Lili’s legs. Why do you wear men’s breeches?
Lili felt sick to her stomach for more than one reason. She had a feeling the little girl had been frightened so badly she died. But why would a bird steal her? Not to mention how she ended up here. And her question about the witch’s clothing meant she wasn’t used to seeing a woman in pants.
Her need to make things right reared up big-time. She carefully studied the little girl’s gown and realized what she first thought was a nightgown was actually a dress that was almost two centuries old. Frayed and patched, but even in death, the fabric appeared clean. The girl kept a tight hold on her teddy bear.
“Amy, do you know what year you were born?” She spoke slowly, making sure to keep any sign of worry from her voice.
Her head bobbed up and down. I was born in 1842.
Lili felt cramps begin deep in her body. Jared was right. The little girl was a mundane who didn’t belong here. She could hear a soft drawl to the girl’s voice that resonated inside her head. “Do you know where you were born?”
Natchez. Mommy said she was a Sutton, but her mommy and daddy didn’t like me. A tear slowly rolled down her cheek.
Lili heard footsteps coming and quickly straightened up. “I’ll be back,” she promised in a low voice. “Don’t worry, no one can hurt you. I’m going to find a way to take you somewhere else.”
Amy’s hopeful expression tore at her heart. To my mommy?
Lili nodded. “To your mommy.” She had no doubt the little girl’s mother was on a death plane. It was just a question of finding where she was so mother and daughter could be reunited.
“I have to go now, but I will be back soon and I’m going to find a way to get you away from here,” she promised, hoping it was a vow she could keep.
They’re mean down here. They want to hurt me.
“Not all of them,” Lili soothed. “Do you know who Jared is?” She waited for the tiny ghost to nod. She easily read the fear on Amy’s face. It seemed the little spirit only knew what she overheard Dr. Mortimer and the ogres saying. “Don’t worry, he won’t hurt you. If you feel frightened, I want you to go to Jared. I bet you could even slip into his room and I know he’ll protect you.”
She knew her suggestion would irritate the grumpy demon, but too bad. Jared might not appreciate having company, but deep down, she was confident he’d make sure Amy wouldn’t be afraid of anyone or anything. Plus, she felt it would be a good thing for him.
After swearing to the tiny wraith she’d be back, Lili went upstairs to her office.
“That smelly dragon was in here,” Cleo announced when she stepped inside. “She wasn’t happy you weren’t here and even more unhappy that I was.” The cat uncoiled her fluffy body from her silk pillow and stretched, making sure her claws dug into the sofa and not her beloved bed.
Lili winced at the snags on the fabric. Cleo knew just how to exact punishment when she was in a snit. She also didn’t miss the hint of sulfur dragons tended to leave in their wake. She hadn’t met one yet that exuded Calvin Klein or DKNY.
“Did she leave a note?” She noticed her desk surface was as pristine as it had been when she left it.
Cleo opened her mouth wide and perfectly mimicked the Director of Nursing’s harsh voice. “Please have Dr. Carter report to my office at two o’clock sharp. I do not tolerate tardiness.”
“Who needs a parrot when I have you,” she muttered, digging in her tote bag for a protein bar. She considered them on a level with cardboard, but she didn’t feel like going down to the cafeteria to pick up something or conjuring something up.
I should have witched something up for myself when I did his.
Cleo lifted her head even higher, her nose twitching madly. She started coughing as if she was ready to hack up a hair ball. “You smell like demon.” She paused. “And wraith. What in the name of Anubis is down there that causes so many
Lili felt sick to her stomach for more than one reason. She had a feeling the little girl had been frightened so badly she died. But why would a bird steal her? Not to mention how she ended up here. And her question about the witch’s clothing meant she wasn’t used to seeing a woman in pants.
Her need to make things right reared up big-time. She carefully studied the little girl’s gown and realized what she first thought was a nightgown was actually a dress that was almost two centuries old. Frayed and patched, but even in death, the fabric appeared clean. The girl kept a tight hold on her teddy bear.
“Amy, do you know what year you were born?” She spoke slowly, making sure to keep any sign of worry from her voice.
Her head bobbed up and down. I was born in 1842.
Lili felt cramps begin deep in her body. Jared was right. The little girl was a mundane who didn’t belong here. She could hear a soft drawl to the girl’s voice that resonated inside her head. “Do you know where you were born?”
Natchez. Mommy said she was a Sutton, but her mommy and daddy didn’t like me. A tear slowly rolled down her cheek.
Lili heard footsteps coming and quickly straightened up. “I’ll be back,” she promised in a low voice. “Don’t worry, no one can hurt you. I’m going to find a way to take you somewhere else.”
Amy’s hopeful expression tore at her heart. To my mommy?
Lili nodded. “To your mommy.” She had no doubt the little girl’s mother was on a death plane. It was just a question of finding where she was so mother and daughter could be reunited.
“I have to go now, but I will be back soon and I’m going to find a way to get you away from here,” she promised, hoping it was a vow she could keep.
They’re mean down here. They want to hurt me.
“Not all of them,” Lili soothed. “Do you know who Jared is?” She waited for the tiny ghost to nod. She easily read the fear on Amy’s face. It seemed the little spirit only knew what she overheard Dr. Mortimer and the ogres saying. “Don’t worry, he won’t hurt you. If you feel frightened, I want you to go to Jared. I bet you could even slip into his room and I know he’ll protect you.”
She knew her suggestion would irritate the grumpy demon, but too bad. Jared might not appreciate having company, but deep down, she was confident he’d make sure Amy wouldn’t be afraid of anyone or anything. Plus, she felt it would be a good thing for him.
After swearing to the tiny wraith she’d be back, Lili went upstairs to her office.
“That smelly dragon was in here,” Cleo announced when she stepped inside. “She wasn’t happy you weren’t here and even more unhappy that I was.” The cat uncoiled her fluffy body from her silk pillow and stretched, making sure her claws dug into the sofa and not her beloved bed.
Lili winced at the snags on the fabric. Cleo knew just how to exact punishment when she was in a snit. She also didn’t miss the hint of sulfur dragons tended to leave in their wake. She hadn’t met one yet that exuded Calvin Klein or DKNY.
“Did she leave a note?” She noticed her desk surface was as pristine as it had been when she left it.
Cleo opened her mouth wide and perfectly mimicked the Director of Nursing’s harsh voice. “Please have Dr. Carter report to my office at two o’clock sharp. I do not tolerate tardiness.”
“Who needs a parrot when I have you,” she muttered, digging in her tote bag for a protein bar. She considered them on a level with cardboard, but she didn’t feel like going down to the cafeteria to pick up something or conjuring something up.
I should have witched something up for myself when I did his.
Cleo lifted her head even higher, her nose twitching madly. She started coughing as if she was ready to hack up a hair ball. “You smell like demon.” She paused. “And wraith. What in the name of Anubis is down there that causes so many
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