He nodded. “Yes, that’s what she thinks she is from her research that she did over the years. Has Mona said anything about what she thinks she is?”
Mercedes shook her head. “No, how could she? No one but me and you and the ghosts in this house can see Florence.”
“There’s gotta be somebody who knows.”
“I could go to Tallowfield.”
“Mercedes, no, you can’t do that. It’s not safe. Even Flo said it was not safe to go back to your family. It’s too risky.”
Mercedes shrugged. “What could they possibly do to me?”
Sven sighed. “Look what your family did to Flo. Look what your ancestors did to me and Magnus. Magnus would skin me alive if anything happened to you.”
“He doesn’t own me,” Mercedes said quickly. “Besides, my family doesn’t tend to hurt their bloodline. They still think that I’m some kind of vessel for Yrsa, the sea witch who cursed you and Magnus. Remember, I have a repellent to them in the form of explosions.”
Sven chuckled softly. “I know, but I would never forgive myself if you put yourself in harm’s way.”
Mercedes crossed her arms. “Well, then what are we going to do? We can’t let both of you exist like this. Something has to be done.”
“I don’t know. I haven’t figured that out yet.”
Mercedes worried her bottom lip. “Maybe I’ll talk to Mona. We have to try something or maybe there’s a spirit in this house who knows something. Maybe someone who was there that night.”
“It’s a good theory, but it happened in the iron-infused room. Flo explained that’s where she’s connected to, so that must be where she was cursed. Just like that sacred blood spot outside of Harmony Glen that affects me, Magnus, and you.”
“True. Ghosts can’t get in that room. You’re sure that’s where it happened?”
“That’s where Flo feels the curse happened, and honestly, I could feel it too when I was in that room, so no, a ghost wouldn’t have seen anything because no ghost or spirit could enter that room. It was built to repel everything.” Sven sighed. “We’ll figure this out. I’m sure of it.”
Mercedes nodded. “I will help any way I can.”
“Well, you can start by removing Vlad from my apartment and making sure that no more enchanted appliances make their way up there. Or if they do, make sure they keep to themselves.”
Mercedes grinned. “Right. I’ll retrieve him now.”
Mercedes gave him a quick peck on the check and ran up the staircase.
Sven wasn’t sure what he was going to do, but as he sat there mulling it over, the computer pinged. Someone had booked a room for later in the week. At least things on the business end were starting to look up.
“Now can we talk?” Erickson demanded, appearing behind him.
Sven groaned, but then realized that Erickson was an older spirit and had been here probably the longest. Maybe he saw something that night a hundred years ago.
He would have to placate his old friend and maybe, just maybe, he’d get some information from him. “Sure. We can talk. I have all the time in the world.”
Which was sort of true, given he was immortal.
Chapter
Six
Flo felt like she was making headway every moment she spent with Sven since he got zapped at the séance and could see her. She was starting to see more and more fragments of who she was, which was a good sign. She was sure that she had previously remembered all these things, yet she just couldn’t recall them, which was definitely a conundrum. Whatever had happened, she was feeling less and less skittish. And definitely more confident.
She was hopeful that whatever curse had been put on her could be broken. Maybe she could find some information about it and what happened that night. Why did her father have her cursed in an iron-infused room. Did he really understand what he was doing to her?
Something told her yes, he did, and that she didn’t like him much.
Whatever had been done was meant to hurt her.
