“We’ve gotta get out of here!” Jorja cried as she was dragged downward. “If they kill us…”
“They break free. I know,” Josslyn said, as arms wrapped around her waist, and pulled her underneath the sand.
“Josslyn!”
Chapter 16
“Josslyn.”
The familiar deep voice sounded nearby, and Josslyn frowned. I know that voice, don’t I?
“Josslyn.”
Again, the voice sounded, and she creaked her eye open. She stared around her, at the clay-like ground under her feet, and the rolling quicksand as it whipped around her. Where am I? she wondered, rising to her feet, eyeing the demons around her. “Who is that? Who’s there?”
“Me, Josslyn.”
“Gramps?” She blinked, as the tall, gray-haired man walked through the sand particles whipping around her. “Is it really… you?”
“It’s me,” Jeremiah said, stopping in front of her. “Hello, Joss. It’s good to see you.”
“And you too!” Josslyn cried, lunging forward. She wrapped her arms around him, frowning when she just touched air. “What’s going on? What…” She trailed off. “Wait. You’re not real, are you?” she asked. “Which means, none of this around me is real, right?”
“Correct. You’re still being dragged down into the quicksand by that demon,” Jeremiah said.
“But why are you here?”
“To remind you of your destiny, and to remind yourself never to give up.”
“I’m not giving up!”
“You the one who said you’re going to die here.”
“I did say that, didn’t I?” Josslyn blinked, remembering the words that had come out of her mouth just moments ago, thinking. Had she given in too easily to the sand? To the demon who had grabbed her? Why? She had everything she could ever want. She had her daughters, her sisters, she was about to start a new adventure as a P.I. Why would she just give all of that up?
“I’m not giving up,” she whispered. “I just don’t know how to do everything! It’s like every time I try to do something right, something happens! I found my daughters, and they were kidnapped, nearly sacrificed. I finally mend fences with Julie and Jade, then we find out we’re witches. Even getting my PI license is hard, because of all these damned interruptions and I wonder if sometimes life would just be easier if I was gone. If the people around me would be better if I wasn’t a part of their lives.”
“You really think that?” Jeremiah asked. “That is not the Josslyn I know, the Josslyn I raised. Come here.” He extended a hand. “ I need to show you something.”
“What?”
“A future without you in it.”
“But Gramps, I can’t! Jasmine and Jorja need my help!”
“They’re fine,” Gramps told her. “Time’s standing still right now, Josslyn, which means you still have time to save them, if that’s what you choose.”
Chapter 17
“Sure, let’s leave the witch all alone in the underworld,” Jade muttered under her breath, as she rounded the corner, a bit miffed that Ashwin and Elijah gotten captured. How was she supposed to find a seer? A powerful seer? She didn’t know the demons here!
“She went this way!”
Running feet sounded behind her, and she turned, ducking inside a doorway, blowing out a sigh of relief as the demons raced past.
“Down here!”
“Did you hear? Vampires are here!”
“And Elijah. He’s been captured!”
“And Ashwin. He’s here too! We’ve been waiting a long time to capture him.”
“But first, we have to find the witch!”
“Demons sure d like to talk a lot, don’t they?” a feminine voice said from behind her, and Jade jerked her head around. She narrowed her eyes, staring at the woman with dark, curly hair, as she stood next to the cauldron. She smiled as she glanced over her shoulder. “Hello, Jade.”
“You know who I am?”
“Of course. You’re one of the most powerful witches to be born into this world. You and your sisters.” She stared into the liquid, watching it bubble. “And I knew Elijah would bring you.”
“You and Elijah are friends?”
The woman laughed. “Oh, Elijah and I go way back, Jade. So do Ashwin and I. We grew up together… centuries ago.”
“You’re his sister?” Jade’s mouth dropped open. “But I thought you all died!”
“We did. All five of us,” the woman said. “I’m Alana, by the way.” She averted her gaze from Jade’s, once again staring into the bright green hues of the potion. “I hated Elijah for what he did. For choosing immortality over his own family. It was horrible!” She shuddered. “We were eating dinner, Jade. Dinner! My Mom made her famous chicken pot pie, and we had all just sat down to eat when the door behind us crashed in. Vampires. I never even knew they even existed. The next thing I knew, they were latching on us like a leach! Sucking the blood from us, the life from us, and there was Elijah. He just stood there, staring at us, as Mom cried, as Dad yelled, as we died as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The next thing I knew I was floating and Hades was there to greet me.”
“You met Hades?”
Alana nodded. “Not many people get to, but there I was in limbo, my body was torn between heaven and hell. I hadn’t been the nicest person in the world, Jade. I was mean. I was cruel, and I loved to prey on the weak, but Hades gave me a choice. That I could either give in to death, or I could join the underworld, and become a powerful seer.”
“And you chose the seer.”
“Of course. I get to see the future, and I get to be there when Elijah dies.”
“You’ve seen his death?”
“Why yes,” Alana said, smiling. “And it’s going to be horrible.”
“But he’s still your brother! You have to have some sort of feelings for him.”
“I no longer have feelings, Jade. I gave those away a long time ago.” She lifted her head, her eyes locking with Jade’s. “So, what is it that you need from me?”
“You help,” Jade said, holding the book up. “I need your help restoring my powers. I need them back. My sisters… I don’t know where they are and there’s talk of a new evil rising up within the underworld. Do you know anything about that?”
“I haven’t seen anything, but I’ve heard the chatter,” Alana said.
“But you’re a seer! You’re supposed to be able to see the future!”
“I can only do what the powers that be, let me see, Jade. Whatever evil is coming your way, that’s your battle, not mine.”
“Once a demon, always a demon,” Jade muttered under her breath.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing.” Jade shook her head. ‘It doesn’t matter. Right now, the only thing that matters is getting my powers back. Can you help me with that?”
“I can certainly try,” Alana said, gesturing her forward. “Now come on, let’s see if we can’t fix that old thing, huh?” She took the book from Jade, staring down at the worn leather. “Ah, the Morgan book. I’ve heard rumors about this thing. The power it holds. It’s too bad you lost it. It makes you vulnerable.” She grinned. “But lucky for you, I’m willing to help you, for a price, and my agreements are always honored.”
Chapter 18
“Gramps, I don’t understand,” Josslyn said, as they stepped out from the portal, staring at the cemetery. “What are we doing here?”
“Visiting your grave,” Jeremiah said, nodding at the tombstones. “Read, Josslyn.”
Josslyn frowned at him, but stepped forward, staring at the tombstones. “Gillian Morgan. Jessica Morgan. Jillian Morgan. Juliette Morgan… Josslyn Morgan?” She swung around to look at her grandfather. “But I’m not dead!”
“Not in this universe. This is a different timeline, Josslyn. Set right after the separation of dimensions. Remember when you’re memories were wiped, and you were scattered throughout the realm? This is the timeline when you died. When you
r sisters couldn’t get to you in time when you were kidnapped by Talia.” He nodded. “Look. There’s Jade.”
Josslyn turned, watching as the dark sedan pulled into the cemetery, watching as her sister, now aged, walked up the hill and set a bouquet of flowers against the headstone.
“What happened to her?” she asked. “She looks so…”
“When you died, Jade didn’t take it very well,” Jeremiah told her. “She blamed herself for not being able to save you, and because of that, she turned her back on her wiccan duties, gave up on her destiny. She never found love, she never started her business, and she never had a family. She gave up on everything.”
“But that doesn’t sound like Jade!”
“You were a big part of her life Joss, and losing you, it broke her and she never recovered.” He gestured her forward. “Come on.”
“But…” Josslyn glanced over her shoulder, her heart aching as she stared at Jade.
“We don’t have time, Joss. We need to keep going.”
“But where?”
“To see your other sister.” He grabbed her by the hand and stepped through the portal.
“Whoa. Where am I?” Josslyn asked as they stepped through, staring around at the orange, fiery depths surrounding her, and the rolling lava underneath them. “Wait. Is this the underworld?”
“Yup.”
“And there are demons!” Josslyn cried, jabbing a finger forward.
“It’s the underworld, Joss, of course there are demons, but they can’t see you.” He turned and lead her along the path.
“Please tell me that Julie didn’t turn evil!” Josslyn cried, racing after him.
“Actually, she did,” Jeremiah said, as he descended the stairs. “With you gone, the bond between you and your sisters was broken. Ow, she’s the queen of the underworld, and she and Elijah have given birth to their first child.”
“But my daughters…”
“Never made it to the underworld,” Jeremiah told hr. “And because of that, Julie never remembered who you all were. She didn’t believe it.”
“Oh, will you look at him!”
Josslyn peered into the room, staring at Julie, as she leaned against the pillows in the bed, cradling an infant. “It’s our second child, Elijah,” she whispered. “Another boy.”
“Ready to take on the world,” Elijah said, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to Julie’s cheek. “You did great, Jules.”
“I’m exhausted!” Julie cried. “But look at him. He’s so handsome! He’ll make a great brother to Zeus.”
“Yes, and together, they will lead the underworld once I am gone.”
“Their two children, Zeus and Hades, would be ruthless leaders,” Jeremiah whispered in her ear. “They would bring ruins to the earth, and demons would scour the earth. They would torture witches, Gods, angels, and be the most powerful of beings.”
“What about Julie?”
“Her own sons killed her.”
“What!”
“Like I said, Joss, your death affected a lot of people. Now come on. We’ve still got lots to see.”
“Who now?”
“Jasmine.”
“To see Jasmine.”
“I don’t think I’m brave enough for this!” Josslyn cried as they stepped through yet another portal.
“Jasmine, open up!” Sky shouted, rapping his fist on the door. “For goodness sake, it’s 2 pm!”
“Would you stop your damned yelling?” Jasmine snapped, jerking the door open and glaring at Sky as he stood on the doorstep to the small house. “I’m in mourning!” She brought the bottle of vodka to her lips, taking a sip.
“You’ve been in mourning for the last five years!” Sky cried. “It’s the reason we got divorced, remember? It’s what got you fired, and now Selena is paying the price. You do remember Selena, right? Your daughter?”
“We found Sky?” Josslyn asked, watching the scene play out before her. “And they got married? They had a child? They got divorced? And she’s drinking?” Her mouth dropped open. “But Jasmine doesn’t even really drink!”
“She does in this world,” Jeremiah said, nodding to the young, blonde-haired girl standing next to Sky. “And that’s their daughter. Come on.”
“Let me guess, to go see Jorja?”
“Jorja is dead, Joss.”
“What!”
“She died, trying to save you when the vampires killed you.”
“No!”
“I told you. Your death effected a lot of people, Joss. Now come on.” He snapped his fingers, and they walked through another portal.
“Josi?” Jessi knocked her knuckles against the wooden door, leaning her head against the wood. “Are you in there?”
“Have you heard anything?” Jami asked, hurrying up the stairs, and sliding to a stop next to Jami. “Is she okay?”
“I don’t know. I’m afraid to go in there,” Jessi said, wrapping her hand around the doorknob and shoving the door open. She stepped inside, wrinkling her nose at the smell. “Pew! It stinks in here!” She waved a hand in front of her face. “Jami, open a window, will you?”
“Let’s find Josi first,” Jami said. “Where is she?” She stuck her head into the bedroom, then shoved the bathroom door open, a loud, piercing scream sounding from her lips. “Josi!”
“Jami, get back!” Jessi grabbed Jami by the arm, pulling her sister in her arms as she sobbed, staring over her head at Josi as she lay in the tub, blood pooling from her slashed wrists. “We have to call the police.”
“But why would she do this?” Jami asked, wiping tears from her cheeks, as she glanced back not the bathroom. “Did we do this? Did we push her to this, when we decided to move on with our lives?”
“We can’t blame ourselves for the choices that Josi made, Jami,” Jessi told her, as she lifted the phone to her ear. “Josslyn’s death hit us all hard, ten years ago, but it hit Josi harder than any of us. She never forgave her for giving us up. She never forgave her for dying, and she never forgave herself, for not being willing to give Josslyn a chance. It’s why she turned to drugs. The drugs killed her, Jessi, not us.”
“Josi died… because of me?” Josslyn asked, tears filling her eyes. “No!”
“I told you, Joss, you’re…”
“Death affected a lot of people, I know,” Josslyn said. “So what do I do?”
“Breathe,” Jeremiah said. “Just breathe.” He paused, glancing over his shoulder. “Oh, and stay away from the water. It’ll take your soul.”
Chapter 19
“This is us?” Sky asked, picking the picture frame up off the table near the front door, and staring down at the photo of the four of them together
“Yes. It was taken, right after your fifth birthday,” his mother said, walking up to him, and squeezing his shoulder. “You weren’t big on parties, but this one you were excited for, and you know what kind of party you wanted?”
Sky shook his head.
“You wanted a Batman part,” his mother said, laughing. “The whole house was decorated to look like Gotham, and everyone dressed up as a superhero. Stella was Wonder Woman, Connor was…” She trailed off, glancing over at her son. “What was it you dressed up as?”
“Superman, Mom!” Connor cried, rolling his eyes. “Like the best superhero ever!”
“And I was Spiderman,” Winston said, wincing at the memory. “The costume was so itchy!”
“And I was batman?” Sky asked.
“You remember?” his mother asked, raising a brow.
“No, but it makes sense. I mean it was my party, and it was a Batman party.”
“Well, he’s still smart, I’ll give him that,” Connor whispered to Winston.
“Connor!”
“Sorry, Mom.”
“This house is really nice though,” Sky said, grazing his hand over the light, brown couch, crossing to the mantle to stare at the candles lying there, and the deer heads lying on the wall above him. “Does Stella hunt?”
“Stella hunt?” Winston laughed. “She couldn’t hurt a fly!”
“Plus she doesn’t have the time,” his mother added. “With all the hours she puts in at the hospital. No… those belong to a guy she was dating a while back. He left them here, and none of us have been able to get them down.”
“Maybe I’ll give it a try,” Sky said, running a finger over the beige colored wall. “Looks like the house is in need of some repainting, and the roof…” he raised his head, to the water dripping from the roof. “Looks like it needs to be patched up.”
“Are you offering to fix the house up for me?” Stella asked, poking her head into the room.
“Well, you are letting me stay here. The least I can do is a little housework for you.”
“You’re family, Sky. I’d do anything for you.” She paused, glancing down at her phone as it buzzed, and sighed. “It’s the hospital. I’ve gotta go.”
“Go,” Sherilyn said, waving her hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure the dishes are taken care of and help Sky find his room.”
“You do now that I’m not a little kid, right?” Sky asked.
“No, but you’re my kid,” Sherilyn told him, sending him a look. “And I’ve already missed out on a lot of your life, I’m not about to miss out on anymore.”
“Do you think you’ll be up for Family Sunday tomorrow?” Connor asked as he headed toward the door, shrugging his jacket on.
“Family Sunday?”
Oh yeah, it’s all kinds of fun,” Winston said, as he followed his brother, shrugging into his own jacket. “We bring the kids and wives over, and start with a big brunch, and I mean big!” He spread his arms out wide. “Everything you could ever think to eat, we got it, and then we head off to church. After church, we have a small lunch, come back to the house and spend the afternoon playing games. Volleyball, football.” He smiled. “It’s so much fun!”
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