Book Five: Chapter 16

“Thank you, I—” Eulalie froze mid-sentence as Death drifted into the room, carrying a delicate porcelain teapot in one hand while holding a Viewmaster toy to his skeletal face with the other. His long, bony fingers moved with a grace that belied their size, deftly flicking the lever that changed the image inside. With every subtle click, his hollow chuckle echoed softly, a mixture of delight and mischief that sent an odd shiver down Mike’s spine.

“Can you see what he has?” Mike asked Beth quietly, tilting his head to track Death’s movements as the teapot hovered unnaturally in the air, moving as if guided by some unseen hand.

“On it,” Beth replied, rising from her chair with practiced efficiency. She followed Death into the dining room, her steps soft but purposeful on the polished floor.

“Was that a ghost?” Eulalie whispered, her voice a mixture of awe and t