“Rhiannon?” Sonja sounded so far away, so distant. Then she became louder. “Rhiannon! Snap out of it!”
Holy hell, it was hard, but somehow I managed to do as she requested. This time I rotated in a circle, searching for the lost soul of Baxter Lomen, and then I saw him. He was standing against the wall, mouth moving as if screaming. Then it came to me that he was screaming, only no one would ever hear him. He was hidden in his realm, behind a wall necromancers couldn’t see.
“I see him,” I said and started in his direction.
“You do?” Her voice was strained. “Where is he?”
“Here,” I said and reached out for the spirit who would spend an eternity in banishment without our help. The moment of contact was slightly different, and I felt a disgusting shadow cross over my skin. It warred with my ability, trying to keep Baxter contained. The power of the amulet overcame it, backing my necromancy, breaking the spell. The feeling vanished and Baxter became solid under my fingers. I stepped back, maintaining contact, and he literally ripped from the wall.
He met my gaze, then focused over my shoulder. When Baxter was alive, he always worried vampires couldn’t go to Heaven. It was his biggest fear and the one thing he fixated on. Judging by the wonder in his eyes, I knew he’d just learned even lost souls were given a second chance.
I didn’t jump when I felt Sonja grasp my free hand. Necromancy talents could be shared by touch, and I had a feeling she’d want to say goodbye. After several seconds, I knew she saw him. She dissolved into tears.
I released Baxter and moved so she could get closer to him. I knew from past experience it was harder than hell to deny Heaven, but Baxter managed. He turned to Sonja and his expression changed, almost heartbroken. I held my breath when he lifted his hand. I could touch him, but would Sonja be able to do the same using my necromancy?
The sob Sonja released when his fingers brushed her face almost broke me. Tears always were my weakness. I wanted to leave them alone, give them privacy, but there was nowhere to go. Without holding onto me, they couldn’t have this—a final and bittersweet farewell.
“You were right,” he whispered, cupping her cheek. “Heaven does exist. Even for us.”
I didn’t have to see Sonja to know that, while she was relieved he could see the light, she was also devastated. It was official. He would cross over, and she would be left behind.
For the two of them, it was over.
A familiar ache formed in my chest, wrenching my heart. The finality of the moment was one I was familiar with. Vivid memories of my own anguish assailed me, of a time when Disco was dead and I would have done anything to be with him again. I felt empty, as though I’d lost a part of myself. My soul had been ripped in two, leaving behind a person that functioned but didn’t truly live.
The depth of emotion between Sonja and Baxter was too much. I wanted to be anywhere but here. It hit too fucking close to home.
“I’ve missed you so much. I’ve had dreams about this very moment. Now that it’s finally here...” She fell into Baxter, weeping into his chest. “I don’t want to let you go.”
“I know.”
When Baxter’s eyes darted in my direction, I turned my head and stared at the wall. This was more than uncomfortable. It was unbearable. I knew how Sonja felt right now. Her heart would feel like an anchor, but her mind would keep screaming to wake up because it was all just a bad dream. When you don’t want to let someone go, or you don’t want to believe that they are gone, you’ll grasp onto something—anything—to convince yourself otherwise.
Their reunion was short-lived. I couldn’t see the beams from Heaven, or hear the voices and music that would cause a sinner to beg for forgiveness, but I knew Baxter could. It wasn’t long until he was no longer focused on the crying woman leaning against him but the space across the room.