“Like Spence.” I said my thoughts aloud.
She nodded. “I decided to hang around bookstores and see if I could find someone who loved books as much as I did. And of course, there I met you. I enchanted both you and Cathy to think I was human and that I’d been given a job there. That’s why they could find no record of me when I disappeared.”
She gave me a wistful smile. “You were perfect. No one significant in your life. Not very happy. But you absolutely loved books to the point of obsession. All I needed to do was work out how to get you interested in the position.”
“You could have just asked, rather than me having to end up dead.”
“Like you’d have believed me. Anyway, I was debating revealing my true self to you, given your interest in supernaturals, when I noticed a vampire hanging around the store staring at you like you were prey. I approached him and found he intended to drain you.”
“Lawrie?” I queried.
Jenny nodded. “All I had to do next was to show Death how perfect you were for the role of Queen. I spoke to The Book of the Dead and it obviously agreed. Lawrence was going to kill you anyway. Your death appeared in the book. The book made sure Death knew you would be a good candidate for Wayward Souls.”
“That book is one powerful tome.” I acknowledged thinking about when it had kicked my arse. “So you’re leaving are you? Now I’m here? Do you and your loved one want me to help you move on?”
“Oh, I don’t want to leave the house. Just the job. I’m hoping you’ll let me stay here. I won’t be taking up any more room, you’ll see.” She broke the connection of our hands and walked to the living room door. She opened it, revealing Spence. I had not heard his leg dragging, so he’d managed to be super quiet down here, proving how theatrical he was the rest of the time.
He walked in, now dragging his leg again. “We’re in love,” he announced.
“You’re in love? You and Spence?” I addressed Jenny. I hoped neither of them could read my mind, but Spence was hardly a looker, even though he was charming. I couldn’t imagine sticking my tongue in a mouth with teeth that rotten. Jenny clearly knew what I meant though as she returned to her natural witch state, complete with a hooked nose and facial warts. Seemed they were a match after all.
“I wonder why you’re both able to be solid here and the other spirits are not?” I queried.
I noticed a shimmer from the corner near the black velvet curtains and Death materialised.
“Have you been here all along, hiding as a wisp?”
“I may have. Anyway, you can lecture me on that later. Right now, I want to offer my opinion. I believe that The Book of the Dead recognises Jenny and Spence as its caretakers. Spence has been here for centuries and Jenny cared for its books and legacies. The house is an extension of the book after all. The place where the unquiet spirits linger. That’s why I believe it listened to you about Mya and why you’ve been able to stay in this more substantial body.”
Jenny agreed, nodding her head. “I believe you’re right. Anyway, that’s my story told and now I’m officially handing in my notice as The Librarian, effective immediately. Enjoy looking after the library as well as the souls. I’ll be sharing Spence’s room. We’ll see you around the place when we surface.”
With that they both went wispy and drifted out of the room, while I just sat there stunned thinking that obviously Spence’s leg wasn’t the only wood he’d been showing Jenny.
Mya
Death told me he’d be back shortly and left too.
I stayed in my living room. Sitting on my sofa with my feet up, I could hear Stan and his son working on the floor above. I needed to go do my own job, and to visit the turrets, but first I would take a moment to think about the fact I’d been buried today and consider all the revelations from Jenny.
They always said a funeral gave closure and mine certainly had. But where others departed to Heaven or Hell, I was here in Gnarly Fell. Well, just outside it. In my home at the top of a hill with unlimited access to shoes, and also… my own vast library.
Death was usually a nightmare, but for me, the bookworm, it was a whole new chapter.
A knock came at the door.
“Come in.”
Death walked in, dressed in cream trousers, a white shirt and a navy jumper. I realised I was still dressed in my black funeral attire.
“How are you?”
“Okay. It’s been a day of surprises, but I’m all right. Just needed a bit of processing time. Now, I guess I need to get changed and get to work.”
He shook his head. “No, you don’t. Need to get to work that is. You do need to get changed though. I hope you have something suitable for a party.”
“A what?”
“When I left, I went and spoke to Jenny. She agreed to lift the curse from Gnarly Fell. They are all free to find love and happiness. I sent them an email. Callie immediately replied saying she would be throwing a party with immediate effect. It’s happening on the boulevard and we are of course invited.”
“Wow. O- okay.”
“Go on then. Go and get changed. I’m ready and waiting.”
While standing, I raised a brow. “If only.”
He had the grace to look bashful. “About that. I am so very sorry for the scrawl on the mirror. I panicked thinking I knew what was best for both of us, but I was wrong.” He moved closer to me and reached for my chin tilting my head up towards his. “Yes, things could go wrong, but they could also go very right. It’s stupid denying what we’re both feeling.”
“Is any of this connected to Aria? Bernard said she used to be ‘yours’?”
He huffed. “Aria was never really mine. She made out like she wanted to be, flirted with me, toyed with my affections, but then she showed her true colours when I found her with Bernard.” He pronounced it my way which amused me. “I believe she flirted with me and made me believe we could have something, not because she really wanted to, but because as a long undead I was a novelty to her, a new plaything, Death himself. She soon grew bored of me when I wouldn’t play her games. Wouldn’t let her see The Book of the Dead. I think she wanted to see if she could claim it for herself, own it. That’s how vampires are. Thirsty in all manner of ways. I believe that’s why the book chose you as a suitable guardian. Anyway, I never felt an ounce for Aria, what I feel for you, Mya. I believe I could fall in love with you. That has to mean something. I have few feelings as Death.”
“But like you said. This is for a lot of years, several lifetimes over. What if we get fed up? What if I somehow bring out your more human side and you can’t cope?” I shrugged my shoulders.
“How about we worry about tomorrows another day, and today we just go celebrate, hey? Live in the moment?”
I thought about how I’d tried to do that in life. Never looking back at my crappy life, trying to make the most of the present. I’d always felt I’d been put on the earth for a reason and now I knew what my own soul’s purpose had been. To become Queen of the Wayward and Death’s consort. “Okay, I’ll just go and get changed then. Are you waiting here?”