Mortal Mapping and Melancholy: Book Four of the Afterlife Series

By Bambi Harris

Penny Lanes afterlife adventures continue at the elite Apollo Academy. Now the bonds of true friendship and loyalty are tested as she faces the hardest lesson of her afterlife.

PENNY LANE SURE HAS GONE through a lot since her death. Shes mastered the job of melting, has served as a counselor in a ghost retrieval unit, and had even been thrown into involuntary time travel. Now she is in for the biggest adventure of her life: she is going to school!

Penny and her handsome friend, Avery, have been handed their new assignments as students at the elite Apollo Academy, but the biggest lesson for Penny isnt one assigned by any teacher. Penny is about to learn that things dont always go the way she hopes they will. Her closest friend, the archangel Eric, has been sent away on a mysterious mission, and now Avery seems to have lost interest in her. Poor Penny cant ?gure out why all of her other friends back home have mysteriously abandoned her.

But not all hope is lost. As Penny struggles to understand why she has found herself suddenly alone, she is comforted by her new companions, classmates Elly and Alexander.

She must try and ?nd the answers before her despair sends her to the underground.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Sep 26, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462054015

Bambi Harris

Using her knowledge of life after death (and all that it entails), Bambi Harris brings the Afterlife series to a close—freeing herself up to start the Afterlife Chronicles. She and her husband, Steven, live in rural Illinois and share their historically themed home with their three dogs.

Book preview

Mortal Mapping

and Melancholy

Book Four of the Afterlife Series

Bambi Harris

iUniverse, Inc.

Bloomington

Mortal Mappingand Melancholy

Book Four of the Afterlife Series

Copyright © 2011 Bambi Harris

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-4620-5400-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4620-5402-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4620-5401-5 (e)

Printed in the United States of America

iUniverse rev. date: 9/19/2011

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter Twenty Three

To Susan for her cherished friendship, sweet nature and generous spirit

And to Cindy, sweet, endearing and wise, thank you for never letting me give up

Avery turned to me and took a small spade from his overalls pocket. What have you been up to? he asked as he sipped coffee from a plain white mug.

Dying of the plague, how about you? I replied sardonically.

He offered me the small spade but kept hold of his coffee in his other hand. Stubborn ghosts and tardy Gods, he replied with a smile.

I had finished my cappuccino quicker than I anticipated so put it down and took the spade from him. I can already see where this job is vaguely leaning so just throw me in the fire and let’s get this over with.

Past Lives and Borrowed Bodies 2011

Chapter One

I turned over onto my right side in the dark night and reached over to touch the end of Rufus’s scruffy paw. A sense of dread overcame me as if I had forgotten something I was supposed to be upset about but nothing came to mind.

Loneliness clung to my soul like an invisible cloak and I closed my eyes hoping I would fall back asleep instead of laying there and dwelling on anything and everything as I had a habit of doing.

Rufus, my hyper gray dog, suddenly stirred, I could feel him jump to his feet and start sniffing around. I wondered if he was searching for a mouse. I had never given mice much thought until now but there were certainly a lot of fields and valleys to run around in very close to my medieval cottage.

Someone kissed my cheek, at least it felt like it, but I couldn’t feel anyone next to me. I froze, then gasped and flailed my arms and pillows around because I couldn’t think straight. I quickly reached for my lantern but knocked the matches across the wooden floor. In all of my panic, I still recalled wanting to get a touch lamp to hide somewhere behind my authentic antiques.

I tried to speak but had somehow forgotten how. Suddenly my room was illuminated by an unknown source. My widened eyes focused on Eric in purple striped flannel pajamas. He adjusted his horn-rimmed glasses and smiled at me.

Eric! I finally blurted out. Just because I can’t have a heart attack doesn’t mean you need to come here and test my mortality!

My sweet friend’s smile faded and I suddenly sensed some glumness coming from his direction. His gentle brown eyes didn’t resonate the same vivaciousness they usually did.

My anger dissipated immediately. I could see my big blue eyes mirror his expression in the reflection of his glasses. If an angel could look bleak, then we were all in trouble. What happened? I whispered as if breaking the silence would have the neighbors rushing in.

He shook his head. Nothing happened, groovy girl, he replied with a forced smile that could rival my own. I’m just a little tired, he added unconvincingly.

I put my pillows back in place and plumped them a little before pulling my long brown hair to one side and leaning against them. But you don’t sleep.

He shrugged. I thought I’d try it, but I feel kind of groggy.

His explanation seemed plausible yet my intuition was throwing out distress signals. I nudged Rufus out of the way and gestured for Eric to come lay next to me. Neither of us were big people so we had plenty of room. Together we pulled the heavy handmade floral quilts to our chins and sunk into the old feather bed.

Eric removed his glasses and kept them in his right hand that he rested on his chest as he let out a big sigh.

Are you sick? I asked him sincerely.

He looked at me surprised. Angels can’t get sick.

I stared at his pleasant but weary face and he stared back at me. But you can get tired?

He looked stumped for a second. Not that kind of tired, my brain hurts kind of tired.

I turned my whole body around so I was facing him completely. Rufus came up and snuggled in between us as if he could now get his heat from both sides. What happened to your sixties way of talking?

He offered me a weak but more authentic smile. I’m fine, doodlebug. Even hip, winged people have things they don’t want to do, dig it?

I reached out and stared at the long lacey sleeves of my light green nightgown as I rubbed his arm. I made sure I looked into his eyes, but not too hard as I had bad reactions to seeing into strong souls. You know I’m a seeyer, right?

He smiled knowingly. Yep, it’s hard to put one over you.

I grabbed his hand and held it. A wave of sadness suddenly overwhelmed me. Are you going to tell me why you look like a lost puppy?

His smile faded again. Calm before the storm, little one, he said in a way that contradicted his usual chipper persona.

A tear slid down my cheek; I knew it was coming before he told me. I just didn’t know what it was. Avery and I are starting our studies at Apollo Academy tomorrow, I said quietly.

I know. He studied my face as if deeply contemplating my words. I’m going to be out of commission for a while too.

Rufus stretched his head out and licked Eric on the chin. Eric patted him between his scruffy ears and stared at him solemnly.

I know I wont be on any ghost retrieval missions for a while, but I’ll be home on Sundays, I added. Plus you could visit me at school?

He closed his eyes; he really did seem tired. Actually I’m not going to be around.

I lifted myself up to rest on one elbow and tried to read his expression wishing it would give me more information than he seemed to be willing to offer me. You are going on ghost retrieval missions with Adam and Richard, aren’t you?

He nodded without opening his eyes. Some of the time. He sighed and stretched as if to break the tension. He turned his head and opened his eyes, smiling at me in a comforting manner. I will be consulting with the cool cats on the missions but I have to stay on Earth to assist the other units as well. I will be unreachable, out of mind, out of sight and out of here. He said it cheerfully but I knew there was something he wasn’t telling me.

What about the underground? I asked anxiously.

My brother, Michael, will be filling in for me for a while. He likes it there, gives him time to think.

I sensed an underlying meaning beneath his actual words indicating a lengthy absence. How long will you be unreachable, Eric?

Depends.

I returned my head to my feather filled pillow and scrunched my body into a ball for warmth. Rufus repositioned accordingly and tucked himself against my feet and fell asleep. Depends on what? I asked.

Eric opened his mouth as if to speak but I could almost see him switch speeds. Depends on different things that it might depend on, groovy girl, he replied ambiguously. You know how things just end when they are supposed to, no telling the time by a lava lamp, get me?

Not at all, I resisted. Why do I get the feeling I’m never going to see you again?

He looked instantly shocked at the mention of this. He quickly replaced his glasses and reached out to seize my shoulders. You mustn’t think that. No matter what, I’m with you. You are like my favorite jellybean. I’ll always pick you to hang out with but sometimes you got to go it alone. Dig it?

Okay, but if I don’t hear from you once I’ve finished up with this course, I’m sending a search team, and if they don’t find you I’ll come looking myself.

He gave me a hug, and I let my face rest against his warm flannel pajamas. You’re a good human, Penny Lane.

I had an overpowering sense that he had to leave, but I remained quiet for a moment, not wishing to disturb the peace and comfort I got from his presence. What if I need advice or someone to talk to? I asked quietly.

He looked me over as if taking a mental picture and his expression turned serious. All the answers that you seek are inside of you. Do you understand?

Yes.

No, you must listen to me. You know all that there is to know. You must have faith in your abilities to see and discover. Don’t underestimate yourself, okay?

I jumped out of bed and crouched down, using my mental gift to create a hot chocolate onto the floor. I took the hot paper cup off the floor and handed it to him. I know you don’t eat a lot so I didn’t add any sugar.

He sat up and sipped it willingly. Smooth, he said appreciatively. He smiled at me one more time and I struggled to return one.

Don’t get lost, time travel is a pain in the butt, I said.

Oh, happy death day by the way. I have something for you. He reached into the top pocket of his pajama top.

Good Lord, it’s been three years hasn’t it? So if I was still alive it would be my thirty third birthday. I pondered my murder and all that had happened following it.

But it’s your third death day and that’s what we celebrate here, so here you go. He passed me a photograph, a nice one of me in my favorite red corset dress. A photo I had never posed for yet seemed to be smiling at the camera for. It’s a picture of me, I stated the obvious.

He placed it in my hand and pointed to it. I want you to look at the person in that photo and remember how far she’s come and how much she’s accomplished. He vanished as he spoke and I watched as the blankets fell directly to the bed. The light slowly faded and left me in the dark.

I placed the photo under my pillow and climbed back into bed, hitting my head on one of the wide bedposts in the process. This was not how I wanted to start the day.

Chapter Two

Rufus barked before the knock came at my door. It had taken me so long to fall back to sleep after Eric left that I had fallen victim to one of the more comatose versions of sleep.

Hang on! I groggily climbed out of bed and quickly slipped on my knitted green socks. I created an extra large bone for Rufus and caught his attention. He ceased his deep constant bark and ran straight for me with a determined gait.

I quickly diverted him by throwing it into my bathroom, the only other room in my large wooden cottage. He chased after the bone leaving me to get the door.

After frantically scavenging my small kitchen drawers for a string or elastic band, I found a dark green ribbon and quickly tied my long brown hair into a hand-combed ponytail before opening the door.

Two thirty five year old men who also lived in my medieval era afterlife village stood at my threshold. Adam, my sweet ex beau ran his hand through his long brown hair and offered me a cute dimpled smile. Richard, my recently discovered brother, tipped his black fedora up a little and reached out to kiss me on the cheek. Hello sister, so good of you to greet us in your grandest attire.

I briefly looked them over, slowly remembering that they were about to go on a ghost retrieval mission, usually my job. Well this is a first, I said as I gestured for Adam to enter so I could straighten his long black suit jacket. Are those real twenties suits? I asked, amusedly studying my usually sixteenth century attired friend.

Adam looked straight at my brother for an affirmative response.

Well if you are going undercover in the twenties for your first mission you should be in good standing, I said to Richard who last died during the flapper era. You pull off the gangster look a lot better than I could anyway.

Richard crossed his arms against his pinstriped suit and offered me a hammed up side-pose. I was an exceptional shoe salesman back then, dearest. I assure you if given the chance to speak, neither of us will be a convincing criminal.

Adam snickered and I was glad to see that in the past two weeks they had bonded quite well.

Yes well I think you are quite the dapper pair regardless, I said smiling at Adam as he bent to kiss my hand. Would you like to come in? I can make you something for breakfast?

We really must be off, Richard replied. A quite involved shoot out is about to take place and we really have to get amidst it all for an effective rescue, you understand.

We may have to pursue another mission consecutive to that one, princess, Adam said solemnly in his smooth English voice. I imagine we’ll be quite a while, but we came to offer you sentiments of success in your quest of knowledge.

But something for the road would put some chipper in our leather shoes. Richard smiled at me mischievously. Bangers and Mash with a side of jam and scones would be lovely.

The breeze coming in through the open door chilled me as the bottom of my long nightgown billowed around my legs. Oh now I see. You are making a quick stop for breakfast on your way to work. I’m effectively your local drive thru.

Although they had experienced some modern conveniences, Adam had last lived in the fifteen hundreds and Richard in the twenties so this remark seemed to be lost on them. They exchanged an unknowing look. Never mind, I said. I don’t mind feeding two of my favorite people, my door is always open.

I used my mind to create Richard’s meal request into a brown paper bag and gave them each an identical meal along with a cup of tea, in a Styrofoam cup for easy disposal. If the gangsters give you any issues you could always throw this tea at them, I joked.

They both laughed while Richard sneaked a peek at his food. Looks very appetizing, Laney. You should open your own restaurant.

Yes in between study and ghost retrieval missions, not likely, I said. Is Eric going to meet up with you? I hated to broach the subject because I suspected his whereabouts were just as elusive to them.

I could tell Adam wanted to look at Richard but instead glanced at him through the corner of his eye. He has much to tend to, princess, he voiced with hesitation. We have your dubious acquaintance, Cary, to assist us should we acquire a need.

I cringed at the mention of the charmingless head of the ghost retrieval unit. Well I’m sure you will do just fine without him, I said, creating a butterscotch cappuccino for myself on the kitchen counter and walking over to take a sip. Don’t contact him unless you’re desperate because he’ll find a way of indicating you are incompetent if you ask him for help.

Adam raised the container to his nose and sniffed. Thank you for your practical wisdom as usual, princess, and thank you for the nourishment.

Richard smiled at me as he tucked the tea under his arm and reached out to touch Adam. They both vanished, leaving the wind to enter my home unobstructed. I closed the door and stared at my clothes and keepsakes piled onto one of my red velvet walnut chairs in the living area.

Realizing my time was short; I hurriedly tidied the bed and went to the bathroom where I pressed the button that miraculously created a steaming scented bubble bath. I threw off my nightgown and carefully stepped into the large circular in-ground tub. I held my ponytail up so it rested on the outside of the tub and sunk in with a loud sigh.

I had too many things to occupy my mind already yet the day had barely begun. I closed my eyes and let it all wash over me. Today I started an unknown course of unknown length at Apollo Academy. Since my death I had already been a melter, ghost retrieval counselor and a time travel victim so I couldn’t quite imagine how becoming a student fit in to that chaotic pattern.

Rufus stopped chewing his bone then sprung up and ran out of the bathroom. I knew someone would be knocking any second.

Much to my surprise the door creaked open and I realized I hadn’t locked it, not that home invasion was an issue in the afterlife. Rufus didn’t bark and somehow I knew his tail was wagging.

Coffee and bagels! My visitor yelled out to me.

No need for name calling! I yelled back.

I could hear him walk across my floor along with four paws that pit patted behind him. I tried to get the smile off my face before he entered; we never liked to appear pleased to see each other.

I turned to look over my shoulder; my eyes settling on Avery’s recently ironed dark blue pants. His gray and black sweater vest over a light blue dress shirt really flattered his vivid green eyes and light sandy colored hair. My dear handsome friend smiled at me mischievously rather than cheerfully which was typical of his nature.

You look very cute, I said as I mentally took note of how his ensemble highlighted his perfectly toned physique. You make me want to put happy stickers on your lunchbox.

He placed his hands in his pants pockets and laughed appreciatively. You really know how to word a sentence to give it minimum relevance, he said as he bent to pat Rufus.

I was suggesting you were dressed appropriately for school, I explained as I scrunched my face up in disapproval. Why is it that you always seem to pop in when I’m in the bath? I asked semi provokingly.

His eyes discreetly looked me over stopping a little longer at the bubbles below my neckline. Why do you phrase the question to suggest it being incidental? he shot back.

I suppressed a laugh. Your coffee with a dash of cinnamon and cheese bagel are on the drum table near my unoccupied living room chair, I said. You better hurry before Rufus sniffs it out.

He smirked and left the room. You’ll be lost for words one of these days, Feisty. You’ll be without a quick response, you will be outwitted and I will reign supreme, he called out from my living area with a mouthful of food.

Can you check that I packed my forties slippers that Pauline gave me? They are soft peach with flowers on the front, I asked.

No, don’t make me do that. I want to eat breakfast in peace. I