The Promise (23 page)

This is what I wanted to show you,

she said, her voice shaking. She cleared her throat.

Okay. It s &nice.

Was I missing something?

She frowned, disappointed.

It s nice? That s all you have to say?

It s a candle.

I shrugged.

What do you want me to say?

She bit at her lip, biting back a smile.

No, it s so much more than a candle.

Chapter 41

(Gemma)

So what is it then?

he asked, unaware of the importance of this moment.

It s a candle,

I stated.

He rolled his eyes and the corners of his mouth quirked up.

Obviously, Gemma. But what s so special about it.

He took the small rainbow candle from my hand.

I grabbed a lighter off my desk and flicked it open.

A witch gave it to me.

I didn t bother mentioning what I d given up to get the candle. Without my locket, my neck felt bare and exposed, just like my emotions did now.

It s a Power of Entrapment candle. I got it from the Black Magic place.

He was already shaking his head.

We re not using anything that came from a black magic place. It s too dangerous.

We already did,

I pointed out.

We used a whole bunch of stuff, so Aislin could remove my wings.

His eyes moved to my wingless back.

Yeah, but that was an emergency.

So s this candle,

I said, knowing I was stretching it on the emergency part.

Okay. Do you want to tell me what it does? Maybe then I can decide for myself whether we want to use it for whatever you re thinking.

I was thinking a lot. At that moment, millions of images flooded my mind, some real, some made up.

It s supposed to trap the power of a witch in her body, at least while the wick burns.

So you want to use it on Aislin or something?

He asked, utterly baffled.

Because I think that might be a little harsh.

God, did I have to spell it out for him.

I want to

My voice squeaked and I pretended to cough.

I want to use it to trap our power in our bodies.

I saw it register in his eyes, like a curtain opening.

How d you get it?

He pinched the wick.

I told you, at the witch store.

I know, but it seems like something that would come at a big price.

I shrugged, forcing down the lump in my throat.

Only dollars from my pocket.

He turned the candle upside down.

And how do we know it works? How do we know it s not going to kill us?

My hand shook as I flicked the lighter.

Only one way to find out. Are you in?

He stared me down, his expression never wavering.

I m in.

Suspending the lighter over the wick, my hand shook as I lit it. Then I jerked back quickly, hoping it wouldn t explode. We held our breaths as the wick burned bright. There was no magical sparks, no enchanting noises or special effects. There was only silence. And the beating of our hearts.

And just like it was supposed to, the electricity of the star sizzled out, momentarily preserved inside each of us, unable to connect.

But it would only be like this momentarily. Like most good things are, as quick as a breath, or a skip of a heartbeat, as swift as our lives would leave us, it would burn out, just like us.

But right now I didn t care. Right now, I only cared about one thing.

As soon as the wicks gone, it ll stop,

I said.

The electricity will come back.

He nodded, bright green eyes hypnotized by the flame.

I know.

Then we locked eyes, taking in the silence, thinking of the possibilities.

***

This is for Keeps

by Spill Canvas poured from the speakers. The room was dark, night shading the outside. The stars twinkled brightly through my bedroom window. I was lying on my back, Alex leaning over me, his heart knocking against my chest as he kissed the tip of my ear.

This songs good,

he whispered.

I think it might be about immortality or something,

I muttered, my eyelids fluttering as he kissed my neck.

He jerked back slightly.

Where s your necklace?

My hand touched the hollow of my neck.

I lost it. I think the hook broke or something.

I m sorry,

he said and then stole another kiss from my lips, which were already swollen from the many other kisses he d stolen within the last hour. Then he slid to my side, eyes watching me with intensity.

What?

I asked.

Why are you looking at me like that?

He shrugged.

It s nothing.

He followed my gaze as he rolled on his back and took my hand.

Still fascinated with them?

The stars?

I shook my head.

No, I was just thinking about something, that s all.

Care to share your thoughts?

He cocked an eyebrow as he propped up on his elbow.

I was thinking about death,

I began and he immediately frowned.

And about life, and wondering where it will go.

Where what will go?

The star. After this is all over.

My eyes were fixated on the stars, shimmering and twinkling. It wasn t there anymore. That pull. Instead it was like a push, like the star was the one holding me down.

Will it go back up there? Or will it just be gone?

He didn t speak and I figured he didn t like where the conversation was heading.

Did you know that Gemma is an actual star?

Obviously,

I rolled my eyes.

No, Gemma, also known as Alphecca, is part of the constellation Corona Borealis.

He traced my lip with his finger.

How did I not know this?

I wondered, rubbing my lips together.

Because there are a ton of constellations and an endless amount of stars.

But you know.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and ran my fingers up his back, trying not to smile as he shivered.

What d you do? Google it or something?

He shot me a look like that was the most ridiculous thing he d ever heard.

No, I didn t Google it.

The song switched to

Here by Me

by 3 Doors Down.

You just know all this then?

I asked.

He nodded and then winked at me.

Haven t you figured out I know everything.

He was joking, but I still couldn t help but think how very wrong he was. There was something he didn t know and would never know.

Because I would never tell him.

Chapter 42

(Alex)

We never left the floor, not wanting to move, afraid the candle might burn out with the slightest shift of our bodies. I kissed her until her eyes shut, until she finally fell asleep in my arms, breathing softly, dreaming of dreams I hoped were good.

The song switched to Spill Canvas s

Lullaby,

as the last of the wick struggled to stay lit. I couldn t seem to take my eyes off it as it slowly lost the last of its light. How could we just die? Forget my life, it didn t matter without her beside me. How could I let her die? How could this moment be her one and only moment where she knew something was real? This wasn t how this was supposed to work out. There had to be more.

It was like an epiphany had slapped me across the head and woke me up from a trance. The answer had been staring me in the face for the last few days. My mother had said it; that everything happened for a reason.

She was right.

I slowly rolled over and stood to my feet, watching the candle die. My skin erupted with heat and I knew I had to move fast. I bent down, giving her one last kiss on the cheek and she breathed from the sparks, but didn t wake.

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 announced to Aislin as I entered the living room.

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

Did 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 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.

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.