Chapter 40
(Alex)
I can t believe she really thought that was going to happen; that I was just going to let her give up like that. I followed her down the stairs anyway, but mainly to make sure Laylen and Aislin weren t flipping out.
Everything was quiet, still as death.
Aislin was at the coffee table, mixing a bowl of herbs.
You re alive,
she joked with a smile.
Do you realize how many times you ve said that to me,
Gemma joked back as if nothing was wrong, as if she hadn t just been dead, hadn t gone to the Afterlife, hadn t announced that she was going to sacrifice her life.
Aislin laughed, crunching leaves and Gemma made a face at the stench. Her eyes wandered over to me, curious if I d break the news to everyone.
But in my opinion there was no news to break.
What is that stuff?
she gagged, peering in the bowl.
This is what s going to take the Shield Spell off my father.
She gave the bowl a spin.
Of course, after we do that, I don t know what we re going to do. No one s come up with a plan to end him.
Again, Gemma glanced at me and I shook my head once, warning her not to talk about her stupid death plan.
So where s Laylen?
she asked.
Right here,
he announced, pushing me aside as he stepped into the living room and gave her hug.
Notice anything different?
She tucked her hair behind her ears.
Did you get taller?
she teased.
He stuck out his arm and she gasped, tugging it closer to her.
You re mark s gone! You re free.
He shrugged.
Not completely.
He grinded his teeth.
But close.
Gemma hugged him again, her eyes meeting mine and I glared at her. She let go of Laylen.
I m glad you re happy.
Then she marched up and took me by the elbow, pulling me into the foyer and out the front door.
See all this,
she said with a swing of her hand.
Looks like a street.
I shrugged, leaning back against the railing. Snow was falling lightly and our breaths fogged in front of us.
A quiet peaceful street,
she said, staring at the houses on the other side of the road.
And it could stay that way.
I m not letting you die,
I said.
I refuse to. We haven t even …
God, I sounded like an idiot. I took her by the shoulders, looking her in the eye.
You haven t even lived. I mean really lived, without all of this.
Death s not that bad.
But she winced when she said it.
My hands fell from her shoulders, because my palms were too hot to touch her any longer. I started to speak, but she put a finger to my lips.
Can I show you something?
she asked, eyes wild with excitement.
I pointed at the house.
Don t you think we should help Aislin with the shield spell?
She shook her head, hair blowing in her face, her violet eyes eager with something I couldn t understand.
They ll be fine. Aislin will get the spell working.
How do you know that?
I folded my arms.
She smoothed the hair out of her mouth.
Because I ve seen how this is all going to end. The world will be safe. Everyone will be safe.
Then she pushed past me back into the house, not waiting to see if I followed. And I wasn t planning on it. I d stand out here all damn day if I had too, until she could see that I wasn t about to give up.
But this was nothing but a threat to myself I realized. I trailed after her, catching up as she reached the stairs.
I think I almost got it,
Aislin announced, beaming in the doorway of the living room, the bowl resting against her hip as she stirred. Something in our expressions made her back away, like she knew a secret and was giving us our space. It made me wonder what I was about to walk into.
Gemma climbed up the stairs, her footsteps quick. Her hands quivered as she opened her bedroom door. She walked over to her computer and picked up a candle, turning it in her hand.
This is what I wanted to show you,
she said, her voice shaking. She cleared her throat.
Okay. It s &nice.
Was I missing something?
She frowned, disappointed.
It s nice? That s all you have to say?
It s a candle.
I shrugged.
What do you want me to say?
She bit at her lip, biting back a smile.
No, it s so much more than a candle.