The Promise

producing a collection of flaring colors so intense it was hard to look at it. But all four of us didn’t look away, watching as the colors looped for Aislin, slipping across her hands and making her skin blaze bright. She sucked in a breath and her head rolled back. “It’s wonderful,” she breathed, staring at her hands. “Like…”

“Electricity,” Gemma said quietly.

Aislin nodded. “Is this how you guys feel all the time?”

Gemma didn’t reply, staring out the window, the sun breaking against the horizon and lighting up the world. “Do you think it’s time?” she asked to no one in particular. “Or do you think we need to wait until later today.”

“It’s December 21st,” I said. “I’m sure that’s all that matters.” I paused. “Is that it? Do you have everything for your spell?”

“Yeah, I have more than enough.” She was still beaming over her new power.

“Then I guess we should all get going,” Gemma said, the electricity picking up with her anxiousness.

We all sat there, afraid to move. It was a moment of silence that could be felt around the world, as if time actually stopped for a brief second to take it all in.

Aislin stood first and Laylen followed her lead. “Do we go all at once?” Laylen asked.

“Alex and I were outside in the vision, so yeah, I think we go all at once.” Gemma trailed over to the corner armoire and took a cellphone out of the drawer.

“Where did you get that?” I asked.

“We found it in the house after you left. I think it was Sophia’s.” She opened it and held the power button down. “We kept it around in case of an emergency.” 223

“And this is an emergency?” I took the phone from her as it clicked on.

“It’s how we’re going to bring Stephan out of the house,” she replied, staring off into emptiness.

“With a phone?” I cocked an eyebrow and then shrugged, stuffing the phone into my pocket.

“You ready?”

She nodded, squeezing her eyes tight as if she were trying to crush this moment from her mind. She began to cry as Laylen stood up and hugged her tight.

“Bye,” she whispered, her hands unsteady as she clutched onto him for dear life. “And remember what I said.”

Laylen’s expression was raw pain. But when they broke away from each other, the look was gone. Gemma turned to Aislin, not sure what to do. But I knew what would happen, because Aislin was Aislin. She grabbed Gemma, crying like she always did, even though she knew the outcome.

Gemma looked awkward with the whole thing, but gave it her best. Aislin finally released her and Gemma took my hand, our fingers intertwining, sparks going crazy, begging us not to touch. But we didn’t care anymore. Our time together was up. The star would soon be dead.

And the world would move on.

“Ready for this?” she asked.

“I’ve been ready for this for forever.”

She didn’t catch my meaning, grasping onto my hand, and closing her eyes.

But I’d meant what I’d said. I had been waiting for this day forever.

Because today was the day I was finally going to save her.

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Chapter 45

(Gemma)

Saying good-bye to Laylen was the second hardest thing I’d ever had to do. The first was just around the corner. And that was saying bye to Alex.

I Foreseed us to the edge of the lake, right on the shore, our backs to the grey-stoned Keeper’s Castle. I wondered if the Water Faeries were down there, watching us from beneath the water, wishing we’d fall in so they could torture us.

Everything seemed clear now; clearer than it had ever been for me. My head had always been so packed with thoughts and worries. But they were all gone now. The answers were right in front of me.

Well, almost.

I turned in a circle. “I don’t think we’re in the right spot.” He gazed around, scratching his head. “Where are we supposed to be then?” I pointed at the trees. “Well, all of them came from there, but right now they’re in the castle.” He kicked a rock into the lake and the water rippled. “We should have had you see the whole vision then.”

“No, we shouldn’t have.” My eyes took in the trees. Then I shut my eyes and breathed in the air. “You feel that…” My eyes opened. “The Death Walkers.”

“That was really creepy,” he said, forcing a light tone. “It’s like you smelled them or something.”

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“No, I just felt the cold air.”

My eyes lingered on the castle, the electricity warming up, preparing itself for the end. The grass was kissed with morning dew, the sun barely breaking.

He stared at the other side of the lake and then he took off, dragging me with him.

“What are you doing?” I stammered, tripping over rocks and twigs.

“Making this right.” He dodged us around a large tree. “You said they came from the trees. So we will see them coming and have enough time.”

We ran by our hideout, the violet bush flitting away from my sight as we raced farther into the forest. I stamped the picture in my head, wanting to take it with me forever: two kids, pressing hands tight, promising to be together forever.

Little did they understand that their time would be short and precious. That their forever was merely a glitch in time.

We walked the half circle around the lake, breaking from the forest edge and out into the open. The lake stretched between us and the castle.

“This works?” He pointed at the castle. “We can see when they’re coming.”

“I think so.” I memorized the trees, the water, the sun hiding behind the clouds.

He took the phone out of his pocket. “What did I say when I called?”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “I guess that’s up to you.”

He dialed the number and put the phone to his ear. It rang and rang and rang and then I heard the muffled “what.”

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“Look out your window.” He paused, raising his hand and flipping his father off. “If you want us, come get us asshole.” Then he snapped the phone shut.

“That was your final words to him?” I questioned, my breath and heart erratic.

He chucked the phone into the lake. “Yep, that’s all I had to say.” Suddenly everything moved fast like flickers of lightning bolts flashing across the sky. They barreled out the front door of the castle, their cloaks blowing behind them as they froze the land over.