Page 18 of Beautiful Madness

“I have been here for so verylong,” he told me. “You must free me.”

From the looks of hisclothes—cutaway jacket, vest, watch chain—he’d been there since sometime in the1800s. That was a hell of a long time to be stuck in the godawful dungeon.

One of the guards muttered thatit was time for his break and beat a hasty retreat, while the other guardstared after him longingly.

“Let’s figure out what’skeeping you here,” I said, “and we’ll get you out. Where were you buried?”

“I have no need to cross over,”he said. “I need to get out of this…” He made a sweeping gesture, his browknit. “This place. I belong in the cemetery across the road. I am not stuck inthis world, but in this house.”

“Oh,” I said. “What happenswhen you try to leave?”

“There is an unending hallway.It goes in a loop. I can walk for hours but in the end, I will find myself backhere.” His big knuckles whitened when he clenched his fists. “I need the air. Ineed the dirt and the sky and the trees. Please, miss.”

“Let’s try something,” I said.“This may be as simple as you attaching yourself to me when I leave.”

“I have tried that before,” hesaid, dolefully. “I have followed many from this dank and despairing area, butthey simply go on and I am held here as though by invisible chains.”

“But they can’t feel you,” Itold him, “and they can’t see you. I want you to get behind me and wrap your armsaround me. Close your eyes. Whatever you do, do not open them until I tell youto. Can you do that?”

“I can,” he murmured. Therewasn’t any hope in his voice. Only disappointment.

I waited for him to put hisarms around me, and then, after a last glance at Lennon, I led the ghost, Joe,and Nell out of the dungeon. I could feel the man’s grip on me, just as I wouldhave a flesh and blood person. When we reached the stairs going up there was aslight tugging and a hesitation, but I held tightly to his arms and walkeddoggedly on, though the final few steps were a struggle, even for me. He hadbecome heavier—so heavy that by the time we reached the top and I shoved openthe door, I was breathing hard, covered with sweat, and my muscles were shakingfrom the strain.

But I got him out.

“Nell,” I said, headingdeterminedly for the front door, the spirit still wrapped around me, “pleasecall me if you think of anything else. If you hear anything—”

“You will be the first person Icall,” she said crisply. “I know that above all else, you want the alpha homesafe and sound.”

“Yeah,” I said. “I do.”

When we finally left the house,I waited until we were on the ground before I loosened my grip on the spirit.“You’re here,” I told him. “You’re outside. Let go of me and open your eyes.”

But he refused. “I’m afraid,”he cried. “If I do, this may disappear.”

I patted his hands, then gentlybut firmly pried them apart. “I got you out, sir. Now you only have to enjoyyour freedom. Go find your graveyard.”

Trembling and terrified, hestood alone, and finally, he opened his eyes. “Oh,” he said. “Oh my.” He staredat me, tears wandering crookedly down his lined face. “Thank you with all myheart. You cannot know what you’ve done for me.”

I smiled, my heart light. “I’mglad I could help.”

He turned his face in thedirection of his beloved graveyard but came back after he’d taken his first fewsteps of freedom. “I know how I can repay you.”

I was curious. It wasn’t oftenone of the dead offered to return a favor. “Yes?”

“What, Kait?” Joe asked. “Youlook like you’ve just been given the map to buried treasure.”

“Something like that, Joe,” Isaid, grinning as I watched the old spirit saunter away. “The ghost just gaveme the code to Lennon’s cell.”

Chapter Ten

“Wow,” he said, then, “Whatgood will it do you to get in the room with a frozen witchwolf?”

“I’m not sure.” We didn’t headback to the house, despite the fact that I’d been given the code. It was timeto meet up with Remy and Zach and see what they’d found out, and Lennon couldwait. I’d probably learn a lot more from my hunting partners than I would froma frozen witchwolf. “I’ll need to see her up close and feel what’s coming fromher.”

“And maybe you need to take herheart,” Joe told me, “just in case she wakes up. Eli won’t.”

“No.” I frowned at him. “ButJared will when he gets back. Don’t get ahead of yourself, Joe.”