Now thatI’vedone it once, I know I can do it again. And with Kennedy by my side, I have complete faith in myself.
“Theo, wait.” She lets go of my hands and presses themtoher cheeks. “Slow down. This is a lot.” Her throat bobs as she tries togather her bearings. “What did you mean by string? And where are you taking me in the void?”
I realize I may have gotten a bit ahead of myself, so I take asteadybreath and try to focus on slowing my mind down and answering each of her questions.
“My magic allows me to see how souls are tied to one another,” I explain, taking my time. “Itwasn’tsomething I could do before, only sinceI’vebeen a ghost. And just now, I saw one form between us.” I gesture to her chest, then mine.
She gnaws at her lip and looks down. “We’re connected? Right now?”
Indeed, the shimmering blue thread waves between us, refracting light from the morning sun.
“Yes. I wish you could see it.”
Her head lifts as she lowers her hands away from her face. Her cheeks are flushed, and with eyes refusing to blink, she peers directly into my soul. “I believe you.”
I didn’t know it, but it’s what I needed to hear.
I can see her drifting into her own head, considering something, but only for a second. Then she schools herexpression.
“Where are you taking me?”
I smirk suggestively. “We’re going shopping.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
KENNEDY
One minute,I’mhovering next to Theo in Vanderbilt House, andthe nextI’msurrounded by fog. The space around us is muted like foggy glass, but wehaven’tmoved. The front door is just to the left, and I can see the fireplace around the corner.
Theo looks the same, both of us still in our spirit forms. He starts walking toward the door, then glances over his shoulder. “Let’s go.”
I follow closely beside him as we traverse through this secret world that mirrors our own.Nothing but fog stretching out before us, and Idon’tknow how Theo has any clue which wayhe’sgoing.But soon Isee glimpses of light flickering in the distance.
“Are those thestreet lights?” I ask.
“No. They’re souls.”
I’mawestruck. As we get closer, glowing orbs surround us on all sides, and Ihave towrap my head around the fact that these are people. Going about their day, minding their business. One day, without any warning, their souls will be freed to travel the void, just like ours.
An archway appears just ahead of us, and I recognize the outside of Kiki’s Cafe.
“This is where we pass through,” Theo tells me.
He ushers me through the glistening portal, and thenI’mstanding in—a bathroom?
“What the hell?” I let out in shock.
Theo appears behind mein his physical body, as if stepping through mid-air. “Someone must have died here.”
I whip around to face him. “What?!”
“It’s how these passageways are formed. Don’t worry. I doubt it was recently.”
This calms my rattled nerves only slightly, but now Theoseems to appeardistressed. Heattemptstosoothhimself by rubbing his hands together, but his eyes are wild with fear.
Showing himself to whoever is out there is clearly eating away at him, so I take his fidgeting hand and hold it tightly. “I'm right here.”
I countout loudso he can mentally prepare himself, but before I say three, the bathroom door swings open.
