Ghostly incident

Eloise Blackwood is a hereditary witch from a very wealthy family, who owns a shop called "Joy or Nasty." She sells love potions, spells, and other magical items. Surprisingly, the most popular items were those that could cause harm, such as causing rashes, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia, love potions, and more. Eloise also sells flasks filled with curses, but they only last for three days. Although it was only for a short time, they could cause a lot of trouble for those they were sent against. There was a special demand for all this splendor before Halloween, and the owners worked tirelessly. Eloise was just about to close the shop when the bell jingled, announcing the arrival of a customer. A young, well-dressed gentleman stood in the doorway, looking down at the floor in embarrassment, and he appeared to be slightly older than her. "What a time to be late," the girl complained, now forced to stay at work. "Good evening. My request may seem strange to you... " he began, blushing more and more. "It's always like this," Eloise thought grimly, considering some spicy options that might make him shy. "Feel free to speak," the young witch said with a forced smile. "So, I decided to surprise my friends and family on Halloween and appear as a ghost. As a spirit, not in a ghost costume," he finally explained. "And this rich guy is willing to separate his spirit from his body just to show off to his friends and girlfriends," thought Eloise, looking at him as if he were crazy. "I understand you, and I'll try to help," the witch smiled and reached under the counter. In a far drawer, she found a bottle labeled "Feigned Death" and placed it in front of the customer, asking for a substantial amount that was three times higher than the actual price, along with instructions for use. The customer paid and began examining the bottle containing the green liquid. "It will be like a dream. Just remember that the clothes you sleep in will be the ones your ghost appears in. And you should only use it before midnight, because if you use it after midnight, you won't be able to return to your body. If everything goes well, you will return to your body at dawn," the girl warned. He thanked her, took the product, and hurried away. Heloise quickly closed the store and went home. Halloween was approaching, and on this day, witches usually didn't work, both literally and figuratively. Using magic was forbidden, especially for harmful purposes, but it was highly encouraged to have fun with other citizens. Eloise and her friends went door-to-door collecting sweets, which they enjoyed on benches in a park adorned with glowing garlands and pumpkins. On Halloween night, a disgraced aristocrat spent three hours choosing the dress he would wear in front of an audience. He was so engrossed that he forgot about time. In the end, he chose a black suit with gold trim. He dressed, lay down on his bed, drank the disgusting liquid in one gulp, folded his arms across his chest, and fell asleep. His spirit's appearance was truly triumphant. The ladies fainted, and when they regained consciousness, they began to mourn the recently deceased, which greatly amused the prankster. The men stood there, stunned. When the hero of the occasion explained that it was just a spell, not death, everyone laughed and continued celebrating. However, the aristocrat failed to consider that ghosts cannot eat or drink, so the Bloody Mary, Vampire Kiss, Red Devil, and Zombie Punch cocktails were enjoyed without him. Eloise came home with a basket of sweets, a little tired but content. They had dinner with the family and read scary stories. It wasn't until the early morning that she went to bed. After getting up in the afternoon, she decided to go back to the store to get some glowing vials, but she noticed a piece of paper on the counter. When she unfolded it, she was horrified to see the instructions for the potion she had sold to the late customer. The thought of what might happen if she did something wrong made Heloise's hair stand on end. Just then, a mournfully howling ghost of an aristocrat flew through the closed door of the shop. "What have you done to me, you cursed witch! I can't get back into my body! he wailed, shedding tears of grief. "I've been called worse," she thought, looking at him with icy indifference. I warned you to follow the instructions, and you didn't even take them. Now you're blaming me for coming up with a crazy idea. You didn't even know what you were doing," Eloise scolded him. "You have to fix it!" he said in a commanding tone. "If you're here to ask for help, why are you giving orders? I'm not your servant," the witch replied rudely. The aristocrat realized that he was not in a position to demand anything. "What should I do now?" he asked sadly. "Nothing. To accept your fate. Rest in peace, "said Eloise, to make him nervous, and went to the exit. "Help me, please-ee-ee!" the ghost wailed and followed her. "If my parents see me with such a 'suitor,' there'll be no avoiding trouble," she sighed, lamenting the trouble she'd gotten herself into. If her mother scolds her, it's one thing, but if her grandmother finds out, she might take away her broom. She'll have to walk like a regular mortal. The thought sent a shiver down her spine. "Okay, don't howl. I'll help. What's your name?" said Eloise. "Richard. Richard Gilesworth," the spirit introduced himself. When you got home, you had to tell your mother everything. You looked at her sternly, shaking your head, and decided that you would punish her later, but right now you had to fix the situation, as this incident would damage the family's and their store's reputation. "Such potions are only for witches and warlocks, haven't I explained to you," she scolded her daughter. "How many days have passed since he became a ghost?" "A couple of days, I suppose," replied Eloise, after a moment's thought. Mom rummaged through her potion boxes and pulled out a vial and a round leaf of some plant. She dipped it in the potion. "You must put this leaf in his mouth before the third day of his supposed death, otherwise he will not be able to leave the other world," said his mother. By evening, the witch and the ghost had arrived at the gates of the estate. It was the most magnificent sight she had ever seen. The wrought-iron gates, adorned with coats of arms, reflected the last rays of the setting sun, as if holding back the darkness that was approaching from the east. A long avenue lined with centuries-old oak trees led to the castle itself, which stood tall above the landscape like a stone guardian. But even in this splendor, there was a sense of mourning. Black draperies hung from the towers like mourning banners. The lanterns that usually illuminated the guests' path were now dim, casting long, swaying shadows. The garden, once vibrant with color, had withered, devoid of its vibrant blooms. Instead, mourning ribbons were tied to every tree. The courtyard, paved with gray stone, was strewn with fallen leaves, a sign of the coming winter and, it seemed, a symbol of a life gone by. The statues, usually depicting heroes and mythical creatures, were now shrouded in black crepe. Even the fountain, usually a joyful gurgle, emitted only soft, mournful sighs. The air was filled with the scent of withered flowers and incense, mingling with the damp autumn breeze. Everything around spoke of loss, of the young lord's abruptly cut life. "The mistress is not in a position to receive anyone. The house is in mourning, come another time," said the butler, opening the door for her. "I don't need a mistress, I need a young master," said Eloise, determined to get into the house at all costs. "The deceased," the servant clarified. "It is the deceased. I want to express my condolences and take one last look at the deceased," the witch said, wiping a single tear from her eyelashes. She was let into the house and taken to his bedroom. In the middle of the room was a luxurious coffin, and in it lay a sleeping man in a black velvet suit and a snow-white shirt. Richard hovered over his body, examining himself with genuine interest. "I look good in a coffin," the ghostly aristocrat said. "I don't have to do anything. You can keep admiring yourself. But not for long. Decaying corpses are not a pleasant sight," the witch said irritably. "Do it, please," Richard pleaded. She approached him, performed the ritual, and the ghost was sucked into his body. Richard shuddered and came to life, opening his eyes and slowly sitting up in the coffin. Suddenly, the door to his room opened, and a woman dressed in rich mourning clothes entered. She was wiping her tears with a cambric handkerchief, sobbing softly. When she saw the resurrected man, she let out a piercing scream and ran out of the room, shouting, "Demon!" "Well, you'll have to handle the rest yourself," said Eloise, and hurried away. A week later, the scandal surrounding the Halloween incident had finally died down. During this time, business at the witch's shop had significantly increased. The effectiveness of the potion had become a positive advertisement for the shop, and everyone was eager to purchase it, but it was no longer sold to anyone without a witch's certificate or a mage's diploma. One day, Richard came back before the shop closed. "I won't sell you anything," Eloise said sternly. "No, I'm not buying anything. I just... Maybe we could go out sometime, as an apology. I'm sorry for causing trouble," he offered, blushing again. "It's okay, but only as an apology," the witch agreed, closing the store.