Page 31 of Ghosts and Ginger Tea

The page with tally marks counted eleven days. Next to it sat his journal, and again, it was open. A pen sat in the center of the spine, holding the spot while the other pages moved in the wind.

Someone wrote something.

I looked away in haste. Sure, I was gaining information bit by bit from all the people I met, and from Keanu himself.

But I would not be that nosy and read his journal. Even though every part of me forced my eyes to stay glued to the ocean, and not glance at the book…

But what does it say?

No, Oli. That’s intruding.

What if it says something that will help me survive all of this?

Since when did I care about respecting his privacy? Last night proved he did not care for me, allowing the enemy to force me to dance. If Keanu did not care about my safety, should I care about his privacy? He left the journal out and open, after all.

Don’t stoop to the level of these people, I told myself and turned away to resist the temptation. It was odd to me that these people–Kalani, Keanu, Pua, and more–were of the “upper” class, but they seemed to have the lowest of character. They were cruel, confrontational, and seeking their own comfort. Is that what power did to people?

An owl hooted, and I jumped to see Malu perch on the balcony outside the room. We stared at each other for a moment before I approached him. He watched as I slowly extended my arm to stroke his head.

Just as I touched his soft brown feathers, he hooted again, as if to say he found me ‌agreeable.

“I’m not like the rest of these people,” I reassured him, and he hooted again. “At least someone here is normal,” I said with a little laugh. I didn’t even know what normal was anymore…

I made my way to Keanu’s bookshelf and ran my hand over the titles, looking for anything that might help me solve the riddle. An old book about the gods stood out to me.

Flipping through, my eye caught onto the words “eternal flame.” It was in the section about heiau.

The torches at the heiau should always be lit, an eternal flame that welcomes all to worship the gods. To put out the torches is deeply disrespectful. Someone who willingly lights the torches again can make restitution for the one who put out the light.

The door opened, and I turned to see Keanu. He had dressed fully and prepared for the day, while I realized I wore only a white nightgown. It was modest, reaching up to my neck and covering my arms and legs, but still. I closed the book and returned it to the shelf.

He paused for a moment, then he smiled. I glared before making my way to the washroom, intending to ignore him.

I had work to do that day. I had more research to do and people to speak to before my time ran out.

“Good morning,” he said, but I closed the door, not responding. A dress hung in the washroom, and this one seemed plainer than yesterday’s dress. It was a black blouse with a sweetheart cut corset, lace that reached up my neck, and bell sleeves. The corset was also black, and the accents on the matching black skirt were a burnt orange color. It was actually quite pretty. But wearing it, of course, made me feel silly. A necklace sat next to it, one with a gold chain and light purple gem.

I brushed through my long, dark hair as I observed myself in the mirror.

If I were prettier… I thought, then shook my head. I did not need to be pretty. I only needed to be smart.

I had information about Kalani that Keanu wanted, so let him beg for it.

When I opened the washroom door, I found Keanu at his desk, writing in the journal. He did a double take at me, which caused my stomach to do the fluttering thing again. He looked exceptional, as always, and wore black as well, matching me.

He bowed. “You look beautiful as usual.”

As usual? What a silly thing to say when he’d only known me for two days!

“Will you join me for breakfast?” he asked. “In the garden?”

“You will not force me to spend time with your cousin?” I asked, venom in my voice. He visibly cringed a little.

“No, Oliana. I am going to spend the day with you. If that’s alright with you.”

I frowned, already tired from this endless game of putting on a face and trying to look out for my own well-being. “It’s not all right with me. I have research to do and a curse to break.”

“And I wish to help you.” In two long strides, he stood in front of me. “Please. I must beg your forgiveness for what happened last night.” At that, he took my hands. My eyes widened as my heart began pattering like rain.