The Bone Maiden

The Page of Pentacles

Returning to work was an unexpected blessing. At least at first. My aunt and uncle owned a restaurant that originally belonged to my grandparents. My uncle and dad took it over after they died, and then my dad sold his portion of the business and moved us to Florida. My cousin Ed worked there for a time, before giving it up to hit the road in his quest to uncover the truths of the supernatural. Or whatever it was he told me when he was drunk enough to try and initiate a friendship.

I started working for the family business as soon as I moved from Florida. Technically I was too young to be working there, but they couldn’t find a babysitter they trusted enough with a grief-stricken pre-teen. They thought it would be best to bring me along and teach me some work ethics. While they secretly paid me under-the-table. I’d started my career in the food industry by following Ariel around, hanging onto her apron strings, and bussing tables. When I turned sixteen, she put me on as a full-time server and gave me an actual paycheck.

It was one of the few things that set Theresa and me apart. Despite being a farm girl from a family that was nowhere near wealthy, we’d been raised entirely different. Theresa was only ever expected to do a few menial chores at home and get good grades in school so she could go to college. She used to complain that I worked too much, and I’d find her in the dining room desperately trying to coerce me into clocking out early.

It became less regular after she met Gabriel and spent more time out of town. But it was surprisingly difficult to walk into the dining room my first day back and not find her seated in a window booth, waving her arm in the air to get my attention. I only came back to work because I was desperate for the monotonous drone of meaningless tasks. And Ariel thought it would be best for me to get back into my regular schedule.

But my first day back turned out to be anything but boring and monotonous. Starting from the moment my cousin decided to give friendship another go.

I was assembling a plate in the back when someone appeared from the dining room. He leaned against the wall and looked over the busy kitchen.

“God, I hate this place,” he remarked. I glanced at him.

“Then leave,” I said.

“There she is. My favorite ray of sunshine.”

“What are you doing here? I thought you were in Kentucky or some equally awful place.”

“Oklahoma.”

“Awful, just like I thought.” He chuckled and ran his hands through his bleach blond hair. We were always polar opposites, in more than just our wide gap in age difference. Ed’s personality was as jovial and warm as you’d expect from someone who spent their days on sunny beaches—even though he’d just returned from Oklahoma. But he looked like he’d spent the day on the beach too. As if he’d woken up in the sand just that morning. I, however, only owned clothes in various shades of black and had the personality of Daria.

“I came to see you, actually. I heard about your friend. I wanted to see how you’re holding up,” he continued.

“I’m fine,” I told him, pushing past him to take the plate out. He followed after me like an annoying pet.

“Right. I can tell. By your usual sunny disposition.”

I ignored him and served the plate, putting on my mask of false peppiness in the hopes that I’d get a good tip. After I was done, I returned to the kitchen, letting my face fall back into its usual expression. Which Ed kindly referred to as “resting b***h face.” He followed along.

“Come hang with me. My mom says it’s okay if you clock out early,” Ed said, towering above me as I went to wipe down the counters.

“Can’t. I have homework tonight.”

“I’ll give you a ride home.”

“I need the money.”

“For what? It’s not like you ever do anything.” I glared at him again. I didn’t miss what he’d left unsaid. It’s not like you have any friends, anymore.

“I’m saving for a car actually.”

“Well, here. I’ll help.” He pulled out his wallet and began to count out cash. In hundreds. I had no idea what kind of work he’d be doing to get cash like that. I was sure ghost hunting didn’t offer a living wage. I tossed the wet rag back into the bucket and pushed his hands away.

“I don’t want your money.”

“Christ, kid. I’m just trying to help.”

“Why?”

“Because we’re cousins. We’re supposed to be friends. BFF’s or whatever.”

“You sound like an old man trying to be hip with the young folks. Don’t say ‘BFF.’ We’re fifteen years apart in age. I think we’re an exception to the unspoken rule.”

“Fifteen smifteen. And you’re the one who’s never had fun a day in your life.” He watched me take out the trash and didn’t offer any help as I struggled to get the bag out of the bin. It was almost true. I’d always been a pretty happy kid. Until my parents died. But Ed, on the other hand, still hadn’t been struck by the harsh realities of life. Or death for that matter.

“Just go away, Ed. I’m busy, and I have customers,” I said through clenched teeth, wretching the bag free.

“Look, kid. I’m just trying to make peace. I don’t know why you have it out for me so bad. But we don’t have to be friends or even talk if you don’t want to. Just let me—buy you a burger or something. Get out of the house for a while. Go to a movie. Kids these days still like moving pictures, right?” He’d said the last part with a voice meant to sound like an old man.

“Can’t. Busy.” He made an irritated sound as I headed toward the back door and into the alley.

“Goddamn it, Ava,” he said, sounding slightly odd by using my actual name. It was as unfamiliar to him as it was to me. He was never comfortable calling me Ava and only used it when he was irritated or trying to be serious. He followed me into the alley and watched me toss the heavy bag into the dumpster.

“Ed,” I said, starting to get frustrated like I was dealing with a pesky fly. “Just go home. Go back to—whatever awful place you have picked out next….” I was going to continue but caught the look on his face. He was staring at something beyond me. White as a sheet and wide-eyed like a bug. I went to turn around, and he shot back to attention, wrapping his hand around my wrist to stop me.

“Ava, go back inside,” he said, no longer playfully irritating.

“What? Why?” I struggled to get away from him, pulling and twisting until I got my arm free.

And then I wished I hadn’t.

An old woman was lying against the wall in the alley. Blank-eyed as she stared unseeing ahead of her. I recognized the crooked set of her jaw and her wild silver hair. It wasn’t the fact that she’d apparently taken up residence in the alley that stopped me though. But the fact that her mouth was parted in a lazy expression of sleep and a black liquid was oozing out of her mouth, dribbling over her chin.

“I-I-I…,” I started, but Ed gripped my shoulders and turned me in a circle toward the door.

“Go get my dad. Now!” he said. I stumbled toward the door, trembling and shaking and trying very hard to focus only on my new task.