If eavesdropping were an Olympic sport, I’m certain I could at least get on the podium with a bronze medal. Now that Madison can see me, I split my time between complete invisibility and allowing limited visibility to let her know I’m around and listening.

And because I’m a nosey bitch, I’m spending more and more time hanging around the Society’s headquarters.

The morning they plan to collect the book from the summer house, I leave the brownstone an hour before them. I like to think I’m the advance reconnaissance team of one. If there’s a trap, I can warn Madison.

To amuse myself, I hum the old song “I Ain’t Got Nobody” as I wait for the alive crowd to wake up.

It’s funny because it’s true.

Literally and figuratively.

Ghost. Check.

Body missing from my grave. Check.

No body for this nobody. Check.

Does it even matter if my corpse is missing? Not like I have any use for it.

Of course, I’d like my bones to be recovered. If I’m being honest, I’d like them back out of spite. Stealing from the dead is a victimless crime, but it’s downright rude.

No respect, even in death.

Death is endlessly boring. Like sitting in a waiting room at the dentist. Or waiting for a delayed plane to depart and seeing the airport workers haul out the cots.

The mansion is empty and nothing appears out of place. Relieved, I decide to relive my favorite holiday party again. It’s my version of rewatching the same movie over and over again. I know the ending, but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying it.

Madison and her group of friends arrive. I’ve dubbed them the Scooby gang because they’re always showing up and meddling in the business of bad people.

This time, Sarah Wildes, Dr. Philips, and Geoffrey have joined them. I wonder if this is the first time he’s been back to the house since …

“They’re here,” Madison whispers. “They’re still here.”

She can see the vision of my memory.

“Wait. Please wait,” she shouts down the hall. “I have so many questions.”

The same holiday party scene in my head plays out for her. I can’t seem to stop it. Past Geoffrey leads me down the hallway with Madison following us. We’re trapped in an infinite loop of memory.

In order to break the connection, I return to the library and focus on present day Geoffrey.

“Don’t go,” she says when she reaches the office and I know the past has faded from her vision.

Geoffrey leans against a bookshelf, his fingers tucked into the front pockets of his neatly tailored chinos. To someone who doesn’t know him well, he’s the picture of relaxed confidence. But I can see the ticking muscle in his tense jaw.

Sarah busies herself setting up the altar to cast her spell and pays no attention to him.

If I weren’t completely selfish, the two of them would make a wonderful couple. She’s slightly older, but he’s always been an old soul. I want him to be happy. The fact he is still alone, cooped up in the brownstone day after day, breaks my heart all over again.

A surge of love washes over me as I stare at my soulmate.

“I love you.” Andrew’s voice carries through the bookcase from the secret room on the other side.

“Ooh,” I whisper. They’re totally making out in there. Since they’ve already found a room, I close the door for them to give them some more privacy. If I can’t kiss Geoffrey and he’s not kissing anyone else, at least two people in love should be kissing in this house.

“Not funny. We’re stuck in here,” Madison says.

I closed the door! I shoved a heavy, wood door with the power of my mind. I’m a badass poltergeist. Behold my power! I cover my mouth to smother my laughter.

A few moments later, Madison stumbles through the door into the library, sprawling face first on the carpet.

I can’t help it. A loud snort escapes my mouth as laughter pours out of me.

Andrew, Tate, and Sarah rush to help Madison back to her feet. Sam bends over her knees, shaking with laughter, and Philips wipes tears from the corners of his eyes.

“A grander entrance has never been made.” Geoffrey slowly claps. “Is that the book?”

“What just happened?” Sarah asks Andrew.

“We were trapped in the room with the book for a minute.” He slips his hand around Madison’s waist. From his swollen lips and her messy hair, it’s clear what was just happening.

“The ghosts closed the door on us.” Madison throws me under the bus.

“Madison was smart enough to try the door into this room,” he says with pride.

“I tripped and accidentally sprung the release.” Madison’s cheeks deepen with a blush.

Does anyone believe her?

Stepping into the small, hidden room, Geoffrey studies the shelves. “Fascinating. I’ve always wanted a secret passage at the Society.”

Oh, he’s good. Like he doesn’t know that room well. Intimately well.

The realization that Geoffrey hasn’t made the connection between me and Madison’s ghost is a punch to my gut. He doesn’t know it’s me.

“Shall we set the charm on the copy and be on our way?” Philips prompts the group. I take a minute to study him. He really hasn’t aged much since my time at Hawthorne. Whatever anti-aging magic he’s tapped into could make him billions if he could bottle it. I wonder if he brought Mildred the cat with him.

After the reunion with Madison last December, I’ve taken a few trips to Salem to check in on her and make sure she’s okay. I swear that cat has followed me around town like she knows me. Maybe she does remember me. That’s sweet.

Sarah points at the library table decorated with a pentagram composed of crystals and herbs. In the center lies the book with the golden moons. “I prepared the altar while you were collecting the book. If you could place it on top of the other one, we can begin.”

The group gathers in a circle around the table. Madison stacks the real book on top of the other one.

“Let us cast a sacred circle by calling the elements to join us. Please close your eyes, clear your minds, and focus your breath.” Sarah takes a deep inhale and slowly releases it.

The breathers inhale and exhale in sync with her.

“Hail to the spirits of the east, I summon the power of air.” She speaks in a soft voice directed at Sam.

Facing Andrew, Sarah says, “Hail to the spirits of the south, I summon the power of fire.”

Sarah addresses Tate, “Hail to the spirits of the west, I summon the power of water.”

Facing Madison, Sarah finishes the circle. “Hail to the spirits of the north, I summon the power of earth.”

Geoffrey, Philips, and Smith fill in the gaps between the cardinal directions. Without verbalizing it, Sarah has labeled the young witches by their elements. The rest of us are here to support their magic.

Madison looks straight at me and frowns. Disappointment and embarrassment still shadow her eyes. Doesn’t she understand what I did? I closed the door like a petulant toddler.

I mouth “sorry” and give her an apologetic smile.

After invoking all four cardinal directions and their corresponding elements, Sarah invites spirit to join our circle. “As within, so without. As above, so below.”

Moving to be between Sarah and Tate, I mirror the sphere Sarah draws through the air. We are now an odd number, as it should be.

With the circle complete, Sarah lights a candle and places it on the table. A happy smile on her face, she enthusiastically says, “Let’s do this.”

She hands a bundle of juniper to Andrew. He creates a small flame in his palm and holds it near the end of the juniper until it alights, sending up a fragrant spiral of smoke.

I inhale deeply. I love a good smudging. Like dry shampoo for energy and ghosts.

“Thank you,” she says to him. “First, we’ll smudge both books to remove any negative energy attached.”

The smoke turns black before paling to a pure white. Sarah places the juniper on a large oyster shell.

Next, she sets a palm-size piece of labradorite and smaller points of black tourmaline on top of both books. “For protection.”

“Now we bind their power together. Repeat after me,” Sarah instructs us before softly speaking the sacred words. When the last word is spoken, the plume of smoke on the juniper sparks and goes out. “So it is spoken, so it shall be.”

I repeat her words as I stare at Geoffrey. Unable to resist the temptation of close proximity to him, I reach out and touch the wayward curl on his forehead. He sweeps it away a second later but otherwise seems unaware of my touch.

Sarah thanks the four elements and cardinal directions, ending with a thank you to the Father Sun and Mother Earth.

I repeat her words. I love a sacred circle and it’s been ages since I’ve been invited to attend one.

Sarah walks around the table, stopping at each point to slash the air with her finger as if she’s cutting the circle open.

The magic is cast and our work here is done.

The group returns to the brownstone and congregates in the archives. When I pop into the room, Mildred hisses from inside of her crate.

I hiss back.

Madison’s attention flicks to me and our eyes meet.

Oops.

I smile at her and wave my fingers.

She smiles back and I feel like I’ve made a friend.

I’m still wearing my ball gown. If I’m going to be visible on a regular basis, I’ll need to change outfits.

We stare at each other for an awkward moment. There’s no recognition in her eyes but she seems happy I’m here. I point at the black book and nod in approval. I have faith they’ll figure out the mysteries it contains soon.

Mildred hisses at me again. I shoot a dirty look at the carrier.

Catching the exchange, Madison laughs.