Ghost Academy 1: Summer Term, page 32
Tina jumped up from her chair, jaw open, and lower lip trembling.
Lotus reached over and grasped Tina’s hand, pulling her back down. “It’s alright. Nick’s here to help you talk with someone from your past.”
Emma’s voice started to flow out of Nick’s chest. “You look good, Beanie. Happy.”
The barista looked gobsmacked. “It…can’t be. Emma?”
“Your mochas are perfect—even better than the ones we used to get at Caffé D'arte. So, don’t let this philistine tell you any different. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a sweet guy, but he’s just a coffee hater.”
Nick’s fingers began wiggling and flexing like a pianist warming up before a performance.
I think I got it now.
The feeling came back. Now, Nick felt like he was holding someone’s hand, and they were pulling him in a specific direction.
He gave in and let Emma pull.
Nick picked up the mechanical pencil again, turned to a fresh page in the notebook, and Emma continued talking to a shocked Tina.
“There are millions of things I want to talk to you about, but I’ll stick with the story of your logo—your real logo.”
His hand spun the pencil on his forefinger. The point landed on the fresh page. With a flick of the wrist a perfect oval representing the top of the cup took shape.
“First, you wanted it to be an extra large latte cup to act as the background. The cup would immediately tell people that the logo was coffee, but the size and shape were important. Even when we were kids, you were so clever. You knew subconsciously, people would see the size and think they were getting a good deal. And the shape, well the latte cup is just iconic.”
Tears welled up in Tina’s eyes. She squeezed Lotus’s hand hard enough to cause her knuckles to whiten.
A few flicks of the wrist, and a beautiful cone of steam took shape above the cup. Two extra passes toward the bottom of the cone made the shape transform into a Halloween witch’s pointed hat.
“The steam was meant to tell the customers that your coffee was fresh and delicious. You wanted people to practically smell their next cup when they looked at the logo.” Emma paused, and Nick’s hand stopped moving. “Do you remember the wrath of the White Witch?”
Tina let out a laugh even as tears streamed down her face. “We shouldn’t have teased Beth so much.” She made a feeble attempt to wipe away the tears.
“You’re right, but you vowed to never be mean to another person after you saw how hurt Beth was. Then you promised her we’d use her hat as the inspiration for the steam in the logo, and she forgave us.”
Using Nick’s hand, Emma picked up the pencil again. In a flurry of strokes, clear characteristics of a cat took shape in the center of the coffee cup.
“Finally, we come to the star of the show…”
Both Emma and Tina spoke at the same time. “Azrael.”
Emma began giving the feline a hasty round of detailed shadowing. “Neither of our parents would let us keep her, but we’d take turns bringing her saucers of milk next to the slide in the park.”
Nick set the pencil down.
Tina let the tears flow freely and pulled an old piece of paper out of her pocket with shaking hands. She placed it on the table face down.
“Why isn’t Azrael on the cup? You swore you’d never open a cafe without including our little cuddle kitten.”
The older woman gulped and let go of Lotus’s hand. Tina looked between the two Mediums. “I don’t know how you guys are doing this, but leaving out the last part is fucking cruel.”
What did I do?
Nick felt Emma let go. It was as if she retreated further into him.
“You—you came in here, somehow knowing about my old friend and even dredging up a nickname I haven’t heard in over thirty years, but Emma knows. If there’s any part of Emma still out there, she definitely knows why I can’t use that logo.” Tina pointed an accusatory finger at Nick/Emma’s drawing.
Lotus laid a hand on Tina’s arm. The older woman tensed for a moment, but her shoulders dropped as she turned to embrace the raven-haired Medium.
Between the sobs, Tina elaborated. “We said so many nasty things to each other. We intentionally attacked each other’s weaknesses and fears. We were heartless. I was heartless.”
That’s not true! It was all me. I kept fucking up. Beanie just got tired of me showing up bruised and full of track marks.
Tell her. Maybe hearing you’re sorry will help.
I can’t.
Tina let go of Lotus. She picked up the old piece of paper and clutched it to her chest. “It’s so similar.”
“Can we see them side by side?” Nick asked, pushing the drawing toward the older woman.
Tina pulled the old paper away from her chest, sniffed, and folded a section back. Once the crease was made, she placed an old, weathered drawing next to Nick’s. With the exception of a big, sloppy circle around the cat, they were identical.
I know what my burden is. Please, Nick, you have to convince her to burn that old drawing.
Nick drew in a deep breath. “This might be hard to hear, but Emma says you need to burn that older version.”
“No! This is the last thing she gave me.” Tina held her trembling hand on top of the creased, unseen portion of the paper.
He gently placed a hand over Tina’s. “Please, this is important. Emma’s…sort of stuck right now. She thinks burning the old drawing will set her free.”
“I can’t. I’m so ashamed. This reminds me of what I did.” She bit her lip. “The horrible thing I said.”
“Show us. We’ll help you and Emma,” Nick coaxed, squeezing the top of Tina’s hand.
Tina sniffed and reluctantly unfolded the paper. “Emma was always the one who was more dramatic. She could draw the first two parts of the logo in her sleep, but I kept pestering her about Azrael.”
The revealed portion of the paper had five words in chaotic writing, “Fine, here’s the fucking cat.”
Emma surged forward and spoke rapidly. “Beanie, I was hurting. I tried to quit, and I wanted to lash out at you. Obviously, I would have included Azrael in the original drawing if I was thinking straight. You shouldn’t have needed to ask. That damn logo was all we talked about for three months.”
A sad smile touched Tina’s lips. “You promised to finally draw it if I agreed to visit that stupid Fremont Troll statue with you.” Her laughing stopped, and she suddenly sobered. “You didn’t give a shit about that statue. You just wanted to score.”
“You’re right. You’re absolutely right.”
Emma retreated back again.
Listen, Nick. Maybe I don’t deserve to have my burden lifted. I’m sorry, but I was a terrible friend.
Oh get over yourself. Can’t you see this is going to help Tina and you at the same time?
“Tina, you said you were ashamed. Why? It sounds like Emma was the one who deserved to feel guilty.”
The old barista tucked her chin into her chest and spoke into her lap. “Emma wasn’t perfect, but I’m no angel. When our argument ended, I shouted ‘I hope that next shot kills you.’” Tina’s voice broke. “She O.D.ed that night.”
Lotus threw her arms around Tina. “You didn’t mean it, and I’m sure Emma knew.”
She’s right, I knew Beanie didn’t mean it.
Nick let the moment settle before speaking. “This is going to be hard to believe, but you can save Emma from something even worse. All we need to do is burn that paper.”
“Really?” the barista asked with tears and hope in her eyes. “I can save her? I couldn’t get through to her back then, but I can now?”
“Yes. Please, take this,” Nick slid the new drawing closer to Tina, “and let me take this.” He held his hand above the old paper.
Something in Nick’s gut told him that Tina needed to be the one to make the next move. She needed to voluntarily unshackle herself and Emma from the negative bonds of their last argument.
Without warning, Tina snatched both pieces of paper off of the table and stood up. She moved to Nick’s side of the table and held the old paper out to Nick. “I’ll give this to you, but I want to hear it one last time. She needs to say the whole stupid nursery rhyme—not just Beanie.”
Emma came forward again. Love and friendship coated her words. “Teenie Beanie, you’re a weenie. Arms like noodles, you like doodles. Never leave me, little Beanie.”
Chapter 37
Dog Fight
Tina melted after hearing the silly verse. After finding a cheap lighter, she handed both it and the old scrap of paper over to Nick to burn. The old barista pulled Lotus in for a tight embrace as Nick walked outside to ignite the paper.
The crinkled sheet lit up the moment Nick touched a corner with the lighter’s flame.
My hourglass! It turned on its side. Nick, I can’t believe you helped me do this. Thank you! I’m sorry for putting you through so much shit, but thank you for not giving up on me.
It’s fine. I’m still new at this. We both got lucky that Lotus already knew Tina and lent us some credibility. Besides, you’re helping me, too.
You need to choose, Emma. Hurry.
I choose the Beyond.
Nick walked back inside, feeling lighter and more hopeful than he had in weeks. “She says it’s done.” He turned to Lotus. “What happens next? I haven’t learned about this part yet.”
“You’ll need to get home in an hour or so.”
She’s right. The Celestials are going to call Emma to the Beyond. If she’s still anchored to your body, it’ll be even worse than when she was pulled back to Limbo.
Can we stay and talk with Beanie a little while longer? I promise I’ll sever the anchor before the pathway to the Beyond is opened.
There was no way Nick was going to deny Emma this final chance to chat with her best friend.
Sure.
Emma moved forward again. “Beanie, I’m going to be leaving soon, but I have a favor. Can you tell me all about this place while there’s still time?”
Tina rushed over to Nick and pulled him in for a warm embrace. “Obviously.”
They moved back to the table. Lotus and Nick quietly listened as the two old friends reconnected for nearly an hour.
I’m sorry, Emma, but your time’s up. You’ve got to sever from Nick to avoid hurting him.
Emma’s voice sniffed in Nick’s head. You’re right. Thanks again, Nick.
Tina was in the middle of telling Emma about a group of especially unruly customers when she stopped and looked Nick in the eyes. “It’s time, isn’t it?”
He slowly nodded. “I’m sorry, but it is.”
They stood, and Tina wrapped both Mediums in a hug at the same time. “I’ll pester the two of you later, but I can’t thank you enough for this.” She let go and wiped at her eyes. “I’ve got plenty of cleaning up that needs to be done. See you tomorrow?”
“You bet,” Lotus said, patting the older woman’s arm.
The two Mediums walked out of Mocha Magic in silence and approached their cars.
“Lotus, I really app—”
Nick and Lotus both halted abruptly. The parking lot was hit by a blast of freezing air.
Heavy steps crunched through the overgrown bush and ferns in front of the trail to the college. A moment later, two Stalkers emerged from the path, their glowing eyes targeting the two Mediums.
Without realizing it, Nick stepped in front of Lotus.
“I can run and try to provide a distraction. Even without a ghost anchored to me, it still might work,” Lotus offered, not taking her eyes off of the monsters.
Two tiger-like heads honed in on Nick while the wolf-shaped ones seemed mildly interested in Lotus. The silver flames coating both monsters seemed to rise higher.
“No. Stay near the cars. When you get an opening, drive away.”
Lotus started to argue, but Nick stopped her with a hard look. “You’re completely defenseless without a ghost. I won’t let one of those creatures touch you.”
Nick took a few steps forward and quickly completed the necessary hand gesture for a shock spell, hoping it would go as smoothly as he’d practiced.
The moment his elbow met that telltale elastic pull, Nick knew he could do this.
“Come on, you ugly motherfuckers!”
Both Stalkers sprinted toward him.
Nick threw his hands forward, and a concentrated white ball with a tinge of pale blue flew out of his body with all the velocity of a supersonic jet.
His spell hit the Stalker on the right and obliterated it.
Thankfully, the spell lost most of its momentum after destroying the Stalker, and the trees behind the monster were only hit with a powerful blast of air.
Nick rolled half a second later, only narrowly avoiding the jaws of the second Stalker.
The raging monster’s momentum carried it into the parking lot. It slid in the gravel and came to a stop next to the purple siding of Mocha Magic. The Stalker spun around and issued a growl that raised the hairs on his neck.
Let me know when we reach the end of the cooldown.
Right.
Lotus was still standing outside of her car. This placed her between Nick and the remaining monster.
Nick had begun visualizing the memory he’d need for the Verglas Spikes spell before his shock even hit the first Stalker.
He ran to close the gap between him and Lotus while shoving his palm forward. Five pencil-length shards of ice flew out of his hand and buried themselves in the necks and heads of the remaining Stalker.
The monster yelped and staggered.
You still need two more minutes.
Crap. I think I’m going to get called to the Beyond before then.
It doesn't matter.
Nick stood in front of Lotus again, his chest heaving from the strain of using a massive amount of S.E. in a short period of time. Using magic in the mortal world drained more of his physical energy than using magic in Limbo.
“Why didn’t you leave?”
She shook her head, still tracking the Stalker. “I won’t abandon you.”
Nick steadied himself and fired another volley of Verglas Spikes into the now-standing Stalker’s legs.
The demon dog let out a howl of pain and dropped to the asphalt. However, the ice shards weren’t as sharp as his first batch. Some had pierced the flames covering the monster’s body, but others had thudded almost harmlessly against the monster’s mass. The Stalker was soon on its massive paws again, heading their way.
“That’s only going to delay your cooldown.”
Nick checked over his shoulder. Lotus remained calm, but her legs were poised to sprint at a moment’s notice.
The Stalker circled them like a predator ready to take down prey, its back toward Mocha Magic. It prepared to lunge.
He knew that only a shock spell could kill a Stalker, but if he could slow it down long enough for his cooldown period to pass, they might have a chance.
Nick concentrated harder on creating thin, sharpened pieces of ice, and launched a third round of Verglas Spikes that pierced the Stalker’s midsection.
The monster aborted its lunge, howling in pain. It was beginning to resemble a porcupine.
Nicky, she’s right. The ice magic is extending your cooldown period. You still have nearly two minutes.
How’s your S.E. doing?
I’m fine, Nicky. Don’t worry about me.
Okay. Last one. Let’s pour more into our next round of Verglas Spikes and pin it to a wall.
Thinking back to his first day of practice, Nick remembered the spikes—as long as javelins—that he’d created by accident.
He started the same way, by holding back. Once the normal amount of S.E. gathered and began forming five deadly icicles, Nick imagined himself gradually turning his flow of energy up.
The spikes of ice grew to the size of rulers, but they maintained their intense spinning. He cranked up the energy again.
Glowing eyes met his, and the Stalker sprinted forward to stop his next attack.
Ignore it, he commanded himself.
His spikes grew to the size of arrows.
They were half the size he was aiming for, but the Stalker was nearly on top of him.
Shoot them, Nicky!
Desperate to put just a little more S.E. into his spell, Nick fended the Stalker off with his left arm.
Searing pain rocketed through his forearm, and Jessica and Emma both screamed inside of him as the Stalker’s teeth grazed their blue forms. It leapt back, ready to lunge at him again.
He gritted his teeth against the pain, planted his back foot, and pushed the massive ice projectiles forward.
The Stalker was lifted off its feet and smashed into the building. All five Verglas Spikes held their shape and embedded themselves and the Stalker into the purple siding of Mocha Magic.
The beast violently struggled to free itself, but it only seemed to impale itself deeper onto the spikes.
Nick leaned forward and clutched his arm.
Lotus rushed to him but was interrupted by the door of the cafe flying open.
“Are you guys okay? Did something just hit my shop?” Tina scanned the parking lot with a bewildered look on her face.
Nick straightened and was preparing to explain himself when a white light brighter than the sun surrounded him.
Sever the anchor now! Nicky’s out of time. He can’t get you to the campus.
Wait. Is it safe?
I should be fine. There’s only a small chance that a Wraith will be waiting at this spot in Limbo in the few seconds between now and when—
Don’t sever the anchor!
But you’ve suffered enough.
This is nonnegotiable, Jessica. Emma. DO NOT sever the anchor.
Tina cautiously stepped closer, but Lotus intercepted her. “We better move.”
When Emma was pulled back to Limbo, Nick had experienced a gradual buildup to the soul-sucking pain—this was completely different.
It was as if an invisible junkyard scrap claw latched onto his sternum and pulled him off of the ground.
Pain rushed through his entire body in expanding ripples. His mind threatened to slip into unconsciousness as the pain sent his nerves into shock.
