After temporarily ending her conversation with Mother Superior Elena, Katherine had to carry on with her day. Ghosts, murder, and mysteries were hardly what one might consider part of a daily routine, but she had become fairly resilient to stress after a lifetime of peering through the veil between life and death. Returning to her routine was not particularly difficult.
Her thoughts followed her as she prepared to head out. She did what she always did. She kept her hair away from her face with a pair of clips, changed into clothes that were clean and unwrinkled, and made sure her bag was packed.
But just before zipping it shut, her fingers paused on two small jars she picked up from a shelf beside her bedroom door. One held salt, the other held holy water.
She stared at them for a moment, her expression growing more serious even though no one was there to see it. Although they were always nearby, ready to be used if needed, the truth was that Katherine only carried them when she expected trouble. A reflection of what her life truly was, beyond the image of the bartender at Old Tom's Pub.
Those spring-green eyes, partially hidden behind the dark frame of her glasses, stayed focused on the jars while her thoughts wandered through the revelations the day had brought. "Pull yourself together, Katherine. That was not even the worst ghost I have met. That deranged psychiatrist was a hundred times worse." Without hesitating further, she dropped them into her bag and closed it.
The walk to Old Tom's Pub was so familiar that Katherine could almost do it on autopilot. It was part of her daily rhythm, one that asked nothing of her brain. Perhaps the only difference today was that the strange looks she received from people around her did not bother her. She had more important things on her mind.
Still, it could not be called a pleasant walk. Her conversation with Elena lingered like a heavy mist. The warnings. The promise of answers. Lucía. Katherine let out a small sigh and adjusted her bag strap. Maybe she should let things be for now. She was more the type to sort things out as they came.
A sudden chill stopped her in her tracks. The familiar presence of someone appeared behind her. She did not need to look to know who it was. Olivia.
The redhead turned calmly and was met by the translucent figure of the ghost. Some of the fatigue in her expression faded at the sight of her friend. Suspended in the air with no respect for gravity, her pitch-black hair cascading in a waterfall that veiled one eye, Olivia was undeniably dramatic. Katherine did not react much to Olivia's attempts to be spooky. After almost a year of Olivia popping in whenever she felt like it, nothing was really surprising anymore.
Olivia let out a low groan of annoyance after realizing she had once again failed to scare Katherine. It wounded her ghostly pride. Admittedly, she had invented the concept herself, and there was no real rule about needing to be a terrifying ghost, but still.
"You know, you could at least pretend I am scary." Olivia sounded frustrated.
Katherine squinted, uncertain whether to indulge the conversation or steer it somewhere else. She never fully understood Olivia's obsession with fright, nor did she enjoy how lightly she treated her ghostly state. From what little Katherine knew about Olivia's death, it was clear the girl was trying very hard not to think about her trauma.
Ultimately, Katherine knew that with the trust between them, Olivia would speak about her past when she was ready. So she chose not to prod. "How did it go with Mrs. McAll's cats?" That was the question she asked instead.
Olivia let out a dramatically evil laugh that sounded lifted from a vintage cartoon. "They did what they always do. First, they ran. Then they tried to attack as if they could scratch me. I am teaching them true terror."
Katherine finally allowed herself a small smile. She did not fully understand why tormenting cats brought Olivia so much joy, but it was good to see her in high spirits. "You take your revenge very seriously."
Olivia spun in midair like she had just won something. Well, someone has to do something.
Katherine let out a soft chuckle at that. She had already noticed how much Olivia enjoyed the aerial mobility that came with being a ghost. Little perks of death, or something like that.
Their conversation drifted into a quieter pause, something Katherine appreciated. It was nice to step outside the shadows for a moment. But there was still something in Olivia's eyes, like she wanted to say more.
The air still held a trace of their talk when Olivia hesitated briefly, her gaze drifting toward the street as if she had sensed something. Apparently, being a ghost came with a built-in danger alert. Or that is what she always told Katherine. "No rest for the wicked, huh. Sorry Kath. Someone is messing with my grave again. See you later."
There was no playful tone this time. No extra commentary. In fact, Olivia looked both annoyed and frustrated. The ghost offered only a hasty goodbye before vanishing into the air.
Katherine blinked, feeling oddly unsettled by her friend's sudden retreat. Whatever the problem was, she hoped it was nothing serious. She did not want to go through another incident like the one nearly a year ago when someone vandalized the old cemetery. That chaos was not something she ever wished to repeat.
To Katherine's surprise, just before her thoughts could spiral further, someone called her name. "Katherine."
The vibrant and energetic tone did not belong to any supernatural presence. It belonged to her best friend and confidante. Rachel Bennet was striding across the street with unwavering steps. Her denim jacket, cluttered with patches of every imaginable kind, did little to shield her from the crisp air. Something about the way she walked always seemed certain, as if the world itself was hers to traverse.
Katherine relaxed her shoulders and let her mind return to something resembling normal. "Hello, Rachel."
Rachel smiled with the ease of someone who always had something to say.
"Ready for another thrilling and glamorous shift at Old Tom's Pub?"
Katherine let out a soft laugh. For the first time in hours, the tension in her expression faded. Rachel was good at that. At making everything feel easier.
Rachel fell into step beside her as naturally as she had done hundreds of times before. Eight years of friendship had turned their movements into a silent choreography.
"God, I am so tired. You have no idea how many people came in for flowers at my mom's shop today. I lost count of how many white rose and orchid bouquets I made this morning. I mean, I get that Jonathan was popular, but he was also a jerk. I cannot believe how many people are getting ready for his funeral. I do feel bad for poor Samantha though. She really loved him, no matter how many times he cheated on her. Anyway, sorry if I am ranting too much. Tell me your day was not equally horrible."
"It has been… interesting." Katherine chose the word carefully, not committing to more. Rachel's rapid-fire commentary never bothered her. In truth, she found it oddly entertaining.
Rachel eyed her with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "Which means weird stuff happened. Which means I need details."
Katherine shook her head with a light chuckle. Of course Rachel wanted the full scoop. "I don't know if I would call them weird, but definitely unexpected."
"Unexpected is just another word for suspiciously supernatural." Rachel replied, clearly not buying what Katherine was selling.
Katherine rolled her eyes. "Not everything that happens to me involves ghosts or curses."
"No." Rachel nodded with mock conviction before adding: "But ninety percent does."
Katherine sighed with a resigned smile. Rachel had a way of making any conversation feel lighter, even when the topic wandered toward the tangled mysteries of their town. It almost made the whole encounter with Jonathan Blackthorn that morning feel less heavy. Almost.
"So tell me. Is today part of the ninety percent or are you going to disappoint me." Rachel pressed on, not ready to drop the subject.
Katherine glanced sideways at her friend, feeling that familiar sense of safety her presence always brought. "You're right. Something did happen. And it actually involves your mortal enemy, Jonathan Blackthorn. But it's a long story. I will tell you after my shift."
Rachel let out an exaggerated sigh. "Come on, we were only enemies because he kept picking on you. And how can you give me just enough to spark my curiosity and then cut me off. This is cruel and calculated."
Katherine smiled and adjusted her bag strap. The world was still full of uncertainty, still thick with unanswered questions and shadowed threats. But for now, this conversation with Rachel was exactly what she needed.