The Ghost Bride Read online

  The Ghost Bride

  Stacey Keystone

  Ellauri Press

  Contents

  Books by Stacey Keystone:

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Books by Stacey Keystone:

  Alchemist series:

  THE APPRENTICE’S PATH

  * * *

  Marn Magical Academy series:

  THE GHOST SCHOOL

  THE GHOST BRIDE

  Copyright © 2020 Stacey Keystone

  All rights reserved. The use of any part of this publication reproduced, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, or stored in a retrieval system, without the prior written consent of the publisher is an infringement of the copyright law.

  ISBN: 978-1-83988-005-6 (paperback)

  eISBN: 978-1-83988-004-9

  * * *

  Published by Ellauri Press 2020

  1

  The sun was shining brightly. Too brightly. I had just come back from the Marn Magical Academy, where I had been attending distance classes during my sleep. Despite having slept for many hours, I was still laying in bed. Because of the injuries caused by my crazy psychopath father's experiments on my magic and ethereal body, I couldn't move. Instead, I was staring into the ceiling, where the sun's reflections played a game of cat and mouse.

  My head was itchy. I hadn't washed my hair in days since I couldn't move much, and the healers advised me to stay dry. I tried to move my head, scratching the itch with my pillow. It wasn't very satisfying.

  What I'd give to scratch my head with my fingers…

  I also stunk. I tried not to concentrate too much on the smells, since I didn't want to feel the smell of my dirty body. The healer that visited me told me they couldn't use magic on me since it was very risky in my current state. All good, but couldn't I just get a nurse? A non-magical nurse, who could wipe me with a sponge. And put some dry shampoo in my hair…

  I kept dreaming about what I would do as soon as I could move a bit when I heard somebody's steps.

  "Who is it?" I asked, unable to move my head, frantically moving my eyeballs so I could see who came from the door. It was very awkward, but I saw Captain Kaffale with the edge of my eyes.

  "It's me, Aegisthus," he said, gently. "You woke up? Do I need to call the Healer?"

  "That would be nice," I said, feeling my bladder acutely. "Three days until I can stand up, they told me. It's been a week already, and I'm still unable to move."

  "Cheer up," Captain Kaffale said. "We're moving you."

  "Where?" I asked.

  "To Kaffale House," he said. "My sister-in-law has already prepared a bedroom for you."

  I had agreed to be Captain Kaffale's niece's nanny. They offered me a very decent salary. Besides, I had to make a living, now that I left my old waitressing job and my dingy but affordable apartment back on Earth.

  "I told her I'd start working by now," I said, "but as you can see, I can't keep that promise."

  "She knows," Captain Kaffale said. "She said it's OK for you to recover in the house, instead of staying here."

  "That's very nice of her," I said. "But I already owe her. I've spent all the advance she gave me, and I haven't even started working when I promised."

  Emere had given me an advance, which I used to buy all the clothes I needed in Marn, the world I came to from Earth. Earth, which is isolated from magical streams, was starving me of magic. I'd been told I couldn't live much longer if I stayed there; that's why I came to Marn, with nothing but a small backpack and a dangerous psychopath who followed me. Which is why the advance was so helpful. I felt bad that I was too ill to start working.

  "She understands," Captain Kaffale said. "You'll be able to recover much better in Kaffale House. You'll be able to get a lot more help, and we've got Healers on-call round-the-clock."

  "And when are you moving me to this most excellent house?" I asked.

  "Now," Captain Kaffale said. "As soon as the Healer comes."

  "Right now?" I asked. "Why? I assumed you'd let me recover before you kicked me out."

  I was staying in a safe house that belonged to the police, who were using me as bait to catch my father. I was happy to let them do that, since that meant they helped me get out of Earth, too.

  "The Colonel isn't trying to kick you out," Captain Kaffale said.

  Colonel Yaldai was the man who brought me to Marn, as bait to catch my father. He got a bit too sentimental about it, me being a lady and all. He hid my existence from his superiors, one of whom was my crazy father's brother, and now he had to deal with the consequences.

  "Then why are you moving me out so quickly?" I asked.

  "If you didn't have a place to go to," Captain Kaffale said, "the Colonel wouldn't dream of kicking an ill young woman to the streets. But now that there are other options… You'll be safer at my family house. And out of the reach of my superiors."

  "You mean, Azrikam Morad?" I asked.

  Azrikam Morad is my crazy father's brother. He kicked my father out of their rich, elite high magician family, risking their reputation, so I guess he's not the worst. But I was proof of my father's sins, his ill, broken niece. He wouldn't kill me, but he could try hiding me away from everybody. If I valued my freedom, I had to stay away from him.

  "Yes," Captain Kaffale said. "He learned about your existence and expressed a desire to talk to you. Once we move you to Kaffale House, we can keep him away from you for a while. At least until you recover."

  "Well, thanks," I said. "I appreciate it."

  The Healer then came in, with the Colonel behind him.

  "Have you told her?" the Colonel asked the Captain. Captain Kaffale nodded. The Colonel ordered the Healer: "Stabilize her, fast! We have almost no time."

  The Healer waved his hand around me, and I felt like I couldn't even move my face anymore. At least I could breathe.

  I think something happened because the Colonel swore.

  "He's here!"

  And he waved his hand at me, quickly doing some gestures.

  I felt the world becoming tenuous, the sounds faint, only for an unfamiliar world to appear.

  A smiling woman was looking at me from above, while I was lying on another bed, with lavender-smelling fresh sheets.

  "Hi," I said, looking at her.

  I'd only seen Emere, my employer, through the vizor before, on our brief video interview. She was even more stunning in person. Her elegant, dark blue dress covered her from head to toe, the diamond necklace she was wearing framing her beautiful face. Her hair was styled into an elegant updo, with strands of pearls in it.

  I felt even shabbier than I did when I had my interview. At least I was clean then. Now, with my greasy hair and smelly clothes, I looked even more out of place.

  "Hi, Amy," she said, with a bright smile. "Aegisthus told me what happened to you. We'll make sure you recover well in this house. I've already called our Healer, and she will make sure you're as comfortable as possible."

  "Thank you," I said. "You'v
e already done so much for me. And I couldn't even keep my part of the deal."

  "Well, it's not like you did it on purpose," Emere said, smiling. "And I'm sure you will. Aegisthus has almost finished with the paperwork and legal issues. As soon as you're recovered, you can start work. But don't worry about it; you need to focus on getting well. Trust me, you'll need all your energy to deal with my daughter."

  "I don't want to trouble you," I said, feeling thankful to this angel. "The healers said I'll be able to walk in three more days. They've been saying that for the past week, but I'm sure at some point it will be true."

  "We've got an excellent healer on our staff," Emere said. "With all the kids using magic in the house, we need one. She'll be able to fix you up."

  I heard a knock on the door. Emere left my vision field, only to reappear again, with a middle-aged woman in a green robe.

  "This is the patient," Emere said. "Please make her as comfortable as possible while she heals."

  She then looked at me.

  "I'll leave you in our Healer's care, Amy," she said. "I left Erynn with her father, but he needs to go to work now, so I won't be able to offer you company. Aegisthus told me you stay in the Academy for most of the day; I'll make sure you can go there, too, after you get treatment."

  She then disappeared from my field of vision, and I heard her steps and the door closing.

  The Healer looked at me, professionally assessing my state.

  "Amy Laurendeau, right?" she said cheerfully. "I can see you've been injured, and some healers have been trying to cure you. Incompetent butchers! Don't worry; it won't take that much time. You'll be able to stand tomorrow. Now, most of the manipulations I'll be performing are uncomfortable. Please prepare yourself."

  I nodded, and she started waving her hands around me. I started feeling different parts of my body itch. It was good that I couldn't move my hands, or I'd scratched myself bloody.

  After what seemed like an eternity of this torture, the healer finished.

  "Now," she said, "I've finished treating you. You just need to eat and sleep, and tomorrow you'll be able to walk. Eat some."

  She gave me the same white liquid I'd been drinking through a straw for the last week (I want to eat solid food so much), after which she helped me travel to the Academy by placing the vizor under my cheek. As I said the phrase 'I want to go to the Magical Academy', I felt my mind blackening, as my ethereal body was transferred to the Magical Academy, where I arrived in the shape of a ghost.

  When I arrived at the Main Hall of the Magical Academy, I looked around. The Academy had freed me from practical lessons, because of the healers' total ban on magic use. And, since I only had theory classes on Mondays and Fridays, I could avoid Martinus for most of the week.

  Martinus Novak, who seemed to enjoy making fun of me when I first joined the Academy, had saved me. When my crazy father came to the library in ghost form, Martinus beat him up, getting injured in the process. I was grateful, and I'd thanked him while I was laying in the hospital. But he'd been behaving weirdly since then, and I was doing my best to avoid him. I'd slipped out of class on Friday, but I wasn't so sure I'd be able to run away today. Yllana, my best friend, had helped me on Friday, but warned me that Martinus was planning something for today.

  The Main Hall was empty. I checked my vizor; it was early Monday morning. Six a.m. in the morning. It surprised me that Emere had been awake so early, but then she'd mentioned she didn't sleep much with her baby.

  I'd been confused about the time zones, but now that I was at the same time zone as the Academy, life would hopefully become simpler. Or so I hoped. If I managed whatever complications Martinus brought into my life.

  I would hide in the library until class started. Hopefully, if I came exactly on time, Martinus wouldn't be able to do anything in the Professor's presence. As for the period between classes… He wouldn't do anything in front of all our classmates, right?

  Or so I thought, in my naivete, as I headed to the library to prepare for today's classes.

  I slipped into class right before Professor Alday, who taught the History of Magic course. I sat next to my friend Yllana, who kept the chair next to the corridor free for me. I quickly sat there, whispering my thanks to Yllana, as the Professor started his lecture, preventing Martinus, who sat just behind me, from saying anything.

  Now I need to figure out what to do when the class ends.

  As soon as the lecture ended and the Professor started picking his stuff, I tried to sneak out, when I felt a hand on my shoulder, preventing me from leaving.

  "What are you doing? Get your hands off me!" I hissed, trying to shake off the hand by grabbing it. The hand got off my shoulder and now firmly held my hand.

  "Any problem, Miss Laurendeau?" the Professor asked, when he noticed the altercation.

  Before I could say anything, I heard something I never expected to hear.

  "No problem, Professor Alday," Martinus said. "Just a lover's spat. My fiancée has been angry at me lately."

  "Is that so?" Professor Alday said. "Then please try to solve your quarrels outside the classroom."

  And he left the class, obviously not wanting to bother with the trouble, while I stared at Martinus with fury. Fiancée? What was he trying to do?

  Our classmates now surrounded us, their eyes gleaming curiously. The Distance Department, made of my fellow ghosts, stood at the corner, staring at me with hostility. They didn't like me much because they thought I had been accepted through corrupt means. I didn't bribe anybody or anything, but it is true that I have no magical talent, and there had been many more talented students competing for the scholarship spots in the Distance Department.

  "Your fiancée?" Zethe, one of Martinus' friends and a guy I'd previously had hostile encounters with, patted Martinus' back. "Congratulations, man. But I thought you said she was your cousin."

  Yeah, Martinus had told everybody I was his cousin to further alienate me from my classmates. You could see why I didn't like him much.

  "That's because my sweet pumpkin didn't want me to tell the truth," Martinus said, as I stood there, aghast. Sweet pumpkin? Really? "But I can't keep it secret anymore. I'm sorry, pumpkin," he said, grabbing me by the waist and standing beside me, as I was trying to process the entire thing. "I tried. But I don't think I can anymore. I'm just too happy to have you here. I hope you forgive me."

  "Stop. Calling me. Pumpkin," I said. I turned to everybody else. "It's not true. We aren't engaged."

  "That's because she hasn't said yes yet," Martinus said. "I remember you wanted a diamond ring, darling. I've already prepared the best ring, and I'll give it to you when you stop pouting and finally agree to see me. I know I shouldn't have banned you from coming to the Academy, but this is a bit too much."

  "Who said I'd agree?" I said as I saw my classmates starting to gossip with each other. The whole Academy would know this soon. Even Yllana, who knew the entire story, seemed to believe Martinus' nonsense.

  "Oh, my sweet pumpkin," Martinus said. "How could you resist me for long? I know I've been a bit of a jerk, but I'll make it up to you, I promise," he said, trying to kiss my cheek.

  That's it. I can't stand this charade anymore. I know I'll regret it, but…

  "Wish me luck!" Martinus said as I dragged him out of class under the amused eyes of my classmates. Somebody whistled.

  2

  "Why did you call me your fiancée?" I hissed once I was alone with him.

  Martinus shrugged.

  "Because you are," he said.

  "I can't be!" I protested. "And I don't want to. You didn't even ask me."

  "Why?" he asked. "You don't have a husband or fiancée, right?"

  "No," I replied. "But that's not your business."

  "That's good," he said. "Because I don't need to compete with anybody. Now, how could that not be my business? I'm your fiancée."

  "You're not. You can't be. Because you can only marry a high magician you're compatible with
, remember?" I asked. "And I'm none of those things."

  "If you want to keep your anonymity," Martinus said. "That's OK. I don't care what your real name is. But I know you're a high magician. You regenerated your energy when your magic was depleted. The healers noticed it. I told them to keep it quiet, but I'm sure the Rector knows. He won't tell, though."

  "And what about the compatibility?" I asked. "How would you know about it? It's not like we shared a kiss or anything."

  "I knew it when you pumped your magic into mine and it saved my life," Martinus said, referring to the time I performed CPR on him after he saved me and was dying. I don't remember pumping my magic into him. I wouldn't even know how to do it. "I know we're compatible. But if you want to test it again, I don't mind. If you want to be sure, we can share a proper kiss."

  He started approaching me. I looked around. I was the one who locked the room, and now I was trapped with him. I walked towards the door, but before I could reach it, his hands were around me, his body pressing me against the wall. He was wearing that necromancer's ring that made it possible for him to touch me, despite my ethereal form.

  "It's time for the test," he said, whispering into my ear. "And you like passing tests, don't you?"

  I shook my head.

  "I don't want to pass this test," I said.

  "Too bad," Martinus said, breathing into my ear. "Since you already did. But, if you want to see it for yourself, I'll show you."