“I was on the couch.” She ran her hands up and down her arms, trying to piece it together. “Smoke everywhere. My mother screamed. Everything burned.” She pressed a palm against her throat. “My lungs hurt, and…” She choked on another sob. “I remember.”
“After the fire. After you died.” His voice was softer, easier. “What do you remember?”
She clenched a fist to her stomach. Pain ravaged her mind and heart. “I just remember the fire.”
“Please, Melody. Think.” She glared at Travis. The pain there, the deep echo of it tore her apart. She’d seen it before. Hadn’t she?
“Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you let me believe I was alive?”
Kassa. Betrayal and anger warred in her chest. “You both knew.” She stared at her tombstone. Melody rose to her feet, numb, while a hysterical laugh threatened to erupt. She was dead. “Was this fun for you two?”
“Fun? You have no idea.”
“I lost everything,” she yelled in his face. “I can never have a life. A family.” She jerked away from him.
“Yes, you can, Melody. It’s not over. Look at what’s right in front of you.” Travis took a step toward her.
“I don’t want this life.”
His expression froze and a muscle ticked in his jaw. “You don’t know what you’re saying. You’re in shock.”
“How does any of this tell me about my parents? Or was this all a bullshit reason to get me here?”
“No bullshit.” He stood next to her parents’ graves with his arms crossed. A breeze blew, but his clothes and hair were unaffected.
She looked down at her hands, realizing the wind didn’t touch her either. Could it be true? “But how is this possible, Travis? I moved things.” A memory surfaced of the water hitting her skin in the shower.
Travis touched her. “You are a very powerful spirit, Melody. It took me years to do what you’ve managed to accomplish in such a short time. Your sense of life made you an incredible anomaly.”
She glared at him. “Anomaly? How very scientific of you. Did you enjoy studying me, manipulating me?”
His jaw clenched. “Your parents are right here, waiting for you.”
She threw her arms out in irritation. “Where?”
He shoved his hands deep in his pockets. “You have to want to see them.”
“How dare you? I love my parents. Why wouldn’t I want to see them?”
He narrowed his gaze at her. “Some part of you still thinks this is a joke. It’s easier for you to believe that I would try to make you insane than for you to believe you’re dead.”
“You don’t know me, or what I believe.”
He flashed in front of her, so close she could feel the heat from his body. “I know everything about who and what you are. You can deny it here.” He touched her temple. “But you know the truth here.” He tapped lightly on her chest. “I’m not the one playing games.”
She reeled as though slapped. “Go to hell.”
“You want to use me for your emotional punching bag, fine.” Rage and pain boiled off him in waves, while the air grew frigid around her. “Don’t lie to me or yourself. You’re dead, and if you don’t figure it out and really believe it, you’re going to become too dangerous to be around. The more unstable you grow, the more those nightmares of yours will become real until everything you touch burns.”
The air became too thick to breathe. “What are you trying to say? I didn’t start the fire in my parents’ house.”
“No, but you died by fire. And you are powerful enough to charge the air around you.”
“Lies.” Her rage grew until it simmered just below the surface.
“You are dangerous. More dangerous than anything I’ve ever seen.”
“I would never hurt anyone.”
“You hurt Kassa.” His bleak expression snapped something inside her.
“No.” She shook her head frantically while fire erupted around her. Dried leaves ignited and she screamed in shock. The back of her hand pressed against her open mouth and she looked at him in horror.
He dragged her into his arms. “It’s okay, Melody, you didn’t mean to.” He made soothing noises in his throat and rocked her back and forth.
“How…” She couldn’t find the words. Melody collapsed against him.
“Twice now your nightmares have caused actual fires.” He kissed her forehead. “I can smother them, see?” He held out his hand and they both watched the flames smolder, then stop.
Melody thought of Kassa’s beautiful house. How close had she come to destroying it? She couldn’t believe she was dead. “I want to see my parents.”
“I’m right here.” Her mother’s voice called from behind her.
Melody slowly turned around. She took in the familiar smile and curly hair. Eyes as beautiful as she remembered. “Mom.” She stumbled forward.
Her mom opened her arms. “Hi, baby.”
Melody ran to her, wrapping her up in a tight hug. “Mom, you’re here.” Tears ran down her face. “I’m dead.”
Her mother’s smile was sad. “Yes, honey. I’m so sorry. It’s kind of a shock, I know.” She ran her hands down Melody’s face. “It sure took you awhile to get here.”
“I know, and I wouldn’t be here now if not for Travis. He made this possible.” She turned back to him and held out her hand. He nodded once but didn’t move toward them.
“Thank you, Travis.” Her mother touched Melody’s arm, lowering it. “I’m holding it closed as long as I can, but there’s not much time.”
He was staring back at Melody in quiet desperation, but was fading.
“Travis…” She took a step forward, reaching for him again.
He moved back and shook his head.
“He can’t stay here, baby.”
“Why? I don’t understand.”
“Once the portal opens, he has to cross.”
“Portal?” She tentatively slipped out of her mom’s embrace and took a step forward. “What is she talking about?”
Travis hesitated. “I haven’t crossed because I choose not to. Once the light touches you, it’s over.”
“Come with me.”
His lips twisted in sadness. “I can’t.”
She wanted to argue. “But—”
He hauled her up against him. His kiss was raw and powerful, intensifying the emotions tearing through her. He put his forehead to hers. “Stay.”
“Travis.” Her mother’s voice held a warning. “It’s opening.”
“I need you here with me. Remember what happened after the fire.”
Her memory was blank. “I can’t.”
“Melody, you don’t know what staying will do to you. You’re powerful. Dangerous. He’s gone against nature and remained here. That’s not a life.”
She thought of the fire, the idea of hurting Kassa. Her heart shredded. It was too much.
He kissed her again. “Or go. And don’t look back. This is your decision. Do what your heart tells you. You know where I’ll be.”
Her arms held nothing. Sudden, awful pain ripped through her. He was gone. “Travis!”
“We have to go, honey.” Her mother wrapped her arms around her, pulling them back toward the gravestone. “They don’t give us much time.”
She glanced back to where Travis had stood and clutched the locket around her neck. Travis.
Light enveloped them and Melody’s heart cracked.
The world faded to nothing and she trudged behind her mom in numb shock. Everything was happening so fast. Something tugged at her neck and she realized it was her grandmother’s necklace. Melody gripped it in her palm and the weight of it pressed against her. She jerked to a stop. “Mom, wait.”
“What is it?” Her mother leaned over. “Is that your grandmother’s necklace?”
“Yes. It’s…” Warmth enveloped her and the familiar scents of butterscotch and coffee tickled her nose.
“Nana?” Her throat tightened and tears blurred her vis
ion. In a moment, her grandmother stood in front of her.
Soft blue eyes with a mischievous twinkle. A smile bloomed across her face. “Hey, baby girl.” She held out her arms and Melody rushed to her, wrapping her in a huge hug.
“Nana, you’re here.”
“Of course I’m here. The afterlife party just isn’t the same without me.”
Melody would have laughed, if not for the lump in her throat. Her fingers curled around the chain at her throat.
Nana stood back and looked her granddaughter up and down, her gaze paused on her hand. She clucked her tongue. “You’ve lost weight.”
“I missed your brownies.” Melody gave her a watery smile.
Her grandmother glanced at her mother. “Meredith. Why don’t you give your daughter a hug and a kiss? I’ll bring her on in a bit.”
“Mom…”
“I want to talk to her alone. I’ll make it quick.”
Her mom sighed. “Okay.” She drew Melody into her arms and gave her a kiss. “We’ll see you soon.”
Melody nodded and her mother faded. A sharp pain dug into her chest and she reached out. “Where did she go?”
Her grandmother shrugged. “She went ahead. This is a part you only have to go through once.”
“What part?”
An orange glow drew Melody’s attention. Icy tendrils of fear slid down her spine. Her body broke out in a cold sweat. “What’s happening?”
“You have to pass through your death to cross over.” Her grandmother turned them to face her old living room.
Fire engulfed most of the furniture and Melody recoiled.
“We all have to do it.” Nana squeezed her into a side hug. “I’ll be right there waiting on the other side.”
“And that’s it? I cross through and it’s over?”
“Well, you won’t be able to maintain time on Earth anymore, but I wouldn’t say it’s over.” She waved a hand and a bench appeared. “Let’s sit down for a bit.”
Melody took it in stride. A bench appearing in a white tunnel was on par with the rest of the day’s insanity. She collapsed on the seat and gazed at the fire.
Her grandmother sat beside her. “Not many of us can carry material things, much less wear them.” She gestured to the locket.
Melody held it up. “This is the real necklace?”
“Yes.” Nana put her finger on the delicate painted flowers. “Would you mind?”
Melody smiled and released the clasp. Her grandmother’s eyes closed on the first bars of Time in a Bottle and she sweetly hummed along. It brought the past rushing up to her. The music ended and Melody closed the locket with a quiet snap.
Nana sighed and touched her granddaughter’s hand. “I love that song.” Her smile was wistful. “You are very powerful. That’s common with those who die before their time.”
“What?”
“You weren’t supposed to be in that fire.”
“But nothing strange happened to keep me in the house.”
“No. You’ve got some of the higher-ups closely watching over you. There’s all kinds of strange things happening in our neck of the woods.”
“I’m nothing special.”
Her grandmother smacked her arm. “That’s enough of that. So tell me what has my grandbaby lookin’ so sad.”
“I feel like my heart is being ripped in two.”
“That Travis guy?”
“Yeah.” Melody blinked. “How do you know about Travis?”
“I know a lot about a lot of things. I’ve been watching you since I passed on.”
That filled her heart with a euphoric joy. All those times she’d wondered. “Mom said he had gone against nature.”
“Well, it’s unusual for a man to decide not to pass on, but not unnatural. I wonder what’s keeping him there.”
“He said I knew.” She shook her head. “I don’t remember.”
“Oh sure you do.”
Melody reeled from the perpetual fire, not willing to pass into that final blazing hell. “What happened to me after the fire?”
“The house burned to the ground, and you haunted the ruins.”
“Like Travis?”
“No. You had no substance, barely a sense of self. I don’t know why, but you didn’t cross when your mom and dad did.”
“No substance?” Vague memories asserted themselves in her mind. They were sad and hollow surrounded by a distinct stench of charred wood and death. Melody shivered.
“Travis saved you. For that reason alone I would have given him my blessing.”
Blessing? Travis’ voice had pierced the darkness. She remembered him standing beyond the house, just out of reach. His arms were crossed and a deep sadness stung her heart.
Leave. Her voice was harsh and dry as a dying wind.
No. You have to live.
I’m dead.
Not to me.
She put a hand over her mouth and tears ran unchecked down her cheeks. Her heart ached. Those words had made her remember who she was.
Her grandmother continued. “He fought for you. Brought you back from oblivion.”
She turned to her nana in wonder. “I remember.” She gripped her biceps. “He brought me back.” It had been her idea to become whole again. Years passed in her mind. Forgotten conversations and her growing love blossomed inside her. “I wondered why he seemed so familiar, how I could love a man I had just met.”
Her grandmother dragged her in for a hug. “He loves you.”
The words he’d whispered so often to her before she’d begged Kassa to change her form. “Yes.” She shifted her gaze to the burning room. “Is it too late?”
“If you cross into that room with regrets, with unfinished business, it will consume you.”
“What, like permanently die?”
“No, honey.” She shook her head. “You’ll never die. It’s an eternity locked in a hell of your own making.”
“Nana, I can’t…” She covered her grandmother’s hand with her own. “What if he doesn’t want me?”
She kissed Melody on the forehead. “Even when the dead lie to themselves, the heart knows the truth.” Her arms pulled her only granddaughter into a tight hug. “Everything happens for a reason, you know. When I saw you, I knew it wasn’t time yet. You still have things to do, don’t you?”
Melody shook her head. “Like what?”
“There are great and powerful things at work with you, baby. And with that man you left behind. You lived your life for other people. Why don’t you try spending some time finding happiness?”
“What do I do? Where do I go?”
“Follow your heart, baby girl. It knows the way home.”
The light grew brighter. “Wait! When will I see you again?”
“When it’s time, you’ll know the way. Now get going.” She gently pushed her away. “Time passes differently here.”
Melody’s body slipped away from the scene, from her grandmother. “I love you, Nana. Tell everyone—”
We love you too. The voice echoed in her head.
She closed her eyes and focused on Travis. Her heart led her, and she spun toward him. Her body jerked to a stop and it took a moment for the world to right itself.
Chapter Seven
She had a split second to take in an unfamiliar kitchen before something whizzed past her head. Melody ducked beneath the table. “Oh shit, I’m sorry. I thought this was my house.”
“Your house?” a familiar female voice yelled at her in the dark. “This is my home. Now stand and slowly turn to face me.”
Melody rose with her hands in the air.
Kassa stood in a quaint kitchen sporting a long t-shirt and a baseball bat. Murderous intent thundered through the woman.
“Hey, Kassa.”
Her face lost all color and the weapon she held fell from nerveless fingers. It clattered on the floor, jerking her out of her shock. “Melody? What the hell! How are you here? You left.” Kassa advanced and Melody backed up.
/> “I didn’t leave.”
“You can’t cross over but then return.”
“What are you talking about? How did I end up at your place? I was trying to reach Travis.”
“I’m not going to let you kill me.”
Melody blinked in surprise. “Kill you? Why would I do that?”
Kassa went back to the bat and picked it up. “Who are you really? Vengeful spirits come back all the time and take familiar shapes.”
Melody leaned against the sink and opened the locket. “It’s me.” She closed it after a few notes played.
Kassa dropped the bat into a corner. “You made so much noise I thought you were someone less…”
“Dead?”
“Right.” She stalked out of the kitchen.
Melody scrambled behind her, following her into the living room. A scattering of portraits and frames on the mantle were the only decoration among the mismatched furniture. “What are you doing?”
“Do you know how long it took me to figure out how to pull you back from being a raging spirit? How many months I had to prepare? Not to mention what your leaving did to Travis.” Kassa sank down on the couch and glared at her. “You ripped his heart out, you know that?”
”I’m sorry. I was confused but I came back.”
Kassa turned her face toward the light and a stark bruise stood out on her skin.
“What happened?” In a flash Melody was next to her. “How did you get this?”
“The same way I got the busted lip you gave me. Trying to save a raging spirit.”
Kassa’s words were a punch to the gut. The floodgate opened and she remembered changing. “You pulled me back into this form after my death. I fought you.” She gaped at Kassa, perched on the couch. “I hit without touching you. I remember being so scared.” A force had dragged her off Kassa, but not before she’d tried to choke her. Horror rose up inside and Melody buried her face in her hands. “I didn’t remember until now. I’m so sorry.”
Kassa patted her back. “It’s fine. You didn’t know what you were doing.”
“I bet Travis was furious.” Kassa was special to him. Melody knew why, but the answer was just out of reach.
“I didn’t take him with me this time when I tried to save a spirit.” Kassa glanced away.
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