Ghosts of Averoigne

“Jonathan got the key to that?”

Sixteen

They were only a few steps out of Radcliffe’s office when a woman with sharp features and tied-back hair came running up them. She was wearing a hotel uniform.

“Hi!” she said cheerily. “Are you two the—”

“Yes,” Kara cut her off.

The woman pulled out another bronze key, this time attached to a red plastic disc. She handed it to Kara.

“Room 120,” she said. “I know your rooms aren’t near each other, but it was the only space we could manage.”

“That’s fine,” said Kara.

“And sorry about last night’s mix-up.”

Logan cleared his throat with a smirk. He was staring down at her in a way that said: I’m not.

“Don’t be,” Kara replied quickly. She stared down at the plastic keychain as the woman bounced off. Their two rooms would now be a floor apart, and clear on the other side of the hotel from one another.

That was just fine with her.

“Wow,” said Logan. “Can’t believe you’re moving out.”

“I’m not,” replied Kara. “You are.”

She tossed him the keychain. He caught it easily and raised an eyebrow.

“You’re really staying in there?” he asked. “What with our friend coming and going, screaming bloody murder in your face?”

“Yes.”

“Seriously, Kara. Don’t be stubborn. What if she comes back?”

“I want her to come back. Maybe then I can figure out what she wants.” She began heading for the elevator — the main one this time, not the glass one. “That’s the whole reason we’re here, isn’t it? The Order didn’t send us away on some snowy Christmas vacation together.”

Logan smiled. It really was one of his best features. Despite her best efforts, Kara felt something melt a bit inside her. Her mind couldn’t help but wander.

He has a LOT of best features…

“All the more reason for me to be there,” her roommate went on.

Kara laughed. “Yeah, sure. Thanks, but no thanks.”

The elevator dinged. Its doors shuddered open unevenly and they stepped inside. Kara noticed immediately that it was old — very old. Maybe even older than its glass-and-brass sister.

“Besides,” she added. “If that ghost shows up again, Jeremy has the best chance of speaking with it. Much better than either of us. He’s the one gifted in apparitional communication.”

“Yeah yeah,” Logan replied. His voice was thicker now, as if something didn’t taste right in his mouth. “I know. The whole Order knows. We’ve all seen the Estonian footage.”

“Then you should—”

“I get it,” said Logan. He looked legitimately wounded now. “You made it clear earlier.” Then, in a lower tone. “Last night never happened.”

The doors opened onto the second floor. He hurried out.

Kara opened her mouth to say something. He stopped her.