The Promise

“Ego amare,” I whispered, the realest words I’d ever spoken. And then I was gone. Returning to the one place that had seemed like such a pointless journey.

Now it was more important than anything.

“I need your help,” I a

She was lolling on the couch, her feet kicked up on Laylen’s lap and she smiled teasingly. “Did 200

you two have fun up there?”

“Shut up,” I said. “Could you just come with me for a minute? There’s something I need to ask you.” My eyes roamed to Laylen. “Alone.”

She sighed, got up from the couch, and followed me into the kitchen. “So what’s up now? You need me to conjure a spell? Because I’m already working on one in case you’ve forgotten. A big one.”

“I need you to take me somewhere.” I let out a breath, preparing for her reaction. “I need you to take me to Iceland.”

“W-what?” she stammered. “Iceland? Why? Shouldn’t we be coming up with a plan to save you two? I mean, tomorrow is the day.”

“I know,” I said. “And that’s why.”

“So you know how to do it?” she asked hopeful. “How to save both of you from dying?” I took her by the shoulders, looking her directly in the eyes. “Yeah, but I don’t save myself.”

“No.” She shook her head madly. “You can’t do that Alex. Don’t be stupid.”

“I’m not being stupid,” I said. “I’m doing exactly what I’m supposed to.”

“No, you’re trying to be a hero,” she snapped. “A stupid hero.”

“Aislin, you’ll be okay. You’ve got Laylen and Gemma and mom won’t be gone forever.”

“But why does it always have to be you.” Tears were flooding her cheeks.

“It’s never been me, Aislin.” I let my hands fall to my side. “She’s the one that spent most of her life unemotional, with a broken soul. She has no memories of her childhood, no really happy 201

memories that don’t have some kind of burden attached to them. She’s been tormented by the Death Walkers. By our father. Nothing about her life is fair.” She blinked back the tears. “I know, but yours hasn’t been that fair either, none of our lives have been easy.”

“And that’s why we need to stop all this,” I said. “So no one has to suffer anymore.”

“Are you sure there s not another way, though? Where no one has to die, except the bad guys?”

I shook my head. “Mom told me that the portal’s going to open up no matter what and the only way to seal it back is for the star to die, is for us to die.” She gasped, clutching onto the edge of the counter. “Why didn’t you say so? How can you keep things like this from me?”

“What would have been the point of telling you early?” I asked. “It’s going to happen no matter what. But I think I know a way to save Gemma.”

“But why can’t both of you be saved?”

“Because I can’t be. What I’m doing… one of us has to die.” Her breathing was ragged as she sucked back tears. “I’ll take you, but I’m not taking you to your death, am I? You’re coming back right?”

“Yeah, I’m coming back” I said. “And then tomorrow we finish this. You’re going to have to get that shield spell working.”

“That’s the problem.” She frowned, tears still dripping from her eyes. “I thought maybe when I stole the witch’s power it would give me enough power to remove it. But it didn’t.” 202

I paused, contemplating. “I think I know something that might work. But I need to go to Iceland first, okay. This needs to be taken care of.”

Our mom had been right when she’d said it always was Gemma. Because, if I could make this work, Gemma was the one who was going to live.

* * *

“I need you to do me favor,” I said to Laylen from the living room doorway.

He turned his head from the TV, looking at me oddly. “The last time you asked me to do you a favor, you left.”

“I’m leaving, but I’ll be back,” I said. “I need you to keep an eye on her. I need you to make a Blood Promise with me that you’ll always keep an eye on her, no matter what happens.”

“Why?” He questioned.

“Because.” I rubbed the back of my neck tensely. “It’s just important, okay?” Nodding, he stood up and I switched out my knife. I sliced my palm the one without the scar of the Blood Promise. Then I tossed the knife to him and he cut his own, his lip twitching at the blood.

“You okay there man?” I asked, cupping my hand.

“Yeah, I’m good.” He chucked the knife on the table. “So, can I just point out, that this is kind of awkward?”

“It always is,” I said and then we pressed our hands together and it was super awkward.

“So what’s the magic words this time?” he asked with a twitch in his hand.

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“Ego spondeo vos ut haud res quis gemma curam et custodiam eam iniuriam,” I said quietly, wishing I was on the other side of this promise.

He took a breath, suddenly understanding. “Ego spondeo vos ut haud res quis gemma curam et custodiam eam iniuriam.”

We broke our hands away and I wiped mine on the side of my jeans. “Okay, we good?”

“We’re good.” He dabbed his hand on his shirt.

“Am I walking in on something I’m not supposed to?” Nicholas was leaning against the wall, with a mocking expression, back to his normal self.

“You need to leave.” I grabbed the collar of his shirt and shoved him out of the room toward the front door.

“Hey, this isn’t your house,” he argued, trying to plant his feet firmly against the floor.

“Yeah, but I’m eliminating all risk factors right now.” I opened the front door. “And you’re one of them.”

“What? You don t trust me?” He faked offence.

“Nope.” I nudged the screen door open with my foot. “Now go.” He stepped out onto the porch, tripping over the threshold. “Is this a temporary thing?”

“I hope not,” I said, giving him another shove. “But that’s no longer my decision.” Then I slammed the door in his face, glad to see the faerie go.

Aislin stepped behind me, tears in her eyes and a reluctant frown on her face. “Are you ready to go?”

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“Yep.” I said. “Take me to Iceland.”

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Chapter 43

(Gemma)

“ It will be alright,” he whispered, brushing my hair back. “I’ll always save you.”