When The Stars Align

chapter twenty six | ghost of you

I don't care that my hair is a mess, I put it put anyway. I try to rub the tiredness from my eyes again, looking more awake. Feeling more awake. I want to cry but I don't have the time. I have to find Ansen, unfortunately.

"You don't have to do this."

I jump slightly, knocking something off my dressing table. I don't want to pick it up at the morning. For some reason, I've been more jumpy. I turn around slowly, seeing the ghostly figure behind me. No wonder I didn't hear the door open. Amelia could walk through the walls.

"What do you mean, I don't have to? You told me I was still in danger." I looked down, fiddling with the gun. "I have to stop this. I'll find him. I'll get the amulets."

"Vera-"

"I don't even know why you're here. I don't think you're serving a real purpose. I would've been able to find out about Ansen sooner or later. Your message wasn't that much of a warning, because I know I'm in danger. I'm always in the middle of danger."

"You don't have to do this now."

"So I should just wait for Ansen to attack, is that what you're saying?" I ask her. "I should just wait until someone I care about gets hurt, or I'm a target for something. I should just wait until I'm possibly weaker than now."

"This is the weakest you'll ever be, Vera. If you just wait, you'll be stronger. You'll know your opponent better. You'll have two hundred years worth of magic at your fingertips-"

"But so will he. So will Ansen. He'll have power that he's not supposed to have. He'll go crazy with it. I have to stop him when he's at his weakest, Amelia. That's what they did for you."

I paused. The ghost's face fell. She definitely doesn't like being reminded of that, I wouldn't be either. But if that'll get her to leave, then whatever. I need her out of my life. How do you get rid of a ghost?

"Twenty years old, a widow, thirty-three weeks pregnant and sick while ruling a country... I guess that did put me in a point of weakness." The ghost took the news lightly, not showing anger or annoyance from my remarks. "But I'm telling you, Vera, this isn't a good idea. More than that, you need rest. You're draining yourself."

"I'm fine," I state. "I know what I'm doing. I'm not stupid. If you want to be a bit useful, maybe you want to tell me how Ansen found it. I don't think you've given me that information yet, and it could be useful. Maybe you can at least, I don't know, give me a clue to who is the next ruler of Sylvaine. You're wasting my time, Your Highness."

I could hear the ghost sigh, which was ironic, because I doubted she even needed air. "I can't give you that information either, Vera." She paused. "At least, you have to do me one thing."

Whatever I dropped began to float, and I realise now that it was actually the amulet that fell off my table. I probably should have picked that up, now that I think of it. It levitates until it was clasped around my neck, secured.

"For protection, Vera. I also need you to keep it safe. Probably won't be a good idea to leave it lying around somewhere, or anywhere out of your site. Ansen will still be after the other amulets. If he can get his hands on them, he'll take the opportunity."

She had a point. I twisted the chain of the necklace with my fingers, out of habit. I end up tucking it under my shirt, the actual jewel bulging through the piece of clothing, but at least it was secure.

"I guess, thank you for the information," I mumbled to the deceased royal. But when I turn around, the figure is already gone.

ATTICUS WANTED TO join me. I told him only if he could be as silent as the dead.

We maneuver through the village and into the edge of town. I didn't see anyone following us through the darkest alleys, the thin forest and the winding roads, but in this part of the kingdom, you never know.