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“You misspelled necromancy,” Lucien said helpfully.
Anna jumped, her elbow jerking as she splashed ink all over her parchments. “Fuck! Why did you sneak up on me like that?”
Lucien shrugged. “I’m a ghost. We drift on silent feet, et cetera, et cetera. I suppose I could get some spectral chains and clink them together, if you insist. Seems awfully expected, however.” He smirked over Anna’s shoulder, waiting for a reaction.
Anna shut her eyes, breathing heavily for a few moments, feeling her heart slow. “Lucien?”
“Yes?”
“Drop dead.”
.
A small noise, and Anna spun. “M-Magelight,” she whispered, mouth dry, and the light shone through Lucien’s pale form like glittering stars.
“Jumpy, Anna?”
“No. Just prepared.”
The ghost arched a brow. “And what are you doing wandering the halls of our Sanctuary in the dead of night? It is my job… now more than ever.”
“I wasn’t wandering. Just… patrolling.”
“It’s not your job anymore, remember? You’re the Listener, now. They don’t pay you enough for this.”
“Old habits die hard.”
Lucien inclined his head. “You’re preaching to what should have been sent to the Void. Perhaps I shall join you.”
.
“Out late once again?”
“Why are you here?” Anna rubbed her eyes. “Is following me around and criticising my spellwork really that rewarding?”
“Why aren’t you in bed?”
“It’s… too cold and dark.”
“I’ll come along. Haunt the bed frame. Creaking beds, creaking doors. It’s all the same.”
Anna snorted. “And how would that work? Ectoplasm as lubricant?”
“I wish I could touch you,” Lucien sighed. “What a ding around the ear I would give you.”
Anna left. “Go toward the light,” she advised him over her shoulder.
“You’re the one who needs to see the light,” Lucien muttered.
.
“Less mandrake, Settrella, unless you’d rather an unpleasant death than an uninterrupted sleep.”
Anna paused, then drew back her hand. “Thanks,” she muttered. “Do you think it’ll work?”
“Of course it will. I’m a master at brewing.”
“Were. You were a master. Now you’re just a dead man who won’t leave me alone.”
“Would you like me to leave you alone to brew the sleeping potion, Settrella?”
Anna shook her head blearily. “No. Don’t leave me alone. I… can’t do this anymore. I can’t seem to rest.”
She looked up at Lucien, who understood. “Neither can I.”
.
When the potion was finally ready, Anna retreated to her rooms, Lucien still dogging her steps. Anna shut the door behind her quickly, but Lucien floated in anyway. “Do you always have to walk through walls?”
“Do you always have to walk on water?”
Anna crawled beneath the covers. “Bottom’s up,” she remarked, tossing the vial back and plunking it down on her nightstand. “How long do you think it will take?”
“Not long.”
Anna rested on her side, looking up at Lucien. “Will you stay until I fall asleep?”
“I have no better place to be.”
Anna fell asleep.
.
In the morning light, Lucien was nearly invisible, sunlight pouring through his translucent body, making his form shine like stars peaking through clouds. “Good morning,” he said quietly.
“Didn’t you sleep?”
“Are you stupid? No, don’t answer,” Lucien replied testily.
Anna stared at him, a funny look on her face. “You stayed all night.”
“So?”
“I thought you were haunting me out of a desire for revenge.”
“So?”
“You’re not, are you?” Anna slowly grinned. “You like me, you want to haunt me,” she said in a sing-song voice.
Lucien threw a dagger at her head.
Anna was sure he missed on purpose.
.
“Where do you go when you’re not around me? I mean, I am the point of your existence, right?”
“Every time I think you can’t get more arrogant, you prove me wrong. Your head is swelling as we speak.”
“No, really.”
Huffing loudly, Lucien frowned. “I roam the darkness bemoaning my wretched fate - and trust me, being in love with you just about qualifies. I emit disembodied laughter. For a change of pace, I make myself invisible to throw quills at you and blame the nearest initiate.”
“You - what? Bastard.”
Lucien inclined his head like he was accepting a compliment.
.
“Have you considered training the initiates?”
“What?”
“I know there's a Mage’s Guild somewhere with a ghost teacher. Why can’t you do it?”
“Half of Alchemy is knowing when to hurl yourself in front of the idiot you’re teaching, thus keeping them from learning from their mistakes.”
“You could have a helper. Mynard is looking for work. He’s quite good at potions, if crap at morality like us all.”
“Mynard. The Dark Mage?”
“Yep.”
Lucien mulled it over. “It would give me something to do to pass the years,” he admitted.
Anna broke into a brilliant grin. “You can go back to terrorising the initiates the old-fashioned way.”
“I’ll terrorise them any way I can,” Lucien promised.
“Oh, good.”
.
“You’re settling in nicely,” Anna remarked, watching Lucien glare at his quill, putting his hand through it several times before managing to pick it up.
Lucien grunted. “Stupid solid objects.”
“You’ve settled in so quickly, like you could keep doing this for thousands of years.”
“Settrella, what is your point?”
“When I’m gone, will you even notice?”
“You’re leaving?”
Anna flung a book through him. “No, you idiot. I mean, when I’m gone.”
Lucien’s face lit with understanding. “Ah.”
“Will you? Miss me?”
“No.”
Anna looked away.
“I think I’ll probably come along.”
“Oh.”
.
“You never let me touch you.”
Anna froze in the act of unbuttoning her dress. “You can’t touch me. Not really. You’re - not real.”
“Real enough.”
Anna turned away. “It’s sort of weird, the idea of dating a ghost.”
“I see. But I’m one of the few who knows you. Understands you. Accepts you. Would you rather someone like Mynard? Talk about insubstantial.”
“I don’t know.”
“I’m willing to wait.”
“How long?”
“Until you come to your senses or die. My bets on the latter.” Anna opened her mouth, but Lucien had already ghosted from the room.
.
Anna was writing down her latest spell creations, and Lucien was reading nearby.
Anna kept glancing up.
“Have I got ectoplasm on my face?” Lucien asked sarcastically.
Anna flushed. “I was wondering. What it would be like to kiss you,” she trailed off into a mumble.
Lucien arched a brow, rose and glided to Anna, cupping her chin. “Let’s find out,” he replied, pressing cold lips to Anna’s.
Anna sighed, trying to rest a hand on an insubstantial shoulder. “That was really great,” she breathed. “Tingly.”
Lucien smiled, running a cool finger over her cheek. “I'm glad you’re getting into the spirit of things.”