Chapter 44

44

LECTURE NOTES FROM REALM RULES twin faces with blood-red eyes and moon-white skin.

“Mira, Mona, hi. Sorry to barge in like this.”

“It’s Mina. ”

“And Mora.” Their high-pitched voices sounded exactly the same too.

Mina continued, “Please don’t tell me you’ve died and come back to haunt this room. I can’t deal with another ghost.” She moved, stomping toward the wardrobe.

“What are you doing?” Mora barked at Mina.

Mina spun and spat, “Packing. I’m moving across the hall. You’re welcome to stay here … with that thing. ”

“Excuse me?” Thessa interrupted.

“Do ghosts usually talk?” Mina questioned Mora.

“Mostly in moans or riddles, so this is peculiar.”

Thessa was shaking her head. “I’m not a ghost.”

Mina sighed. “Poor thing is still in denial. She can find some other witch to help her cross over because it’s not going to be me.” She whirled around from her wardrobe with a bundle of clothes in her arms before waddling out of the room.

Thessa was two steps from stopping her until she stopped herself. Let them think she was some trapped spirit, she figured that would take care of one problem.

When Mina disappeared, Thessa turned to see Mora flipping through her grimoire and snuck a look.

Goddess.

“While you decide which Banishing Spell to try, may I ask if Noam and Rhetter still live in the other townhouse?”

Mora’s red eyes flicked up to hers, along with a bright, red glow on her cheeks.

Thessa smiled. “Are you sleeping with one of them or both?”

Mora’s eyes widened before scanning the page once more. Her finger moved faster, as if in a desperate hurry to memorize the spell.

Thessa laughed before leaving her old bedroom .

Stepping down the townhouse stairs felt nostalgic, although the absence of smells she missed. As much as she loathed the angry chef, her breads and pies were delightful.

Thessa wished pie making would channel her unrelenting thoughts the same way a hammer had. Baking only angered her. Some souls were simply not meant to combine milk, sugar, and butter.

Crossing through the shared dining hall, she ignored the witches staring her way. There were more than a few gasps, and lingering comments.

That’s the one that got kicked out.

Why does she look like that?

Is she a ghost?

Thessa could’ve been more careful about walking through tables, chairs, and walls, but it was her first time casting an Astral Projection Spell and it was too tempting not to try.

After threatening to haunt several males for the rest of their lifetime, Thessa was escorted to Noam’s and Rhetter’s workstation—garbage duty.

“This is disgusting. Why haven’t you requested a different work assignment yet?” Thessa asked by way of greeting.

“Thessa. I’d ask why you’re here but I’m more curious as to why you’re flickering?” Rhetter spoke for the pair.

“The spell is running out of time. I didn’t use much blood.”

“What spell?”

“Did I say spell? I’m a ghost, I mean. Dead as dead comes,” she said, correcting herself. They weren’t buying it. “You’ve known me for eighteen years, please just roll with it.”

They eyed each other in silent conversation before Rhetter asked, “What’s going on?”

“Are you two still playing that board game of yours? ”

“You came back here to mock us about Dungeons & Serpents?”

She bit back her laugh. “Not a terrible idea, but no.” Shifting to a more serious tone, she said, “I need your help bringing it to life.”

Noam’s ears must’ve perked up because he spoke for the first time. “Hello ghost of Thessa’s past, how may we be of service?”

She grinned.