The Promise

He clutched onto my hand. “Breathe, Gemma.”

I sucked in a breath as the sounds of ice and twigs and wind blew around us. Alex said something to me, but his words were just whispers of a language I would soon forget. Tears filled my eyes, but I couldn’t take them off the trees, frozen with icicles, as they marched closer and closer, irreversibly breaking free from the shade of the forest. It was Stephan’s eyes I saw first, cold and deadly, and then Alex regained my focus.

“It will be alright,” he whispered and then he kissed me, like I was the only thing left on this world, like he could finally breathe for the very first time. Like we were one. And I finally realized something, all on my own, without the help of the prickle.

“I love you.” My words carried away in the wind. I didn’t say it because he was perfect or because every time I was with him it was magical. Nothing was perfect and I understood that.

I said it because I was standing here in death and there was no one else I wanted beside me.

“I love you,” he whispered back. “Always have. Always will. Forever.” And those were the magic words, the ones that burned the light free. It was the words that emptied us, but freed us at the same time, along with the star. Its energy smoldered brightly for the very last time and swallowed us with it.

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I saw everything that had been and would never be. I saw my past and a future I’d never know. Every emotion I’d ever felt flashed through me at once: hurt, happiness, pain, love. And then my body sank as my life slipped away and I became one with the earth. The star had expired, saving the world, not ending it. But taking my soul with it.

But I would never forget him. No matter what happened.

Because we were bonded together.

Forever.

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Chapter 46

(Gemma)

Death wasn’t bad. Death was warm and bright and weightless, like air. It was like I’d soared off to the sun, away from my pain, forgetting everything.

Until I heard the Banshee wail and I opened my eyes.

Then I remembered the bargain I’d made with Helena. I’d promised her my soul, handing it to her on a silver platter. To her, it was the best kind of soul. In exchange, Alex would live, continuing on with his life, free from his father and the star.

It might have seemed like a crazy choice, but once Helena spoke it, I knew there wasn’t a choice left. When faced with the option to save everyone and only have to let myself go, I had to pick death. Otherwise I’d never have been able to live with myself.

“And so we meet again.” Helena’s old tattered body was perched in her throne. Her silver eyes were eager, happy to collect my soul.

“And so we do,” I said, stepping onto the red podium, no longer afraid. What was done was done. “So what do I do now? Become your slave? Turn into one of your mummies?” Her lip twitched at my tone. “You do whatever I want you to do.” Then she clapped her hands.

“In fact I have the perfect place for you. You will live inside my ring, close by, where I can always feed off your power.”

“My power’s dead.” I spat. “There’s nothing left inside me.”

“You sound very ungrateful.” She stood to her feet, her twiggy legs wobbling her toward me.

“Must I remind you that this was your choice, you wanted this.” 229

“It was never a choice.” I got in her face, not angry, not calm, not anything. “I did what I had to do.”

She tipped back her crinkled head. “You’re a stupid little girl. And I’m going to eat you up.” She paused with a clever look in her silver eyes. “I think I have a better place for you.” Then she opened her hollow mouth, her breath stinking of a corpse. “You can live inside me.” I stood inert as she breathed me in. I didn’t feel like working up a fight. I felt like my old self, empty and numb emotionless. I shut my eyes, preparing for my real end, hoping I could go into the dark forever.

“Helena.”

My eyes snapped open. Behind the throne was A

Her red lips were pursed, and her silver eyes narrowed.

“Let her go,” A

Helena whirled, her crippled body popping as she stormed for A

A

“You feel that,” A

“She gave it to me!” Helena roared, stomping her foot. “I can take it!”

“You’ve always been so greedy,” A

A

Helena kicked and yanked, like a child. “We had a bargain! We had a bargain!” A

Helena sank to the floor, her head falling into her hands as she wailed.

A

Given the two choices, I took A

“Mom.” I threw my arms around her neck and sobbed. “I thought I’d never see you again.” She smoothed my hair. “Shhh… everything’s going to be okay.” She let me have a moment, let my tears soak her shirt. Then she pulled me away so she could look at me. “Do you know why you’re here?”

I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand and sniffed. “Because I crossed over. I’m essence now.”

She shook her head, her dark hair twirling in the wind. “You’re here because of who you are.”

“Who am I?” I asked. “This is all so confusing.”

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“You’re my daughter, brave and loving. Both are wonderful gifts.”

“I think you’re wrong.” I frowned. “Those don’t sound like me at all.” She smiled delicately. “But they are, Gemma. They really are.”

“Is that why I was freed from Helena?” I tucked my hair behind my ears. “Because I sacrificed my life.”