Two Halves Series (61 page)

“Cursed? Why would you do such a stupid thing and not tell me?”

“I know. I should have.” I hung my head, unable to bear the disappointment in his eyes.

“Come here.” He pulled me in, held me tight. “I know you didn’t have a choice. I’m sorry I blamed you. I know some secrets aren’t meant to be shared.”

I looked up at him. “You have a secret too.”

He closed his eyes. “Yes.”

“And you cannot tell me.”

“No.”

He was right. Some secrets had to remain intact.

“Are you mad?” he asked.

“That would be a little hypocritical of me, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes.” He kissed my forehead. “But when all this is over, no more secrets. No more Aseret, or anyone else, for that matter. Agreed?”

“Agreed.” I sighed. “It’s so good to be here with you.”

“In the underworld?”

“Oddly, it feels right.”

“Which means we should be here. Look.” He pointed to the blue sphere sitting on the table. “Eric’s been able to transfer my mappings to his magic sphere.”

“Is that what you’ve been working on with your father?”

“And yours. There’s more. We can track vampires in need of training, prowling demons, underworld shifts. We’ve developed an app on the iPad to use Eric’s sphere markings as my virtual map.” William’s eyes sparkled with an excitement similar to what he displayed when he talked about the serums and the orchids. His love for all beings and his desire to improve the world fired his soul. William’s own troubles didn’t matter when it came to helping others. I loved that about him. The trouble we found ourselves in always seemed secondary, or perhaps less urgent, because we knew we’d free ourselves . . . eventually.

“How did you get here?” I asked.

“The children sent me. As soon as I stepped on the porch, I found myself here.”

“What do you mean they sent you here?”

“Through a vortex. They told me you’d come, and they stepped back into the roses.” William pointed to the corner. “I think there may be a hidden entrance behind them, but they advised me to stay here. Crystal and Ayer sounded like adults.”

“They always do.”

“This time it was different. They cautioned me to stay here. With you.”

The black roses released a pungent aroma as if in agreement.

“You think there’s an exit?” he asked.

I shook my head. “No. At least, not one we can use. This is Xela’s lair.” I scanned the room, so eerily similar to the cave where I’d given up my soul.

“I won’t ask how you know that, but there’s something I need to tell you.”

My gaze found William again.

“I know I’ve said how sorry I am for not realizing Xela stole your body.”

“Miranda,” I interrupted.

“Who?”

“It’s a long story. Xela never stole my body. Miranda did, to try to stop the prophecy. She also punished Xela for not turning Xander to the underworld.”

“So I almost killed Xela, not Miranda.” My husband seemed confused.

“Yes.” It would have taken him one twist to snap Xela’s neck. “What stopped you?”

“It was still your body; I couldn’t.” He held my eyes. “Sarah, I promise once this is over, we will no longer have to fear anyone. You won’t need to give up your body again.”

“All right. So . . . Aseret dragged me into the underworld.” I bit my lip.

“Then where is he?”

I scratched my head. “I thought he was kidnapping me, but he didn’t come through the vortex with me. I think the children separated us.”

“It’s working,” William whispered.

“What’s working?” I asked “William, what did you do?”

“Mama?” Crystal’s voice murmured from within the roses on the back wall.

We turned toward the bushes as our children walked through the black blossoms, the lair filling with the scent of honey and lemon.

Crystal stood at least five and a half feet tall, slightly taller than me. My daughter’s freckled face resembled mine when I was a teen, not too long ago. Ayer matched her height. My son’s eyes shone with the courage I’d fallen in love with when I met William. Our children no longer looked three years old, because they were no longer three.

Their unnatural growth spurt didn’t stop me from covering their faces with kisses. “How did this happen? I didn’t want you to grow up so fast.”

“It’s our time,” Ayer replied in a deeper voice than I expected.

“Time to do what?”

“Bind Aseret to the hereafter.”

“I feel like I’ve missed most of your life,” I moaned.

“You haven’t. We can shift later.” Ayer looked at William. “Everything is going well?” He and his father exchanged a look I couldn’t understand.

William nodded. “Your mother is right,” he said, including me again. “We’ll miss your childish laughs and cuddles.”

“Oh, we still laugh a lot.” Ayer winked at his sister, then turned to me. “The scare you pulled on Chris in Pinedale was pretty good.”

“You saw that?” My hand went to my mouth.

“We keep tabs on those we need to, even ghosts.” Crystal strolled over to the fireplace and blew hard on the flame; instead of extinguishing it, it flared as if renewed.

“He peed his pants.” Ayer burst into laughter.

“Really?” I squeaked. I doubted Chris would ever see Kirsten again, and she’d be more than pleased if he didn’t call.

“Who did?” William asked, looking between us.

“Someone who deserved to be taught a lesson,” I explained.

“You’ve been a busy ghost, haven’t you?” William wrapped his arm around my waist.

“I don’t want to be little again,” Crystal insisted.

“You be who you want and need to be, and we’ll always love you.” I took her face between my palms. “Just give a little warning before we need to change diapers again,” I joked.

“Never that young.” Ayer rolled his eyes. I guess there was a bit of me in him after all.

“Mama, when did this happen to your ghost?” Crystal closed her eyes.

The twins stood side by side as William walked around them, examining their new bodies.

“Miranda.” Ayer locked his gaze with his sister’s as if reading her thoughts.

“She’s scheming.”

“This will make things a little more difficult.”

“Why? What will?” I asked.

“You’re still a ghost, but in human flesh. We cannot put you back in your body unless you’re a pure ghost.” Ayer stroked his hand across my bare arm, like he was checking the extent of my curse.

“You need to get your pure ghost back,” Crystal added.

“I hope you can tell me how to do that.” I widened my eyes.

“Miranda cursed you, so she can undue her spell. You need to find her. Miranda’s touch will lift her magic. It’s her weakness.”

Hearing that, I almost preferred to remain a ghost. “You’re asking the impossible. She won’t do anything at will.”

“If anyone can do it, you can,” they said in uncanny unison.

“I wish we could help you, but some things just need to run their course naturally.” Ayer ran his fingers through his hair, the same gesture William had.

“And remember, even when things make it seem like life is not worth living, it is. You’ll need to be strong.” Crystal squeezed my hand.

“I’m a ghost. How strong can I be?”

“Not physical strength, Mama.” My daughter embraced me.

“I’m still worried about you two,” I said. “Miranda seems more conniving than Aseret. What if she curses you?”

“Like she could,” Ayer mocked.

“We’re powerful, but we still have a weakness like anyone else,” I warned, not liking his arrogance, and suspected he’d picked up some of Xander’s traits, unfortunately.

“They can use your loved ones against you,” said William.

Ayer’s face fell. He’d also learned love for family from my best friend.

“Don’t worry, Gran is safe,” Crystal said. “So are Ekim and Atram.”

“Why wouldn’t they be?” I asked.

“We found demons at the cabin—the same ones who tried to kill you at the parking lot.”

“
What?
”

“Apparently Aseret wasn’t the only one with knowledge of the location of our home.”

“I will kill Aseret myself if he comes near my family again,” William growled, shoving his fist into the wall by the fireplace. Earth shook and crumbled to the floor. The vibration from the punch sent a shock wave through the cave. Jars fell off the mantle and green goo spilled on the floor.

“Save your strength, Father.” The twins gave him a knowing look.

The rage in William’s eyes was the same as when I’d met him. William would be the one to end it all. Not the twins, not anyone else.

“Our training will finish by the morning. Then we’ll be ready to bind Aseret.” Ayer placed his hand on his father’s shoulder.

Crystal’s eyes turned up in their sockets, just as Mrs. G’s did, but hers remained white, not black. “You have until tomorrow to get your true ghost back. You need to be able to float by tomorrow.”

The children reminded me of Mira and Xander. Our twins had the same ability, the same traits. It eased my worries, knowing they could protect themselves.

“You may only leave through the rosebushes. Wait an hour and don’t use the door.” Ayer looked sternly at William, as if he’d known the door had already been opened.

“Please be careful.” I hugged the children.

“No need to worry, Mama. We can handle ourselves. You . . .” Crystal closed her eyes “You will need to unite as one to overcome Miranda. You will need to work together.” Then telepathically:
As two equals.

I was certain William heard it too. The love I’d missed in his face and eyes returned. Perhaps it had never left, and I’d chosen to see it as gone.

Crystal and Ayer backed through the bushes and disappeared. We stared at the black flowers.

“Wow,” I murmured.

William’s hand touched mine. “We have an hour before we can leave.” His eyes beamed with hunger and lust.

“And what are we supposed to do here?” I bit my lower lip.

“Well, if you weren’t a ghost, I’d know how to spend time with you.” He stroked my arm. “Can you feel that?” William’s heart was pounding.

I nodded.

“You can feel my touch,” he repeated, as if he couldn’t believe it himself.

“Miranda’s curse, remember.”

“It’s not a curse. Miranda gave us a gift without knowing it.” He took me in his arms. Desire radiated from his body. “Would it be wrong if I kissed a ghost?”

“It would be wrong if you didn’t want to kiss your wife’s ghost.” I tangled my fingers into William’s hair. How much I’d missed feeling simple touches, smelling his woody musk, and tasting his kisses!

“You had chocolate?” I asked when we parted.

“Coco.” He grinned. “Whoever lived here liked coco.” William covered my lips with his again.

William pressed harder against me. His longing spread through his body quicker than his blood flow. My thoughts no longer wandered beyond the cocoon of heat circling us. My vest dropped to the floor. He teased my neck and my shoulder, sliding the straps off my tank top to rest on my arms. His fingertips left a hot trail on my ghostly skin. The flames in the fireplace rose in response.

Shifting into a vampire, William lowered me to the bear skin rug and pinned me there. My shoulder blades sunk into the plush fur as he played with me as if I were a rag doll. Each taste of his lips provoked a hunger inside me that had been denied for too long. The saltiness of his flesh against my tongue was more delicious with each taste. His palms found my thighs. I didn’t remember when he’d pulled off my jeans. I wanted to remain pressed against his flesh and to be lost in the moment that brought us together as one. If there was a benefit to Miranda’s curse, this was it.

* * *

“It’s been an hour.” William propped himself up on his elbow as the yearning faded from his satisfied face. For the past fifteen minutes, we’d been silent, staring at the root-laced ceiling. No way in hell did I feel like a ghost.

For the first time since our night in New York City, I felt that I had my William back. Perhaps he’d never left, while I let the underworld consume me. The connection I’d denied had returned—no, William has always been at my side, only my perception had changed.

I dressed, trying to concentrate on the buttons of my vest, but I couldn’t take my eyes off my husband. The light from the fire shimmered behind him.

He took my left hand, smoothing his thumb over the orchid tattooed there. I admired his tattoo, remembering how the flower had connected us.

“When did you know?” I asked.

“About . . . ?”

“About me, Xela?”

“I suspected since the first time Xela came into the house in your body.”

“And you didn’t say anything?”

“I figured you had a reason to keep it from me and wanted to be sure. Then Xela took me to the tree house. I read her face, but I don’t think she knew her cheeks betrayed her. Her heartbeat sounded off—I know the rhythm of your heart. I’d never forget it.” He placed his palm atop my left breast, though no sound escaped my heart right now.

“Because it beats the same way yours does.” I touched his chest.

“Always.” William’s lips brushed mine. The kiss sent electric waves through my ghost as if it were really solid flesh. “I still wasn’t certain, and I didn’t want to confront you about something that has drawn a wedge between us in the past.”

“I was asked not to tell you.” I lowered my eyes.

“I don’t blame you, Sarah. I never did, but I was angry at what you sacrificed.”

“And I held my mistakes against you.”

“It’s not your fault. You are the strongest, most giving woman I’ve ever met. You’d give anything to save someone else, to improve their life. You sacrifice your own happiness and body to do so.” He lifted my chin.

The fire dimmed, and the roses opened their blossoms to their widest, as if reminding us it was time to leave.

“Do you have a plan?” I asked.

William narrowed his brows. “I have no clue how to find the witch.”

My loving husband gave me the courage I would need to get through the grand hall to Miranda’s lair. I wasn’t sure how we’d do it, but with William, I could do anything. “I know where to find her, but getting there is the problem.”