His grin widened, and he tilted his head as he looked at her like a proud parent. “And here I always thought healers were mousy idiots who knew nothing other than a little herbal healing.”
“What do you want from her?” Rachel asked.
His grin fell. “You’re treading carefully on the edge of being considered a mousy idiot again.”
Rachel shrugged. “Humor me.”
He sighed, letting out the air in a loud whoosh as his shoulders exaggeratedly rose and fell with the breath. “Fine. It’s not like I have anything else to do at the moment. Since I am no longer amongst the living, the only way for our souls to be together is if she dies as well.”
Rachel watched him carefully. There was a gleam in his eyes that told her he wasn’t being completely forthright. Not that she should expect anything different from a vamp, or even the soul of a dead one. “What’s the rest of it? She doesn’t just have to die, does she?”
“Witches might be greedy, but they also like messing with those who want to know their magic. You have to be careful when buying the spells because they are tricky. Once it’s cast, nothing can be changed. I didn’t even know there was a contingency to the spell until I was killed.
“The witch hadn’t told me that in the spell was a clause that if one of the souls passed on without the bound one, the only way for them to be together was for the living person to die, of their own free will. In other words, they couldn’t be killed by someone or by an accident of some sort. If either of those things happened, then the binding would be broken.”
Rachel felt as if the air had been sucked from her lungs. Zara’s death would be worse than a death sentence for Wadim. They weren’t bonded. If she died, he would be left behind without her. No doubt, that would send him over the edge.
Deciding she’d gotten enough information from the vampire, Rachel turned her attention back to Zara’s unconscious mind. Rachel gave herself her human form so she could be seen by Zara as a person and not just a ball of light. She stared at the girl sitting on the stone floor. Rachel put her hand against the clear wall standing between her and Zara. Rachel thought of all the things that brought joy and light into the world. She remembered the times in her life that had filled her with love and hope. Rachel pushed those emotions into her magic, as she pushed her magic against the wall. She could feel the force of the vampire’s soul attempting to push back, but Rachel was alive. Her will was stronger than his dead one.
Rachel lifted her other hand and placed it on the wall as well. She poured light into her hands in an attempt to get past the barrier so Zara would be able to feel her and hear her. “Come on, Zara, let me in,” Rachel said under her breath as she continued to pour her magic into her hands and against the barrier. Rachel pictured each new child their pack had been blessed with. She remembered the first time her eyes met Gavril’s and the power that one look had given her. She thought about the love she saw between Vasile and Alina and the sacrifices they’d made for those they loved so dearly and for those who would never know it.
Rachel felt the barrier shudder and heard a popping sound. She opened her eyes and saw a long crack running diagonally across the barrier. But that was all. She could feel Gavril pushing his own strength into her, but she didn’t know if it was going to be enough.
“I’ve got your back.”
Rachel’s head whipped to the side to find the owner of the soft voice. Sally. The soft-spoken healer smiled at her as she placed her own hands in the same position on the barrier. Hope swelled inside of Rachel.
“Anything I need to know?” Sally asked her.
Rachel nodded. “Her soul has been marked by the vampire who held her captive. His soul is trying to take hers. Zara is lost in her mind and thinks this is all real. She doesn’t realize she isn’t a captive any longer. We need to get this barrier down so we can reach her.”
“Just when I think things can’t get more convoluted,” Sally said, shaking her head. “How do we bring this down?”
“The opposite of darkness is light. This barrier is a result of the lies with which the vamp filled her mind. It is the physical manifestation of the darkness the soul bond has created in her.”
“So, we use our light to bring the wall down?” Sally asked.
“Exactly. And how do you create more light?” Rachel asked.
“By exposing the darkness,” Sally said with a determined gleam in her eyes. Her lips pressed tightly together as she looked at the barrier. “Alright, let’s shine some light on the situation. And yes, I totally meant that as a pun. Jen’s wearing off on me, causing me to say stupid stuff when I’m stressed.”
Rachel grinned. “If your stupid stuff makes others smile, it can be forgiven.”
They both turned their attention back to Zara and the wall between them. Rachel closed her eyes again and whispered, “Great Luna, help us. Help us save Zara.” Rachel once again focused on shoving her light into the barrier.
“The lies create darkness. Expose the lies with truth.”The Great Luna’s voice filled Rachel’s mind.“Speak truth into her soul.”
Rachel began speaking, letting the Great Luna’s words and wisdom guide her. “Zara, you think you are alone. You are not, dear sister. You are a part of our pack. You have become a dear friend to us, and we care for you and your well-being. You think you have no other options, that death is the only way out of the hell in which you lived. Hear me, Zara. Hear me and feel the truth in my words. You are loved. You have a mate who adores you and is terrified of losing you. This isn’t your end, child. It is only the beginning. Don’t give up. Don’t stop fighting. You don’t have to do it alone.” There was another popping sound, and Rachel’s eyes opened once again. Another crack had formed in the barrier.
She turned her head to look at Sally and was not surprised to see the young healer lit up like a firecracker. Rachel had always recognized the power in the girl. Suddenly, Sally’s eyes opened, and instead of seeing the brown orbs that Rachel was accustomed to, the other healer’s eyes were filled with a white light. Then Sally began to speak, and Rachel felt chills roll down her skin. Maybe Rachel hadn’t had a clue how powerful Sally was.
Sally had heardthe Great Luna’s voice. She was sure Rachel had heard it too. There had been another crack in the barrier, but it still wasn’t enough. They had to give more.
“Zara!” Sally boomed, her voice sounding as though she’d shouted into a cave, reverberating off the walls. “Listen up! If you die, I swear to you I will come to the afterlife and drag your butt back just to smack some sense into you. Don’t let him win! He took so much from you, I know. Believe me, I know what it’s like to have precious things taken from you against your will. I understand what it’s like to feel like death is the only option. I actually chose that option once upon a time, because I thought it was the only way to save those I love. But for you, there is another option. You fight. Fight against the memories that are threatening to steal your sound mind and turn you into a blubbering weirdo, rocking in a corner. You fight against the lies that the wicked man said to you and hear the truth instead.
“The truth is that you are alive and well. You aren’t in this hell any longer. You made it out. Do you hear me? You made it out! You have a mate who is the cutest nerd in all the nerddoms of the world, and he is completely taken with you. You have three new girlfriends who think you’re the coolest thing since ice makers were invented. The truth is that you are loved so very much. You are loved, and we would miss you terribly if you left us. So, fight. Do you hear me?” Sally lifted her hands from the barrier and then slammed them back against it as she roared, “FIGHT!”
There was a heartbeat of silence and then the wall shattered and began to fall. It was almost beautiful as it fell in slow motion, Sally and Rachel’s lit-up hands still glowing behind it, causing the shards to appear iridescent.
