Page 92 of Bride of Death

Pip seems to be considering him.

Meanwhile, Maliki is still talking to the bathroom door.

I bite my lip to keep from grinning. Because it is kind of amusing.

Especially since Pip is floating even closer to him now, near enough to touch his side.

“You have ten seconds to decide, lost soul,” Maliki says. “Don’t make me start counting.”

Pip lifts his arm, only for Maliki to spin away from him.

“I may not see you, but I can feel you.”

Pip’s eyes smile as he tries again, causing Maliki to whirl away.

“Stop fucking with me, soul. I was being nice.”

I cover my mouth to stop from laughing as Pip does it a third time, which results in Maliki growling.

Then his eyes find mine, and everything stills. The fight in him disappears, and he shakes his head. “Your pet is trying to make you laugh.”

“Pip,” I say, reminding him of his name. “And yes, I think so.”

The cloaked soul floats to my side, and Maliki glances down at him, his gaze narrowing a bit. “What the fuck are you wearing?” he asks, telling me he can see Pip now.

Pip does a little twirl to show off his cloak.

Maliki snorts. “That’s ridiculous.”

My little spirit pauses, then places his hands on his hips. Or I assume he does, anyway. Then he begins a game of charades whereby he reveals one bony finger, gestures toward me, mimes touching me, and then falls on the floor with a soundless thud.

After a moment, he lifts his head up and looks pointedly at Maliki as he tugs his cloak down over his exposed finger.

Maliki stares at him in bewilderment. “Well, I’ll be shadowed. You’re a smart little soul.”

Pip bows, then rights himself again and twirls.

“Yeah, you’ll do,” Maliki decides out loud, heading for the door. “He wears that cloak to protect you, by the way. In case you didn’t know that.” He pauses to glance at me over his shoulder. “One touch of his bones, even a brush, would kill you instantly. So he covers himself in case you get too close. I think he likes you.”

With that pronouncement, he walks into my living area, where he collects my plant.

“Shall we go?” he calls back to me.

I gaze down at Pip, who is dancing around happily again.

“For the record, I like you, too,” I tell him.

He blows me a kiss, then floats off after Maliki.

Watching him overcome his nervousness so quickly makes me kind of wish I was a little ghostlike soul, too.

Maybe then I wouldn’t be so terrified of returning to the palace.

Or of the dinner I’m going to attend tonight.

Alone.

With Hades.