Haunting of the Wired Monk: The Coventry Ghosts, #1

By J.A. Williams

Sixteen is far too young to die. Tragically killed in a freak motor accident, Leanne finds herself haunting the spot near where she died—which just happens to be her favorite coffee house. She’s determined to remain there until she can thank the brave women who tried to save her life.

Leanne discovers she’s more than just a ghost with a purpose...and she is far from alone. Acquiring a pet ghost kitten named Sara, Leanne intends to show that ghosts just want to have fun. But not all spirits are friendly, and some are determined to get rid of this new entity among them.

To make matters worse, someone in the living realm is stealing ghost essences. Leanne and Sara—assisted by a host of other ghosts—have to figure out what’s going on before it’s too late…even if they have to work with the living to do so!

• Language: English
• Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc
• Release date: Dec 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781487413903

Book preview

Dedication

To Daryl, for encouraging me to write.

To tía, for encouraging me to publish.

A special thanks to Julie H. for a fantastic job of editing and the entire editorial team for their great work and patience with this novice.

Prologue

Tires screech. Horns blare. Watch out! someone screams. Steel plows into soft flesh with an unnatural thud. Raven hair and pale skin hurtle through the air and crash onto the sidewalk with a deadly thump.

Bones crack, snap, shatter.

* * * *

Cherí looks up from the till, wrenched by the awful sounds. She yells at Tammy to call 911 as she runs, slamming open the door. A teenage girl, who would have been lovely under any other circumstances, is bleeding on the sidewalk outside of her coffee shop.

On her knees, Cherí searches for a pulse, which stutters to a halt as the young woman stops breathing. Cherí begins to perform CPR in a frantic effort to save her. A flood of tears flows down her cheeks as she performs chest compressions.

The screaming fire trucks from three blocks away are the first to arrive on the scene. Even they are too late.

* * * *

Leanne sees it all, including the kind lady who leans over her limp, broken body, trying to help her return. Leanne tries, over and over again, to squeeze back into her body, but the agony shoves her out again.

She can’t die, not after just one kiss! She wants to be with Robin! She wants to live! She pushes, shoves, and jams herself into her body. It throws her back out each time.

She sees a pretty brunette on the phone, calling for help.

Send an ambulance! A girl has been hit by a dump truck. It looks bad!

No one can save her. She understands it now. It saddens her, for her mom and dad will grieve, and she and her sister, Olivia, will lose each other. Yes, it will be hard on Olivia in particular.

She wants to thank the women who tried to save her. The lady’s lips on hers were a reminder of her first kiss, the one Robin had given her a few minutes before the dump truck struck her.

The older lady stands outside the door, speaking on the phone, her eyes brimming with tears. Leanne follows her inside.

"Tell Robin I love him." She pushes the thought into the lady’s mind as she and her sister had done so many times, but it doesn’t work, though she thinks for a moment the lady hears. She tries again and again to shove the thought into the lady’s mind with no success. She is a determined spirit, however, and that, as it turns out, is a necessary requisite in order to haunt.

Leanne is now and forever sixteen years old.

Chapter One

Xiang was the twelfth cleaning person to be hired since Leanne began haunting the coffee shop in Cloverdale. Leanne was careful this time—she was learning. She was more subtle. Her temper and impatience had lost her several chances to speak with the women who came to clean.

She started with little things.

Leanne began by making the air rush—for a moment. She did it several times on the first night. She’d hoped Xiang would become accustomed to it. By the end of the evening, Xiang did not stop and look or seem to wonder what the noise was anymore.

The second time Xiang came, Leanne made the wind rush for a few seconds. Xiang gave a careless, casual look around and got out her cleaning supplies. Leanne frosted the floor a little as Xiang watched.

Xiang stopped in her tracks and stared at the newly-formed frost.

Leanne made it go away.

The lady shook her head and stared at the spot on the floor. Muttering to herself, she went about her cleaning.

Leanne smiled. It was working. She made the wind rush a few more times and then produced more frost. The lady looked around the room, as if trying to look into the air, but continued cleaning. Leanne frosted the floor once more. When Xiang poured herself some water, Leanne frosted the glass and cooled the water.

Leanne had been nervous, but Xiang had come back on Friday. She only made the wind rush and frosted the floors a bit. It was a small victory. If she was patient—not something she was good at—she might accustom Xiang to her presence.

Well... that was the plan.

Monday, Leanne was super excited. Xiang was still coming to clean, and Leanne thought she might add one more manifestation tonight. She whizzed around, filled with enthusiasm. Shooting around helped bleed off some of her energy and excitement. The living couldn’t see into Ghostdom, so she wasn’t in danger of running Xiang off.

She made the wind rush a few times, which Xiang ignored.

Good.

She formed frost on her glass of water. Xiang smiled.

Perfect.

Then... she did it.

At five minutes after midnight, she appeared in the realm of the living. She wouldn’t say a word, and she’d leave in a few seconds.

According to the plan, at least.

Then Xiang fainted.

Things could have been worse, Leanne thought, watching over her. The moment Xiang began to moan and move, Leanne vanished back into the ghost realm. But by then, it was too late.

A terrified Xiang fled—without her bucket and mop.

Stupid rotten rules! Leanne, angry with both herself and Xiang, shot around her coffee shop haunt, frosting the floor and ceiling and rattling the bars on the windows. She whooshed up to the unusually high ceiling and exploded into a snowstorm. A purple blizzard filled the small coffee house—why should snow be boring and white when she had a spectrum of colours at her beck and call? When the last mauve flake fluttered to the floor, Leanne cracked back to her natural girl-ghost shape.

She huffed, which she did pretty well. The force rocketed her into a series of backward somersaults in mid-air until she splatted against the large storefront windowpane. As she slithered to the floor, she thought back on the words of Judge Jeffreys when he’d realized she was haunting the Wired Monk-Coventry coffee shop.

He’d called her Leanne of Coventry.

Chapter Two

In Leanne’s first nanoseconds as a ghost, she’d heard a loud popping sound and spun around in confusion, searching for the source. A translucent man had been floating near the front door. He was dressed in an antiquated but elegant crimson gown trimmed with exquisite white lace. After a second soft pop, another spirit had arrived and grovelled before the well-dressed phantom.

Enough, Melbourne, we’re here on business. The ghost in the rich red robes had turned to Leanne. I am Judge Jeffreys, and I’m here for your orientation, Miss.

Orientation?

Yes, yes, how could you possibly know the rules if they’re not explained to you? he said in a gruff tone.

Rules?

The judge ignored her question. What would your name be?

I’m Leanne.

Odd place you haunt here, Leanne. Wouldn’t you agree, Melbourne?

Oh yes, Your Honour. I’ve never seen such an odd place as this in all my four hundred years. Very strange indeed. Melbourne had waved his hands around, a seemingly nervous gesture.

So, what is this place? the judge asked. What is its purpose?

It’s a coffee shop. Leanne replied.

"Then, you are Leanne of the coffee shop."

Well, actually, Judge—sorry, Your Honour—there are hundreds of coffee shops, maybe millions, around the world. Leanne chuckled.

Hmm, what shall we call you, then? The judge had looked around the Wired Monk as if he might find an answer to his question.

I don’t know, Leanne said, but this is The Wired Monk-Coventry Coffee Bistro, if that’s any help.

Coventry, the judge had said, taking to the word right away. Coventry. I don’t believe we have any ghosts in Coventry, do we, Melbourne?

Oh no, absolutely, we don’t. None at all, Your Honour.

"Perfect. You are Leanne of Coventry. Well, I guess we’re done here. Shall we take our leave, Melbourne?"

Pardon my presumptuousness, Your Honour, but I believe you came to explain the rules to young Leanne. Of course, I could be mistaken. I usually am. Melbourne had bowed and scraped before the judge again.

Nonsense, Melbourne! You’re almost always right, that’s why I keep you around. Yes, I must explain the laws to you. The judge pointed a skeletal forefinger at Leanne.

"Do not appear before midnight.

"Do not consort with the living.

"Do not harm the living.

"Do not interfere with the living.

"You must try to fulfill your heart’s desire.

Am I forgetting anything, Melbourne?

Nothing important, Your Honour. Just, well, you know... the bit about Drakko. Melbourne had shimmied and weaved before the judge, wringing gossamer hands.

Of course, Melbourne, thank you. We mustn’t forget about that. You see, Leanne of Coventry, ghosts who break the law can be taken before the Inferior Court. I myself preside over Ghastly Courtroom Number Three and will personally exile offending spirits to Drakko.

Where’s Drakko? Leanne had asked.

"We’re not sure, not exactly, but it would seem that Drakko is another dimension. We know little about it, as noghost has ever returned to describe it."

It sounds like a bad place.

It’s generally thought of as Ghost Hell.

Leanne was still in shock. After all, she’d been a ghost for mere moments. The only thought that had come to her was that of thanking the women who’d tried to save her life. She did want to do that. That must be my heart’s desire, she reasoned in her confused mind.

Remember, ghosts who break the rules can be banished to Drakko. Well, happy haunting, the judge had said and then he and Melbourne had disappeared with two popping noises.

The name of the place was enough to give her the ghastly shakes. Drakko... No, no, no, she would avoid that, whatever it took.

Leanne had whizzed around her coffee shop haunt after the judge and Melbourne left, blowing off some of her frustration and anger. She had to find a way to thank the ladies who’d tried to save her.

The thing is, ghosts can’t see clearly into the realm of the living, except when they appear after midnight.

Leanne now understood that, when she’d seen the two women who’d tried to save her, they had been clear to her because she had been between—dead, but not yet in Ghostdom.

Now, looking into the realm of the living was like looking through dense fog. So, how could she talk to the lady? She wasn’t allowed to appear before midnight, and the coffee shop closed at nine PM, some nights earlier. Suddenly, the cleaning lady had occurred to her. She could appear to the cleaner after midnight.

It had seemed simple at the time. Show yourself after midnight, ask the lady to help, and she will. Who wouldn’t help a soul in distress?

The first cleaner had been a dusky–skinned woman she thought might have been about her mother’s age.

Ranhita.

When she’d showed herself to Ranhita, the lady had stopped cleaning, pulled a tissue from her sleeve, and dabbed at her eyes. Then she’d sat, except she wasn’t anywhere near a chair. She’d stared at Leanne with wide eyes.

Hiiiii. Leanne had tried to keep her tone friendly, but speech without the use of vocal cords was difficult, and she found it hard to express herself at the slow speed of the living.

Ranhita had rolled to her knees, gotten up, and gathered her things, never once taking her focus from Leanne. She’d backed to the door as if watching a vicious dog, then left without locking it, ran to her car, and never came back.

Leanne remembered the agitation she’d felt with that first failure. She’d whizzed around the coffee shop, flat against the walls. Frost had formed, and she’d returned to look. She’d tried to do it on purpose and found out that strong emotions, mixed with the proper velocity—the speed of light—could produce trails of frost in the world of the living.

Too cool.

She’d shot up to the high ceiling, thinking of snowflakes, then had splatted against the roof, keeping her mind on icy crystals. She’d erupted into a blizzard. Each snowflake was an eye, and she could see things from all kinds of angles.

Awesome.

It had made her a little dizzy, though.

She’d thought of uniting herself and crashed back into her normal ghost shape.

This was fun! She’d wondered what other forms she could take, and had soon discovered that she had no limits.

The seventh cleaning lady had been Nora. Nora stayed longer than most. When Leanne would appear, Nora would rub the rosary that hung around her neck and chant.

It is not here, it’s just my imagination. It is not here, it’s just my imagination...

When Leanne spoke, Nora would cover her ears and repeat the chant.

Several months of this had passed, and Leanne had tired of being ignored.

She would not be ignored!

The following Wednesday, Leanne had waited until midnight. Nora was packing up, in an obvious hurry to leave. Leanne had appeared, and Nora had begun her chant. Leanne swirled around the coffee shop. She frosted the floor and windows, rattled the chairs, and made them dance. Nora would pay attention to her!

Nora fled and never returned.

After her had come three other ladies and one man. They had all refused to listen to her and quit. Then Xiang had taken over.

Chapter Three

Judge Jeffreys heard the distinct popping sound of another ghost arriving behind him. He didn’t turn to look. He knew Melbourne’s signature well after more than two hundred years. They were outside Hampton Court Palace. There was someghost the judge wanted to see. She was, in fact, one of the strongest phantoms in existence. He pinged, as was considered common courtesy in Ghostdom—which of course, was the ghostly equivalent to a doorbell. He’d rather not have an irate woman on his hands, in particular not one who was a friend.

Well, hello, George, she called. Please, do come in. Melbourne is welcome too, of course.

The judge and Melbourne popped into the palace, to her favourite room.

Hello, Jane, I see you’re enjoying the fire, the judge said.

Jane ignored the comment from where she the floated in the blaze. "You have that look. What’s happening, George?"

We have a new arrival.

Yes, I noticed. I felt a strong surge in the Aeris.

The judge made a sound like the clearing of a throat, which organ he no longer possessed. It was the strongest outpouring of the Aeris I’ve ever experienced. I had trouble concentrating during the orientation. To be honest, I quite blundered through it. If it hadn’t been for Melbourne, I would have missed explaining the rules and telling her about Drakko.

"Oh my, that is strange, Jane said. To the best of my knowledge, you’re the most powerful ghost there is. I’ve seen you exile very strong spirits. What do you think is happening?"

"I’m not sure, Jane, but I would like you to go and visit with her. She haunts what’s called a coffee shop, The Wired Monk-Coventry Coffee Bistro. I called her Leanne of Coventry."

Very apropos, Jane said. Then, after a pause, "Wait one moment, Your Honour. Did you say something about wired and coffee?"

Indeed I did. Why do you ask?

The prophecy.

The Prophecy? the judge asked in confusion.

Yes, the ancient prophecy of the doom of the dimensions. The end of everything unless the Guardian rises up to save us. Remember? The Guardian was to come from the Wired House of Coffee.

Ah yes. The judge nodded. It made no sense until now.

I confess that I’m intrigued, even more so knowing she’s a woman.

Actually, she’s just a girl. Fifteen or sixteen I’d say.

That is if she’s not changed shape, Jane said.

Yes, agreed the judge, "I have no doubt she has that ability. However, she is new, and I don’t think she yet knows how to. I confess that I quite liked her. She seemed strong but kind. Though she was confused, she showed no fear of me. And if she turns out to be the Guardian, that makes complete sense. Yes, Jane, I liked her, and I want us to watch out for her and to keep her safe—if we can."

Very well, Your Honour. Jane grinned at the judge. I’ll get to know her and keep you up to date.

Thank you, Jane. Judge George Jeffreys gave Jane Seymour, former Queen of England, a courtly bow.

The judge left, and Jane popped away.

Chapter Four

A few nanoseconds after Judge Jeffreys had left, Leanne had heard a loud ping. First she wondered how she knew how much time had passed and then she’d wondered about the pinging sound. Then she’d heard a voice.

Hello, Leanne of Coventry, may I come in?

Leanne had shot over to the storefront window and peered out. Another spirit was floating outside of her coffee shop, dressed in a beautiful long gown. She looked familiar. Uh, sure, come on in.

The other ghost had whooshed through the glass and floated before Leanne. Hello, Leanne, I’m Jane.

Uh, hi. You look familiar, and you’re dressed like a queen. Actually, you look like someone in a picture from my history textbook. This is totally awesome. Leanne’s hands had shot to her face. You look like Jane Seymour, Queen of England.

Jane had curtsied, which was difficult without feet. I am she, indeed.

Why would the Queen of England come to visit me? Are there more rules?

I believe the judge covered the important rules and punishments. I’m here to get to know you. You intrigue me, Leanne of Coventry, and I want to know all about coffee shops. I’ve tasted coffee, but it was rare in my day, and imported at great cost. It wasn’t used as a beverage as you suggest it is today, but was taken as medicine.

Coffee shops are everywhere now, Leanne said, warming to Jane. There are thousands of them all over the world. They serve coffee and teas, as well as treats like scones and muffins. Many even sell breakfast and lunch.

Interesting. Why did you haunt this particular one, if I may ask?

I died right outside the door. A lady tried to save my life here, and well, you know, it just seemed like the place to stay. Especially as this was my favourite coffee shop.

Good choice, Jane said. Very good choice. I like your coffee shop haunt very well indeed.

Jane had visited with her for quite some time and promised to come back again soon.

Leanne looked forward to the next visit. Jane Seymour, Queen of England, is one gnarly ghost lady.

Chapter Five

Jane pinged at Judge Jeffreys’ haunt, and he invited her right in.

So, how did it go? the judge asked.