2
Corbin
We managed to take a complete tour of the ship with Dexter and Toby, attend a set sail party, which basically just consisted of tons of people standing really close together and cheering when we pulled away from port, and we ate dinner at the sit-down dining room on the ship. It was delicious, with multiple courses, and they even brought Dexter and I two entrees each, prompting Dexter to state that this cruise was the best idea ever. We’d all just rolled our eyes at that.
We’d then gone to bingo, which had been strangely amusing, and watched a dance party on the main deck. Dexter and I had convinced Toby and Sebbie to go out and dance, because we knew those two would love it. They’d agreed, and they were having the time of their lives on the dance floor. They’d befriended a group of middle-aged women, and they were all dancing and laughing together.
Dexter sighed happily. “How did we get so lucky?” he asked.
I shrugged my shoulders. I wasn’t sure, but I wasn’t going to question fate. She had served me well, and I was thankful for that.
When a slower song started, I saw Sebbie look in my direction, and I grabbed Dexter’s hand. “Come on, Dexter. Time to dance with our mates.”
So we did. It felt heavenly to hold Sebbie close in my arms and sway to the music, and his soft sighs and little pats on my chest let me know he felt the same way. When faster music picked up again, Dexter and I stayed and attempted to dance with our mates. I’m not sure we quite got the job done, but everyone laughed and had fun in the process.
It was after midnight when we decided we were done dancing. Dexter had perked up at the idea of a midnight buffet, so he and Toby were off to check that out. I could tell Sebbie was tired, though, and I would be happy to cuddle my mate for a bit in solitude.
We made our way back to our room, and we both went out and stood on the balcony for a few moments, where Crow was relaxing on the back of one of the chairs. The moon was bright and full, glittering in the night sky and reflecting in the ocean. The day had been hot, but there was a refreshing breeze from the ship’s movement. I tucked Sebbie into my arms, running my hands along his arms and his chest. When he leaned into me and felt my hardness, he moaned, turning around to face me.
“Let’s head inside,“
he murmured.
I couldn’t agree more. I opened the balcony door, led him inside, and closed it behind me. Crow only gave a little fluff of her feathers; I’d have to remember to let her in the room if she wanted later. For now, I was looking forward to pleasing my mate.
When I turned around, though, I stopped, because there were tarot cards on the floor. I had most definitely not left the deck out, but there it was, the cards scattered across the room’s carpet.
Of course, one card was face up.
“Crap,“
Sebbie muttered.
I was sure he didn’t know what the card meant, but it didn’t matter. If the tarot deck was acting up, then something was going on.
“It’s the four of cups. It usually signifies apathy or boredom, self-absorption and missed opportunities,“
I told Sebbie.
He didn’t even have time to reply before the world went very, very still. It was probably the eeriest feeling I’d ever experienced, and I never seemed to get used to it.
I looked over, and Sebbie was no longer in the khaki shorts and t-shirt he’d been wearing. Instead, he was in a pink cloak with a silver scythe in his hand.
“Well, poop,“
he grumbled.
I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me. Sebbie enjoyed being a ferryman and crossing souls into the afterlife. He was an extrovert and loved talking to everyone and hearing their stories. He was not so thrilled with his role as a grim reaper, since he genuinely didn’t want people to die.
“I suppose we need to go somewhere else on the ship?“
I asked him. After all, no one was in our room for him to reap.
He nodded his head, and we set off, Sebbie leading the way. I didn’t have much of a desire to turn into my hellhound form, so I figured at least the soul wasn’t really evil. Besides, I would have smelled the rot.
We walked halfway across the ship and up two floors—cruise ships were really like small towns—before we came to a stateroom door that Sebbie stopped at. He opened the door, because of course nothing was locked in this space, and we went inside.
I expected to see a dead body on the floor. What I did not expect was to see an older woman with white hair wearing a stylish purple pantsuit.
“Thank goodness you’re here, dear boys. Perhaps you can help me. I seem to have misplaced myself,“
the woman said.
Since she was essentially see through, and since there was no body anywhere in the vicinity, I thought that perhaps the woman was right. Sebbie turned and looked at me, then looked back at the woman, speechless for a moment.
There were two immediate problems with the entire situation. First of all, she should have been tethered to her body, but there was no body in sight. Second of all, she had clearly died, and I didn’t think she knew it. I was pretty sure Sebbie wasn’t supposed to deal with ghosts, and yet here we were, staring at one.
“Ummm…“
Sebbie hedged.
“You’re dead,“
I blurted out.
Fuck. But Sebbie clearly didn’t know what to say.
Much to our surprise, the woman rolled her eyes. “Of course I’m dead. That isn’t really the issue.”
“Then, ah, what is?“
Sebbie asked unsurely.
“The issue, my boy, is who murdered me,“
the woman said.