Typically of my life, the moment doesn't last.

Just as I'm leaning in to kiss Cas again, the shrill ring of the doorbell echoes through the house. We jump apart, startled.

"Who's that?" I wonder out loud. Lucinda doesn't have many friends. At least, I don't think she does. I hadn't spoken to her in years the night I pitched up on her doorstep. It must have been quite a shock. She remembered me as a small, sullen twelve year old who hid behind her curtain of hair when adults tried to make conversation. We last met at Malvina and Elias' funeral. I remember thinking she was a crazy old cat lady.

I was right, but she was- and still is- a good one to know. With the exception of Helena, all my great aunts saw right through my mother. I faintly remember Lucinda cursing the coffin. I think maybe she knew what I did. I think they all did, because after, Katherine, the oldest of them all, came up to me and said,

"We understand, child. My niece was perhaps not the easiest person to live with, and we all know she married a monster. You did right, little Annie."

Back in the present day, Cas shrugs and vanishes.

"What?" I yelp. "Come back!" And he does. "What was that about?"

"It's Carmel and Thomas," he says grimly. "They're at the door. Carmel saw you run. I mean, I think it's Carmel. Blonde hair?"

"Yes," I reply tightly. Thomas is an idiot. Why bring her round here?

"Fantastic," grumbles Cas, glaring. "How do we get rid of her?"

"We have to stop Lucinda answering the door." With those words, I fly from the room and hurtle down the stairs. "Lucinda! Don't open the-"

"Oh, hello, dear," she says. Standing beside her in the kitchen are the very last two people I wanted to see. "Your friends came round to say hello. That's nice of them, isn't it?" I open my mouth to protest, then promptly close it, because if I speak now I know I will live to regret my words. Struggling to keep my thoughts to myself, I turn to look at Thomas.

"Thomas," I say through gritted teeth. "I wasn't expecting you. And Carmel, I didn't realise you were coming over. Why don't you both come with me to my room?" Translation: get the hell upstairs so I can rip Thomas a new one without my aunt around to be shocked at some of the language I'm going to direct at him.

Thomas takes a step back, a wary look on his face. "Uh, no, that's okay, we were just-"

"I insist." You're not backing out now. You've told Carmel everything anyway, so lets have her here to know you're a brainless moron. I step behind them and push them forward, through the door. "Aunt Lucinda?" I call back over my shoulder. "Um, if you hear any strange noises, it's just the wind. I left the window open." Hopefully, she's too deaf to be able to distinguish between the wind and the sound of someone getting their head slammed against the wall. I kick the kitchen door shut as I propel Thomas and Carmel up the stairs. I suppose Carmel will get to meet Cas after all.

"Anna, why are you twisting Thomas' arm up his back?" She asks.

"Because he deserves a lot worse," I snap. "Telling you about ghosts- and Cas, out of every ghost in the world. Idiot."

"That's really true?" She queries, a hint of excitement in her voice.

"Yes, unfortunately. And by the time I'm through with Thomas, he'll wish he'd never opened his big mouth." I shove open the door to my bedroom, where Cas is sitting on my bed, waiting. He stands as we enter. Carmel frowns.

"You're Cas?"

"Apparently," he says sarcastically. "Unless I've changed names in the last five minutes." She blinks.

"Sorry, that was probably rude. I just thought you'd be more... Well..."

"Dead?"

"Yes, that. And scarier, I suppose."

"He can be, when he wants to be," I inform her. From where I hold him captive in front of me, Thomas starts to whimper. Cas stares at him.

"Why is-"

"Good question," I snap. "Thomas, would you like to explain to everyone exactly why I'm about to break your arm?"

"Ow!" He gasps. "Let go! That hurts!"

"It fucking better!" I snarl in response, twisting his arm even further. "I'll give you one chance to tell me. What. Were. You. Thinking?! You better have a good excuse, or so help me I will-"

"Anna, enough!" Cas places a hand on my shoulder. "Let him go. He's stupid, but he's harmless."

"Stupid people are never harmless," I insist, but I release him all the same. He gasps and cradles his arm. Did I sprain it? I hope I sprained it. No one says a word as Thomas mutters about how ghost hunters shouldn't be allowed near living people and I stand glaring at him. Cas still has a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry," Carmel says, breaking the silence. "But is someone going to fill me in on what the hell all this is about?"