City of Ghosts

Everyone spends the afternoon touring Grassmarket, an open-air plaza near the castle that once served as the sight for public executions. As she walks through the area, Cassidy feels the strong pull of the Veil through the ground. Her mind, however, is still trying to understand Lara and the way she used the mirror to turn the ghost into ash. Jacob accompanies her but has little to say. As they enter a pub called the White Hart Inn, the pull of the Veil lessens, and Cassidy joins Findley in a booth. Findley orders two beers, explaining one is for his deceased friend Reggie Weathershire. He says, “I always bought the first round” (144). Cassidy remembers something her father once told her. He said ghosts are just a way for the living to hold on to those they lost, and she realizes Findley is keeping the memory of his dear friend alive.

Cassidy asks Findley if he believes in ghosts, and he explains ghosts are like memories that live on. Edinburgh is full of them, but they do not harm the living. He remarks that Cassidy is lucky to have a ghostly friend to keep her safe just in case. Having been mostly silent during the meal, Jacob reminds Cassidy that he is always there for her. Cassidy tells Findley her ghost friend’s name is Jacob, and he once saved her life. As they leave the pub, Cassidy glances back and sees Mr. Weathershire’s beer glass empty.

Cassidy takes photos of the city as they walk back to The Lane’s End. When they reach the top of the Royal Mile, she hears the Red Raven singing. No one else can hear the singing. Later that night, Cassidy struggles to sleep, recounting the events of Mary King’s Close and her encounter with Lara. Careful not to wake anyone, she grabs her camera and begins cleaning the lens. As she examines it, she realizes it reflects like a mirror; she wonders if this explains why Jacob does not look at the camera when she takes his photo.

The following day, Cassidy’s parents go to film in the vaults under South Bridge, and she stays back to meet with Lara. Her mom agrees, thinking she is still frightened from the events of the previous day. Cassidy plays along while Jacob adds humorous commentary. Her dad suggests it probably was not the best place to take a child, and Cassidy is angered at being called a kid. She wonders if her parents considered not bringing her to Edinburgh. They agree to let her stay at The Lane’s End, but she must not leave the premises.

Cassidy hesitantly tells Jacob she is going to meet Lara. He is angry, but Cassidy explains her reasons, saying, “[…] for the last year, I thought I was the only one who could cross the Veil. I’m sorry if I am curious, but I’ve never met anyone else like me” (153). Jacob claims they are not the same: Cassidy only photographs the ghosts, but Lara turns them to ash. His anger increases, and Cassidy notices his appearance changes to something more devilish. He wants her to have friends—but not ones who extinguish ghosts. Cassidy snaps that he should have told her the truth, but he does not respond and disappears, leaving her to feel sad and alone.

When Cassidy meets Lara, she learns Mrs. Weathershire is her great-aunt. Mrs. Weathershire invites her in for tea, but Lara exclaims they are going out for a stroll. Cassidy notes how smartly Lara is dressed, her hair in a neat braid. They walk quickly down the Royal Mile chatting about Cassidy’s love for Harry Potter. Lara is from London, but her father’s family is from New Delhi, and her mother’s family is from Scotland. She is staying with her aunt in Scotland while her parents work on an archaeological dig in Tanzania. The girls stop for hot chocolate and tea, and Cassidy watches Lara’s slow, deliberate movements. Lara evades any more talk about her family and leads them to the base of the castle. Cassidy notices Jacob is still missing, and Lara remarks on his absence. She explains ghosts should not be on either side of the Veil. Cassidy argues that he saved her life, but Lara says it is not a good idea to have him around.

When Cassidy is confused that Lara calls the ghosts “in-betweeners” (161), she explains there are many ways to describe what they are. Lara says once she realized her ability, she used her Uncle Reggie’s books to learn about her job, but Cassidy senses she is not telling the whole truth. Lara is shocked that Cassidy has not taken one ghost during a year of crossing, but Cassidy explains she did not know that was her job. Since she is drawn to and compelled to explore the Veil, Lara explains that this is Cassidy’s purpose in life: “We’re drawn to the Veil because it needs us. Because you and I can do something other people can’t. We can free the spirits trapped there. We can send them on” (163). If Cassidy tries to deny the pull, it will only get stronger. In exchange for the chance to keep living after her accident, she must fulfill her duty.

Cassidy connects to the word purpose and feels like she might now have answers to all her questions about the Veil. Lara explains how mirrors work to extinguish a ghost: If a ghost looks into a mirror, they get stuck seeing themselves and the truth of their condition. Cassidy remembers what happened to Jacob when he looked in the mirror at The Lane’s End and how he was always careful to avoid looking into mirrors. Lara explains that ghost hunters are also like mirrors helping the ghosts to see the truth, but Cassidy should always have something reflective with her as a source of protection in case she encounters a hostile ghost. Ghost hunters have a life, and some ghosts will harm a human to steal their life force. As Lara speaks, she notices Jacob watching them from afar. Lara excuses herself, and Cassidy joins Jacob on a bench.

They argue about their friendship rules but end up laughing together. Jacob admits he did not tell her the truth because he feared she would try and release him, just as Lara did to the other ghost. Cassidy says he is not stuck in the Veil; Jacob says he was before he met her, but now that he is on this side with Cassidy, he does not want to leave. She assures him she will not send him away, because he is here to help her. Lara returns and speaks tersely with Jacob, reminding him he should not be there. Both Lara and Cassidy feel the familiar tapping sensation, and they agree to investigate it together.

Lara enters the Veil much more forcefully and directly than Cassidy. They enter the gray world beneath the castle where a man dressed for cold weather calls out a name. Cassidy notices the Veil moves around him, and Lara explains each that ghost has its own version of the Veil. She continues, “It’s different for every ghost. A kind of […] time capsule. Ghosts overlap sometimes, bleed together, but in the end, each ghost is living in their own in-between, moving through their own loop” (171). Lara, Cassidy, and Jacob follow the tall, thin man into his house. He looks at them and asks if they have seen his child. Lara moves quickly to use her mirror, but Cassidy stops her and holds up her camera. He shows her a photo of his missing son Matthew, who was taken in the winter. Cassidy freezes, remembering the tale of the Raven in Red. The man says he will wait until the boy returns, and Cassidy is saddened to think of him stuck in his grief. Just before she holds up the mirror lens of her camera, she promises to send his boy home if she sees him. When he sees his reflection, Cassidy sees his pain recede. She speaks the words of the incantation, pulls his rope, and watches as the ghost crumbles to the ground. Jacob watches in horror and runs to sift through the dust as the Veil around them vanishes.

Jacob and Lara become friendly as he asks her questions about ghost hunting. Cassidy is still in shock over what she did, but she also feels a profound sense of satisfaction, mostly because the tapping is gone. Lara tells them the scariest ghost she ever encountered was William Burke. Cassidy asks if she ever saw the Raven in Red, and Lara soberingly reports the same experience of being entranced by her song. She warns Cassidy to stay away from the woman, reminding her about malicious ghosts. The Raven in Red steals the threads of children, feeding off their life force.

Cassidy wonders if the Raven is drawn to her cold light. She explains her experience of crossing the Veil the first time in the frigid water. Lara’s near-death experience came from a high fever; thus, her light is rosy and warm. Lara is not certain why the Raven is drawn to Cassidy, but she reminds her to cover her ears and get out of the Veil as quickly as possible if she sees her again. Findley is sent to find Cassidy, as her parents are leaving for a tour of the castle. He invites Lara to join them, but she declines and warns Cassidy once more to stay aware. Jacob suggests staying home, but Cassidy is still energized from reaping the ghost and is anxious to explore the castle. After she speaks to him through her thoughts, he reluctantly agrees to go with her.

Findley leads Cassidy, her parents, and the film crew into Edinburgh Castle while filling them in on its ghostly history. She immediately feels the pull of the Veil getting stronger as she takes in the immensity of the castle’s landscape. Now that Cassidy knows her purpose on the other side, she wonders what she will find if she crosses the Veil. The castle sits high on a hill, and the group stops to take in the expansive view. As Cassidy looks out over the ramparts, she hears the intoxicating song carried on the wind. Remembering Lara’s warning, she tries to fight against it, but it takes the midday firing of the castle’s cannon to snap her out of the trance. As Findley takes Cassidy to meet her parents in the castle’s prison, Jacob comments on how much the castle reminds him of Hogwarts. Cassidy never read him the Harry Potter books, but she showed him the movies. The castle feels more like a tourist attraction than a haunted site, and Cassidy notices it does not carry the same threatening energy as Mary King’s Close. The energy shifts when they enter the prison, and she instantly feels the suffocating energy of the Veil. Her parents are in the middle of filming a segment deep inside the prison, and as she descends, the tapping sensation turns to a loud knocking sound.

Cassidy’s parents are happy to see her, but Cassidy’s unease grows as she hears the music again. Jacob says it is just the piper, but Cassidy wonders if it is something else. On the way out of the prison, she stays behind, ducking into the restroom to splash water on her face. When she returns, Jacob is missing and does not answer when she calls. Hearing Jacob’s desperate cry, she tumbles through the Veil, falling through the freezing sensation into a room full of ghostly soldiers. Feeling disoriented, she calls for Jacob and runs back into the depths of the prison, where she finds him held captive by six children dressed in old-fashioned clothing. Jacob yells for her to run, but as she grasps her camera to remove the lens cap, the Raven in Red grabs her wrist and begins to speak into her ear. As she stares into Cassidy’s eyes, the lady transforms into a raven, plunges her hand into Cassidy’s chest, and rips out her life force.