Unfazed, Lohrna took a bite of her food and talked from the side of her mouth. “You know, Sella, I think you’re right. This whole thing seems much more mysterious than it appears. Let’s hope it gets easier to untangle all these ropes.”

  “Let’s hope.” Sella looked to Cali.

  “I’ll fill you in later!” Cali called loudly over the din of the crowd, a voice like a little wind chime in a storm that only she could hear.

  NINETEEN

  Dead End

  That evening, the four gathered in Sella’s upstairs and sat around the table, lit by glowing fires that surrounded them from all angles so that no dark shadows lingered despite the complete darkness of the night outside.

  Sella served them a soothing herbal nighttime tea that smelled of sweet lemon and cut grass. She set a tray of golden, flaky biscuits at the table. Gentle steam still rose from their middle when Lohrna ripped one in half.

  Cali eyed them enviously, but Lohrna bit straight into hers and made an inconsiderate amount of joyful sounds as she chewed. Beejee licked butter off his, and beside him, Koukie was busy snacking on the cut chicken liver that Sella had placed there for them.

  Cali leaned forward and smelled the tea that Sella set in front of her, mostly for her to experience being part of the group, but also for her to try to get some of the calming remedy through the steam. She seemed to be feeling more at ease as she inhaled deeply. Sella noticed her shoulders loosen and her jaw unclench. At last, Cali’s posture lifted her whole body as she took another long, deep breath. She looked around the table and waited for Sella to sit before she broke the silence, finally. “So, I didn’t really learn anything all that interesting. Except, apparently, there’s some sort of incident with you? It seems like we’re still at a dead end, huh?”

  Sella grimaced at the mention of The Incident but ignored that part of Cali’s observations. “Unfortunately, we didn’t learn much today, except that the whole town is processing things a little differently… and Hazen’s pretty heated about it.”

  “You didn’t laugh,” Cali grumbled. She sunk into her chair.

  Sella’s brows furrowed. “Laugh?”

  “Laugh at what?” Lohrna asked, scooting her chair in closer to look around the table.

  “‘Dead end?’ I’m dead? Come on.” Cali leaned across the table with open arms. “Get it?”

  Sella’s laugh was harsh, a forced sound. She held her forehead with both palms pressing into her eyes. “Cali made a ‘dead’ pun,” she explained at last.

  “Ah,” Lohrna chuckled lightly. “Good thing you still have your sense of humor, Cal.”

  “It’s Cal now?” Sella asked.

  “What? I think we’re good enough buddies that I can nickname her nickname…” Lohrna shrugged. “Right?” She looked at the empty space where Cali sat.

  Cali laughed. “I like it. It’s stronger sounding than ‘Cali’, but not as strong as ‘Calisyali.’ Maybe that should be my new name in death? New life, new name?”

  “Up to you,” Sella said to the ghost. To Lohrna, she added, “She likes it.”

  “Knew she would,” Lohrna said, but her tone was a smug victory that revealed to Sella that she had been more nervous about it than she let on.

  Beejee nudged his plate across the table, creating a clanking, scraping sound that silenced the group. When he looked up at them, he said, “Back to the business of the murdering murderer with murder on their mind still quite possibly running amok about to murder in our village.”

  Lohrna’s brows rose. She slid his biscuit closer to him as if more butter would solve his bad mood.

  “Right.” Cali nodded. She took another deep breath, exhaling loudly before continuing. “I was thinking, we should go back to the forest tomorrow. We have an idea that someone’s been there; it may be Rorin. I think we can find out more as to why he’s here. Even if I think he didn’t do it.”

  Lohrna rested her chin in one hand. She gave Koukie a quick scratch behind her ear. “I feel like we are in a forest, wandering about without ever looking back. We have no answers and all the trees look the same.” She lifted herself higher and sipped her tea carefully. She looked up at the ceiling, and Sella followed her gaze, cringing at the small spiderweb she spotted among one of the low rafters. Lohrna went on, but her eyes were fixed on the web. “So we have Nicte and Dimas out and about… but even though we don’t exactly buy the amicable ending, it seems unlikely they did it, according to Cal. But, they’re each other’s alibi… and they seemed pretty keen on leaving town soon. Then there’s this Rorin business. Why is he here?”

  “It is usually someone close to the victim that does the killing,” Sella agreed.

  “Hey now! ‘Victim’ seems harsh,” Cali cut in.

  “Sorry.” Sella pushed the tea closer to Cali so she could sink back into the steam. “You’re right. But, to be frank, it usually is the partner or ex-partner. Especially if they’re in town when it’s not expected. You have to admit, it doesn’t look good.”

  “I just don’t think he’s clever enough to make Cresablatt, let alone have the follow-through to see it done, then sneak off.” Cali shrugged.

  Lohrna raised a brow. Her eyes shifted from Sella to the empty seat. “What’s she saying?”

  “She doesn’t think he’s got it in him. Not smart enough,” Sella summarized.

  Lohrna laughed. “Yeah, we should focus our search on women. They’re the real brains of the operations!”

  Sella rolled her eyes, but felt herself smile nonetheless. “I feel like it has to be an out-of-towner,” she agreed, in part. “Let’s hope Benka’s feeling similarly. I don’t love the idea of this all being left up to us.”

  “I kind of love it.” Lohrna bit into another biscuit. She spoke from the corner of her mouth. “Plus, I think you’re shaping up to be quite the detective!”

  But she didn’t feel like she’d accomplished anything at all so far. If anything, it felt as though she made matters worse with every decision.

  Lohrna went on, “It makes sense for it to be someone we don’t know. No offense, Cali….”

  In her seat, Cali leaned in, waiting for the rest.

  “We just haven’t had something like this happen… like ever. And then all of the sudden, three people from your past are here? Seems like more than a coincidence.”

  “We’ll check for signs of Rorin tomorrow,” Cali agreed. “I don’t know. I don’t see it. Maybe Nicte. He and I always squabbled about stupid things. And he’s clever. Really clever. But Rorin?” She sighed again. “I’ll keep an open mind.”

  Sella looked back at the little silver web. “Let’s hope we have a little more time to keep working on this…”

  But it felt like cold saltwater was rising around her. She kept kicking, trying to stay afloat, but her legs were getting tired.

  TWENTY

  Scones by the Creek

  In the pale morning light, Sella watched as Cali carefully stepped over ferns and branches on their way through the mossy woods. She wasn’t sure if Cali was simply used to stepping around and over things, or if she was physical enough for it to matter. Either way, watching her be careful to not disturb the foliage around her, and to be cautious in her movements, made Sella feel a warmth within her. It was endearing that a habit carried on from her life was one of being considerate of plants, even when she didn’t need to be.

  Sella shook her head. She also had to remember that this was the same ghost that bullied and haunted her into helping her. Still, she smiled when Cali looked up at her after skipping over a small ring of mushrooms.

  “What do you think will happen after we catch who did this?” Cali asked.

  Sella paused midstep. She felt her jaw twitch at the sudden question. She was unsure of how to answer. “What do you mean?” she asked.

  Cali looked deep into the thick branches. Her voice was nearly a whisper. “What do you think will happen to me? When I find peace or whatever. When I move on…? What’s next?”

  Sella shrugged but tried to keep her expression warm. She leaned closer. “Sorry, but… that I don’t know. Witches don’t have special knowledge of the afterlife, unfortunately. I know tradition says we are reborn with our familiars in each lifetime. But… since my mother’s death, I haven’t seen any sign of that being true…” She paused, realizing as she spoke that the pain of her mother’s death was still a thorn in her heart. There was no time for that. She buried it again. “I wish I could be more helpful.”

  Cali let out a bigger huff this time. “When you banish ghosts, you don’t know where they go?”

  “The afterlife, I assume.” Sella continued her journey. She was a few paces ahead of Cali now, and though she heard no movement behind her, she felt her presence coming closer. “Are you nervous about it? The afterlife?”

  Behind her, Cali scoffed.

  “It’s alright to be scared.” Sella didn’t turn to face her. Cali was finally being vulnerable, at least partially. She couldn’t look her in the eyes while she did. It would be too hard. For her, for Cali. For them both.

  “I’m not scared,” Cali asserted, but her voice cracked. “Just curious.”

  Sella kept walking. “I understand.” Though she knew she couldn’t possibly understand, and hopefully wouldn’t, for a very long time. “Sorry, Cali. I wish I had more answers for you,” she added, hopeful it would help Cali to simply know she tried, cared, wanted to understand.

  At last, Sella looked back. Cali’s usual cheerful demeanor was gone. The ghost was fixated on the circle of mushrooms with a furrowed brow. She kicked at one gently. It did not move. Her face scrunched.

  “You sure you’re okay?” Sella asked, knowing she would probably lie in her answer.

  Cali was already smiling. “Of course! Let’s keep going. I think I hear water…. Rorin would probably be holed up around there.”

  Sella watched her carefully. A lie and a quick diversion. That seemed to be Cali’s way of coping with things. Deflect until she couldn’t anymore. Sella kept her eyes on Cali, watching her smile stay fixed to her cheeks but the corners of her eyes were like stone. “Cali...?” She reached a hand out, but Cali withdrew, her fake smile still etched on her face.

  “Yes?”

  Sella’s hand fell to her side. She sighed.

  Neither of them moved or spoke for a long moment. They held each other’s gaze, one with a smile, the other a frown. This was going nowhere. Sella knew she wouldn’t win against Cali’s stubbornness.

  “There is a creek up ahead,” Sella broke their standoff. She squinted through the trees but could see no sign of anything moving. She changed the subject, hoping if she lightened the mood again, Cali would keep opening up slowly. “We used to play at the creek all the time when Lohrna and I were kids.”

  “I wish I had a creek to play in as a kid. Tell me some stories?”

  “One time, Lohrna thought she was going to drown. She jumped in with pockets full of rocks and sank to the bottom…” Sella laughed. “She was thrashing and splashing about wildly. But then she stood and it was only shoulder deep.”

  “That sounds like her. She’s funny like that.”

  “She doesn’t always think ahead,” Sella agreed. “But she’s got a good heart. I wish she could be her true self to people here, though. I think that’s why she puts on such a silly facade…”

  “It’s not fair that no one here knows she’s a shifter, what she’s going through… Why hasn’t she taken a suppressant? You can make them, can’t you?” Cali asked. There was no unkindness in her voice, only concern.

  Sella kept walking. She turned over her shoulder. “Yes. She hasn’t ever taken me up on it, though. I don’t know why…” She trailed off, then changed the topic again before Cali could say anything. She didn’t want to talk about Lohrna’s condition. Or how it was her fault she got that way. As they neared the creek, Sella said, “My mother and I used to come here to get fresh water for our recipes.”

  “Was she a kitchen witch too?” Cali rolled with the quick change. Sella was grateful it worked.

  “She was much more eclectic. She practiced a lot of different forms. That’s a lot more rare, at least here. But she called herself a kitchen witch.” Sella paused for a moment. She had never said any of that aloud before. It felt odd. Almost criminal. She moved on before she could feel guilty. “I heard there’s a lot of different types of witches across the sea?”

  Cali nodded and Sella turned back to watch her steps. Sella continued, “I think humans tend to be more accepting of witches. Here in Marra, folks want us to stick to baked goods and ancient potion recipes.”

  “We definitely have a lot more open witches of all varieties in Tollintal,” Cali said. “But don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone your mom was an eclectic witch.”

  Sella raised a brow at her and they both laughed.

  The sound of slow-running water grew louder, and through the gap in the trees, the creek came into view. It was peaceful but wide. The clear water sparkled as it glided, unhurried, over smooth, colorful rocks. Mossy boulders, tall as Sella, dotted both sides of the shore, decorated with little white flowers that reached toward the rays of sunlight as the thick clouds passed over. In the distance, a bird called in a singsong tune.

  Sella held out her arms like the creek was her masterpiece. “What do you think?”

  Cali stood beside her with her eyes wide, mouth open. “Wow… This is beautiful."

  “If Rorin is hiding out here, he’s probably close to the water.” Sella’s eyes scanned the shoreline.

  “Eh,” Cali shrugged. “Can we just sit and take in the moment for a bit? This is beautiful and like nothing I’ve seen before… I don’t really want to think about death and murder or a dumb ex right now.”

  Sella looked at her for a long moment, but Cali’s eyes were closed, her face lifted to the sky. As clouds drifted across the sun, her face muted, then lit up again. “Sure,” Sella said at last. “For a bit.”

  The two sat on a boulder at the edge of the water, watching the water glisten by. Sella felt unease settle into her muscles. She wanted to keep moving, to find what they came for, and hopefully get some answers.

  But Cali looked so content to simply be by the water’s edge. Her eyes drifted lazily from one point to another, taking it all in. She looked down at the water, then to the trees and the flowers growing slowly between them.

  As Sella watched her, the tension in her legs and shoulders started to fade. She took a deep breath and slowed her mind. The theories swirling within her mind could wait. Rorin could wait. Her mind was quiet and she found herself missing Beejee. He didn’t want to have to trudge through the woods again, Sella understood, but it was rare they were apart. She felt a small pitch of loss in her heart and her mind wandered to Lohrna. She couldn’t lose them… They needed to find something of value today. Anxiety spiked in her body again. Her fingers twitched.

  The sun began to shine again and a school of small golden fish darted by. Cali watched them with a fascinated expression. The wind rustled the leaves above their heads. Cali looked to the sky and said, “It sounds like breathing.”

  Sella smiled, looking up too. “Yeah, it does…”

  They fell into a comfortable silence, listening to the world around them breathe.

  It was midafternoon when Sella finally broke their quiet. She reached into her pocket to pull out a small scone. “Do you mind if I eat?” she asked.

  “Of course not.” Cali looked at the scone with wide eyes. “It looks good, though. Can I be super weird for a moment?”

  Sella shrugged. “Go for it.”

  “Can I smell it?”

  Sella’s laugh caught her off guard. She held the scone out to Cali for her to sniff as though she were a lost cat she was trying to tame. Cali took a big sniff. “Lovely.”

  “Cinnamon and cranberry.” Sella held it up to the light for her to inspect the little flakes of burgundy and sprinkles of dark cinnamon throughout.

  “I think I’ll miss eating most. Do you think ghosts can eat once they cross over?”

  Sella took a small bite. She chewed carefully before answering. Cali didn’t seem like she was rushed and Sella wanted to be thoughtful about her answer. “I don’t know much about the afterlife, or even ghosts for that matter. Maybe it’s because you’re human? Maybe it’s the way you died? But the only ghosts I’ve ever dealt with were much different…” Sella paused and looked at Cali with a gentle smile. “I don’t know if ghosts can eat when they go, but I know all the ghosts I banished must be happier there than here. The ones who get stuck… they seem to become less and less themselves over time. They’re not happy in the end.”

  Cali’s smile faded. Her lips drew into a thin line and a crease formed between her brows. She looked at the clouds. “Maybe next time, lie to me,” she said quietly. “Just tell me ‘yes.’”

  Sella followed her eyes to the sky. “Can I start over?”

  “Yes.”

  Sella let out a small chuckle, though her body felt like anything but happy. “You know what, Cali? I heard they have the best buffets on the other side. All you can eat, but you never get too full. You get to eat scones and drink tea every single day. And wine and chocolate flows from gold fountains at night.”

  Cali laughed, a genuine sound. She pushed Sella’s arm with solid fingers. “That’s better!”

  The clouds darkened as they moved on and made their way along the water’s edge, looking for any sign of disturbances. Sella was glad to have a happier Cali again. But their previous conversation didn’t sit right with her. She kept glancing back at the ghost as though she was about to fade away.

  Cali caught her stare and raised a brow.

  “Let me know if you see anything.” Sella covered for her awkward watchfulness.

  “You got it,” Cali called from a boulder ahead. She was standing on top, looking below with squinted eyes.

  They kept moving, Cali leaped easily from boulder to boulder, keeping her vantage point high. “Hey, Sella! Look at this!” She was pointing to the tree line. “Is it dangerous?”

 

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