small laugh. He wasn't sure Nate had it in him to not ask a question.
"Sure."
"How can you do what you do?"
"What do you mean?"
"I've seen psychics before. I've seen mediums. You're not like any of them."
He regarded the young ghost. "Do you really want to know?"
Nate hesitated. "Uh, sure. I really do."
"My parents were leaders of a cult. They had me, just so they could kill me. They wanted to sacrifice me or something to some demons. They thought it would give them power. But it didn't go like they planned. I'm the one who ended up different, and they ended up dead."
The silence stretched, and stretched. Alex didn't think it was possible for Nate to not say a word for so long.
"Holy shit," he finally said.
Alex laughed. There wasn't much holy about it at all.
"That's not what I expected," Nate said. "I mean…I knew it was something weird. No offense, but I didn't think it was that wedding ring giving you powers."
"You've got a problem with being married?"
"Oh, not at all. Hell, I'm only fifteen, so I can't say much about it. But think about it. You never get to have sex with anyone else. Ever. Again. That doesn't bother you?"
He only smiled. "Nope. It wouldn't bother you either if you saw my wife."
Nate rolled his eyes. "Sure. Whatever."
Alex was surprised to realize he enjoyed Nate's company. He made what would have been a boring stakeout into something a little better. They talked a while longer, with Nate telling Alex about some of the places he'd visited across the country. Nate was in the middle of describing floating over the Grand Canyon when Alex noticed something out of the corner of his eye.
There was a light coming from the Felder home. It was on the second floor. Kim's room. The glow was dim, flickering. Cindy had lit enough mood candles in their house for him to recognize candlelight when he saw it.
"Ah. That might be it."
"What?" Nate asked.
"I'm going to go see what's happening."
Nate's eyes lit up. "Can I come along?"
"No. Stay out here and keep watch on things, just like before."
"What fun," Nate said, looking down dejectedly.
Alex smiled. Nate must have been very bored to want to help that much. He spoke up when Alex opened the door to the truck.
"Wait. You're just going to walk up there? Knock on the door? Get everybody up out of bed? That might not go over too well."
"No. But something like that."
Alex left Nate behind and crossed the street. He glanced up at Kim's window as he walked. The curtains were open, and he could see the candlelight tossing wild, dancing shadows on the wall. There was more flickering, and her silhouette crossed the room. More candles, perhaps?
He wouldn't know for sure until he saw for himself.
As he crossed the lawn, he willed himself to shift. He phased from the world of the living to the spirit realm. It was a painless process with no sensation at all. It was so normal to him that he often tested himself to make sure it really worked. This time was no different, as he leaned down to run his fingers through the lawn. His fingers passed through the individual blades of grass, and he knew he was essentially a ghost.
Alex wasn't sure which of his demonic powers was his favorite, but walking through solid objects was high up on the list.
He poked his head through the front door, leaving the rest of his body behind. He assumed the living room was empty, but didn't want to just barge into the house. The sound was muffled, but he heard Nate screaming in the street behind him. The words were an excited mess, but Alex smiled as he understood the general idea. It was something along the lines of Damn Alex did you just stick your head through the damn door!
He stepped through completely into the darkened living room. The only light came from the corner pole outside, and the soft glow of the