“It has nothing to do with Holly,” I said. I did my best to smile at them. “It really doesn’t. Please, Holly, sit down. Thanks….No, it has all to do with me. You all know what really happened at Aickmere’s—it’s not quite the same as the story we sold to the newspapers. The Poltergeist that wrecked everything—it got its strength from me.”
“And me,” Holly said. “There were two of us in that argument, you know.”
“I do know that,” I said. “But I started it, and it was my anger that mostly fueled its power. No, sorry, George”—he’d tried to interrupt—“I am quite sure about this. It’s my Talent that did it. It’s getting stronger, and it’s getting harder to deal with, too. When it stirred up the Poltergeist it was working completely negatively, but even when I’m more in control—when I’m talking to ghosts, or listening to them talk—I’m sort of not in control anymore. And this is growing dangerous now. You all know what happened in Miss Wintergarden’s house. And the other day, in the prison, underground, when I spoke with Visitors, they kind of called the shots, not me. I know none of you were present then, but I can’t be sure that this loss of control won’t happen again. In fact, I’m sure it will. And that’s not acceptable for any psychic investigation agent, is it?”
“You mustn’t put too much emphasis on this,” George said. “Things happen to all of us. I’m sure we can all support you going forward, and—”
“I know you would,” I said. “Of course. But it isn’t fair. To you.”
Holly was frowning, looking down at her lap; George was doing something with his glasses. I pressed my fingers hard against the wood of the chair, feeling its smoothness and its grain.
“Is that it?” Lockwood asked quietly. “Is that really what this is all about?”
I looked at him, sitting there beside me.
“It’s enough,” I said. “I put all your lives at risk, not once but several times. One way or another, I’m becoming a liability to the company, and I care too much about you all to let that happen again.” It was super-hard to smile then, and it wasn’t going to get any easier. So I just got on with it. “And that’s why I’ve made up my mind the way I have,” I said, “and why I’m resigning at once from Lockwood and Co.”
There was silence in the room.
“So much for me enjoying this bloody cake,” George said.
* indicates a Type One ghost
** indicates a Type Two ghost
Agency, Psychic Investigation—A business specializing in the containment and destruction of ghosts. There are more than a dozen agencies in London alone. The largest two (the Fittes Agency and the Rotwell Agency) have hundreds of employees; the smallest (Lockwood & Co.) has three. Most agencies are run by adult supervisors, but all rely heavily on children with strong psychic Talent.
Apparition—The shape formed by a ghost during a manifestation. Apparitions usually mimic the shape of a dead person, but animals and objects are also seen. Some can be quite unusual. The Specter in the recent Limehouse Docks case manifested as a greenly glowing king cobra, while the infamous Bell Street Horror took the guise of a patchwork doll. Powerful or weak, most ghosts do not (or cannot) alter their appearance.
Aura—The radiance surrounding many apparitions. Most auras are fairly faint, and are seen best out of the corner of the eye. Strong, bright auras are known as other-light. A few ghosts radiate black auras that are darker than the night around them.
Chain net—A net made of finely spun silver chains; a versatile variety of Seal.
Changer**—A rare and dangerous Type Two ghost, powerful enough to alter its appearance during a manifestation.
Chill—The sharp drop in temperature that occurs when a ghost is near. One of the four usual indicators of an imminent manifestation, the others being malaise, miasma, and creeping fear. Chill may extend over a wide area, or be concentrated in specific cold spots.
Cluster—A group of ghosts occupying a small area.
Cold Maiden*—A gray, misty female form, often wearing old-fashioned dress, seen indistinctly at a distance. Cold Maidens radiate powerful feelings of melancholy and malaise. As a rule, they rarely draw close to the living, but exceptions have been known.
Corpse-bell—A deep-toned bell rung in churches to announce funerals.
Corpse-light—A pale and sickly supernatural radiance; another name for other-light.
Creeping fear—A sense of inexplicable dread often experienced in the build-up to a manifestation. Often accompanied by chill, miasma, and malaise.
Curfew—In response to the Problem, the British government enforces nightly curfews in many inhabited areas. During curfew, which begins shortly after dusk and finishes at dawn, ordinary people are encouraged to remain indoors, safe behind their home defenses.
Death-glow—An energy trace left at the exact spot where a death took place. The more violent the death, the brighter the glow. Strong glows may persist for many years.
Defenses against ghosts—The three principal defenses, in order of effectiveness, are silver, iron, and salt. Lavender also affords some protection, as do bright light and running water.
DEPRAC—The Department of Psychic Research and Control. A government organization devoted to tackling the Problem. DEPRAC investigates the nature of ghosts, seeks to destroy the most dangerous ones, and monitors the activities of the many competing agencies.
Ectoplasm—A strange, variable substance from which ghosts are formed. In its concentrated state, ectoplasm is very harmful to the living.
Fetch**—A rare and unnerving class of ghost that appears in the shape of a living person, usually someone known to the onlooker. Fetches are seldom aggressive, but the fear and disorientation they evoke is so strong that most experts classify them as Type Two spirits, to be treated with extreme caution.
Fittes Manual—A famous book of instruction for ghost-hunters written by Marissa Fittes, the founder of Britain’s first psychic investigation agency.
Ghost—The spirit of a dead person. Ghosts have existed throughout history, but—for unclear reasons—are now increasingly common. There are many varieties; broadly speaking, however, they can be organized into three main groups (See Type One, Type Two, Type Three). Ghosts always linger near a Source, which is often the place of their death. They are at their strongest after dark, and most particularly, between the hours of midnight and two a.m. Most are unaware or uninterested in the living. A few are actively hostile.
Ghost-bomb—A weapon consisting of a ghost trapped in a silver-glass prison. When the glass breaks, the spirit emerges to spread fear and ghost-touch among the living.