimed, hurrying over to me. "Whoever the ghost is standing next to you is really hot," she whispered in my ear.

I cleared my throat, my cheeks flushing.

"I didn't realize you'd be able to see him, but Daphne, meet Casper. Casper, Daphne."

"Pleasure to meet you," Casper said, holding out his hand for a shake but then withdrawing it when Daphne's fingers passed right through his. "Oops, sorry about that. As you can see, I've gotten myself into a bit of a pickle I'm afraid."

Just then, Esme appeared from behind a curtain, her long, flowing green sequined dress swishing as she moved. She looked at Casper, completely unperturbed by his ghostly presence, and smiled warmly. "Welcome to Moonlit Mystics , where we serve everyone and don't discriminate based on things like race, gender, or aliveness."

He blinked in surprise. "You can see me too?"

"Of course," Esme said, her tone as calm as ever. "In this shop, the veil between the living and the dead is thinner. Spirits like yourself are practically regulars here."

Daphne chuckled. "Yeah, we've had more than a few ghost customers before. You're just the first one who's come in with Tabitha. Is there something we can help you with?"

I glanced at Casper and then back to Daphne and her aunt. "Do you think we could talk somewhere in private?"

Esme nodded, gesturing for us to follow her to the back of the shop, where she and Daphne conducted their private readings and seances. The room was cozy, lit by candlelight, with shelves of ancient books and herbs lining the walls. I took a seat across from Esme, while Casper remained beside me, his form flickering faintly.

"We need your help," I began, my voice a little more urgent than I intended. "We're trying to find Morticia Bellamy, Casper's ex. She's made him what he is now—a ghost—and he has until midnight on Halloween to figure out how to undo her curse. Unless we find a way to break it, he'll be…" I gulped as unbidden tears pricked the backs of my eyes.

Esme nodded slowly, her eyes thoughtful. "I understand what you're saying. Hm…let me think. Morticia Bellamy, the lawyer, right?"

"Yes," Casper affirmed. "Ah-ha. Yes, she's part of the Western Witches coven."

I blinked. "You know her?"

"Not personally, but I've heard of her," Esme replied. "The Western Witches are a rather...exclusive group. Very cliquey. They're like the mean girls of the witch world."

Daphne snorted from the doorway. "And we're the proud nerds of the Eastern Enchantresses."

Esme smiled fondly at her niece. "Exactly. We may not be as loud or popular, but we have our own special strengths."

"Do you know where they might meet?" I asked, leaning forward slightly. "Someplace they'd gather?"

Esme tapped her chin, thinking for a moment. "Yes, actually. They hold their monthly Moon Meetings in the corn maze out on Farm Road 666."

I groaned. Casper let out a resigned sigh. "Of course. Because why wouldn't their meeting place be in a creepy corn maze?"

"Thank you," I said, standing up to give Esme a hug and getting a nose-full of patchouli.

"Of course, sweetie," she replied, patting me on the back.

"Here," said Daphne, shoving a small shiny black crystal into my hand as we passed her on our way out of the shop. "This is black obsidian. It's said to absorb and free you from negative energy. You'll probably need this when you find Morticia."

"I'll take all the help we can get right now," I said, giving my friend a small smile as I shoved the crystal into my pocket.

"After you," said Casper at the front door.

The sky had darkened by the time we reached Farm Road 666, and thunder rumbled ominously in the distance. The corn maze stretched out before us, tall stalks swaying in the wind, casting long, eerie shadows across the ground. A chill crept up my spine as I stared at the entrance, the air thick with the promise of rain and something else—something darker.

"This place gives me the creeps," I muttered, pulling my jacket tighter around me.

Casper's presence, while faint, was still an oddly comforting contrast to the thick, humid air. "Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere."

I gave him a side-eye. "Really wish you were a bit more solid right now, if I'm being honest."

He laid a ghostly arm across my shoulders and brushed his lips against my cheek. "I do, too."

Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, the corn stalks rustling as we entered the maze. The path twisted and turned, the darkness closing in around us with every step. The wind howled through the corn, carrying with it the distant rumble of thunder, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we were walking into something far more dangerous than we realized.

"Do you really think she could be here?" I asked, frowning.

"I don't know," Casper sighed.

Somewhere in the distance, I thought I heard the faint echo of laughter—high-pitched, and eerie.

"Make that a yes," Casper said.