Then I saw them. My parents. Both of them were there, looking just as they did the day they died, right before I'd left to go fishing. My last good memory of them. My mom was wearing her pale yellow dress, the one that reminded me of daisies.
“Dear Goddess,” I whispered.
“Ember!” My mother ran to me, arms open.
I caught her and clutched her tightly as my father wrapped his arms around both of us. Their smell hit me, proving to my disbelieving brain that this was indeed them. Somehow they were there. Alive again.
“Ember,” my father said as he stepped back. His hand went to my cheek. “It's so good to see you, Son.”
“We've missed you so much,” my mother said, still hugging me.
“I've missed you too.” I kissed her cheek, then stepped out of our hug but continued to hold her hand. “How are you here?”
“I don't know.” She looked around. “What is this place?”
“The Corrupter's castle.”
“What?” my father growled. “What are you doing here?”
“I was enlisted to fight with the Wraith Lords.” I held my pendant up. “I'm one of them now.”
“Oh, Ember,” my mother whispered. “No.”
“I'm helping them. The Goddess foretold it. I'm . . . kinda a big deal.” I grinned. “And I have two boyfriends.”
“Two!” My mother's worried expression went shocked.
“It's a long story, but we're very happy.”
“That's all that matters,” my father said. “But how did you end up here? And how did you bring us here from the other side?”
“The other side?” I asked. “Were you with the Goddess?”
My mother frowned in concentration. “I'm not sure. I don't remember much now.” She looked at my father. “Only that we were together.”
My dad shook his head. “I can't remember either. But we must have been with her. In her realm.” He set a stern gaze on me. “Now answer my questions.”
“The Corrupter set a trap for me.” I looked around warily.
Their questions focused me. My mind was clearing, and I knew what was happening wasn't possible. Still, there they were—looking, sounding, and smelling like my parents. I knew it was them. My dead parents.
“You're imprisoned by the Corrupter and you're not corrupted?” my mother asked.
I looked back at her. “My magic protects me, just like it does immortals.”
“I'm relieved that you're protected,” my father said. “But you're wasting time here with us, Son. You need to find a way out.”
“I'd rather stay here with you.” I took their hands. “I've missed you so much.” I sniffed, trying to hold back my tears and failing.
“Don't cry, baby.” My mother pulled me back into her arms. “You're stronger than you know. And it sounds as if you've made a new home for yourself. I'm so proud of you, and so thankful to have this chance to tell you.”
“We're both proud of you, Ember,” my father said, laying his hand on my shoulder. “A Wraith Lord.” He shook his head. “I wouldn't have thought it possible if it were anyone else. But you were special from birth. I still remember the way the flowers would bloom for you. They'd creep through your window to hang over your crib as if they were basking in your light as they would the sun.”
“You told me that scared you.” I stepped out of my mother's arms again, though I hated to do it.
“It terrified me,” he admitted. “Because I didn't know why it was happening. But now I see the truth. You're blessed by the Goddess. I don't like you fighting in this war, but if anyone can stop the Corrupter, it's you, Ember.”
“Dad,” I whispered and hugged him. “Thank you.”
