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"We both know you did." His voice was calm, and his silvery gaze only reflected curiosity. "I'm just waiting for you to tell me why."
And that was that.
He wasn't angry at all, and that could only mean one thing. Hadrian was not the Man in Black. He was just too nice to be the D-word, and I simply needed to find a way to prove this to the other ghosts.
But first—-
Three tissues later, and I could finally take a small step back to observe my handiwork. "All done," I assured him.
"Thanks."
I ignored the sardonic note in Hadrian's voice and instead pointed to the small garden at the back of the church. "Can we go there and talk?"
Hadrian took my hand as we walked, and he led us to one of the stone benches scattered around the garden. I waited until we were both seated before clearing my throat. "So..."
"Is this about me leaving in the middle of the night?"
"Uh..." So much had happened that it actually took me a second to understand what he was talking about. "No, it's, um, not that. It's...something else."
Hadrian's gaze narrowed. "Is this about the...stray?"
"Err...no." I was genuinely taken aback. Where did that even come from?
"You're certain?"
"It really was just a stray, you know." I saw the hardened edges of his jaw relax, and my confusion grew. Maybe he finally realized that stray cat wasn't as handsome as he thought it was?
I felt Hadrian's grip tighten slightly, and it made me glance up.
"You can tell me anything," Hadrian invited.
I managed a smile. "I really hope you mean that," I told him, "since what I'm about to tell you is something that will probably make you think I'm crazy."
"Saoirse..." Hadrian's tone was gentle. "Stop beating around the bush."
Fine then.
I looked at him in the eye and just said it.
"I can see ghosts."
Silence.
"I'm not joking."
"I didn't say you were."
"It's the truth," I insisted. "I can really see ghosts—-"
"I believe you."
"I know how crazy—-" Wait. "What did you say?"
Hadrian's calm expression didn't change as he repeated his words. "I believe you."
I stared at him in shock. "Seriously?"
His lips twitched, but he responded obligingly all the same. "Seriously."
"But why?" I asked incredulously. "You should've at least wondered if I was crazy or hallucinating. You can't just—-" My eyes widened. "You wouldn't believe me just like that unless..." I held my breath. "Can you see ghosts, too?" When I saw Hadrian seem to hesitate, I said eagerly, "It's alright. I won't think you're crazy either. But that's it, isn't it? You can see ghosts, too?"
There was a rather long moment of silence before Hadrian finally spoke.
"Yes, I can."
Oh, thank God.
"And talk to them as well?" I asked excitedly.
A frown marred Hadrian's forehead. "Why are you asking me these things?"
"Because the ghosts think you're the Man in Black," I revealed with a shake of my head. "Crazy, right?"
"Ah."
"They have their reasons though," I told him in a rush, "so please don't be mad at them."
"What do you know about the Man in Black?"
A huge burden seemed to have lifted from my shoulders as I told him how Nana made me realize about my new "abilities" and had warned me later on about the Man in Black. Throughout it, I peeked at his expression every so often, but Hadrian's impassive mask didn't even crack a single time.
Which was a good thing...right?
"All of the ghosts only seem to avoid him out of instinct," I shared, "and when I asked them why, none of them could give me a straight answer. They can't even agree on what he is exactly, but if you ask me, I'm pretty sure I've figured out the truth."
"Which is?"
"He's the D-word."
Hadrian was visibly bemused.
"D as in demon, silly."
Hadrian's gaze turned chilly at my words. Maybe he didn't like being called silly? I started to apologize, but he beat me to speaking.
"Why can't it be the A-word?"
It was my turn to be confused. "Like asshole?"
Hadrian looked as if he wanted to strangle me now for some reason. "I meant angel."
"Oh, right." I wrinkled my nose. "I don't think that's possible. I mean, duh. Angels don't make ghosts run away in terror."
"Which you're certain of..." Hadrian's tone was solemn.
"Of course."
"Because you know a lot of angels, I take it?"
I pretended not to hear this. "Anyway, we're getting off topic. We need to prove to them that you're not what they think you are, and I think the best way to do that is to have you meet them—-" I stopped speaking when I saw Hadrian wince ever so slightly. "You don't want to meet with them?"
"Not...exactly."
I waited for him to say more, but he didn't, and it left me stumped. "I suppose I could explain to them on your behalf," I said doubtfully, "but it's not going to carry the same weight." I tried but failed to imagine how I'd be able to properly explain things to the ghosts, like why it was that they could only see Hadrian as this fuzzy figure in black and why all of them had this seemingly pre-built fear of his presence...
