Chapter 32
(Alex)
It hurt me to see her like that. She was hurting in ways she didn t know how to deal with. And I didn t know what to do. I could have gone to her myself, but I was the one who still had a mother. So I sent Laylen, even though it killed me, because I knew he could help her through it.
And now I was the one helping her to her death.
Gemma held the vile of poison between her finger and thumb, staring at the clear liquid.
So this is what s going to kill me, without actually harming me?
My mother leaned forward from the sofa and took the vile from her fingers.
It will once Aislin seals it with the Kiss of Death.
It sounds like something straight out of Shakespeare,
Gemma remarked, tilting her head, studying the vile.
Like Romeo and Juliet,
Nicholas commented.
Only let s hope this one over here doesn t pull a Romeo and take his own life. Then you ll both be dead.
Does he really need to be here?
I asked.
It seems kind of pointless.
We need his help with something,
my mother said, cupping the poison in her hand.
Help with what?
I asked.
Have you actually talked to him?
I d like to point out that I m staying,
Nicholas s voice interrupted.
I m not going anywhere until my life returns to me.
But how am I going to get Helena to give up the Lost Souls?
Gemma asked.
Because I don t think she s just going to hand them over.
With that.
My mother taped the ring on Gemma s finger.
That belongs to the queen.
The last time we tried to make a bargain with a jewel,
Gemma frowned,
it didn t work out so well. We ended up trapped in The Underworld with a pissed off queen.
That won t happen,
my mother said.
As long as you re still tied to the human world, the queen can t hurt you. And she ll want that ring more than anything.
Gemma twisted the ring on her finger.
Why? What s so special about it?
My mother s eye lit up in an inhuman way.
Because inside that rings is her soul.
Who s soul?
Gemma and I asked.
The queen s soul,
my mom answered, stepping toward Gemma.
That s why you can see the dead when you wear it.
I stepped between them.
There s one thing that is really bugging me about this,
I said.
Actually, there s more than one, but this is the biggest. How is she going to come back? How will she start breathing again?
That s what you re for.
My mother patted my shoulder.
You re part of her in every way, through the promise, through the star, through your soul.
Soul?
Gemma gave me a confused look.
Am I missing something?
Oh.
My mother averted her eyes, realizing I d never told Gemma that our souls were connected.
All you have to do is revive her when it s time.
So how do I know when that is?
I asked.
Because I won t know what s going on down there.
Her gaze locked on a space of air.
Nicholas is going to tell you when it s time.
No freakin way,
I said, wondering if being locked up in the City of Crystal had messed with her head.
You actually want to leave someone like him in charge of something like that.
It s the only way,
she said.
He s the one who can see into their world.
I crossed my arms.
Why can t you just come back?
She got a look in her eyes I didn t like.
Once I cross over into the Afterlife, I can t come back.
What!
I exclaimed and Gemma gasped.
I ve been avoiding my duties as a Banshee,
she said.
Once I turned, I got myself sentenced to the Foreseer s crystal to keep my whereabouts hidden. But now & when I go there, Helena can make me stay if she chooses to.
You have to come back,
I muttered.
It s & I &
I will one day.
She patted my head like I was still two-years-old.
It s not good-bye forever.
There s got to be another way,
I said, determined that there was.
Maybe Nicholas could take me to the Afterlife.
Only a Banshee can carry a Lost Soul to the Afterlife.
She sank down on the coffee table tucking her hair behind her ears.
And Gemma s the one that s going. I ve already explained this.
Maybe we could find another Banshee then,
Gemma suggested, biting at her nails.
We can t,
I answered for my mom.
No other Banshee will bring your soul back.
This was so stupid. Both of them were exactly the same, throwing their lives down like it didn t matter, like they were worth nothing.
Now that everyone understands their job.
My mother stood.
Should we get started?
You know,
Gemma said, lying on her bed, her hands overlapped across her stomach as if she was preparing her body for death.
In the dream I had the one where I died Nicholas was the one that appeared to me.
That s because you secretly have the hots for me.
He rolled around in the computer chair, but without his body, it was just a chair moving on its own.
Or maybe she just feared it d be you,
I said, from the other side of the room because apparently the electricity would keep the poison from working. And when she actually took it, I was going to have to clear the room altogether, something I was really struggling with.
Or maybe it s because she can t stop thinking about me.
The chair spun in a circle.
Or maybe it s because for three straight weeks you wouldn t leave me alone,
Gemma said, her eyebrows furrowing.
I mean, you were watching me day and night, even when you shouldn t have been.
She pressed her lips together as Nicholas let out a laugh.
Say whatever you want,
he said.
He can t hurt me.
It took me a minute to catch on.
Wait. Was he & when you say watching &
Yes,
Aislin said shaking the vile.
We all know Nicholas is a pervert. Now will you all shut up so I don t mess this up? It s important.
I sealed my lips and leaned back against the wall.
Okay.
Aislin sat down at the foot of the bed.
I need complete silence.
She waited until the house was hushed.
Signa hoc venenum cum osculum vitae,
she whispered, swishing the liquid.
Servare quicumque bibit spirans. Sed signa voluntas osculum mortem et eorum cor mittimus.
The vile bubbled, morphing to a shade darker than black.
Now, that s death.
Is it time to go?
My mother entered the room.
Aislin showed her the vile.
We re all set.
My mother nodded. Aislin ran over and hugged her.
This isn t good-bye,
my mother whispered.
I ll be back one day.
Aislin pulled away, rubbing the tears from her eyes and nodding.
Then it was my turn. She pulled me into a hug and it almost popped my lungs.
I cleared my throat as I backed away.
You better come back.
I ll do my best.
She turned.
Gemma, I ll meet you there.
Then she was gone, as quick as she d arrived, like a mere visit from a ghost.
I was sadder than I expected. A rush of emotion overcame me, making me uncomfortable. I cleared my throat hard and tried to gain composure.
Are you ready?
Aislin asked Gemma.
Gemma nodded and took the vile from her hand.
As ready as I ll ever be.
Aislin looked over her shoulder.
You need to go downstairs.
I pressed my lips together, stepping for the bed.
But Aislin held up her hand.
You can t be near her at all. She needs to be calm.
I locked eyes with Gemma and thought of our Forever Promise, made one dreary day, when two kids were trying to hold on to something that might never be again. And it was like she understood, like she knew what I was thinking. She touched the scar on her hand.
It was one of the hardest things, walking away, leaving that room, knowing she would breathe her last breath.
But I left, just like I was supposed to.
When I walked into the kitchen, Laylen was there messing around with the pipes under the sink.
You re not going to see her before she &
I trailed off, not bothering to even try to say it.
He focused on twisting a bolt.
I can t … it s too &
I nodded, rolling up my sleeves.
So you need any help.
He shrugged.
Sure.
I reached for the wrench, feeling her slipping away as she died.