Bab 6: The black cloud in the building.
The black ghost Cafe had a warm and inviting ambiance, with wooden furniture, dim lights and relaxing music. On one side was a section where antiques and relics that Phoebe had collected over time with the help of the Saxon ancestor spirit were displayed.
From time to time, the Saxon spirit had directed her to areas that were rich in antiques which had increased the number of guests at the Cafe. This was because antique collectors would come over, authenticate and acquire the antiques.
Recently, she had even sold a small old porcelain vase from the sixteenth century for two million.
Some of the relics were personally made by her like charm bracelets that she gave to the customers which were believed to be good luck charms because people often said that their luck changed when they wore them.
It was not random good luck of course, it was part of the energy she got from helping ghosts. It is why she had a glass box of unused charms at her desk.
They had also contributed quite nicely to the rise in her financial status. The charms she sold had different prices. Some went for as much as Twenty thousand dollars.
It wasn't all roses for Phoebe however as there were people that were still uncomfortable with the existence of that type of business at such a prominent place.
Many wondered how Phoebe had been able to secure a space at the Cerene Apartments. First because the monthly rent alone was $15,000 and two, because it was a place that only the rich frequented. She was like a black cloud hovering over the building.
"I am back." she announced loudly.
This was meant for the only human employee in her store.
Phoebe had employed Rosset a girl she had known for a few months, having met her only after her rebirth. She was the only human in this town that associated with her where others avoided her like a plague.
Once Phoebe announced her presence in the Cafe, the brown eyed girl raised her head and smiled at her. "Hey Phoebe, we have a full house. Most of them are here for those bracelets and healing herbal tonic, in fact that liquid is running out of stock." Rosset pointed at the ten remaining bottles that were placed high on the shelf.
The herbal tonic had gained popularity for its unexplained healing ability for minor illnesses, body aches and some unknown conditions. Phoebe had gifted hands with making healing herbs, that's how she had managed to head the research department at the Saxon group in her past life.
The tonic was not all her work however. Ancestor Saxon had contributed a great deal to making her herbal tonic better and more effective because she was very generous with sharing recipes to medicine herbs and tonics that had been long forgotten for thousands of years.
Nodding and smiling with delight, Phoebe assured her friend and Cafe manager that she had more stock of the herbal tonic in her apartment which was situated on the fifth floor.
"Tomorrow, I'll bring more tomorrow. I have also created new herbal mixtures and tonics. I have one for cleansing the kidney."
That being said Phoebe made way to her office which was by the corner of the Cafe. It was a medium sized glass cubicle with black curtains which were put there intentionally to create privacy.
Since she had more ghost clients than humans, the last thing she wanted was for people witnessing her talking to her self. It was already hard enough making friends with her neighbors.
On the day she moved into the Cafe, she had come up with a kind gesture of offering rice cakes to her neighbors. Out of the twenty delicious rice cakes, the poor girl was only able to give out three, the balance was rejected.
Till date many of the the owners of the neighboring stores avoided Phoebe as much as possible to the point of not using the elevator if Phoebe was already in it.
Letting out a loud sigh as she sank into one of the couches that was placed in the open area of the office, Phoebe shut her eyes when the Saxon spirit appeared. It pointed to the corner and Phoebe sighed.
"Can't I have some privacy?" Phoebe's quizzical gaze was directed at the teenage female ghost that was chewing gum loudly over there.
"Am hungry, am craving candy, give me candy. I want orange flavored tofee." Came it's words that caused Phoebe's eyes to open hastily.
From the moment she had moved into the Cerene Apartments, the ghost had made it a routine to bother requesting for sweet treats, mostly lollipops, gum and chocolates.
What infuriated her was that at times it requested for rare sweets which required her to drive all the way to the other side of town.
It wasn't entirely pointless because pleasing the ghost meant that she was rewarded with a little energy which increased her life line but still it was exhausting at times.
Phoebe's eyes met those of the Saxon spirit which was blaming her for putting up with the teenage ghost's behavior.
"Give her whatever is available, candy is candy You should put in mind that teenagers can be bullies whether human or ghost, they are all the same."
Shaking her head in disbelief, Phoebe pointed her index finger at the teenage ghost. "Is it normal for a ghost to have cravings? I mean I fed you strawberry yoghurt this morning. Going forward you young lady are going to eat whatever is available."
Without pause Phoebe tossed the sandwich Rosset had placed on her desk earlier into the fire. That's how she fed it and it was for that same reason that the fire place never run out of fire because she had to feed the ever hungry ghost.
Although it was unhappy with what it was given, the hungry ghost quickly consumed the sandwich and as soon as it was done it began to complain that it wasn't pleased.
"A sandwich is not candy. Aren't you supposed to do everything I ask? The white haired witch says you are rewarded for helping us ghosts." The teenage ghost was so entitled in the way it reminded Phoebe of this fact.
However Phoebe was unfazed, she stretched her hand and stared at the small black diamond shaped tattoo that had implanted itself on the back of her hand.
Slowly it became darker than it was and the number written at its center increased which only meant that the energy of the pendant around her neck had increased.
The mark had appeared after her rebirth and she had quickly come to understand it's meaning thanks to ancestor Saxon. The number in the center stood for how many days she had left to live.
Currently, it was at seventy one days. Phoebe should have been panicking more than keeping calm because this meant she would die once those days elapsed.
However, she chose to remain calm because there was a more permanent solution to her problem. A solution in the name of Saxon. As long as she helped the Saxon's face whatever imminent peril was heading their way as ancestor Saxon said, the days would increase much more rapidly.
Still, she was reluctant to meet David or any of the Saxons again. The memories of the past were still fresh like a raw wound that refused to heal.
"It's rude not to talk back when someone is talking to you." The female teenage ghost complained, drawing Phoebe out of her thoughts.
In line with it's rudeness, it blew a loud bubble from the gum, popping it next to Phoebe's ear, agitating her incredibly.
Hadiah
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