Chapter 3 #2
Sven took her on a tour of the guest bedrooms. Out of the corner of her eye, she would catch glimpses of various ghosts who were lingering in the house, but they mostly just kept to themselves and allowed her to work.
She did get the feeling that the green-eyed spirit was watching her from a safe distance.
Which was fine by her, because the energy coming off it wasn’t particularly welcoming. It was a bit possessive, and unlike any traditional ghost she’d encountered before.
After a tour of the rooms, Mercedes got to work stripping the beds.
She bundled all the linen in the king-sized fitted sheet, tied up the bundle and hefted it over her shoulder.
Thankfully, the old funeral home had an elevator that used to be a coffin lift.
She climbed on and took the elevator down to the basement.
As soon as she got off, she could make out an apartment at one end and then saw the laundry machines in a brightly lit room with an old sign above it that said “embalming room.”
A shudder raced down her spine.
Don’t think about it.
She’d grown up around a lot of sketchy witches and wizards in her lifetime. Mercedes was fully aware of the blood magic that the more unscrupulous members of her family dabbled in. She didn’t exactly like dealing with all that stuff and often fainted at the sight of blood and bones.
Another shiver ran down her spine and she shook those thoughts away. Cleaning, now that was something she really liked to do.
“You’re less sea witch and more hearth witch,” her mother accused. “And you’re not even good at that. How you can cause so many explosions is beyond me. Where did I go wrong?”
“Mother, not all sea witches are inherently blackhearted,” Mercedes snapped back.
Her mother glared at her. “You’re the spitting image of Yrsa. Such a disappointment. And cavorting with monsters is just icing on the cake. You know what you should be doing about your female glashtyn friend… you know how valuable a unicorn’s blood and horn are?”
Mercedes stomach turned. “So you want me to murder an innocent?”
“No, it’s a monster. Not a human.”
“I don’t think you are either, to be frank.”
That had been the last straw for her and her family.
Of course, since the great revelation, there were a lot of laws protecting monsters.
Before that, well, she didn’t even want to think about it.
Her family were not good people and she was surprised to be thinking about them now. She rarely turned her mind to them.
What is it about this place that’s making me think all these horrible thoughts?
An icy shiver ran down her spine and she spun to see the green eyes of a very transparent figure watching her, angrily. Though the figure was transparent, she could just make out the blurry outline of a flapper dress. So she was a being from the twenties and one who seemed to manipulate emotions.
“Oh, you’re the reason I’m focusing on so much bad.” Mercedes shook her head and went through into the laundry room. “You know, bad thoughts can cause bad juju with a witch, and I have a feeling you wouldn’t want that for Sven.”
The green eyes widened and the ghost became more visible, though slightly. A beautiful young woman in the gold flapper dress. “How did…”
“Witch. Remember?” Mercedes shoved the sheets into the washing machine. “Although, I suppose you didn’t really discuss witchcraft at the dinner table during your lifetime.”
The ghost stuck up her nose haughtily. “I am well versed in the secrets of the occult.”
“Are you?” Mercedes asked. “Then why are you triggering all those thoughts in my head? I think you’re trying to drive me away and it has something to do with Sven.”
The flapper ghost pursed her lips and clasped her hands. “I do not know what you mean.”
“I’m not interested in Sven. So you don’t need to be jealous. I’m here to work and I want this place to be successful.”
The ghost relaxed a bit. “I see. I’m not either, just protective of him. I do not know why.”
“I hope you do see.” Mercedes dumped in the soap before starting the machine. “You know, you can talk to me any time you want…”
As she turned around, she realized her spy was gone.
“Figures. Ghosts.” She snorted and turned the machine on. As she made her way to leave, she wasn’t looking and ran smack dab into damp wall of big Viking ghoul.
Crap.
Also, why was he wet? She closed her eyes quickly and then slowly opened them. Her hands still firmly planted on his bare chest.
Magnus stood there, his red eyes wide in shock, a towel from the laundry basket in his hand. He was soaking wet and completely naked…with her pressed tight against him.
Double crap.
“Sorry,” she mumbled.
“I…” He sputtered and then stepped away, as if she were poison. “What’re you doing down here?”
“Working,” she replied, trying hard not to look at his rippling muscles under that white ghoulish skin, the way his long hair fell down over his shoulders, or how large his cock actually was, because she could see it. He hadn’t covered up.
Heat bloomed in her cheeks and she hoped she wasn’t blushing.
It wasn’t like she was some innocent virgin or anything, but she didn’t want to be looking at the naked body of a guy who got on her nerves, who was technically one of her bosses and a guy who’d made it clear they weren’t going to friends, but enemies.
“Working?” Magnus asked.
Mercedes huffed impatiently. “Look, dude. Cover up. I really don’t need to be looking at your junk. I’m an employee.”