Savannah not knowing what was going on here tonight. I was trying to be patient but when she finally turned away from Bettina I cleared my throat and waved to the humanly-ghost. “Hi, I’m Savannah—”
“Grace, I know.” She smiled and hugged me. “You probably don’t remember me, but I’m Cassandra George. I was the Hierophant before Bentley and I used to—”
“OHHH!” Suddenly it clicked and I wanted to smack myself. “I’m sorry!”
“Don’t be, it’s been a long time since we saw each other.” She leaned toward me and pretend-whispered. “Fun fact, we died the same way.”
I gasped and my eyes widened. I pressed my palm to my stomach. “Really?”
“YUP! Hurts like a motherfucker, don’t it?” She giggled. “Though I will say a kraken tentacle makes for a much cooler story than I just didn’t see the little prick.”
I snorted. “How’d you know I died?”
“Oh, it’s a complicated story. But I also saw Riah bring you back. Gotta say that would have been a nifty trick for me back in July.”
I frowned. “Wait, you know Riah?”
“Of course, Riah and I were friends for years. Used to see him at the park all the time. Saffie and I used to hang out with him – of course, he was always Jonathan, but I digress—”
“OH COME ON YOU KNEW?”
Cassandra grimaced. “I promise that keeping the secrets is not as fun as it sounds—"
“Wait a second.” I threw my hands up. “Saffie called you Dr. Troy. But Tegan and Bettina called you Miss Sibel. What the hell is your real name and why were you in Salem?”
“Miss Sibel was my alias so I could teach Tegan and Bettina magic without their parents knowing because I thought locking up her magic was the stupidest idea we’d ever had.” She winked at Tegan. “But yes, I was Dr. Rachel Troy as well.”
Tegan frowned. “Why Rachel Troy? I know it’s not random but I can’t guess it just yet.”
She blushed. “Well, Rachel for Rachel Elizabeth Dare the psychic in the Percy Jackson books – because well…I was psychic. And then Troy because Cassandra was the prophetess of Troy—”
“OH MY GOD!” Tegan groaned and smacked her head. “I’M SUCH AN IDIOT.”
“Cassandra?”
Everyone froze at the sound of Tenn’s gravelly voice.
She turned. “Yes?”
“Why were you in Salem?”
She frowned. “As if I wasn’t going to follow Saffie there and leave everything up to Thorne—”
“You sent me to the hot tub,” Saffie hissed.
Cassandra giggled. “You’re welcome. If not for me, neither of you would know you’re soulmates and trust me…that’s important.”
Saffie opened her mouth then closed it.
“Excuse me?” I raised my hand. “Not to change subject or sound rude or whatever but…um…why does this ghost look different?”
Saffie frowned. “Because she’s not a ghost.”
“WHAT?” I hollered. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN?”
Saffie shrugged. “She’s not dead.”
“WHAT?” Everyone shouted.
“What do you mean you’re not dead?” Tenn growled. “You died in my arms. We had a ceremony—"
“I know. I did die, I’m just no longer technically dead. Nor am I technically alive.” Cassandra bit her lip and held her hands up. “It’s a long story, I believe I’m what you’d call a phantom?”
Everyone shouted over each other so I didn’t hear a word.
“Cassandra,” Tennessee yelled and his face flushed. Then he composed himself, though I saw the glisten in his eyes. “What is going on?”
She closed her eyes and sighed. Then shook her head. When she looked back at him she had her own unshed tears. “My story is complicated. Much like yours and Hope’s, there’s a process for all of it. I would love nothing more than to sit here and tell you everything but I can’t. And you know me well enough to know I don’t hold back lightly.”
He hung his head. “So is there anything you can tell us?”
“That we need to act fast to save our friends before it’s too late.” She turned to Saffie with sad eyes. “I knew my return would cause a distraction but I’m here to help in any way I can now. The rules of the dead don’t apply to me the same way, so I may stay. Once we get them back we will talk about me. Okay?”
Everyone nodded.
“Because you read Althea’s note.” Tegan smirked. “I know you did. I would have.”
Cassandra chuckled. “I did. I read it…but it wasn’t full instructions. Althea thought they were, but they weren’t.”
“Why aren’t they?”
“Because we don’t know where the Seelie Realm is.” She frowned. “It’s a headache of a concept to grasp but the realms are not stuck in place.