to tell the difference because the air that surrounded spirits seemed to twitch, like disturbance in the atmosphere or static on a television screen. And of course it was a give-away if they suddenly materialised or dematerialised.
She found it most odd that when Samantha Crystan had appeared, lights flickered, the temperature changed, and there were all kinds of theatrics, but that didn’t happen for every spirit.
Maybe they come from different depths of the Spiritworld; is it harder for some to appear than others? At first, Samantha hadn’t appeared fully formed. Was that because Juliet was new to her ability, or was it Samantha trying desperately to get through?
Still on the bus, Juliet contemplated Rowena’s death and if it had something to do with her, if in some way she was responsible. It’s not like I asked to be saved. Even if I wanted to be, I wouldn’t have wanted someone to die in my place, she thought. But it didn’t help. Guilt weighed her down, horrible to bear.
Had Rowena stared to make her feel guilty? Maybe to let Juliet know it should have been her to die? Whatever the reason, she didn’t ask for any of this, and that helped her ignore Rowena and concentrate on her conversation with Nick.
She hated the feel of guilt; it didn’t seem to serve a purpose. There was only one way she could think of to try to resolve it. I should learn to use my ability . That way, she might even find out what had happened to Rowena, and maybe she could help her. She detested knowing it should have been her to die.
I have to do something . In her eyes it would be plain wrong if she didn’t try to make it all have some kind of purpose … helping Nicolas and Samantha Crystan could be a first step, at least.
The bus pulled into Chanton, and Juliet received a phone call as she thanked the driver and exited. It was Kim, so she removed a glove to answer her phone.
‘Hey, Kim.’
‘Juliet!’ Kim squeaked. ‘What are you doing tomorrow?’
‘I haven’t planned anything yet.’ Usually she volunteered at the charity shop on Saturdays, but she’d cancelled assuming Nicolas would want to go to Grendel Manor as soon as possible. He hadn’t, because he was apparently going to his dad’s house on the weekend.
‘I’ll come over then, yeah?’
‘Sure. What do you have in mind?’
Walking home, Juliet hated how hot her body felt under her winter coat; it contrasted with the sting of cold wind against her gloveless hand and naked face.
‘Some girly gossip, drinks, and a lot of chillaxing in your hot tub, of course . We can have a proper catch up.’
‘You want to have some drinks? Are you planning on staying over or bussing home?’
‘Ryan will drop me off and pick me up. It’s Bonfire Night tomorrow, so he’ll take me to see some fireworks.’
‘He’s okay with you coming over and drinking?’ Ryan Fraser was Kim’s boyfriend, and they’d been seeing each other for about three years, maybe four. He gave Juliet the creeps.
‘Yeah. He’s the one who suggested that I see a friend for the day. I think he’s had a stressful week at work and wants the day to himself. He works odd shifts.’ Kim said, rather unconvincingly.
‘Is he still a support worker?’ As far as Juliet could remember, Ryan had been caring for vulnerable adults for years now.
‘Yeah, tough job. He’s a sweetheart for keeping at it. I know I couldn’t do it!’
‘Sounds like a rewarding job though,’ said Juliet, unsure.
‘Ha! Not with the pay he’s on.’
Juliet laughed then returned to the previous subject. ‘What time are you coming over then?’
‘Midday?’
‘That suits me.’
‘Juliet … you’re buying the drinks, right?’ Kim sniggered amiably.
‘I’ve already got plenty for you to choose from.’
‘If I was minted like you, I’d buy us the drinks and I’d let you chillax in my hot tub. You know that, right?’
‘Yeah, yeah …’ she teased, ‘I’m sure you would.’
She stayed on the
She found it most odd that when Samantha Crystan had appeared, lights flickered, the temperature changed, and there were all kinds of theatrics, but that didn’t happen for every spirit.
Maybe they come from different depths of the Spiritworld; is it harder for some to appear than others? At first, Samantha hadn’t appeared fully formed. Was that because Juliet was new to her ability, or was it Samantha trying desperately to get through?
Still on the bus, Juliet contemplated Rowena’s death and if it had something to do with her, if in some way she was responsible. It’s not like I asked to be saved. Even if I wanted to be, I wouldn’t have wanted someone to die in my place, she thought. But it didn’t help. Guilt weighed her down, horrible to bear.
Had Rowena stared to make her feel guilty? Maybe to let Juliet know it should have been her to die? Whatever the reason, she didn’t ask for any of this, and that helped her ignore Rowena and concentrate on her conversation with Nick.
She hated the feel of guilt; it didn’t seem to serve a purpose. There was only one way she could think of to try to resolve it. I should learn to use my ability . That way, she might even find out what had happened to Rowena, and maybe she could help her. She detested knowing it should have been her to die.
I have to do something . In her eyes it would be plain wrong if she didn’t try to make it all have some kind of purpose … helping Nicolas and Samantha Crystan could be a first step, at least.
The bus pulled into Chanton, and Juliet received a phone call as she thanked the driver and exited. It was Kim, so she removed a glove to answer her phone.
‘Hey, Kim.’
‘Juliet!’ Kim squeaked. ‘What are you doing tomorrow?’
‘I haven’t planned anything yet.’ Usually she volunteered at the charity shop on Saturdays, but she’d cancelled assuming Nicolas would want to go to Grendel Manor as soon as possible. He hadn’t, because he was apparently going to his dad’s house on the weekend.
‘I’ll come over then, yeah?’
‘Sure. What do you have in mind?’
Walking home, Juliet hated how hot her body felt under her winter coat; it contrasted with the sting of cold wind against her gloveless hand and naked face.
‘Some girly gossip, drinks, and a lot of chillaxing in your hot tub, of course . We can have a proper catch up.’
‘You want to have some drinks? Are you planning on staying over or bussing home?’
‘Ryan will drop me off and pick me up. It’s Bonfire Night tomorrow, so he’ll take me to see some fireworks.’
‘He’s okay with you coming over and drinking?’ Ryan Fraser was Kim’s boyfriend, and they’d been seeing each other for about three years, maybe four. He gave Juliet the creeps.
‘Yeah. He’s the one who suggested that I see a friend for the day. I think he’s had a stressful week at work and wants the day to himself. He works odd shifts.’ Kim said, rather unconvincingly.
‘Is he still a support worker?’ As far as Juliet could remember, Ryan had been caring for vulnerable adults for years now.
‘Yeah, tough job. He’s a sweetheart for keeping at it. I know I couldn’t do it!’
‘Sounds like a rewarding job though,’ said Juliet, unsure.
‘Ha! Not with the pay he’s on.’
Juliet laughed then returned to the previous subject. ‘What time are you coming over then?’
‘Midday?’
‘That suits me.’
‘Juliet … you’re buying the drinks, right?’ Kim sniggered amiably.
‘I’ve already got plenty for you to choose from.’
‘If I was minted like you, I’d buy us the drinks and I’d let you chillax in my hot tub. You know that, right?’
‘Yeah, yeah …’ she teased, ‘I’m sure you would.’
She stayed on the
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