Don’t think about that right now. Find Mercedes.
She usually didn’t like going to the basement and into Magnus’ apartment because he had the propensity to walk around naked, but after searching a couple of spots for Mercedes which Flo could remember, she knew that she’d be in Magnus’ apartment.
Flo squared her shoulders, closed her eyes, and floated through the walls of Magnus’ room. She kept her eyes shut tightbecause she heard the giggling and the sounds of kissing, and she had no doubt about what they were up to.
It was something she really didn’t need to see.
“Sorry,” she shouted, loudly clearing her throat, announcing herself to the room.
“Flo!” Mercedes screeched.
“Are you serious? There’s a ghost in here now?” Magnus growled. “Right now?”
“Yes. Right now,” Mercedes responded.
Flo could hear rustling and she hoped it was them getting some clothes on. “Tell me when it’s safe.”
“It’s safe,” Mercedes said.
Flo opened one eye and saw Magnus, under the covers of his bed, his arms crossed and scowling at the far wall. He obviously thought she was there. Mercedes had a robe on.
“I’m sorry again,” Flo apologized.
“What’s up?” Mercedes asked breathlessly.
“Sven is trapped. I need you both to get dressed and come to the dining room and I’ll show you.”
“Sven is trapped?” Mercedes gasped.
Magnus’ head snapped around. “What do you mean Sven is trapped?”
“Would you both come to the dining room?” Flo said. “There’s really no time to explain.”
“We’ll be right there,” Mercedes assured her.
Flo nodded and quickly left their room, floating through the floors to the dining room to wait for them. Thankfully, it didn’t take them long to join her.
“How did my brother…” Magnus trailed off. “The wall is open.”
“A secret passage?” Mercedes asked.Flo nodded. “Yes. Sven thinks it’s where my father ran gin, but at the end, behind a verylarge iron-infused door is my hiding place. It’s a place he can’t dissipate from, because it’s meant to repel spirits.”
“What’s she saying?” Magnus asked as he approached the hallway. “How can he be trapped in there? It’s a dead end.”
“She said there’s a secret room down there and it’s iron infused. It keeps out the ghosts and your brother can’t dissipate and move through the walls.”
“Ah,” Magnus said. “That’s why I hate this hall too.”
“Please, just follow me,” Flo implored.
“We’re coming.” Mercedes took Magnus’ hand and they followed her down the hallway.
“There’s a small lever inside the crack,” Flo said to Mercedes. “Magnus can pull it. It’s a bit rusty.”
“There’s a lever in there, a small one, and you need to pull it. She says it’s rusty,” Mercedes explained, pointing to the crack in the stone.
Magnus nodded and reached in, pulling the hidden lever. The door creaked and slid open. Sven was standing there, his arms crossed, but he was ashen in color, even more so than usual, and looked a bit exhausted. At least he was intact. That was the main thing. She was relieved.
“It’s about time,” Sven teased.
