Chapter 17
Adam believed tonight, under the full moon, offered their best chance to break the curses binding them. He recalled the stories told by the Smiths' butler, Ms. Jane, and driver, Mr. William, about the full moon's power to erase curses. A plan solidified in his mind: he couldn't wait for Casper and Morgana to fall in love.
He needed to act now, before Luna could permanently inhabit Morgana's body. He pitied Morgana, believing her body defiled by Luna's actions and her reputation ruined.
The truth was more complicated than Luna led Morgana to believe. Not all the men at the Blackwood Inn were possessed. Luna seduced them, driven by an insatiable hunger for sex, a condition she had even when she was alive.
Adam, too, had succumbed to Luna's temptations. He regretted believing her pleas about strict parents and an unwanted marriage. She’d played on his sympathy, seducing him until he was completely infatuated. Casper knew of their betrayal but remained silent out of respect for Mr. Smith, his father, who saw Luna as respectable and kind. Only Luna’s father, Mr. Miller, worried, ashamed of his daughter's actions toward Casper, who remained silent.
His conscience bothered him, but his love for Luna blinded him. When she begged him to help her run away from the wedding, he agreed, betraying the family who had adopted him after his mother, a maidservant for the Smith family, died. The Smiths had been kind, and Casper treated him like a brother. Then Luna Miller entered their lives, and everything shattered.
His thoughts were interrupted by Luna, who peeked from the balcony. "Adam, I'm cooking your favorite dinner! I'm excited to cook for you again." Her face was bright with false excitement.
"Why bother? We don't need to eat," Adam replied.
"Well, Casper and Morgana's bodies do, to remain useful, right?" she explained.
"Fine, do what you want," Adam conceded.
As soon as Luna was gone, Adam began his plan. Leaving Casper's body asleep on the bed, he entered Casper's dream, urging him to perform a ritual under the full moon.
In Casper's dream, Casper stood with Morgana at the site of the accident that killed Luna and Adam. Casper performed the ritual based on Ms. Jane’s stories. Morgana, influenced by Luna, hesitated.
Casper lit a bonfire. As the full moon rose, he threw incense into the flames, smoke swirling around them. Casper felt Adam's presence, begging forgiveness for his betrayal and for the pain Luna had caused Casper.
Luna, inside Morgana's body, felt pain and anger. She tried to stop Casper. "What is this for? Ghosts aren't real!" But Casper continued, muttering a prayer as Adam pleaded for forgiveness.
Enraged, Luna shouted through Morgana, "Possess him, Adam! Don't let him finish this ritual!"
Adam laughed bitterly. "I won't follow you anymore, Luna. I've learned from my mistake!"
"You love me, don't you?" Luna tried to deceive him.
"Yes, but it's time to make things right!" Adam replied.
As the smoke thickened, a force pulled Luna’s spirit from Morgana's body. "This can't be!" she screamed.
The ritual ended, and Adam vanished. Casper sprayed holy water on Morgana. Luna shrieked, "Ahhhh! Holy water! I'm burning! Stop, Casper! Have mercy!" The holy water completely separated Luna from Morgana, and she disappeared. Morgana collapsed, and Casper carried her away.
The sound of perfume bottles breaking woke Casper. Adam had done it on purpose. Casper was breathless, the dream feeling real. "Morgana might be telling the truth." He muttered, "I need to perform that ritual. But I can't let Luna know." He needed supplies.
Casper jumped out of bed, noticing something strange: the feeling of having just had sex. He panicked, worried he had touched Morgana because of those unholy spirits forces. "Damn it! I'll be held accountable for this!" He’d be in trouble with his father, who didn't believe in ghosts.
He dressed and grabbed the car keys. As he passed the living room, Morgana called, "Adam!" His blood ran cold, but he hid his fear.
"Adam, where are you going?" she repeated.
"Just to the mall, to get your favorite ice cream and cake," he replied, suppressing his trembling.
"Really? Okay, don’t be long!" she said happily.
"Okay. I love you, Luna," he forced out, giving a flying kiss before rushing to the car, cursing. "Shit! Morgana is telling the truth."
Luna watched Casper, thrilled, thinking Adam was still in him and excited to be alive again.
But something felt strange. Adam wasn't usually this sweet. Casper was. "What does this mean? Is Adam betraying me? Did he let Casper escape to ask for help?"
Casper bolted from the house, his mind confused. He headed straight for the street near the church, renowned for its stalls selling ritual materials, everything needed to ward off unholy spirits and the evil forces that haunted the human world. Spotting a shop run by two young girls, he approached and purchased the necessary items. As one of them handed him the package, she said, "The curse will only break when the anger in your heart fades."