by Jayde Scott
"We're supposed to do something before someone greets us," I said.
"Catching the culprit, I thought we figured that out already."
"Maybe." I pointed at the closest road sign, white with neon green letters. "That's a weird name for a street."
"Where?" Dallas stopped and followed my line of vision. "Lovers Bay."
"There's two of us. Maybe it's an indicator to head that way."
"If you think so," he said.
We turned right into a narrow alley with a patch of green grass and tall trees to both sides. Dark leaves swayed in the soft breeze.
The three-story apartment buildings looked well-maintained but deserted. A couple walked past, ignoring us.
"They didn't see us either." I peered at Dallas to catch his reaction.
He ignored my remark and pointed at another neon street sign a few feet to the right. "Otherworld this way—two together. That's strange."
"I think it's a message." We crossed the street and stopped in front of it.
"What's it supposed to say?" Dallas asked.
"No idea." I rolled my eyes behind his back.
It's called denial, Kinky said, appearing on my shoulder. He doesn't want to see it, which reveals a lot about his attitude toward you and your relationship.
"Hush," I mouthed silently, figuring not everyone's wired to know exactly when and how they want to get married. "Come on." I pulled Dallas through another side street until we reached a park and stopped under a tree, a few inches away from a bench. I scanned the place to make sure no one was around, but Ginny had done a great job here too.
Two tiny birds chirped from the branch above us. "Aren't they cute?" I whispered.
"What?" Dallas looked up, frowning. "Oh, you're talking about the birds. Don't make a hasty move so they don't fly over our heads and leave us a present in our hair."
The boy has no romantic bone in his body.
"The way they snuggle up to each other, they look so happy," I said, unfazed by Pinky's remark. The birds flew away, landing on top of another sign in the distance. "I think they want us to follow."
Dallas groaned. "You don't believe in a white angelic light, but you think a couple of birds are some sort of clue."
I playfully nudged him in the ribs to get his attention and pointed at a tree with low-hanging branches which looked in dire need of some water. "What does the sign over there say?"
"Otherworldly retreat. Enter here. Honourable couples only."
Squinting, Dallas spun around in a slow circle. "We are a couple. That should be our entrance, but I don't see anything."
I shook my head. "Technically, we aren't a couple since we haven't even kissed."
"Let's do it then." He pulled me to his chest, knocking the breath out of my lungs. There was barely time to blink before his lips lowered onto mine. The air around us crackled, a hot flush travelled up my body, making my head spin. His lips were smooth as they caressed mine, pressing gently, while his hands cupped my face, drawing me closer. My knees threatened to buckle under me. The earth seemed to quake beneath our feet, making my head spin.
Why do we need to see this? Pinky squealed.
Yes, get a room, Kinky yelled into my eardrum.
I broke free from Dallas's embrace and cleared my throat, beaming. Dallas's cheeks were on fire, the glint in his eyes told me he found our kiss just as special as I did.
"Do you think we'll get in now?" he asked.
"Don't know. We can try. What are we looking for anyway?"
"A door or portal, maybe a boat."
I raised my brows, but didn't comment.
A boat? Kinky laughed. Unless it runs on wheels, he'll have to pull it into Heaven himself.
"Where is it?" Dallas felt the air for a door. "We're a couple, so why can't we get in?"
"Maybe there's another requirement," I prompted.
"What could it be?"
Sensing it might take a while, I dropped down on the grass, leaning my back against a tree, and peered at the empty houses in the distance from the direction we'd just come from. At this speed, I'd be stuck with Dad for the rest of my life.
"It says 'honourable'."
Doesn't seem to ring a bell. Maybe use a synonym, Pinky said.
"A proper, respectable relationship." I smiled at Dallas. He shook his head.
"That's exactly what we have so it must be something else."
"In some cultures it's not respectable to date someone without a promise," I said.
He frowned. "Like?"
I held up my ring finger.
"Oh." For a fleeting moment, panic crossed his features, replaced by a huge grin. "Well, if that's what it takes."
He kneeled down, reaching for my hand, and wrapped a thin branch around my finger. Granted, it looked nothing like a rind, but my heart skipped a beat nonetheless.
"What are you doing?" I whispered.
"You mean the world to me and I know what I feel is real. I cannot go another minute without knowing you are in my life forever.
Cass—" he moistened his lips "—I know this sounds crazy since we've only been dating for a few days, but it's the right thing to do. I know you're the one. Please don't say 'no' before you've given it enough thought. Do you want to marry me?"
Even though Ginny and I had been planning this moment ever since Dad mentioned the curse, I was overwhelmed by emotion. My breath caught in my throat.
He cocked a brow. "Please?"
I nodded and jumped into his open arms. "Yes. I love you so much."
"I love you too." He pulled me into his arms and planted a kiss on my lips, his eyes twinkling. "I'll get you a real ring as soon as—"
"We find a jeweller?" I laughed and pulled away slightly to meet his gaze, my heart hammering in my chest.
It's cheating, Pinky said.
No, it's not, Kinky said.
Yes, it is. She pushed him.
No, she didn't.
Kinky was right. I wasn't cheating. My little scheme wasn't meant to deceive Dallas because there was nothing to deceive. Our bond would've led to marriage sooner or later anyway. Behind Dallas's back, I pulled out my phone and punched in numbers and letters. The ground shook, the air crackled like a burning log. Dallas stiffened.
"Not again."
I broke free from our embrace and pointed a few feet away. "Is that what you were looking for?"
He turned, a smile spread across his lips as he peered at the large, golden gate stretching into the white clouds above, steam rising a few inches above the ground.
"Is that Heaven?" Dallas asked in awe.
"The sign says Otherworld."
Dallas shrugged. "Sounds good enough to me as long as we get to escape this heat."
"Hope dies last," I muttered, pulling him through the portal back to Hell.
Chapter 16 – Doomed
The portal spewed us out at The Boulders of Hell on Dragon's Path. Dad's mansion was hidden behind the two boulders blocking the stony path. From here, it was only a five-minute walk, which should give me enough time to come up with an explanation. I never figured my plan to get Dallas to ask for my hand would work so, naturally, I didn't contemplate my next step.
"That's weird," Dallas said, peering at a jumble of black rocks in the dry lava beds.
"What?"
"We're back in Disneyland."
"No!" I faked surprise as I turned to face him, wide-eyed. "Maybe the portal took us back to the place we're supposed to visit."
"Or Disneyland is the Otherworld. I'm destined to spend eternity in an oven. How awesome is that? Let's see whether anyone can sense us. I know the perfect person," Dallas said.
He was talking about his necromancer sister. Visiting her could blow my entire plan so that wasn't going to happen. Plan A coming right up—tears. "I need to see Dad first." My lips started to quiver; my eyes filled with unshed tears. "He must be devastated after hearing what happened to his only child."
"Of course. You're right, babe," Dalla
s said, rubbing a hand over my back. "Just remember he won't be able to see or hear you."
We reached the mansion in silence. I instructed Dallas to wait in the hall while I headed upstairs in search of Dad. I found him in his office, leaned over countless sheets spread across his huge mahogany desk.
I peeked over my shoulder before I closed the door behind me and hopped on my usual spot on top of his papers.
"Cassie, where have you been?" He pointed at the large smudge of dirt on my arm I didn't notice in all the upheaval. I grabbed a tissue from his box and started rubbing my skin. "Something's wrong. The guards have reported that—"
"Shush. Dallas might be listening." I leaned closer, ignoring his frown. "I've found a way to get rid of the curse."
"The curse?"
"Yes, the one that will bind me to this place once I turn eighteen."
"You mean to your home," Dad said.
I waved my hand. "Let's not start a debate here. We haven't much time. There's something you need to do for me." He cocked a brow. I continued, "Dallas and I are getting married, but he thinks we're dead, or dying in a hospital."
Dad jumped up from his seat. "You're what?"
"Hush, what did I tell you," I hissed. "Sit down and keep quiet, Dad."
Taking a deep breath, he did as I said. "You're too young to marry. And to a mortal? Cass, what were you thinking? How did you even get him to propose? The kid said marriage didn't feature in his life plan yet."
"It's obvious you've been eavesdropping on our conversation."
Pausing, I glared at him. "I don't appreciate that. Dallas was a little confused before, but now he's ready to take our relationship to the next level."
Dad groaned. "What did you say about a hospital?"
I flicked my hair back, sorting through my thoughts. "We had a bit of an accident, so he thinks we're deadly wounded. I need you to pretend you have taken care of our battered bodies for the last day or so."
He laughed. "Stop it right there. That's even too crazy for your old man."
I sighed. "Dad, do you want to see me happy?" He nodded, amused. "Then do as I say. I will use my phone to knock him out so you can carry him to his room. When he wakes up tell him how devastated you were, how you pulled some strings to get the best doctors in the world to save your only child and her adored boyfriend. Make sure you have some major dark bags under your eyes to show off. I'd be most grateful if you could shed a tear or two as well. Got it?"
He bobbed his head, smirking.
"What's so funny?" I snapped.
"It's just—" he shook his head and wiped a tear from the corner of his eye "—you've definitely inherited my inventiveness. I'm so proud of you."
"Well, I knew that DNA of yours had to come in handy one day."
"He still doesn't know, does he?" Dad said. Avoiding his gaze, I shrugged. "When are you going to tell him?"
"Soon." I started drumming my fingers on the polished armrest of my chair.
"You know he'll freak. You're lucky if he doesn't run away without so much as a glance back."
I stared at my stilettoed boots, wondering whether to get a second pair because they were so comfortable and currently on sale.
It sure beat thinking about Dallas's reaction when he discovered my identity, or Dad's, for that matter.
"Come here, kiddo." Dad pulled me into a tight hug. I snuggled against his chest and breathed in his aftershave, letting myself fall back in time and feel like the little girl who always knew she was different.
There were so many things I'd rather not think about right now so I did what I always did: focus on taking one step at a time. I pulled out my phone, punched in the numbers to knock Dallas out, and hurried downstairs. Dallas was lying on the floor, unconscious. Dad threw him over his shoulder like he weighed nothing and carried him to the guestroom Dallas had occupied the last couple of days.
The blinds were drawn, the bed was made. One of Dad's demon's must've aired this morning after we left. Every surface was clean and tidy; it looked nothing like a sickbed.
I tucked Dallas in, wiping a stray strand of hair from his forehead. He seemed so peaceful and serene, I could spend hours just staring at the way his breathing made his broad chest move up and down.
"He'll wake up soon," Dad said.
"I know." Taking a deep breath, I glanced up at Dad. "This doesn't look authentic."
Dad peered around and nodded. "What about now?" My nostrils flared, catching a whiff of medicine and disinfectant. The red, satin sheets changed to white cotton, torn in several places. I even noticed a bug crawling across the tiled, naked floor where a thick, soft rug had just been a minute ago. Gee, I couldn't wait to get my powers.
Then I'd finally be able to do all of this and more with a snap of my fingers, instead of relying on my often malfunctioning phone.
I laughed and slapped Dad's hand. "Stop it." The cotton changed back to red satin, the bug disappeared.
"Better?"
"Keep the medical scent," I said. "Can we have more flowers and maybe a get-well-soon card from you? Thank you."
"Want me to write it in fancy cursive? Maybe add a few kisses and hearts?" Smiling, Dad rubbed a hand over my back.
Dallas's eyes fluttered open. He took in the room, confused.
"Bob? Cass? What happened?"
"You, son, barely escaped the narrow clutches of death." Dad threw me an amused glance.
"I was downstairs a minute ago," Dallas said.
"That's not possible." I grabbed his hand. "Babe, you were in and out of a coma for—"
"Days," Dad continued.
"Hours," I said, shooting him a warning look. Obviously, the moment Dallas talked to Amber he'd find out he hadn't been knocked out for days. "We've been so worried, we've lost track of time."
"But we were together. We talked." Dallas's eyes grew wide. I figured my little story would haunt the poor guy for all eternity. I almost felt bad, until I realised I'd be by his side to make sure he recovered. Seeing it from that perspective, he got a great deal.
I wiped a fake tear from my eye. "We were in a place we should never have visited at this young age. Dad cried non-stop."
Dad nodded. "Yes, and then I laughed." I glared at him. He cleared his throat and continued, "I laughed because I had depleted all tears. Now that you're alive again, you should enjoy your lives instead of getting married."
"Dad!" I elbowed him in the ribs. "Don't you see it? We're only alive because we fulfilled our duty, which was to realise that we're meant to be together."
"Yes," Dad said. "I'm sure you're made for one another and you'll make a wonderful married couple one day. Just not in the next ten years or so."
Dallas peered from Dad to me then back to Dad.
"You can't tell me what to do," I hissed.
"I'm still your father," he whispered.
"What's the big deal anyway?"
"You're too young."
I smiled at Dallas. "You said we'd get a ring as soon as we found a jeweller. Well, there's no need for it. I'm sure Mum won't mind if I use hers. It's not like she needs it anymore."
"Cass, no!" Dad whispered.
I pushed out my jaw. "Stop me, then." He peered at me, unbelieving. Why was Dad being so difficult? Surely he understood the magnitude of the curse. I wouldn't let it ruin my life like it ruined Aunt Patricia's. The poor girl had to lean out the window to catch a ray of sun. I didn't see myself stuck in my room for the rest of my life, with Dad as my only company.
I planted a kiss on Dallas's cheek. "I'm so glad you're back. Let's arrange a family meeting so everyone can meet and discuss wedding presents."
"Whatever you want, babe." Dallas nodded, insecure.
"Can't wait. It'll be a blast." I threw Dad a triumphant look. He sighed and got up. I was inclined to believe I'd won this particular battle, until Dad turned with a smug grin.
"Don't make any hasty plans, sweetie. You and Dallas can't marry just yet."
I narrowed my gaze. "W
hy's that?"
Dad buried his hands in his pockets, stalking for time. "Because part of your family heirloom says you need your aunts' consent."
"That won't be a problem."
"You sure?" The corners of Dad's mouth twitched. I could see he savoured every minute of this. "You seem to forget they've never been able to agree on anything in their entire life."
I stared at the tiles on the floor, dumbstruck. Dad was right.
The problem wasn't so much a difference in taste but rather unwillingness to compromise. Their constant bickering reminded me of a malignant version of loving to disagree. It had become so pronounced that they kept changing their mind on issues in order to avoid adopting the same stance as the others. If one agreed, at least one of the others wouldn't. Basically, I was doomed.
Chapter 17 – Raising the dead
A family reunion to drop the news of my imminent marriage didn't seem like a good idea just yet. Not before I had a chance to talk to my aunts individually and explain why agreeing for a change could save me from major depression and an early midlife crisis.
My three aunts, Patricia, Krista and Selena, were Dad's sisters.
Patricia was the youngest, Selena the eldest. In between came Krista.
She had been married a million times—not literally, of course. But, given that she'd had more spouses than I cared to remember, it might as well be. She knew what it was like to find the one, so I decided to pay her a visit right after seeing Patricia.
Outside, it was still dim, but the first morning rays seeped through the drawn brocade curtains, casting a soft glow on my crimson spread. In half an hour, the world would be bathed in shimmering brightness, earth cracking from the relentless heat. I was lying in my huge four-poster bed, contemplating my next steps, when a knock on the door echoed through the large room, and Dallas walked in. Ever since our pretend-accident, he seemed shaky on his feet, as though his perfectly healthy body suffered pain.
"You're awake." He cuddled on the bed next to me and pulled me to his chest, brushing my hair out of my face. His fingers moved gingerly over my skin, leaving a tingling sensation, like a hundred butterflies fluttering their delicate wings against my cheek.
