The Promise (6 page)

Alex glanced around, confused.

Where are we?

I pulled a

whoops

face.

I think I accidently took us into my dad s head.

Alex stared at me blankly.

You took us into your dad s head?

Things had changed since my last visit. The ocean was there, but the beach was rockier and the air was colder. The sky was full of thunder and flashes of lightening. Ocean waves crashed into the shore with the storm.

Yeah, this is where my dad lives.

How weird was this? The first time my dad and Alex meet we re inside my dad s head? I shook the absurdity away.

I wonder where he is?

I hiked up the beach, sand sneaking into my DC s. Thunder boomed above and waves threatened to steal us away.

So this is what you thought of when I said a safe place?

Alex asked, staring at the waves.

You know me,

I joked, kicking at the sand.

I like to keep you on your toes.

He pressed back a laugh and met my eyes.

So where s your dad?

I shrugged, puzzled.

I m not sure. Usually he just shows up.

The corners of his mouth quirked.

Well, it s his head so he s got to be around.

I nodded, biting my lip, trying to hold back the question I was dying to ask. But it slipped out anyway.

Are you leaving again?

I sputtered.

His adam s apple bobbed.

I don t know &

He shut his eyes, breathing in the salty ocean air.

I think I should.

I wanted to argue, yell at him, beg him not to go. But I understood. I hated it, but knew it was probably the right thing to do. I nodded, voiceless.

His eyes opened, bright green, flashing against the lightening.

I don t want to.

I was startled by the rawness of his words.

Then don t.

We stared each other down, our hearts pounding faster, electricity radiating more energy than the lightning bolts. And the pounding slowed as time drifted away and our lives started to drain.

Here,

he said breaking the trance we d fallen in to. He took off his jacket and slipped it on me, zipping it up tight.

Your dad might worry & with all the blood on your neck and shirt.

I tucked my hands into the sleeves, breathing in the scent of him.

So what did you find out on your little excursion?

I asked, trying to distract my thoughts from his scent, not wanting to be a total weirdo.

We headed further down the beach.

Not much. You?

What do you know about the Afterlife?

He hit an abrupt stop.

Why did you ask that?

Because &

I replied.

That s where my mom said I had to go.

The wind blew my hair in my face.

To visit a woman named Helena.

He shook his head, his hair stuck up in all kinds of directions.

No way. You can t go there it s the Afterlife for God s sake, as in the place where a Lost Soul goes after someone dies an unneeded death.

I shrugged, biting at my nails.

So what? If it can fix everything then it s worth it?

My answer seemed to make him kind of angry.

So you re okay with that dying. And me too, since we re supposed to be a package deal.

I placed my hands on his shoulders and he flinched.

You re going to be fine. You re going to bring me back.

No freaking way,

he snapped, moving his face closer to mine.

It should be me. You don t need to die.

I started to argue, but was cut off by the sound of a familiar voice.

Gemma.

Dropping my hands from Alex, I turned to my dad, giving him a small smile. But he looked anything but happy to see me, his violet eyes unwelcoming, his silver robe blowing in the wind.

You need to go, now!

I jolted my head back, shocked.

What s

A crackle of ice interjected and the rushing water rapidly froze over, the waves chilling in their place. Suddenly blacked-cloaked figures with corpse-like skin marched toward us, stirring up a cloud of sand.

The Death Walkers had returned.

Chapter 12

(Alex)

She made me so angry sometimes. As she stood there, telling me she was going to die so she could go to the Afterlife, I wanted to trap her in my arms and lock her away until this was all over. Obviously, I couldn t. But I really considered it. Her casual attitude toward her own life was driving me insane. I wished she could see what she really was what others saw.

I remembered the first time I saw her at school, walking across the parking lot. She was so innocent and confused and beautiful. I almost jumped back in my car and drove home. Sometimes I wished I d gone through with it. Instead I toughed it out, being a total dick to her, watching her hurt with every rude word I uttered.

Still, she forgave me. Well, eventually … kind of. There were times, when I realized what was at stake, that I wanted her to hate me. It d make things easier if she refused to let me touch her and want her in the forbidden way that I did.

I was just about to start tearing into her, banning her from going anywhere near the Afterlife, when her dad showed up out of nowhere, screaming at her like a mad man. I was confused until I saw the Death Walkers planting their ice where it didn t belong.

With one swift movement, I slid my hand into hers and sprinted down the beach, putting as much distance between her and them as I could. But she slipped on the ice, taking out balances with her. She landed on her back, cracking her head against the ice and I fell on top of her, my body pressing into hers.

She blinked over at the ice and then back at me.

Hold on,

she whispered, enclosing her arms around my neck and drawing me close to her.

The electricity poured through us, melting the ice below our bodies. Her hair blew in my face, her eyes shut and all I could think was take me now, because it really seemed like the perfect time to die.

There was a flash and the next thing I knew we were falling to another world.

When the movement stopped I was shocked.

I never thought I d see this place again. I didn t want to see it again. It reminded me of everything bad and everything we needed to fix. We were in the mountains, where the piece of the star crashed to earth.

This is what you were thinking of?

I asked.

In the middle of all that chaos.

She shrugged, an awkward shrug because I was still lying on top of her.

Why would anyone come looking for us up here?

Yeah,

I said, pushing to my feet.

But we re going to end up freezing to death.

I cocked an eyebrow at her.

And I thought you hated the snow.

I pulled her to her feet, brushing the snow from her head and I felt her shiver from my touch.

I m getting used to it, I guess.

But she pulled a face as she said it and I had to hold back a laugh. She looked at me, her eyebrows dipping together.

Won t you freeze?

She fumbled to take my jacket off.

But I fastened the zipper back up.

Keep it on,

I said, tugging the hood over her head.

I ll be fine.

She eyed my short-sleeve shirt.

Are you sure because

I cut her off there was no way I was going to let her take that jacket off.

I wonder how they ended up in your dad s head.

She fiddled with the zipper.

Do you think & do you think he ll be okay with them in there?

I nodded, even though I had no idea.

He s in his own head, which means his real body is somewhere else, so I think he s safe.

I paused, staring out at the snowy mountains.

We need a plan.

We have a plan. We re going to find my mom.

She leaned back against a tree, snow drifting down from the branches.

She s getting the information from Nicholas. She s probably waiting for me back at the house.

Info about how to get into the Afterlife?

I asked, tracing the tip of my shoe against the spot where the snow never melted the spot where the star hit.

She got this really funny look on her face, like she was trying to see into my head or something.

Do you know how to get there?

No,

I lied casually. There was no way I was going to offer up information that would get her killed.

I have no idea.

She frowned, like she was on to me. Then she moved away from the tree and stood in front of me, crossing her arms, attempting to act tough.

Is that the truth?

Yeah.

I hated lying to her, but hated the idea of her dying more.

She didn t believe me.

I need to find my mom.

Are you & are you doing okay with that?

She nodded, but the electricity shot up a level and I was pretty sure she was about to cry. I opened my arms to hug her, and then pulled back, pretending to have an itch on my arm. Lost in her thoughts, she didn t even seem to notice. Then her gaze darted to the side, and she let out a heavy sigh.

How did you find me?

she asked nervously.

Now I was the one growing nervous, because there was no one there.

Chapter 13

(Gemma)

He probably thought I was insane, standing there, talking to myself. But I was talking the blonde faerie with the irritating voice. Aka Nicholas, the faerie/Foreseer.

How d you find me?

I asked, trying to ignore the chill he brought with him. I sensed Alex tense.

It s Nicholas,

I explained.

And your mom?

He asked and I shook my head.

Where is she?

I patted my pockets, hunting for a knife I didn t have.

She s been detained.

His golden eyes sparkled against the faint sunlight shadowed by clouds.

But don t worry, I m here to help you.

Sure you are.

I rolled my eyes.

Because we all know that s your number one goal in life.

Oh Gemma,

he said overdramatically.

Your distrust hurts me so much there aren t even words to express how I feel.

Go away,

I mumbled and Alex gave me this perplexed look.

And don t come back until you re with my mom.

But I m here to help,

he said, crossing his heart.

I promise.

Alex trampled beside me.

What s he saying?

Nicholas grinned and waved his hand in front of Alex s face.

God, I hate you.

His hand moved for Alex s hair, not quite touching it.

And that stupid hair.

He s saying he s a moron.

I glared at Nicholas.

And I like his hair.

What?

Alex s said, fixing his hair.

Nothing.

I pointed my finger at Nicholas.

Either tell me what to do or move on.

Fine. My word, no sense of humor.

He sighed.

You need to come with me.

I can t do that,

I said.

You re dead.

And you ll soon be too,

he said.

Once you pick the way you want to die. Now, I d probably pick something poetic, like poison from a vile. But you

Pick the way I want to die!

I shouted over him, sending snow from the branches. I lowered my voice.

I m sorry, but what?

Alex was tugging on my hand, trying to get me to turn to him, desperate to know what was going on.

Just a second,

I held up a finger, keeping my eyes on Nicholas.

Start explaining from the beginning.

He yawned, feigning fatigue.

It s kind of a long story.

Then give me the short version, just don t leave out anything important.

He sank down on a rock, folding his arms.

Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess,

he started and I shot him a glare.

You asked for the short version and I m giving it to you this is how it starts.

I sighed and sat down on another rock, patting the spot next to me.

What are we doing?

Alex asked, putting space between us as he sat down.

We re listening to a story,

I said.

Or at least I am.

Like I was saying,

Nicholas continued, annoyed.

There was a beautiful princess, who was more extraordinary than any other princess because she liked to help the world. The problem was she wasn t very good at helping. Every time she fixed a problem, she caused another. Until one day she caused a problem so great, it cost the lives of many innocent people.

I gulped and Alex whispered in my ear,

What s he saying?

I ll tell you when he s finished.

I motioned at Nicholas to continue.

Go on.

What the princess needed to realize was that to fix the problems she d caused, she needed to save the Lost Souls of the innocent lives that were taken.

And how to I save these Lost Souls?