She Lies Twisted (25 page)

“
Let's go get Boyd,” I said, rising from the grass and reaching my hand out to help James up. This would hurt, of course it would, but I was going to get the chance to say goodbye. I would have the opportunity to tell Boyd how I really felt and afterward, I had something to look forward to. I had a new friend, I had love, I had purpose.

I had a life.

I played the harp again outside the trailer window and waited until the howling and the trembling had stopped. When we climbed back through, I was relieved to see that Boyd was waiting for us, standing over the spot he had died with a fond smile. I didn't understand it but then again, it wasn't really my place. I wasn't ready to die, that much had been made quite clear to me when Jessica had held the knife above my trembling form. I shook my head. That was not how I was going to remember her. I was going to think of the love we had always shared and how in the end, that was all that had mattered.

Boyd turned and faced me, his smile softening as our eyes met.

“
Hey Neil,” he said. My legs shook, my lips trembled. James reached down and scooped up one of my hands with his.
Don't be mad,
I thought at Boyd.
Don't hate me for this. I didn't mean to fall in love. I never wanted this.

“
Hey,” I replied, feeling suddenly shy. I was ready for this. After seeing the bliss in Jessica's face, I knew this was right but that didn't mean it was going to be easy. I turned to James and pitched my voice to a whisper. “Do you mind if we have a moment before-” I paused.
This is right, Neil. You know this is right.
“Before you pass him on?” James nodded and pushed my hood back so that my hair shone under the moonlight streaming in the window. He gave my hand one last squeeze and left, the trailer door swinging in the breeze.

“
I've really missed you,” Boyd said from behind me. I turned around slowly and searched his eyes for signs of jealousy. There wasn't any. I breathed a sigh of relief.

“
I've missed you, too,” I said and then I broke down, collapsed to my knees and cried. The wetness that traveled down my face wasn't the same as before. It wasn't pain and agony and hurt. This time it was just release and it felt good, like I was being purified. Boyd knelt down next to me but didn't touch me. We couldn't touch, that much had been made clear to me in the past few days. A summoner has her own crosses to bear.

“
Neil,” he said. “Tell me about it.”

And I did.

I told him how mad I was at him, how hard he'd made life for me, how I'd died by my own sister's hands. Then I realized I was being selfish.

“
What about you?” I asked. “How have you been?” A thousand emotions flickered across his green eyes before he shook his head of curly hair.
Just like my dream,
I thought. It must've been an omen though I hadn't known it until now.

“
There's too much, Neil,” he said and his voice was both happy and sad. “You'll understand when...” He paused as he reached a hand out and traced the line James had followed when he'd pushed my hood back. “When it's your turn.” I wanted to know everything. I wanted to know if he blamed me, if he still loved me, if he regretted doing it. I nodded out of respect and rose to my feet. Boyd followed suit.

“
I'll call James,” I said, not wanting Boyd to leave but knowing that if I didn't do it soon, it'd be that much harder for the both of us.

“
Wait,” he said, looking away as if he were scared to say what he was thinking. I waited, my insides bursting with emotion. “Do you think you could take me there?” I raised an eyebrow at him. “The cliff, the beach where you died?” My heart fluttered in my chest and I smiled.

“
I couldn't think of a better way for you to go.”

I stood on the edge of the cliff where I'd lost my life and somehow, miraculously, gotten it back again. Boyd paused on the ledge beside me.

“
You know,” he said and I could hear the tears in his voice though I refused to look. If I looked at him again, I would cry, too, and I was tired of crying. It was time to celebrate a new beginning for all of us. For James, for Jessica, for Boyd. I felt a sob building in my chest.
For me.
“I never blamed you,” he said and I bit my lower lip to hold my emotions back. I had been hoping he would say that. “And I can't stand the thought that you ever felt that way.” I let my eyes slide over to him. He was holding the railing in one hand and gazing at the sea with cloudy eyes. There was adventure there, the need for change, the desire to move on. I glanced down at my shaking hands and for a moment, I wished that it was me and not James that would be sending Boyd on.

“
Neil?” He whispered, his voice nearly torn away by the ocean breeze. I nodded to let him know I had heard him. “I love you and I always will, no matter what lifetime I find myself in.” I spun around and threw my arms around him. This was it. This was perfect. Like the harpies had said, this was love. It didn't have to be romantic, it just had to be. Love was important, no matter the capacity.

I pulled back suddenly, afraid that Boyd would become a demon again and send me tumbling down the cliff. He didn't. He stood there and smiled, his body shimmering and flickering like an old movie. James stepped up beside us and I grasped his hand for support.

“
I feel like I know you,” James said and Boyd smiled.
Good, they don't hate each other. I couldn't stand it if
they hated each other.
James took a deep breath. “Well,” he continued, his eyes shifting nervously over to me. I smiled encouragement. “Are you ready?” Boyd nodded. I stepped back and wrapped my arms around myself. I had seen him go once and it was one of the worst experiences of my life. I wouldn't let it be this time.

James held out his hand, his pale fingers gray in the evening light and brushed them against Boyd's forehead.

“
I love you, too,” I shouted, loud enough for him to hear over the wind and the water crashing against the rocks. Boyd's face lit up like the brightest star in the sky and I found my heart slamming against my chest. It was time to let him go. His spirit had stayed around long enough trying to protect me, to make sure I'd be happy. It was his turn.

Boyd's image faded until there was nothing left of him but my memory.

James turned around and cupped my face in his hands.

“
I love you, Tatum Ruby O'Neil,” he said and I felt the tears I'd been holding back finally burst free. James brushed them away with the pads of his thumbs and pressed the gentlest of kisses against my lips. It was our first and most perfect kiss. “Are you going to be okay?” He asked. I leaned into him and relaxed into the feel of his arms around me. Boyd was gone but he'd be back. In another face, in another lifetime, I'd see him and I'd know. I'd recognize that smile anywhere. It was goodbye but it was only temporary.

“
Yeah,” I said, surprising myself. I had always wanted to die but now, suddenly, I was ready to live. “I am, I really am.”

James released me and stepped back, offering his hand. I took it gently and entwined my fingers with his. “James,” I said as we walked back towards the parking lot and the waiting harpies, who were both, luckily, still alive and well. “I love you, too.” He grinned at me, stretching the stitches in his face.

“
I know,” he replied. “But I'm glad you said it.” My chest warmed and I found myself looking forward to the future. I had always thought death was the end, the culmination of a series of mishaps and suffering, but now I knew for us, it was just the beginning.

If you enjoyed this book, look for more by C.M. Stunich!

Books by C.M. Stunich

The Seven Wicked Series

Houses Novels


 

• The House of Gray and Graves
  
• The House of Hands and Hearts and Hair
  
• The House of Sticks and Bones
  

Indigo Lewis Novels


 

• Indigo & Iris
  
• Indigo & The Colonel
  
• Indigo & Lynx
  

Stand Alone Novels


 

• Suicide Girls
  
• She Lies Twisted
  
• Hell Inc.
  
• Zombie Hunter Lulu
  

About the Author

C.M. Stunich was raised under a cover of fog in the area known simply as Eureka, CA. A mysterious place, this strange, arboreal land nursed Caitlin's (yes, that's her name!) desire to write strange fiction novels about wicked monsters, magical trains, and Nemean Lions (Google it!). She currently enjoys drag queens, having too many cats, and tribal bellydance.

She can be reached at [email protected] and loves to hear from her readers. Ms. Stunich also wrote this biography and has no idea why she decided to refer to herself in the third person.

Happy reading and carpe diem!