My Inherited House Might be Haunted

Sixteen

Calix

My mother was clearly on a roll. She was high energy and all smiles. Me having gone on a date probably had something to do with it, as Rhett was the first date I’d had in over a year. Plus, he was cute.

Mom went into the study/library/room of awesomeness like she’d been in there a hundred times. She likely had. I took more time with it because it was my first visit to this room. Holy hell, it was like Belle’s library from Beauty and the Beast —floor-to-ceiling bookcases and an honest-to-god library ladder. I must marry this man just so I could lay hands on his library.

Mom reached the desk and turned, expression thoughtful.

“Rhett, have you gone through the desk?”

“Uh…no?”

Rhett joined her and seemingly looked at the desk with new eyes. I could tell the thought hadn’t even occurred to him. Then again, he’d been busy moving, acquiring familiars, and playing with me, so…understandable.

“I went through the safe because I was directed to look there for my mother’s inheritance. I know all that’s in there. But the desk? Didn’t occur to me.”

“Hmm. Because they’re saying Ruth’s second instruction book for you is in there.”

By “they” I assumed my mother was referring to the many ghosts packed into this room. They weren’t all clear in my vision—some were a stronger opaqueness—but we clearly had a good twenty of them here.

“Second book?” Rhett was around the desk in a second flat, opening up drawers. “Where—oh, is it this purple one?”

“Indeed. Purple is a witch’s color.”

“Ahhhh. Is that why the back door is purple?”

“Likely so. We all came in and out of that door.”

It was old school, a purple door, but it was still something we went by. A purple door meant a witch was safe to enter. Kind of like a secret handshake, I guess.

The book in question was one of those old-school journals in purple leather, complete with golden ribbon attached. Rhett opened it and read through the first page, a slow smile taking over his face.

“Aunt Ruth, you’re not to be underestimated. So, she did know.”

I did a double take. “She did?!”

“She did. She knew but didn’t think I’d be open to hearing about my powers yet, and at the time she wrote this—holy hell, she wrote this when I was sixteen. She says here that she didn’t think I’d fully grown into my ability yet, so she was waiting until I was a proper adult to teach me. Awww. Dammit, she had no idea she wouldn’t have a chance.”

His voice choked a little, grief making the words rough.

Anyone who looked at Rhett when he spoke of his great-aunt knew in a glance how much he loved her. The fact she’d left everything to him also said a lot. I couldn’t let that sad face go, so I came in closer to put an arm around his waist, giving him some much-needed comfort. Rhett immediately leaned against me with a soft sigh.

From this angle, I could clearly see the book, and I also observed something else. My mother’s name and phone number were in purple glitter ink and shaky cursive, with several emphatic arrows pointing to it. It had clearly been written down at a later time, as it was a more vibrant ink compared to the other words written in black.

“Mom. She wrote your contact info down.”

In a second flat, Mom stepped around to read over Rhett’s shoulder. She looked misty eyed but also delighted, like it was the best compliment in the world.

“I told you, didn’t I? She knew we’d rally around you and take care of you. Rhett, I highly encourage you to read this book.”

“Oh, I will. Trust me, I will.” He closed the book, hugging it to his chest. “But not right this second. Let’s talk to ghosts first.”

“Agreed. There’s really far too many.”

Lips pursed, Mom turned and oriented herself to the nearest ghost at her elbow. “You, sir, what’s your name? Sebastian. Lovely to meet you, I’m Loretta. Oh? Sure, I’ll tell him. Rhett, they do all apologize for startling you. They thought you knew coming in what your aunt was doing.”

“Apology accepted, but what was she doing?”

Also my question.

“Helping ghosts pass on.” Mom had her intent face—the one she wore when channeling her medium abilities and listening hard. “Huh. All right, so once a week she’d get together with Chelsea, and they’d do a massive passing ritual. The ghosts have spread the word amongst themselves to come here if they’re having trouble passing on, so they’ve been collecting all this time. Sebastian, when was the last time you saw Chelsea? Oh, three months ago? Oh my, I wonder if she’s just been passing ghosts on her own.”

Likely. Chelsea was an A-type. She wouldn’t let any task sit.

“What is this, ghost-to-ghost networking?” Rhett muttered.

I snorted a laugh. “Instead of Grindr it’s Hauntr.”

Rhett laughed outright and my mother rolled her eyes.

“You’re not helpful,” Mom informed me.

“Excuse you, that is not my task in life. I am to be cute and entertaining.”

She sighed again—the sigh of a woman who wondered if she was at fault for giving birth to me. I got this sigh a lot. I was immune to it.

Rhett batted those pretty eyes at me and quietly said, “You’re very cute, so good job.”

I couldn’t resist his look. I leaned in to graze a kiss over his mouth. Even such a simple brush of lips on lips was electrifying to me. A thrill like none other. Above his mouth, I murmured, “Why thank you.”

Mom ahem ed. “Boys. Not now. You can fuck each other senseless later.”

Rhett winked at me and then focused. “All right, so who’s Chelsea?”

“She was your aunt’s last apprentice. Chelsea’s a very, very gifted medium and witch but also a Reiki master. People constantly come to her for house hunting, bad attachments, and whatnot, as she can cut the cords and then pass the spirit on.”

“Ho. So she’s like a ghost buster on steroids?”

“Pretty much. I can see why she and Ruth would team up to help ghosts pass on. Their talents combined would be the perfect combination.” Mom turned—a ghost clearly saying something to her—and listened hard for a second. “Ah. Almost everyone here wishes to pass on, or so they’re saying. Rhett, how about I give Chelsea a call? She’ll surely know more about all of this anyway.”

“I think that sounds great.”

“Okay.”

Mom whipped her phone out and started calling.

I took a moment to whisper, “Are you good with continuing this? Letting ghosts stay here and passing them on, I mean.”

“Yeah.”

I blinked, surprised there was no hesitation in him. No reservations. I certainly would have had to sit and think about it.

A sweet smile tilted his mouth up. “Because it’s too sad. Dying and not knowing how to move past this world, having to depend on the kindness of strangers, it’s too sad. How could I sleep at night knowing I could help them but chose not to because it’s not convenient? My Aunt Ruth would come out of her grave to smack me if I even considered not doing it.”

He was likely right in that regard.

“So I’m all for it, really. I want to open the house back up for witch parties, so why not?”

Considering how eager he was to learn of his abilities, this made sense, too. Also, witch parties sounded absolutely magical in many ways. I must make sure I was invited to these. If Aunt Ruth had known how open he was to magic, she might not have delayed like she had.

The phone call was finally picked up.

“ Loretta ! Wow, long time no speak. What’s up ?”

“Well, I’m standing in Ruth’s house. That’s been inherited by her technomage nephew. And is also overrun with ghosts. Ghosts waiting to be ushered off to the other side. That ring any bells?”

Instead of an apology, there was a squeal of delight.

“ Rhett’s here ? Yay ! I’m inviting myself to this party. I’ll be there in ten minutes .”

Call ended.

Rhett stared at the phone with bewilderment. “Is there anyone in this town who doesn’t know me or my aunt?”

Mom beamed at him. “Nope!”

I knew she was mostly kidding, but in this moment, it didn’t actually sound like a joke.

Well. I wondered what madness Chelsea would bring with her. I guess I was about to find out.