Ghost of Glasgow: Immortal Stonekeeper Case Files #2 (2023) Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Women Problems

Read chapter 10 of Ghost of Glasgow: Immortal Stonekeeper Case Files #2 (2023) by Mercynarie on NovelPedia.

Anya opened her eyes. Or at least, it felt like she did. Not like she had them at the moment, anyway. She was standing— No, floating— in some sort of container. She screamed silently, throwing herself at the cylindrical glass walls, but nothing budged. “Your soul is like a storm, young one. Try to keep it calm before you tear yourself asunder.” A croaky voice caught her attention. Anya swivelled around, coming face to face with an old woman. If she had nerves, she would’ve flinched out of her skin right there and then. ‘Grotesque’ was a compliment to the person before her. Hell, it was probably even a stretch to call this thing a ‘person’. For one, the woman’s face was missing an eyeball while the skin around her eye socket sagged so low, it could have been mistaken for a tumour. And for another, the other half of her face was missing its skin, leaving raw, yellowish flesh exposed to the light in all its full glory. All in all, she was one ugly old hag. “ Calm? ” Anya yelled back to steel herself. “How can you expect me to be calm when I’m missing my whole body? Who are you? What is happening?” The old woman lifted a finger and shook her head slowly. “Confusion… Hmm, yes. There is plenty of that. But that is not what plagues your soul,” she said cryptically. “You seethe with guilt, regret, and… love. Yes, so much love and… pain . Be careful, girl. You might just become a ghost if you keep carrying this burden.” Anya swirled around restlessly again. She was in no mood to listen to some disfigured woman play therapist. She needed answers, and she needed them now. “Baba Jadwiga, right? You’re the true Baba Yaga.” Anya decided to reveal her hand early, hoping to draw out a response from the old witch. “Does it bother you that your disciple is rotting in an asylum in your place?” The old lady shifted her body. It wasn’t as obvious without a proper facial expression to read from, but Anya could tell that she was surprised. “Hmm, you wish to gain my secrets by losing your secrecy. Clever girl,” she said. “Not many people are as bold as you are. Very well, your wish shall be granted.” Anya stopped swirling. “You are right, dear child. I am indeed, as many people have learnt to call me, Baba Yaga. It is I who have been tracking your husband’s movements, and it is I who have sundered your soul from your body. That is all you need to know.” “H— Husband?” Anya sputtered. “He’s not—” “Patience is a virtue you have yet to possess, Daughter of Mikhail.” Baba Yaga raised a wrinkled hand. “I read only what is imprinted on your soul. You may not have considered the Stonekeeper your partner, but your soul has already accepted him as its mate. Unveil the illusion of his imperfections in your mortal eyes, and see him for who he really is.” Anya would have rolled her eyes, if she had any. For a seven-thousand-year-old witch, this lady was certainly a huge busybody. “What are you after?” She quickly regained her composure. “Are you the Ghost of Glasgow?” “There is no need to be hostile; I mean you no harm. I am not who you seek.” Baba Yaga turned around to show her a container with a pulsating green brain in it. “I am on your side, and all I have done is keep all of you safe.” “You were that dark figure…” Anya whispered in realisation. “It was you who plucked out that Dryad’s bud. It was you who ripped my soul from my body.” Her attention shifted to the glowing rifle mounted on a nearby shelf as well as some dark mass swirling in a container beside it. “You were also the one who shot Lucy Carpenter and took her memories. Why?” “You have always sought to see what you have not seen, know what you should not know.” The witch walked wearily back to her circular table. “It has served you well thus far, but knowledge chooses when to extract its toll.” “I asked a simple question.” Anya was growing tired of her crypticness. Baba Yaga’s eye flitted around for a moment. “I have sheltered all of you before she could claim your lives. That is all you need to kn