Kellan carried a heavy heart and a heavy spade as he walked back through the graveyard. He’d followed the witch doctor’s instructions to the letter, every chant, every incense in the fire, every drop of blood, and for this? It was meant to bring her back, not bring what it was he had left in the graveyard that morning. The sun shone overhead as Kellan turned past Old Tybris’ stone. He felt a red rush as he thought about how Tybris would be tossing in his grave to know that Kellan had not only gone to the witch doctor’s, but followed her advice.

At Geraldine’s grave, Kellan felt a thin relief that it was still there. It still wore her dress, the white frilly laced thing that had looked so amazing on her in life. It turned to Kellan with a gurgling groan as he brought the spade down on its head