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Chapter 1

Engwyn perched uneasily on the edge of the chair. Her eyes locked on Michael and Lucifer. She had handed in her application, wanting to do more than float around, drifting from one location to the next. She didn’t want to be like the other dead humans. Miserable, lonely, and cursing out everyone and everything for the hand that had been dealt while they had been alive. No, she wanted to do more with her afterlife.

Michael and Lucifer sat across from her, their gazes scrutinizing her. Michael's expression hardened and was unreadable, while Lucifer’s expression was not promising. Several times he had looked at her application and then at her. A slight shake of the head, and he would continue speaking to Michael in a language Engwyn did not understand.

They meticulously reviewed her application to become a councillor for the newly departed. A position Engwyn believed she would be perfect for.

Lucifer smiled at Engwyn, “and tell me, Miss Cunningham, what makes you believe you are qualified to counsel the dead?”

Engwyn smiled shyly as she looked at the devil himself. Swallowing the lump in her throat, “I know that my application seems … empty with no past experience or education. But I believe that I can help out others who have died through personal experience.” She had replied, hoping she sounded confident in her conviction.

“I see!” That was all Michael would say as he began to write something on the paper in front of him. “You do realize that there are different levels of support for the dead, correct?” His tone was as flat as his expression.

Clearing her throat, “I had assumed so, as not every person is the same. Similar, yes, but different.” Engwyn had responded.

Fiddling with her fingers under the table. Michael's and Lucifer's expressions were inscrutable. Engwyn could feel the old nagging emotion of fear creeping into her soul. Something she had believed had been dealt with while she had been alive.

Michael’s sharp features were set in an impenetrable mask. At the same time, Lucifer’s piercing eyes seemed to flicker with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. They had taken turns asking questions, each time writing down what she had said. The further along the interview went, the more nervous and less sure of herself she became.

Lucifer folded his hands on the table, his eyes locked on her. “Last question, Miss Cunningham,” he said, smiling and showing off his teeth. “Would you be able to counsel those who have damned themselves to an endless loop of self-harm?”

“Self-harm!?” Michael turned his head, his brow raised. “Really?”

“It is the most friendly way of putting things!” Lucifer let out a warm chuckle.

Engwyn began to stutter, “I had always assumed, you see … I thought …”

“You thought wrong!” Michael was tired of her stuttering. “Everyone is entitled to redemption, Miss Cunningham. Even those who have committed the worst of crimes.” He looked over at Lucifer. “Right, brother!?”

Lucifer cleared his throat and straightened his back. “That is water under the bridge now!” He landed his eyes on Engwyn. “Excuse my brother and me while we discuss your application.”

To her growing alarm, they exchanged a series of clicks with their tongues. A language that was foreign to her, though exclusive to their kind. Each click echoed in her ears, a rhythmic reminder of the barriers that lay between her and their approval. At one point, Michael had gotten up from his spot and opened a drawer to one of the many cabinets behind them. Pulling out a thick file, he brought it back to the table. Placing it on the table, the two continue to speak. At one point, Lucifer drummed his fingers on the top of the file. His smile is only getting bigger.

Engwyn swallowed hard, her resolve wavering as she braced herself for whatever judgment lay ahead. Michael and Lucifer glanced at each other as if a resolution to the situation had been made.

“Your application has been denied!” Michael said frankly.

“Mikey, you could have broken the news a little nicer.” Lucifer scolded his brother for his forwardness. Taking his attention from Michael, he had given it to Engwyn. “We have agreed that you are not suited for the position of councillor. Though we have in mind a particular female that is rather … difficult!” He drummed his fingers on the case file that he had moved in front of him. Pulling out a single slip of paper, he handed it to Engwyn. “I … we believe that a spirit guide is exactly the right step in the direction of what it is you truly wish for.”

“We know this child personally!” Michael had looked down as he began to write on a piece of paper. “You will find her at one of these addresses. At the same time, every Tuesday at 1800 sharp, go to this location,” he continued to write down on the page. “It is a support group for spirit guides. A place where others can relate to what is going on with your wards.” He pushed the paper towards Engwyn.

Pushing out her chest to cover her disappointment, Engwyn began to read the paper that Lucifer had given her. “Emma Smith … 45 … Employment, Manager of the Vision Nest! Oh, it is an art studio,” she looked up with a smile on her face.

“I figure pairing you with another art enthusiast was a perfect choice.” Lucifer had taken full credit as if it were all his idea. While Michael sat beside him, giving him a nasty glare.

Engwyn continued to read the information. “No children, three cats, and a dog. No spouse or children. Religion is blank, born a human … history, the oldest of four children. Raised by a single mother. Father was absent; he died when Emma was 17. Education: finished high school. Work experience: took care of her mother. Self-taught artist!” She looked up from the page. “Emma seems well-rounded; why doesn’t she have a spirit guide already assigned to her?”

Lucifer looked at Michael. Michael waited for Lucifer to answer. Realizing that Lucifer wasn’t going to say anything, “they had quit, as we said before; Emma is difficult to work with.”

Finding this odd, “why did they quit?” Engwyn looked back and forth from the brothers.

“That is information that can’t be disclosed.” Lucifer was too quick to reply.

The door opened with a female poking her head into the room, letting Michael and Lucifer know that their 7:45 meeting had arrived. Motioning with his hands, Michael had ended the conversation. At the same time, Lucifer reminded Engwyn of the information that had been told to her.

The moment the door had been closed, Lucifer glanced over at Michael as he put Emma’s file away. “Do you think we should have warned Engwyn?”

In a flat tone, “she will figure it out quickly!” Michael responded as he closed the cabinet door.

“You’re right! Emma will take her under her wing … or completely destroy Engwyn’s hopes of ever becoming a councillor!” Lucifer walked over to the door, ready to call in their 7:45 interviewee.

The more he thought about it, the more he became concerned. “Emma is going to eat Engwyn alive!” Michael said as he pulled out his chair. “You’re right, we should have warned her!”

“One way or another, this is going to be amusing!” Lucifer opened the door for the next person to enter the room.

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Chapter 2

Cars glided by with a gentle hum, their tires whispering against the slick pavement. Each time it hit a puddle, a whooshing sound could be heard, followed by a splash as the water landed harshly.

Rain tapped rhythmically on the surfaces around. Engwyn looked up from the rim of the umbrella just in time to avoid a water puddle that was gradually building. Stepping to her left, she had nearly missed drenching her footwear. Pushing the air out of her lungs, she continued to move slowly down the street. Keeping her sight forward.

The pattering of the rain was a soothing backdrop to the evening's chaos. People scurried along the sidewalks. With their heads bowed under the weight of their umbrellas, lost in their thoughts and the relentless drizzle. Engwyn had lost count of how many times she had nearly been bumped, pushed to the side, and overlooked. One daring individual weaved through the crowd, clearly in a hurry to get to their destination. His head was held high as he navigated the streets. He walked with the flow of the traffic, only to jump out of line and motion his feet quickly as the traffic was heading his way.

Engwyn motioned her head back and forth, knowing this was a recipe for disaster. If the human hadn't bumped into someone, he was bound to upset someone soon enough. She had often wondered where his guardian was in times like these. To guide the human out of his chaotic thought process. Engwyn couldn’t think much about it, as she knew she was already running late for her meeting.

One at a time, the streetlights flickered to life. The yellow glow bounced off the wet surface of the road and pavement, causing little shadows to zip around. Engwyn had turned her head to the left, seeing a cashier finishing up with the last customer's purchase.

Suddenly, a sharp horn blared through the air. It sounds like it's piercing the calmness. Several pedestrians turned their heads. Curious as to why someone felt the need to disrupt the surroundings. Engwyn had noticed that a car was pulling out of its parking spot. Completely disrupting the flow of traffic. The driver who was getting out of his parking spot had felt the need to display his temper. Believing that he was entitled to do as he wished.

The disgruntled driver erupted with frustration, her emotions spilling over as she raised her arm in a display to illustrate an unmistakable gesture to the offending vehicle that had cut her off.

Her expression was clear; there was no way she wasn’t going to let this slide. Angrily, she rolled down her window to yell at the man who was trying to get out of the parking spot. "Learn to drive!"

Reminding him of the rules of the road. That she had the right-of-way, and he needed to wait until there was an opening. Dramatically, the male accelerated his engine, moving in front of her. Leaving the other drivers behind, the female was equally irritated by the male driver's disregard.

Engwyn let out a deep sigh as she continued to shuffle along the street. Her feet were moving almost on autopilot. As time moved on, the flow of people on the pavement had become sporadic. Fewer had wanted to move about in the damp weather. Walking past a bus shelter, many had huddled under its protective roof. Trying to avoid getting wet. What little it had done as a truck drove past. As the vehicle hits the water puddle, a wave of water hits many of the pedestrians.

Anger and displeasure rippled off the humans as they screamed profanity at the driver, who clearly could not hear them. Engwyn motioned her head back and forth, thinking to herself about the absurdity of their emotional outburst. It wasn’t as if the driver could weave to avoid the puddle. Slowing down was not an option either, as there were other drivers behind the truck. Each is speeding down the road. All of them hit the same puddle.

Engwyn smiled as she noticed that a few of the humans had used their intelligence to open their umbrellas. They removed themselves from the risk of getting drenched by the growing water puddle.

Reality crashed down on her. Engwyn realized just how much time had slipped away, with her mind getting distracted by the activities she had witnessed. Engwyn knew she would be late for the meeting. A bit late was not a big deal; however, now she wouldn’t be a few seconds behind schedule. The prospect of being tardy caused her to focus and move her feet faster. Quickening her pace was the only way to make up for the seconds she had lost.

Engwyn walked up one block; in the distance, the sound of thunder rumbled. The warning signs of a thunderstorm were brewing and heading their way. Turning left at a set of lights, she continued to move with purpose. Engwyn motioned her head to the right as an employee walked out of a store. Locking it for the day. Most shops have their window lights on. The sign turned, indicating they had closed for the day and would not open again until the scheduled time on the sign.

Continuing forward, up the way, Engwyn made another left turn down a narrow alleyway. Closed off? no, but during the day, it had served as a shortcut for anyone on foot. Now, to the casual observer, it had appeared as just another forgotten corner in the city. A dead end that had been gated off from the community. Engwyn had looked to her left, then her right, even taking the opportunity to turn around to make sure no one was watching her. Drifting through the gate, Engwyn continued moving forward.

Entering a world that was divided by the physical realm into the spiritual realm. Engwyn ventured further down the dark alleyway. At the end, flickering lights read “Caspers Taverin” etched into the brick wall. Inside was a sanctuary for those seeking refuge from the mundane world of humans.

Engwyn approached the door and rapped lightly on its worn wooden surface. A moment later, a burly bouncer peered through a small sliding panel, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the visitor. Satisfied, he swung the door open with a creak. Stepping through the opening, Engwyn stepped inside.

Compared to the physical realm, this place was lively. Different eras of ghosts and spirits pooled into this establishment. Some wallowed in their misery while the rest cheered, enjoying the afterlife. They filled the air with laughter and conversation. The aroma of food filled the location as the clinking of glasses caused Engwyn to motion her head in that direction. She did not know what the occasion was for. Still, the group of ghosts seemed to be celebrating something as they downed their chosen beverages.

As Engwyn closed her umbrella, the room had gone silent. Every head in the room turned to her, their eyes glued on where she stood. From behind the counter, the bartender bellowed, “We have a newbie!” He grasped a cord and rapidly moved it back and forth, causing a bell to ring. With a broad smile, “Your first drink and meal is on the house … Welcome to Caspers Tavern, where Ghouls, travelers, and those in between come to relax and enjoy themselves.”

The room had erupted into hooting and hollering as a group from the back waved to Engwyn, beckoning her to join them.

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Chapter 3

Engwyn navigates through the crowded tavern. With nearly every chair and table taken, the house was filled, leaving only a few stools at the bar and one chair reserved for her.

Graciously, she made her way past the worn tables and mismatched chairs. Her soft, shy smile caught the attention of a few patrons. Politely, she would nod her head as their gazes followed her as she moved to the back of the establishment.

Over to the side, she spotted a sign that read "1850," indicating when the building had been constructed. Engwyn had figured that this place could be the oldest standing building in the Forest City.

Making her way to the back of the tavern, the group had stood to their feet. She was welcomed by a gathering of fellow spirit guides. The leader of the group had announced his name: "My name is Matt Harris." Each time he spoke a name, the individual would stick out their hand in greeting.

The bubbly warming had shut out the lively chaos of the room. As Matt had explained to Engwyn, they still had time. "The councillor of grief still had not come down from the second floor. It appears that they had a full house of their own. Poor souls needed extra time to deal with everything that had happened."

Engwyn nodded in understanding as everyone began to sit down again. "I once considered the idea of becoming a counselor for the recently departed." She had admitted, "My application was rejected, as they deemed me too rigid to manage sensitive cases. Instead, I found myself assigned as a spirit guide."

Matt began to laugh, as did the others. Engwyn, confused, had asked what was so funny. "It is important to note that an individual cannot serve as a counselor immediately after passing away, unless they held the position of counselor during their lifetime." He explained as the group nodded in approval.

Engwyn had widened her eyes, "oh!" She had kept her lips in an O shape. "No one ever told me that!" She had been more upset than before. If she had only been told that from the beginning, she would never have applied for the position.

Very similar to Matt, Hugo Talbot was dressed in the finest attire from the late 1700s. Clearly, they come from an upper-class family of wealth. "There are many things that aren't shared with you. These are lessons you discover as you move along your way as a spirit guide. Being a guide for the living is not something for the faint-hearted." Hugo said with a forced smile. "A man of the church who has been gone for 234 years should be the first pick as a councilor." He shook his head in frustration. "But even now, I serve as a spirit guide for those who can't hear me or maybe just prefer not to listen."

"Oh, here we go again with the tears flowing!" Austin motioned his head back and forth. Dressed in his Sunday best, his attire appeared worn out, with the black seeming to have dulled over the years.

"Vous vous plaignez beaucoup de ce que vous voulez, mais vous ne faites rien pour y parvenir." Jeanna Roy rolled her eyes. "Arrêtez vos maux de ventre!"

Engwyn's French was rusty, but she was sure Jeanna had mentioned that Hugo complains too much and doesn't do anything to achieve his goals. Followed by her telling him to stop his bellyaching.

A soft sniffling had reached Engwyn's ears. Ghostly figures were seen seeping through the upper floor. The white mists glided silently through the air. Sorrow was etched on all of their faces as they made their way out of the establishment. Among the figures, one particular apparition caught Engwyn's eye. This male had been wiping his nose with a translucent handkerchief. Spectrally, water droplets remained on the floor as he made his way to the main door. It was clear to her that he was struggling with handling the transition from living to death. The lingering smell of the river told her how he had died. But not how he had gotten there.

A male in a white, glowing robe motioned his feet to the table. "Mr. Harris, you and your team may commence your session." He had addressed Matt.

Engwyn's eye was glued to the entity that stood before her. She had only once had the opportunity to see such a figure, and that was when she had been interviewed for the position of a councillor to the freshly dead. She glared at him, wishing it had been her wearing the white robes and not the outfit that she had died in.

Standing to his feet, Matt had led the group to the second floor, but not before having a few words in private with the councillor. Engwyn turned her head to the right as she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Voici la conseillère Kelly Selket. Je vois le désir dans vos yeux. Pour être conseillère, il faut avoir servi comme guide pendant au moins 500 ans avant d'être retenue. Et même avant de pouvoir être conseillère, il faut d'abord suivre une formation approfondie." Jeanna whispered. Patting her shoulder.

Again, Engwyn had gotten the gist of what was spoken. Jeanna had said the name of the councillor. She had seen the sparkle in her eyes, knowing that it was Engeyn's desire to be a councillor. But it would take 500 years before she would be considered. Before she even got her first case, she had to undergo extensive training to earn the title.

"Venez par là!" Jeanna had motioned with her hands for Engwyn to follow her.

It wasn't her preferred way to travel. Engwyn still had some of her habits from when she was part of the living, such as the desire to use doors as a means of travel. She still found it odd to navigate up and down, not using doors and stairs. Yet here she was, ascending upwards through the floors.

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