The Ghost Bride Page 6

  "Good night, Amy," she replied, leaving the nursery, gently kissing Erynn's crown on the way out.

  I settled in for another calm night. I kept Erynn laying on my chest, gently patting her back, until she was calm and comfortable. I played with her for a bit until she quickly fell asleep.

  I then opened my books, directing the lamps' light away from the baby, keeping her part of the room as dark as possible.

  I kept reading, the sound of pages turning the only sound I could hear in the house. Erynn's breathing was too quiet to hear it, although I sensed every alteration in her sleep patterns.

  I then heard the sound of scuffing steps. I kept the door of the nursery open, in case anybody wanted to pop in; it was lonely here, after all.

  I then saw Bevan, Arlene's little boy. He was carrying a gigantic stuffed hippo that was larger than him, dragging him on the floor, as the tangled sheets, stuck in his grasp, followed him like a tail.

  "There's a monster under my bed," he said, squinting and rubbing his eyes. He then yawned, his mouth occupying half his face.

  It seemed like magical little boys have the same problems as ordinary little boys.

  I wasn't sure what to do. Should I help him back to his bedroom? But then my job was taking care of Erynn, not him. And I was told to stick to her side all the time. I shouldn't be letting a scared little boy walk around the house like this. But what should I do? Wake up Emere? She barely gets any sleep as it is. Wake up his mother, Arlene? I don't think she'd like that too much, either. Besides, I didn't have her vizor number, and I wasn't supposed to leave Erynn's side.

  I looked around. The big sofa on the edge of the nursery could fit a little boy. If I threw a couple of pillows and a blanket on it, he could sleep there. Let his parents sort out the monsters in the morning.

  "Well, there are no monsters here," I whispered.

  He looked at me, blinking, as the light of the lamp was directed towards the door, blinding him. I redirected the light away from him.

  "I'm Amy," I said, quietly, going towards him and squatting, so I could be at his eye level. "And you're Bevan, right?"

  The boy nodded, staring at me with curiosity.

  "And who is that?" I pointed at the gigantic hippo.

  "This is Popo," Bevan said, hugging the hippo tightly. "He's scared of monsters too."

  "Well," I said, "you and Popo can sleep here. There are no monsters here, you see? I'm making sure no monsters bother Erynn's sleep. And I'll defend your sleep too, if you want."

  The boy looked around the room full of shadows because of the dim light.

  "No monsters?" he asked.

  "No monsters," I confirmed, going towards my bedroom, to bring back some pillows and a blanket. I put them on the sofa, while the boy dragged his hippo. "Come here," I said, tapping on the sofa. "You'll see there are no monsters."

  The boy nodded and sat next to me on the sofa, the hippo between us. I covered him with the blanket.

  He didn't seem to fall asleep, despite yawning so much I thought he'd dislocate his jaw.

  "Would you like me to read you a story?" I asked. "About heroes who save princesses from monsters."

  The boy nodded again, hugging his hippo. I almost stumbled on the sheet that got intertwined with my legs and skirt as I stood up to grab a book. I need to get used to this clothing.

  I brought one book I took for myself, thinking I should get familiar with local legends.

  "Back when dragons flew between the worlds, a little girl lived in a small town. She loved to watch the dragons fly…"

  Bevan listened to the story, yawning. I helped him lean more comfortably on the sofa, as he placed his head on the hippo, using him as a pillow. I gently caressed his black hair, reading to him until he completely fell asleep.

  I then stood up, sitting on the chair with my notes, studying. I only had to stand up for one feeding, after which I washed up Erynn and she got back to sleep. I kept studying until I heard the commotion in the house. They must have found out Bevan wasn't in his bedroom. Well, eventually they'll pass by, right?

  And they did. Arlene was frantically running through the corridor when I called her.

  "Arlene," I said. "Bevan's here. He came tonight saying there were monsters under his bed."

  She stopped, coming into the bedroom to see her son sleeping on the sofa.

  "You left him here?" she asked.

  "Well, I couldn't leave Erynn alone," I said. "But I didn't want to leave him going around the house, either."

  She tapped on her vizor.

  "Call off the search. He's in the nursery," she whispered. She then walked towards her son, watching him sleep.

  "He's sleeping so peacefully," she said. "He's been having night scares lately."

  Edric came and took Bevan into his arms, carrying him in his arms.

  "Next time," Arlene said, "call me. I'll give you the numbers of everybody in the house."

  I nodded, handing her my vizor. She inputted the numbers but frowned at it.

  "This Academy vizor is quite limited in functionality," she said. "I'll tell Emere to get you a new one."

  "That's unnecessary," I tried to say, but she interrupted me.

  "It's necessary for you to do your work," Arlene said. "So we can contact you at any time."

  "What's necessary?" I heard Emere's voice, who came, yawning, out of her bedroom. "And what was all this commotion I heard?"

  "You need to get her a vizor," Arlene said. "Bevan was having night terror again."

  "Ah," Emere said. "No problem." She then stared at Erynn. "She's so peaceful right now. How do you get her to sleep?"

  "I don't do anything," I said.

  "Right," Emere said, checking the time. "Well, I'll go wash up and eat now, and I'll come to relieve you. I'm sure she won't be as quiet when I come back."

  She sounded almost… jealous?

  "Emere has been struggling with the baby," Arlene said, looking at her sister-in-law go back to her bedroom. "Erynn wasn't a very good night sleeper, which is why they hired you. You seem to have a talent for calming children. Bevan is usually very fussy about his sleep, and yet he somehow got asleep on a sofa."

  "I don't do anything," I said, again. I wasn't doing anything, just the normal stuff.

  "Sure you don't," Arlene shrugged, with a strange look in her eye. "Miss Laurendeau." The emphasis she made on my surname made me wonder if there was another meaning to it. Did she suspect something?

  But instead of saying anything else, she smiled and went back, presumably to change into something out of her loungewear.

  8

  I was eating breakfast quickly, because I had little time before I went to the Academy. With all the issues I had in Practical magic, the last thing I could afford was coming to class late.

  Nobody mentioned the night incident, although Arlene gave me a mysterious look. I had no time for that, whatever it was, as I spread the butter on my toast and topped it with an egg scramble, trying to quickly stuff myself before I went to sleep.

  It's so weird to be working a night shift and attending school during the day in your sleep.

  Twenty minutes before classes started, I dashed off the table, while everybody else was calmly eating. Don't they have to go to work?

  I quickly put on my lounge wear, lying in bed and transporting myself to the Academy, ready to run to class, when I saw Rector Faine standing in the Main Hall, together with a middle-aged, sharply dressed gentleman, and Colonel Yaldai.

  "There she is," the Rector said. "Miss Laurendeau! Mr. Morad here wishes to talk to you."

  Well, it seemed like there was nothing I could do about it. I smiled and walked towards them. I would not go to any class today, it seems.

  "Good morning, gentlemen," I said. "I'm Amy Laurendeau. And you, I presume, are Mr. Morad?" I asked the middle-aged gentleman.

  I'd seen a photo of this man when he was much younger. I'd seen his graduation photo. This was Azrikam Morad, my uncle.

 
; "So you're that girl," my uncle said. "The one my brother used for his experiments."

  "Yes," I replied, not sure what to say, and looking at the Colonel. The Colonel shrugged, showing there was nothing he could do.

  I extended my hand to my uncle. He stared at my hand skeptically but then shook it in his hands. He was also wearing a necromancer's ring.

  "Can you tell me, Amy," he said, still holding my hand, "why my subordinates have been hiding you from me?"

  "I've got no idea, sir," I replied.

  Because I was his niece and he may not like it.

  "It seems like they believe I would cover up my brother's case," he said, "by getting rid of you. Do you believe that, child?"

  "I don't know, sir," I said, trying to release my hand out of his grip. "Would you?"

  "I'm not a monster," he replied. "I would never harm a beautiful girl like you. So much youthful promise. But I want to know what Mahalat did to you."

  "Well, sir," I was trying to carefully word what I was saying, "I don't know what Mahalat did to me. I was too young to remember, and the only instance I remember him doing something to me was when he came here, to the Academy. Whatever he did, it was very painful. If it wasn't for my fiancé, Martinus Novak, I'm not sure what would have happened."

  I was hoping dropping Martinus's name would help. He wouldn't mess with me if I was engaged to the son of an influential family, right? Although then I would have to get engaged with Martinus…

  Maybe I could make my problems fight against each other.

  "Your fiancé?" my uncle raised his eyebrows. "I thought you lived all your life in that isolated world of yours."

  "I did," I replied. "It's been a quick engagement. As soon as Martinus found we were compatible, he insisted we get engaged. I thought I would be better off with him than I would be living alone."

  "I see," Azrikam nodded. "Well, an orphan girl like you has to protect her future. But why are you working for the Kaffales then?"

  "Because I'd like to keep my independence as much as possible," I replied.

  "I see," Azrikam said. "I'm surprised the Novak boy accepts it, but the youth nowadays are sometimes a bit too modern."

  I suddenly heard somebody running. I was startled, while Azrikam squinted, looking somewhere in the distance, and smiled.

  "Well, if it isn't your fiancé. He came so fast to protect you, Miss Laurendeau. How did he even hear about this?" Azrikam smiled.

  Martinus barged in, coming from the direction our class was being held, breathless.

  "Amy!" he exclaimed, lunging toward me. "Are you OK? Did he do or say anything to you?"

  "I'm alright," I said, as he grabbed my face.

  "Oh, for goodness' sake, Mr. Novak, I didn't even touch your bride," Azrikam said. "And please leave your cooing for another occasion."

  "Is that true?" Martinus asked me, not releasing my face.

  "Yes," I nodded. "Now, stop embarrassing me in front of Mr. Morad. And everybody."

  Everybody in the Main Hall was avidly looking at us, trying to listen in. But it seemed, from their disappointed faces, that they couldn't. I could see a slight viscosity in the air surrounding us, like the magical barriers I'd seen before.

  Martinus released my face, only to hug my waist, standing on my right side and a bit to the front, as if ready to get between me and Azrikam.

  "Cute," Azrikam commented. "And I'm surprised to see this from somebody who not only lets his bride study but also work for the Kaffales as a nanny. So modern, but still so protective."

  Martinus tried not to show it, but the pinch he gave me showed his displeasure.

  But my uncle noted everything, observant as he was.

  "She didn't tell you, did she?" he said amused.

  "My fiancée doesn't keep any secrets from me," Martinus said, giving me an inscrutable look. I felt my stomach sink. This was a total disaster. "But she likes to keep her independence. A bit too much of it, I'd say, but I understand she grew up in a different world, with different traditions."

  "I see," Azrikam said. "I must say, Mr. Novak, that I hadn't heard of your engagement before. Has it been announced yet?"

  "Not officially," Martinus said, with a stiff smile. "Because we're planning for an engagement party at the end of the study year. You'll be invited, of course, although we haven't issued the invitations yet."

  "Oh, I wouldn't miss it for the world," Azrikam said. "I feel partly responsible for this girl, because of what my brother did to her, and I will only rest when she's safely married off."

  That sounded almost like a threat towards me. Marry him… or else what?

  "Anyway," Azrikam said, "now that I've met you, Miss Laurendeau, Mr. Novak, I am starting to understand what is happening. We will talk again, Miss… Laurendeau." The pause he made before my name made me wonder. What did he know? Or suspect, for that matter.

  "I'd prefer it if you didn't talk with my fiancée in private, Mr. Morad," Martinus said.

  "I understand," Azrikam said. "But it's unavoidable. Crimes Department business, you understand. We'll summon Miss Laurendeau on another occasion. For now, I will leave you two. Have a nice day."

  "Mr. Morad," I nodded.

  "I'll see you again, Mr. Morad," Martinus said.

  Azrikam then used a portal, disappearing from the room, followed by the Colonel. The Rector walked away, after giving us a curious look.

  Martinus turned towards me, looking at me with a funny expression.

  "So you're in Marn," he said. "Working as a nanny… for the Kaffale family."

  "I am," I replied. There was no reason to deny it, now that Azrikam had revealed it.

  "And you didn't tell me that? You let me believe you were still living in that isolated world you come from?" Martinus said, his voice louder than usual, but not yelling.

  I released his hand from my waist, which, if I wasn't in my ethereal form, would have bruised me. As it is, it will still hurt.

  "Why would I tell you? Where I live is none of your business," I said.

  "Of course it's my business," Martinus said. "I need to make sure you're safe. I know somebody is trying to harm you. How will I protect you if you don't allow me to?"

  "That's what the police are for," I said. "I don't need your protection. Especially if you'll ask me to marry me after you save me. The police save people disinterestedly."

  "It's not like the police did a good job last time you were in danger," Martinus said. "And I'm not sure disinterest is what you want. Somebody actively interested in your safety is much better."

  "It could be dangerous," I told him.

  "I don't mind," Martinus said.

  I looked at him, all cocky and fearless. None of my other strategies to scare him away worked. Telling him no, becoming a clingy, greedy girl and talking to his mother didn't work, but maybe the truth would work.

  "Let's go somewhere private," I said. "Where nobody will listen." I waved at the Hall, where everybody was eagerly trying to listen to what we were saying.

  "Well, then," Martinus said. "Let's go to my dorm room."

  Martinus had a private dorm room. It was sparsely decorated, but big. I looked around, while Martinus played with the locks and some artifacts he had around the room, making me nervous. There was only one chair, a desk, a bed, a cupboard, and a bedside table. I sat on the chair so I wouldn't be invited to the bed.

  "Alright, Amy," he said. "This room is soundproof and bug-free. What is this private thing you wanted to do?" he sat on the bed, his legs spread wide, his face cocky and smug.

  "I'll tell you everything," I said. "But just so you know, you can't go around telling people what I told you. It could be dangerous for you."

  "I'm listening," he said.

  "So, here's everything you don't know about me. I was born in Springfield, a small town in a world called Earth. A world without magic. My mother was an ordinary woman…" I kept telling him my story, as he listened avidly, tilting the head to the side every time he was surpr
ised.

  I told him everything; what I knew, what I guessed, what my mother guessed, what the Colonel told me, everything. Except for my schemes to get rid of him.

  "So you're a Morad," Martinus said.

  "No, I'm the bastard daughter of a man kicked out of the Morad family," I replied.

  "But you said you're starting to look like them," he said.

  "I wouldn't know," I said. "Since I avoid mirrors."

  "I understand why you do that," Martinus shrugged. "And I will not tell your uncle. It would complicate our engagement a lot if they accept you as a Morad."

  "You still want to marry me?" I asked incredulously. "With a crazy psychopathic father and all?"

  "I wouldn't blame the daughter for her father's sins," Martinus said. "Besides, nobody's perfect."

  "And what will you do now that you know everything?" I asked.

  "Take you shopping," he replied.

  What?

  After that cryptic message, Martinus escorted me to the Magical Energy class. We'd missed the first class entirely, between the encounter with my uncle and our conversation.

  After class, he told me to go home and change into something elegant; he would take me shopping, as promised. I wasn't sure I would be allowed to go out, with all the security issues, but going out, even if it was with him, sounded good, so I changed into one of my good dresses, and even put on my sapphire bracelet.

  I'm not sure what Martinus told Mrs. Kaffale, but by the time I returned from the Academy, she allowed him to come into Kaffale house, and he was waiting at the entrance hall. I saw them talking when I came downstairs.

  "Good afternoon, Miss Laurendeau," Moira Kaffale smiled. "Your fiancée here said he'd like to invite you out for a lunch. I don't see any problem, as long as you come back in the evening."

  "Thank you, Mrs. Kaffale," Martinus said, kissing her hand. "I want to show Leern to Amy. She has seen little of Marn since she arrived, and it's not very safe for her to go around alone."

  "Just make sure you stay in public places," Mrs. Kaffale said. "I know modern couples like to take some liberties, but I still don't think you should invite rumors. Especially when referring to a young orphan girl's reputation."