A white light flashes behind my eyes and my head spins. I quickly grab the elixir and lean forward, uncorking the bottle and pouring it unceremoniously into her mouth.
I slump over to the side, my hands back on her wound, and take a deep breath but it’s no use. My head is swimming and my mind is being pulled into the darkness. Seth swears and I try to ask him if it worked, but I can’t string together anything coherent. I sag forward and drift off to sleep, my heart still hammering with apprehension.
Chapter twenty-six
Tea for the Soul
Trissa
I’ve been through some pretty weird shit, but my death really tops the cake. I thought heaven would be like… a white party in the clouds or something. Instead, when I open my eyes all I see is happy floral patterns intersected in neat rows. I blink and look down to see that I’m covered by a heavy quilt in the same sorts of florals. Lifting the quilt I glance at my side, noting that my clothes are exactly as they had been before I’d gone outside to confront Kyle. The excruciating pain is, thankfully, gone. I sit up and push the blankets off, slowly swinging my legs over the side of the plush bed and sliding my feet to the warm hardwood floor.
The smell of baked goods fills the air and I follow the scent out of the floral room into an earthen toned hallway. I can see light coming from the end of the hall and what looks like a cheery orange kitchen. I glide forward, wondering again if this is heaven or some kind of weird death dream. Can you dream when you’re dead?
As I round the corner into the kitchen a kettle whistles and I freeze, my heart squeezing in my chest. At the hearth, bending forward to lift the kettle from the flames, is my gran. Off to the side of the hearth, tucked into a homey little alcove is a table set for five. I blink. A sob escapes my throat and I blink again. This must be heaven, because sat at the table is Cian… and he’s smiling and chatting with my parents.
“Hello, love,” Cian’s voice is gentle and his eyes shine with tenderness. My heart lurches in my chest and my eyes fill with tears.
“Cian? What…” I swallow and try again. “What’s happening?”
I don’t wait for his answer though, I rush forward at the same time my parents do and we all meet together in a crushing hug. After what feels like an eternity, but still not long enough, we break out of our little huddle and look at each other.
“Is this heaven?” My eyes feel like saucers as I try to take in this turn of events.
Mom laughs and shakes her head gently, “No, darling.” She sighs but maintains her smile as she continues, “And we don’t have a lot of time, so let us sit quickly and chat.”
My stomach clenches with worry at the thought that I might lose them all again so soon, but I follow my parents back to the table. Gran is hovering now, pouring tea into mugs as we sit. Cian catches my eye from across the table and I smile.
“What is this place?” And why can’t we stay?
Mom looks to my gran and nods gently. Irritation flares momentarily as I remember her part in all of this, but it passes just as quickly when I take in everyone else’s relaxed postures. I guess we’re all going for peace and forgiveness. It’s just as well… I can’t really condemn her for bringing Cian into my life, despite what it’s cost everyone at this table. A small part of me realizes that my own self-worth isn’t high enough to rationalize the painof all these people in exchange for my happiness. Especially considering the outcome.
Gran smiles sadly and cradles her teacup. “We’re in a spell. It’s the final part of the magic I incurred my own blood debt for.” My jaw drops as I look around again. In a spell?
“Wait, so I’m not dead?” I glance at Cian and can feel the color leech from my face. Is Cian dead? Like dead-dead, not ghost-dead. How is he here? Oh, gods… did the ritual not work?
Gran smiles wistfully, “Calm yourself, dear. All is well. All is contained. You’re not dead. Yet.”
The reassurance her words had started to build topples to the ground with that last word.
“Yet?” My eyes slide around the table, “So I will be…like soon?”
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“On you, dear.” Gran takes a sip of her tea and I stare blankly at her. I hope it burns her cryptic tongue, the hag.
She chuckles as if she can hear my thoughts. “Allow me to elaborate.” Her eyes sparkle with mischief and I smile grudgingly at her antics. I nod and she continues, “The elixir suspended you in time, and brought you both here. There were so many possibilities… the only way to be sure that we could help you and give you some choice in the matter was to make sure we had a way to meet with you, after we were all gone.”
“Okay… I still don’t really understand.”
She nods absentmindedly, “Youdohave a choice, Trissa. This fate string has brought you to a crossroads. Your earthly body will not survive your injuries. Thanks to the efforts of Cian,” Gran smiles fondly at her once best friend, “and your very determined Reaper friend, you were able to complete the ritual.”
I close my eyes in silent thanks. I owe Seth so much pizza. “Okay. So… Cian is free, right?”
Gran nods, “Yes, he’s finally free. No matter what you decide going forward, Cian will return to the earthly plane as a fully formed phantom. He’s here because we may need him… depending on what you decide.”
I frown, “Gran, please… just come out with it.” My eyes dart to Cian and an uneasiness settles in my chest when I realize he’s purposefully staring down at the table, avoiding my gaze.
