Soul Screamers, Volume 1

“But, Kaylee, that doesn’t mean you should try it.” She was solemn now, blue eyes glittering with urgent warning. “The Netherworld is dangerous, especially for bean sidhes, and you should never go there unless you literally have no other choice.”


I could only nod. “But if I needed to? If I had that emergency?” I paused and met her eyes, letting mine shine with equal parts eagerness and careful dread. As if I wanted the knowledge but hoped never to have to use it. Which was totally true; my fear was real enough to pass scrutiny. “You said it works just like peeking, right?”

“Yeah.” She held her glass in both hands and leaned back against the arm of the couch, looking easily a quarter of her actual age with one foot tucked beneath her slim leg. “The difference is in the intent. If you call your wail on purpose, like you learned to do on Monday, but with the intent of going to the Netherworld, rather than just peeking in, you’ll cross over.” She set her glass down again and sat straighter, as if to underline the importance of whatever she was about to say. “It’s frighteningly simple, Kaylee. The most important thing to learn is how not to go, when you just want to peek, because once you’ve crossed over that first time, your body remembers how. And sometimes it seems like it wants to be there, even if you don’t.”

Okay, that’s scary. I shivered with a sudden surge of fear that left chills the length of my arms.

“Which is why we’re not going to try it.” Harmony leaned back again, and her usual pleasant smile was in place. “I think theoretical knowledge is enough for now.”

I found myself nodding, even though I really needed the actual experience. “Once you’re there, do you get back the same way? By wailing with the intent to go home?”

Harmony nodded. “But, Kaylee, this knowledge is for emergencies only. I can’t emphasize that enough.” I nodded, but she continued. “Do not go sightseeing in the Netherworld. You practically shine with youth and vitality, and that will attract…people. Netherworlders.”

Aaaand, it gets even creepier....

“Don’t worry.” I exhaled and smiled to set her at ease. “I don’t go around looking for danger.” Yet somehow, it always seems to find me....

“I know.”

She drank the rest of her soda and we sat in silence for nearly a minute, listening to the canned fight sounds from Nash’s room. Then, though I was more on edge than I wanted to admit by what I’d already learned, I played my last card, desperate for that remaining piece of information.

“Since you checked to make sure it was safe to cross over from here, my dad probably did the same thing, right? Crossed over from our house to make sure it’s safe?”

Harmony grinned like I’d just asked her to explain the difference between boys and girls. “Not exactly,” she said, still smiling. “Your dad can’t cross over on his own.” Which I’d already known, thanks to Tod. “So I took him. Humans and male bean sidhes can’t cross over without a female bean sidhe’s wail.”

“Oh,” I let my eyes widen in surprise and concern. “What if we have an emergency and we both need to cross over? How can I do that? Take him with me?”

I didn’t think she’d answer. I truly didn’t. And she probably wouldn’t have, if not for the obvious guilt she felt over having scared the crap out of me with the knowledge that I might someday have to abandon my father in a burning building because he can’t cross over.

“You just have to be holding on to him when you cross over, and he’ll come with you. That’s the same way it works with whatever you’re holding or wearing. Which is what keeps you from showing up naked in the Netherworld.” Harmony grinned at her own joke, and I forced a laugh to let her know I wasn’t totally freaked out.

“You two about done?” Nash asked, and I looked up to find him watching us from their short, dark hallway. He glanced pointedly at his watch, then at me. “It’s nearly four-thirty. What time are you supposed to be home?”

“My dad’ll probably call to check on me soon. You know, to make sure I’m not having any fun or acting like a teenager.” I stood and picked up my backpack, and Harmony stood, too. She got the message.

“Go easy on your father. He’s pretty new at this.”

“I know.” But that was his fault. He’d had the past thirteen years to reestablish his role in my life after my mother died, and so far, late was proving to be only marginally better than never. “Walk me home?” I asked Nash, already headed for the door.

“Love to.”

“Thanks for the cookies, Harmony. And the lesson,” I added, still trying to make up for acting like I didn’t care about her efforts to help me.

“No problem.” She headed toward the kitchen with both empty glasses. “And, Nash, please don’t linger. I doubt hanging out with you is on Kaylee’s list of approved activities at the moment.”

That was an understatement, considering that whatever my dad thought I’d been doing, he knew I’d been doing it with Nash.