He pulled me through the sky and I watched the surroundings go by before we floated down in front of a house on the outskirts of the city. Setting our feet on the steps, I only had time to admire the dark green front door before Beetlejuice shoved it open.
Pulling me inside, he slammed it behind us and I turned back and stepped forward…straight into the rather solid chest of a man.
Backing up, I looked up at the pale face of a ghost who didn't look a day older than twenty-five. He had the bearings of a self-confident, noble person who knew his friends and knew his enemies and wasn't afraid of the latter.
"Um…uh…sorry for…meeting…your chest?" I attempted.
He gave a short noise and looked back up at Beetlejuice.
"Papa? Why are you sneaking around the Neitherworld with a half-dead human?" he demanded of the striped-suited ghost.
I gave a start. Papa? Was this devilishly handsome ghost…Beetlejuice's…
"Well, it's a funny story, really…" BJ began chuckling nervously.
"And why is the entire NWPD out looking for an unauthorized ghost in the area? There have been sirens and announcements on TV about it."
"Honestly, kid, it's a really funny story."
"I know you're not about to ask me and Kyle to harbor this fugitive. Unless it's your fault she's here. Then I know you can just go to Saturn."
"Please, Endri? For me? C'mon, I've done plenty of stuff for you in the past. Just this one favor."
"Not for all the cockroaches in a diner's kitchen. Go bark up another tree."
"Endri" turned his back and retreated into the house. Another man appeared, this one a bit shorter and slightly more colored in the skin then Endri. He gave me the once-over and shrugged his shoulders. Calling back to Endri, he tried as well to get me to stay.
"Come on, Endri. Obviously the kid's got problems."
Endri reappeared and shook his head, crossing his arms. "The last thing we need is a tangle with the police, Kyle."
"But-…"
"No."
"Maybe-…"
"No."
"Only for-…"
"Goddammit, I said no! What, do you need me to spell it out? We are not giving this kid a place to stay! She has no grasp on her situation, she can't control her powers, she probably can't even fly! Jesus, the kid could have a bad dream and blow the roof off! Like the cops wouldn't notice that!"
"Hey, the 'kid' has a name!" I interrupted.
The both turned to stare at me. "My name is Lira. I'm not a kid, and I can hover. Not fly, but hover," I attempted.
Endri turned back to Kyle and gestured to me with his hand. "Hover. There you go. Can't fly, but she can hover. Give her a freaking medal and get her out of here."
Kyle got a hurt look in his eyes and Endri noticed it right away. Giving a huge sigh and not wanting to make a scene, he threw his arms in the air and stomped off. "Just make up a bed in the basement, for God's sake. The concrete will break the full blast of it when she has a nightmare."
(Endri and Kyle are copyright Spencers13 . Lacey, I love you and so do your boys for letting them be in my fic!)
