by Casey Wyatt
Judgment time.
“Let me go,” he wailed, eyes bugging with fear.
“Quiet. Reginald Baker Ashworth,” I commanded, my voice filled with otherworldly power. “Judgment time is upon you.” Images of past transgressions and downright cruelty spooled before me. He was a bigger asshole that I’d realized. And his hatred for me and Sebastian was malevolent and bone-deep.
Resentment went as far back as our childhood, even before that day in the maze. His parents had divorced because of his mother’s numerous and sordid affairs. The worst infidelity, in young Reg’s eyes, had been her love for my father. Reg idolized Hunter since he’d always shown him the attention his own father withheld. After the affair and divorce, my dad became his enemy and by extension, me.
Luca appeared behind Reg, his irises coal black. The vortex opened and sucked in Reg’s soul with violent force, like whatever lurked on the other side couldn’t wait to get its claws into him. Terrified screeches reverberated then cut off at the portal’s closure.
Luca banged his chest. “That hurt going down.” He grew serious. “Are you injured?” He touched my forehead.
“Not anymore. You?”
“I’m fine. She didn’t try to hurt me at all. It was all for show.” He clutched me in his arms, nose buried in my hair.
“Hey! Let me out!” Grace’s feet banged against the solid wood.
Luca raised the desk and tossed it away. She wore an expression of anger and concern. Poor kid. I bent down and scooped her up.
“Where’s Mommy?” she asked, arms tight around my neck.
“She’s home. In the meantime, we’re going to visit a nice man in a shrine. How would you like that?” On the outside, I plastered on my happy face. Inside I was in a total panic. She’d witnessed too much already.
Once we reached the temple, I’d call Selene. But first . . . “We’re going to play a game. But you have to close your eyes.”
“Is the bad man gone?” Grace scrunched her face, tears welling in her eyes.
Fucking Reg. I hoped he was suffering. “Yes. I’m sorry, honey.”
“It’s okay. I knew you’d come get me. Julian told me you would.” Grace smiled.
“Did he now?” He’d failed to mention it to me. I must have been frowning hard, because Grace patted my cheek.
“Don’t worry about Julian. They trapped him so he couldn’t warn you.”
“We’ll get him back,” I promised, hoping I hadn’t lied to her.
Luca put his arms around us. “All right. Eyes closed. And no peeking.”
Grace giggled and squeezed her eyes shut. We popped into the courtyard, outside of the mess hall. Bo stood nearby as if expecting our arrival.
“Is she here?” I asked, setting Grace down on her feet. She clutched my hand firmly in hers.
“Yes. Meixui has arrived.” Bo nodded in the direction of the temple.
“Before we do this, I need to speak with her.”
Gabriel and Allen joined us. Grace’s expression brightened at the sight of new people to meet. She let go of my hand and approached Gabriel. His kind smile told me that he liked children and his deft handling of her questions demonstrated that he had experience too.
Luca stood to the side, phone to his ear. From overheard snippets, he was consoling Selene. After a moment, he ended the call and joined me.
“I’ll take Grace home. Don’t worry, I won’t let Selene know the truth,” he said to me quietly. His gaze darted over to Gabriel. “He can manipulate memories. One of his many talents. I can vouch for him. They won’t remember a thing.”
I hated the thought of anyone messing with their heads, but I didn’t want Grace to remember any of this. And I knew my sister. She would demand answers and that couldn’t be allowed. Hell and damn. “Okay.”
“I know you understand that they’ll be safer this way.”
He knelt down next to my niece. “Mommy’s waiting for you. Same game as last time. Remember, no peeking. Do you mind if Gabriel comes with us?”
Grace shook her head, then smiled. “Mommy’s been lonely. She would like Gabriel.”
I smothered a laugh. Almost five years old and already she was playing matchmaker for her mother. Selene would not be amused. After her acrimonious divorce she’d vowed no more men. Time would tell if she really meant it.
When Grace was firmly perched in Luca’s arms, I kissed her on the forehead. “See you later, squirt. Be good for your mom.” I gave Gabriel a long, hard look, “Don’t give me a reason to kick your behind.”
Gabriel bowed his head and placed his hand over his heart and said, “No worries.”
Unaware of all the subtext, Grace’s jaw cracked into a yawn. “Don’t forget to free Julian. He’s in the library.”
“Will do. Now scram,” I said and stepped back.
They winked out of sight.
What a hell of a day. Time to speak with Lillian. Maybe her day could end on a high note. And maybe I could use Gabriel’s mind-erasing skills to purge my head of Reg’s crimes.
Somehow, I doubted it would work. Can’t blame me for trying though.
“I am so tired.” Meixiu floated, suspended over a circle made of bright-colored sand. The monks had been productive in the time since we’d left. “I long to rest.”
Yeah, I could relate to that. Freed of Reg’s influence, the harsh lines that had etched her face were gone. Pale and incandescent, her appearance cycled through several visages. Young, carefree maiden, somber middle-aged woman, and wizened old crone with downy white hair.
The monks continued to add colors to the circle. If they thought it was strange to see a ghost, they didn’t let on. A pile of gray dust, Meixiu’s ashes and her brother’s, sat in the center. They had been interred in the same jar, which was highly unusual. My guess—a later generation combined them together and sold the other urn. Tacky. And deadly. Too bad I couldn’t time travel and find who did it so I could kick their ass.
Bo came up behind me, “Dawn approaches. We will give you a few moments of privacy.”
“Wait. What about her brother? Will this work for him, too? Even though he’s in the Hereafter?” His fate also weighed on me. I hated the thought of him imprisoned because of Allen’s thoughtless actions.
Bo gave a slight shrug. “That is our hope. I have spoken with Joanna. She will be here in a moment to witness the ritual. She will allow him to re-join his sister.” He walked away, the monks trailed behind, their footsteps whisper silent.
A soft sigh escaped from Meixiu. I couldn’t think of her as Lillian anymore. That was the name Reg gave her.
“I know you have many questions,” she said in her old crone form. “I cannot answer them all. But I will tell you this. Do not let them think you will never be free. There is always hope. Always another path.”
Relief washed over me. And another emotion—Purpose. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to end the contract for Grace’s sake, yet for the first time in my mostly shallow life, I’d found a way to do good too.
As if sensing the train of my thoughts, Meixiu added, “But, there is also value in leading a life dedicated to others. And honor. My descendant Allen lost his way, forgetting his path for petty vengeance. He paid a high price. The death of his friend Tien and the souls of the murdered men will weigh on him forever.”
“You are very wise, Meixiu. I will miss you.” And it was true.
“I will be around in the Hereafter. I would be happy to have you as a guest.” She slanted her head, now the youthful maiden.
It never occurred to me that I could visit others in the Hereafter. I wondered if I could find Sebastian and shake some answers out of him. “Could I see my parents?”
Meixiu laughed. “I fear the rules do not allow you to visit your own blood. Someday, when you are n
o longer in service, then it would be all right.”
I smiled, trying to keep the bitterness out of my tone, “That’s good to know.” Since the people I thought were my parents, Hunter and Artemis, weren’t related to me by blood, I’d find them instead. But somebody was going to reveal who my real parents were.
“It’s time,” Bo announced.
The retinue of monks returned.
I bowed deeply at the waist to Meixiu. “Be at peace. You and your brother.”
She returned the gesture. “Thank you for giving us hope.” The three aspects of her coalesced into a single ethereal being. Her brother, Zihou, appeared next to her. His face brightened at the sight of his sister. No longer the fearsome serpent, he stood tall and proud, ready to return to his rest. Hopefully for good this time.
Brass bells clanged. Chimes tinkled and incense filled the air. Allen was directed to kneel before his ancestors. Tears glistened, running down his cheeks. Dark circles were smudged under his eyes. I moved away from the circle, choosing to stand at the back of the room. The moment felt too private and Allen had a lot to atone for.
From my vantage point, I could see a gamut of emotions pass over Meixiu and Zihou’s faces: anger, disappointment, sadness, and finally, forgiveness. Zihou put his arm around his sister and looked over to Bo.
Allen stood, then backed away. I couldn’t see his face, but his shoulders shook as if he were crying. I brushed a warm tear off of my cheek. The Jiang Shi were terrible monsters. I was glad to see them gone. But they were not Meixiu and Zihou. They were decent souls caught in a web of darkness.
The monks stood around the circle, flanking Allen on either side. The scent of sandalwood incense was rich and heady. Power buzzed against my skin. Low hypnotic chants sung at precise intervals weaved around the room. The spell awakened my abilities. Each of my brands ignited with stinging yet pleasant pain.
The music grew louder, building to a crescendo. Puffs of incense swirled, gathering like a storm above the circle. Meixiu and Zihou transformed into pure light, brighter and brighter, until the clouds parted above them.
My chest throbbed in response to the incantation. Static electricity lifted the hairs on my arms and neck. I guessed my eyes glowed too; one white, one black. Sebastian’s portrait flashed in my mind. That day I was shot in the library, he’d looked the same way. Now I understand the reference. The balance of the universe. Yin and Yang.
“Beautiful, isn’t it, cariad?” Luca’s powerful arms snaked around my waist. “The union of dark and light. One cannot exist without the other.”
Warmth from Luca’s matching brand seared into my back. The sensation of oneness with the world increased, building to a climax, a dam of power ready to burst. Light spread across the room, bathing us in peace. When I blinked the spots from my eyes, they were gone. The chanting abruptly stopped. The monks retreated from the room. The ashes and colorful sand had vanished.
Bereft from the sudden loss of bliss, sobs escaped my throat. I turned in Luca’s arms and hugged him. I’m not sure how long we stood there. Seconds, minutes, hours? Eventually, my emotions evened out and I felt more like me again.
I sighed against Luca’s chest, the steady thud of his heartbeat calming and familiar.
“Excuse me,” Allen said. “I wanted to thank you both. I know I can never fully atone for my foolishness, but I appreciate you both helping me and them. They have forgiven me. I hope you will find it in your heart to do the same someday.”
I cleared my throat. Taking a chance that Luca felt the same as I did, I said, “You put an innocent child in danger, Allen. Not to mention you widowed your best friend’s wife and deprived his daughter of her father. Yeah, I’m pissed at you.” I paused, sifting through my emotions. Luca’s fingers rubbed my neck. “I also believe that you are truly sorry. I . . . we forgive you. But know this, if you ever do something so foolish again, we will kill you.” I gave him my have a nice day smile.
Sweat beaded over his brow matching the perspiration rings under his arms. “I understand,” he said, ready to flee the room. He turned and banged into Gabriel’s broad chest instead.
“Where do you think you’re going, Allen?” Gabriel placed a brawny hand on the man’s shoulder. “They may have forgiven you, but you penance to serve.”
Allen’s bottom lip trembled. “I do?”
“It’s been decided by the Higher Power that you will spend your atonement period in the Soul Kitchen.” Gabriel led Allen away by his elbow.
Luca and I exchanged glances before he spoke. “Very nice, darling, forgiving Allen. I would have been much less diplomatic.”
“Uh oh. Have we reversed roles? Aren’t I usually the tactless one?” I grinned at him. Relief washed over me. Grace was safe and we’d stopped the killings.
“I’m happy to see Luca has taught you something useful,” Joanna said, ruining my good mood.
I turned around, ready to fire off a sharp retort. Luca squeezed under my ribs with enough pressure to rob me of my next breath.
“Thank you for the compliment,” Luca said.
Her brown eyes raked me up and down as if taking my measure. “I’m impressed, Radiance,” she said, surprising the hell out of me. “Don’t gape at me. You could have killed the Jiang Shi. Instead, you chose to save her.”
“I didn’t see the point in penalizing her for someone else’s mistakes.” Namely Allen’s revenge and Reg’s greed. “Once I realized that she wasn’t in control of her actions, it was kind of a no-brainer.”
“In any case, I’m recommending you for Savior status,” Joanna smiled. I almost didn’t recognize her without the perpetual scowl.
I opened my mouth to thank her, giddy at the prospect of a promotion. I hadn’t forgotten the perks.
“Are you sure?” Luca broke in. He didn’t seem pleased. Then I remembered his hesitation that first day back in my kitchen. Advancement came with bigger bad guys and more danger.
“I said I would recommend her. She’ll have to pass the trials as deemed by the Higher Power.”
Rats. I stank at tests. Not stupid enough to share my thoughts I kept quiet while she and Luca debriefed.
I learned that Gabriel had successfully removed all of Grace’s bad memories. She would wake up none the wiser. Selene had proved more challenging. No surprise there. She could be more stubborn than me. In the end, he’d prevailed and replaced her memories with something more pleasant. Luca didn’t provide details, but I hoped the changes stuck. When I said as much, Joanna promised to send Gabriel to check on them in a few weeks.
“Take a few days off. You earned it.” Joanna stalked away, her heels clip-clopping against the shiny floor. Funny, I hadn’t heard her approach earlier. Whatever. I was too tired to think.
“Home. That sounds so good right now,” I mumbled through a giant yawn.
Luca lifted me into his arms. “Your wish is my command.”
“How about you rub my sore muscles when we get back?”
He laughed, low and seductive. “I can do better than that, annwyl.”
My toes curled at the erotic promise. I’ll attest that he was better than good. We both slept well, hours later.
Epilogue
Evil never dies. Good is ever watchful—Hereafter motto
As promised, I’d found Julian trapped inside a snow globe resting on a shelf in Sebastian’s inner sanctum. He was beyond pissed off. Reg had taken him by surprise and used the amulet on him. Without the pendant’s power, Reg would have never even seen Julian.
Only time would tell if we’d ever determine the other items he may have stolen. In the meantime, I hoped that nothing fell into the wrong hands.
With the Hereafter’s bureaucratic machine and the famed Ashworth luck, Reg’s body was found in his penthouse. The official cause of death was a drug overdose. All
his assets reverted to the family, basically to me.
I was optimistic that some semblance of normalcy would return to my life. Well, if normal meant taking vacations in the Hereafter, enjoying the company of deceased pets, then I was as ordinary as a person could be.
Jasper barked, urging me to throw him the ball again. The dog never got tired. The cats were in various states of repose around the garden. With the exception of Oliver, who was eyeing the dog with disdain, the others couldn’t be bothered with the Jasper’s antics.
Luca’s fingers traced the ridges of my spine, sending tickles across my naked flesh. We were resting under the canopied gazebo on the wide bed, sheets all askew. Our clothes were scattered in a trail leading from the cottage to the outdoors.
Despite being well sated from lovemaking, my last conversation with Julian swirled in my mind. Sadness had gripped him and I worried that all traces of my jovial companion was gone. Ever since I’d freed him from the globe, he’d been distracted. No, that wasn’t quite right. It had started when I showed him the old photograph hidden behind Sebastian’s portrait.
“What troubles you?” Luca shifted so he spooned my back.
“I found him with that photograph. You know? The one hidden behind Sebastian’s portrait.”
“Mmm,” Luca said, kissing a trail across my shoulder blades.
I hadn’t told Luca this part yet. It felt like a violation of the unspoken man code. “He was crying,” I said quietly.
The kisses stopped. “Come again?”
“Something in that photo upset him.” I turned over onto my side, facing Luca. “Do you know anything about Julian? And don’t try hiding behind lawyer speak.”
Luca sighed and rolled onto his back, his head landing heavily on the pillow. “I only know what Sebastian told me. He’s the family ghost.”
