us went back to the dorm.
“Oh, crap!” I exclaimed, nearly at the cemetery’s entrance as Gilda slid along beside me. “I left my bag back in the cemetery.”
“No problem,” Jupiter said. “Let’s just swing back and get it.”
“No, that’s all right.” I waved her off. “You guys go ahead. I know right where I left it. I’ll just grab it and catch up with you at the dorm.”
“If you’re sure,” Kevin said hopefully. “I’ve got three episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race burning a hole in my DVR.”
“Ooh, I’m in,” Jupiter said. Then to me, “We’ll catch you when you get back.”
“Sounds like a plan.” I saluted them both, wished them luck on their TV binging, and slogged back to the misty pentagram, Gilda right beside me. One thing I could say about the enormous snake was that she definitely made me feel safe.
My bag leaned limply against one of the tombstones. A few down from where the dome had been.
Weird, I thought. I don’t remember dropping it there.
I shrugged and approached the grave. Pulled the bag up by the strap, rustling the old roses in front of the grave. I heard a slight whispering sound but didn’t let it stop me. Instead, I turned around, figuring whatever the sound was, it was none of my business. I took a step back the way I came, closing the latch on my ratty old messenger bag.
And then I felt a swoosh of air against my face.
My head snapped up.
A ghost appeared in the space in front of me. A long beautiful face, sad, empty eyes, and three feet of transparent hair spread out in weightless tendrils behind her.
I gasped and dropped my bag. It fell against my shoes with a muted thud.
“Who... who are you?” I asked.
“A friend, a foe, it matters not. My soul cannot be sold or bought.”
Her voice slid over me like oil on water. Gooseflesh broke out fresh against my skin. I took a step away.
“I serve the fates and speak their will... I will not harm, nor shall I kill.”
“What the hell…” I backed away from the rhyming specter until I bumped into a tombstone that was covered in dead roses, all made from cement.
I read the headstone: Marigold Emberlynn, 1670-1713, Prophet to the Carnegies, Seer of all.
“You’re a prophet.” I looked back to her empty eyes, unsure of the words. Not everyone who called themselves a “prophet” actually had the sight. The magical world had its scammers just like the mortal one. It was possible she was just roaming the cemetery, rattling off rhymes to pass the time. Maybe I had nothing to fear.
But I had to know for sure. I started to ask, “Do you have something to…”
“Life and pain are one and the same, for the first daughter born of the Balfour name.”
My blood ran cold.
“Wh... what?”
“A danger lurks beyond these walls; and Emma Balfour... you’re doomed to fall.”
“I don’t understand...”
“A danger worse than all you’ve known... they’ll strike you down when you’re alone.”
“What are you talking about?”
“They’ll come for you when you expect it least…” The ghost floated closer. “Heed my warning, young beauty... or be lost to the beast…” She evaporated, losing her form into the mist.
I sprinted out of the cemetery with my heart in my throat. Gilda slithered quickly after me. No matter how hard I pumped my legs, I couldn’t get out of the cemetery fast enough. My phone rang. I pulled it out and answered without checking who it was.
“Hello?” I panted.
“Hey,” Rowan’s voice crackled over the phone’s poor connection. I didn’t respond right away. I was too busy trying to get the hell out of dodge.
“Emma?” she asked. “What’s wrong with you? You sound crazy out of breath.”
“I just…” I caught my breath, the ghost’s words ringing in my head. “I just decided to go for a jog…”
“A jog?” Rowan sounded dubious. “You don’t jog. You barely even walk. You once said standing was a poor man’s sitting.”
“Changed my mind,” I said quickly. “You know, I want to get that summer beach body and all that jazz.”
“Whatever.” I could practically hear her rolling her eyes. “Anything new besides the jogging?”
My pulse still raced. Cold sweat coated my skin. I shook a bit, and Gilda curled protectively around my legs, keeping me grounded.
“Um… no.” My voice shook. I swallowed hard. The ghost had terrified me. I suddenly felt like I had a dirty little secret, like I was a harbinger of doom, bringing bad omens and horrid prophecies