I finally caught up with him in one of the guest rooms that I’d shoved a bunch of Auntie’s things that I hadn’t felt like dealing with. I was starting to see a pattern in my behavior. The not wanting to deal with things was a result of my grief.
It was going to do better, be better. It was a good thing my husband wasn’t around to see me. He’d kick my butt into shape. Not literally. He’d most likely lock up my spell room.
I smiled at the idea. He hadn’t been comfortable with magic, but he never told me I couldn’t be who I was. I did that enough. However, natural witch magic I got from my mother was something I enjoyed. It was pure and light. Not dark like raising the dead and dealing with ghouls and other undead things.
Thinking of undead things, I entered the room and watched Alfred as he moved to the TV on top of the long dresser. He placed one hand on the television and met my stare.
“Oh,” I said slowly. “You watch TV all night?”
Nod.
“Well, that’s fine, you can still do that. Can you write?” I glanced around the room and figured it wouldn't hurt to make this room his.
He showed me his hands, drawing my attention back to him. The skin was tight and pale. As he tried to close them, he winced. They only closed so far. I wondered how he’d gotten along with his chores.
“You don’t have to do chores here,” I said. I was part witch and could perform spells better than most so cleaning wasn’t an issue. Besides, I didn’t like the idea of having a servant. Ghoul or not. “If I got you something you could type on, would you be able to?”
Nod.
Now we’re talking. Well, virtually anyway.
“Okay, then great. Uh, well, it’s late. I’m going to…” I stopped and stared because Snooze had just walked into the room.
The fat, grey cat looked up at Alfred, cocked his head, and then meowed louder than I’d ever heard the fool cat meow.
Then, Snooze launched himself at Alfred. He jumped into the ghoul’s arms, and I panicked, expecting I’d have to break up a fight between my insane cat and the creepy undead guy. My heart leapt with him and I thought the thing would get stuck in my throat for life.
But Snoozles, the little ass, rubbed his head all over Alfred’s chin!
“He likes you,” I breathed while willing my heart to slow to normal pace.
Alfred closed his eyes and held Snoozles close, squeezing him without hurting the feline. Snooze reached up and batted at the string holding Alfred’s lips together. I sincerely hoped he didn’t unravel that string, because there was no way I was sewing dead flesh back together.
Not tonight, Satan.
Drifting to the bed, I picked up one of the boxes and set it on the floor in the corner of the room by the window. When I turned to gather up some of the loose items spread out, Alfred was already doing it. He picked items up with care and placed them inside an empty box he found.
When I reached out for another box to move it off the bed, he tapped my hand. I looked up to see him shaking his head and pointing at himself. “You are not my servant. I’m perfectly capable…”
Alfred brushed my hands away, still shaking his head. The stubborn ghoul. “Okay, fine. Since you don’t sleep, you can put these boxes in the room across the hall. I need to go through them and see what I want to keep and what I’m donating or trashing.”
I had no idea what was in half the boxes I threw in here after the funeral. I wasn’t in the condition to clean out the life of another loved one at the time.
Alfred seemed overly pleased with having something to do besides watching TV. I went over to the dresser and picked up the remote. It was a good thing it was a smart TV. Not much for watching the old boob tube, I didn’t bother with getting cable. I had Netflix for when I was in the mood to watch something.
After I logged into the WI-FI, which I had made sure was at my disposal before coming to town, I set Alfred up with his own profile on Netflix. Then I handed him the remote. “There is no cable, but Netflix has enough shows to keep you occupied for a while.” I paused as he took the remote and quickly figured out how to use it. “This is your room. You are free to roam the house. My room is at the end of the hall. I’m not a morning person so don’t wake me before noon.”
He nodded as he sat on the end of the bed and flipped through the movie choices. I wondered if I should put a parental block on his account. Then I shook my own head. He had obviously been a grown man when he died. Or was he created?
Damn I needed to find out more about Alfred and his origin. But I’ll deal with all of that tomorrow.
“I’m going to bed,” I said. “Knock on my door if you need me. And remember not to go downstairs when the workers are here.”
After he nodded to let me know he heard me, I went downstairs to grab my dinner. I hadn’t given Alfred a tour, but I’d had all I could take of this day. I grabbed a soda out of the fridge and took my food upstairs, then locked my bedroom door.
Then I dragged my dresser in front of it. The last thing I needed was some creepy ghoul coming into my bedroom in the night while I was sleeping.
Ugh.
Pulling out my phone, I sent Wallie a quick text. Hey Wal Wal, love you bunches! If you have a spare minute in between your studies can you research if there’s any true witch hunters out there?
He must’ve had his phone right in his hand because he replied immediately. Like Buffy?
Rolling my eyes, I chuckled at my boy’s sarcasm. Non-fiction. Just if you can, sweetie.
Sure, ILY.
I didn’t have to look up what that acronym meant. I hated text-speak, but I used it sometimes to make my son happy. ILY2
Chapter Nine
After scarfing down my burger and fries, I sighed. No way I was going to bed anytime soon. My mind was running a marathon with all the crap that happened today.
My phone beeped, alerting me of an email.
Spam. As usual.
While I had my phone in my hand, I contemplated calling Sam. He could help me figure out what in the world to do with Alfred. The ghoul had said he didn’t want to be released from his fleshy half-life, but I didn’t know jack about ghouls. Was he a real person? Did he have a personality or a soul? I had no idea.
I pressed the buttons to call Sam and put it on speaker, then rethought my actions. If I talked on speaker, Alfred might hear things I didn’t want him to. I wasn’t sure how aware he really was. He seemed able to answer questions, but did he have memory?
So many questions.
“Hello?” Olivia chirped in my ear.
Ugh. She was the last person I wanted to talk to after the day I had. “Hello, Olivia.” Why was she answering Sam’s cell? “Is Sam around?”
“No, he’s on duty. He forwards his calls to me when he’s working.”
Lucky me. I wondered if she could hear my eyes rolling.
“Can I help you with something?”
Pretending to gag silently as she spoke, I shook my head. “No, I was just hoping to run something past Sam.” But then it occurred to me. Olivia was the town's busybody. If anyone knew who the new necro in town was, it would’ve been Olivia. “Actually, there is one thing. Have you seen a guy around town, tall, kind of greasy? He’s got shoulder length black hair and looks like a total creeper. He said his name was Owen Daniels.”