Maybe Lily was right and Emmett was destined to return to the spirit world, fight Bellum, and leave me behind on the mortal plane. But Lily Benavidez, Ms. Spiritualist Historian Protégée, was no authority on these matters. The spirit council had to be the highest authority in the spirit world. They'd know for sure whether Emmett could stay mortal and with me, or not. If they agreed, then it was fine to keep Emmett at the Vic. Maybe I could get them to see it my way.
But first, I'd have to locate their ghostly chamber.
It felt like hours passed as we walked wearily downward. Finally, Emmett begged to stop. We sat resting on the steps and I knew then—we'd go up after this. That was how you found them! You went down until you couldn't go down anymore. Then you went up.
I didn't share this insight with Emmett, who was too busy asking me questions. Much as I'd asked him, the first time he brought me down here. I tried to be a little more accommodating than he had been, since I certainly knew a lot less.
"How long have you been communing with the spirits? And visiting the spirit world, and all this?" he asked me.
"The thing is, it's kind of your fault," I said. "You're the one who brought me here to begin with."
"I? No, I can't have," he said. "I've never even seen any of this before." He gestured widely into the darkness.
"I realize you don't remember," I said. "That's what we're trying to fix. Because you were right, what you said before. There is something you're meant to be doing. You do have a higher purpose and I know what it is."
He goggled at the dark void all around us. At the blue glow I'd had to light up with, just so we could see.
"You're a magic girl," he said, nodding slowly at me. "I always knew you were amazing. Beautiful, smart, talented, and so sweet. But I didn't realize you were a magician." He took my hand and snuggled up against me, his eyes doting. "Are you my higher purpose?"
I relaxed against him. He felt so right by my side. If only!
"I wish it could be that simple, Em. But I'm afraid there's an ancient spirit god who's got it in for you," I said. "Maybe I should let the others explain when we get there. I'm kind of new around here."
He pulled me close. I nudged his cheek with mine, just in case he wanted to try kissing me here, on the stairway. I wouldn't mind! But he started talking instead.
"I do feel there's something here. Something I've forgotten, long ago. It's pretty vague. I'm not even sure it's a real feeling. But since all this is real—I guess it must be." He sighed.
"Try not to do that," I said. "You told me it was unsanitary."
He wrinkled his forehead at me. "Sighing? Is unsanitary?"
I nodded, now a little unsure myself. "You said so. At our reception, when I was welcomed as your mortal protégée."
"How can it be unsanitary? It doesn't do anything. It's just air!" he said, exasperated. He flapped his hands around to illustrate. "There's nothing there. A little bit of breath, is all."
"Spirits are pretty insubstantial too," I said. "They can pick up on sighing It broadcasts your thoughts, emotions, fears . . . all kinds of stuff."
"Huh." Emmett frowned. "That makes some kind of weird sense, but—no! It makes no sense! None at all!"
For a moment, it seemed he'd connected with a memory. Maybe, if we kept trying . . .
"We'd better get moving again. I think this is the point where we start going up," I said. "Come on."
"We just came down that way." He sat stubborn, refusing to move as I tugged on his arm.
I finally convinced him, after promising we'd find answers, to climb back up the way we'd come. When we reached the hidden doorway, my ring pulsed blue and the outline of the door pulsed in return.
"That's a relief. We found it," I said.
"What did we find?" Emmett sat down heavily on the nearest step and massaged his calves. "Why couldn't we find it on the way down? We must have walked an extra mile this way."
"I'll levitate us across," I said, because Emmett the mortal was pretty incapable when it came to floating. I took his hand, he held his breath, and we swooped across the short distance to a ledge in the wall. As I floated him, Emmett sort of spazzed around, waving his arms with a panicked expression on his face. Really, I was a lot cooler when I was in a similar situation.
Once before the door, I said an incantation asking for the help of the spirit world. Then I knocked three times. The door made a horrible scraping sound, then slid upward, allowing us passage. Emmett hesitated and dragged his feet until I drew him into the cavernous room.
Finally! We were in the spirit council room. We stood gazing up at the many thrones that floated and spun in circles. Their ghostly inhabitants gazing down on us—some in disapproval, some in amusement.
"Who is this one you have brought before us?" boomed the voice of Esoterica. The stately spirit cleared his throat with a noise like a malfunctioning lawnmower. "Pardon me. Didn't recognize you there. Hello again, Emmett."
Emmett gaped up at all the spinning, chortling, floating spirits. He goggled in alarm at Esoterica's transparent form, his robes and lengthy beard and long, wispy finger pointed directly at us. Then—All help me—Emmett the mortal's knees buckled, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the floor in a dead faint.
"Oh no! Em!" I knelt down and cradled his head. He moaned but did not open his eyes.
"What's the matter with him?" Esoterica drifted closer. "Is he . . . mortal?" Esoterica fanned his nose. "Smells mortal. What in the worlds have you done with him, protégée girl? I'm . . . sorry. Terrible memory for names."
"Heather is my name," I said. I wondered if I should throw water over Emmett or get some smelling salts. I'd never seen anyone actually faint before. "This wasn't my idea. He transformed himself after a battle with the Bellum. I brought him here because I wanted the council's advice."
Columbia drifted down now, also sniffing and scowling. "How long has he been like this?" She folded her arms across her toga, her brow high and proud. "You've let him settle in for quite a while. He's mortal through and through. You should have brought this to our attention sooner."
"It's been a couple of weeks," I admitted.
Columbia's eyebrows shot up. "Weeks? Esoterica, I believe she meant to keep him in the mortal plane! For herself!"
There was a general murmuring among the ghostly figures above. They kept spinning and floating up, down, closer, higher, until it made me dizzy to look at them. I turned my attention to Emmett instead, patting his face to rouse him.
"Weeks!" screamed Pan from somewhere high up. "She wanted to make him into her own protégé!"
"That's not true!" Then I bit my lip. No use lying to spirits. "It was more like a boyfriend-girlfriend thing."
I blushed and ducked my head. The spirits muttered and gasped and snickered. Emmett's eyes creaked open slowly. He smiled when he saw me.
"Heather," he said.
He started to look past me, but I hugged him.
"Close your eyes," I whispered. "We're in the spirit council room. There's ghosts here, but they're friendly."
I extended my hand over Emmett, letting blue sparkles of spectricity drift down. I showered his head with the healing energy. "Now open your eyes." I kept my hold around his shoulders. He opened his eyes and gasped, but he stayed conscious, clutching me and gripping my hand.
"They won't hurt us?" His voice squeaked, he was so scared.
"Look at this—what he's been reduced to." Columbia leaned in, her grouchy face lined in terrifying shadows. Emmett shivered and quaked.
"Back off!" I said. To my surprise, both Esoterica and Columbia immediately floated up, near the cavernous ceiling's rafters. The rest of the spirit council followed them. Emmett glanced at me, impressed.
"Yeah. That's right. And you can just stay up there. Emmett is in a fragile state. He doesn't need you peering and poking," I said. "Now, are you going to advise me or should I go elsewhere?"
They convened high up in the darkness of the rafters. After some hush
ed discussion, Esoterica drifted down alone, still maintaining his distance.
"Heather d'Espers," he said. At least he'd remembered my name. "The council has come to a consensus on this matter. More or less."
He looked up. Columbia was glaring, as usual.
"Emmett must renounce his mortal state," she shouted. "It is against the order of the worlds!"
"Oh, really?" I said. I gave her a mean glare back. "Is that the council's consensus, or is it Columbia's?"
"Certainly, it is not our advice," said Esoterica. "Far be it from us to advise the mortal incarnation of the All himself."
"So, you guys do know that Emmett's the All," I said.
"What's the All?" asked Emmett.
"Shhh, just a moment," I said. He shivered and huddled against me.
"Yes, we hold the knowledge of his true identity," said Esoterica, rising up and standing tall on the air. "We have seen the permutations of the All and watched over his ten thousand forms for as long as the worlds existed. We respect his doings and do not question his ways. For the All is wise above our limited and paltry knowledge and we would never seek to question him—"
"Okay, I get it. You let him do his thing," I said. "And I take it, you're supportive and obedient and all that. What about when he's like now—and doesn't know who he is?"
"What do you mean? Who am I?" Emmett's eyes widened in fear.
"A very special person, Em. Just relax," I said. I admit, not a very comforting answer—but I was kind of busy.
"We never seek to understand the ways of the All. We merely abide by his wishes and should that require maintaining an illusion that he is a much less powerful being—then we do that," said Esoterica, bowing his head. The spirits above moaned their agreement, flapping until a musty wind flowed down and wafted around us. Emmett sneezed.
"I don't like this," he whispered to me.
"Well, does that mean Emmett is clear to remain mortal? He's got your approval?" I asked.
"He does not need our approval. He is the All. His ways are the ways of the All. We would not envision interfering, even should it bring on the Coming End," said Esoterica, very pompous and stuffy.
"What about the mortal Coterie?" I asked. "The Coterie Four?" I squinted up at them, and they all kind of gasped and shifted around.
"Where did you hear of this?" Columbia was all snarls.
"Quiet, Columbia. Clearly, the time is come again, when the ancient society rises from the dust and takes its place between mortal and spirit realms . . ." Esoterica droned on and on. I couldn't make sense of half of it.
Actually, I didn't know how the council was connected to what happened to the Coterie Four—just snatches of conversations I'd overheard. The only thing I knew right then—it was some kind of hot button issue that caused a huge argument between the council and the ghosts of the original Coterie Four.
I didn't want to let on what I didn't know. So, I voiced Lily's theory, to see how they'd react.
"When the All subdivided, it left the Coterie Four open to attack by the Bellum," I said. "That's how Bellum finished off the Four. So, would the Coterie approve if Emmett stays mortal?"
They all gasped and whistled and moaned and I could tell I'd hit a pretty big nerve. If ghosts have nerves.
Esoterica nodded his respect to me. "What little remains of the mortal Coterie certainly could not raise much in the way of protest."
So it was true. The All's absence had opened up the Coterie to attack. Mortal spiritualists were in danger without the All's protection. At least, those powerful enough to attract the attention of the Bellum.
"You're forgetting the new members," I said, eyeing the shifting spirits above. "You're forgetting the New Four. The Paranormals!"
The crowd of spirits gave a collective gasp of awe. But Columbia sneered.
"We've heard of your little friends. Mere children—and not the most resilient types," she said. "A pair of boys who are lovers—and the Benavidez heir, a truly pedantic and tedious girl. I'd laugh to see them face the Bellum!"
"Truly, times have changed and they differ substantially from the old stock," said Esoterica, as the spirits muttered and argued above. "But we must obey the will of the All, Columbia. If these Paranormals are his chosen illuminati, we must accept it."
Illuminati? What had I gotten us into? Dare I ask what the Coterie really was?
"The Coterie. A coterie of kindred spirits and mortals. The sacred interspiritual ring. Them that knows," intoned Pan from high above and I felt he'd answered my question better than a treatise on the subject.
"That sounds about right," I said. "And there's no call to insult my friends, Columbia. Trenton, Oskar, and Lily are plenty brave. They've already faced the Bellum and come out fighting."
Emmett tugged at my sleeve. He said nothing, but the stricken look on his face told me we needed to wind this up.
"So, we—the Paranormals—are the new mortal faction of the Coterie. And if I understand this correctly, you guys are the spirit faction, am I right?" I said.
"Yes, it's all just one big happy secret society of mortals and spirits, meeting in the clubhouse," said Columbia in a mocking voice.
"We are not the only spirit members," said Esoterica. "But if you meet one that knows, you'll know it."
How? I couldn't ask. I had to conceal what I didn't know, if I wanted to be part of them that knows. I think.
Whew. Being part of a secret society could be tiring. But I blundered on. "If that's the case, I can put forth our approval of Emmett's mortal state. Since you guys already voted and approved, that means the whole Coterie approves. So, we all agree. Emmett can stay mortal."
"I don't agree," said Columbia. "He's doomed to repeat past mistakes if he goes down this path. It could bring our worlds closer to destruction."
Esoterica shushed her. "I don't see how it could do that, Columbia. But even so, it is the will of the All. Yes, we are in agreement—the majority of us. Emmett may remain in whatsoever state he chooses."
I almost sighed, I was so relieved. I had their blessing, so it was fine to take Emmett back to the Vic now.
"However, young mortal—" Esoterica took an airless breath.
Oh, here it came. I rolled my eyes.
"We have come to a consensus," he said. "Please understand what this means. We will never interfere, even in the case of threat of the Coming End. We let matters take their course."
"Matters? Which matters?" I took Emmett's hand, preparing to leave.
"The All and the Bellum must clash. So it has been prophesied by the Great One, the Infallible Aeriel of Esperance. So it will be—no matter the form the gods take." Esoterica bowed once more, receded up into the mass of whirling spirits on the ceiling.
"Bellum can't interfere with Emmett when he's mortal," I said. My voice echoed in the hollow room, sounding petulant.
"Can't? Or won't? You've a lot to learn," said Columbia's snide voice from high above.
"What do you mean?" I called up to them, but they were wafting off, going to mist, until not a single member remained.
Emmett blew out a huge sigh of relief and I glared at him. Then his big, scared eyes made me hug him instead. "Don't worry. We're done here," I said.
Something tickled my ear. I rubbed at it, but the tickle persisted.
"Seek out his memories, Heather d'Espers," hissed a ghostly whisper. "In his tower, and in his mind, and in the book he left behind."
"Who's there?" I heard a wheezy cough, then a chuckle.
"A friend," said the voice. "One who's been with the All a very long time."
The tickle was so strong, I had to scratch my ear. Emmett stared at me.
"You don't have to ghost whisper," I said. "Show yourself. You're making my ear tickle like crazy."
"No, I must obey the council and not interfere. But seek his past, Heather d'Espers. From one that knows," said the whispering voice, then it wheezed and coughed again. The sound faded and a mist appeared near the door and drifted out.
I was almost sure it had been Pastoria, Emmett's friend from the council. The old geezer had been pretty happy to see us getting together before. He congratulated us over and over, said we "make a lovely couple." He must be helping us out.
Seek out his memories.
I could just get Emmett home now. They'd okayed it. They said Emmett could do as he wished.
But the ominous way Esoterica insisted the gods must clash—that had me worried. I knew so little—way less than spirit Emmett had known. Less than the spirit council, less than Columbia. Less even than Lily Benavidez, I had to admit. Her spiritualist historian research kept her more informed than I was. I'd never heard of this prophecy they mentioned, given by the Great One. And now that I'd declared the Paranormals the "New Four," to the spirit council, would that mean mortal spiritualists—my friends—were at risk if Emmett stayed mortal?
Bellum had overheard all our spirit names during the last battle. True, he was safely trapped in a Lexiverse dimension, with no way to get out. But if he ever did—he'd threatened that he had the power to summon each of us with a single word.
It was a terrifying thought and Esoterica's certainty that Bellum and the All must do battle made me even more nervous. Was it only a matter of time until the Bellum escaped, found his way to Emmett, and started the whole thing over again?
I needed to know why the gods were clashing. Was there no way to stop the Bellum? I determined I'd take Pastoria's advice and search the tower where Emmett had resided as a spirit. There had to be some clue to his past there. But how I searched those other things, I had no idea. His mind and the book he left behind? Emmett's mind didn't currently seem to contain any memory of his past. And which book? Emmett the spirit must have left behind thousands of volumes.
Well, maybe something would come to me. I seized Emmett's hand and strode for the door.
"Where are we going?" Emmett stumbled along behind me. "Who were you talking to?"
Spirits Page 3