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“No, I’m sorry, but I’ve never entered the Netherworld, and I’m afraid of what will happen if I do. I don’t want to get stuck there.”
“And you know this will happen?”
“That’s the thing, I’ve never met a ghost who has gone past the gateway, then returned.” Her gaze filled with concern. “I’m sorry, Tess. Really, I am. But
without knowing if I can come back, I can’t chance it.”
My chin quivered as reality settled in, body trembled, and my voice was a harsh whisper. “Why would he be there?”
“I don’t know.” She lowered her arms and clasped them in front of her. “I don’t understand why anyone would go there. If he was looking for a moment’s peace that place wouldn’t be it.”
I considered all this, but failed to get a grip on it. “Would he go there because he wants to cross over and is trying to find a way?”
“I don’t see how. The Netherworld is just the place between here and beyond. It’s not a desired state.” She squeezed her eyes shut and moaned. “Why would anyone choose a place that’s without loved ones, yet not wish to find eternal peace either?”
“Kipp apparently,” I whispered under my breath.
“There are things to that world that I don’t even understand and don’t want to. But I’d think he’s there for a reason. No one goes there just to go there.”
But a ghost who was angry at the world would. “Can you get a sense of what he’s feeling there?” Energies were strong. That much I now believed.
“He didn’t feel angry.”
“At all?”
“Not from what I felt,” she replied, seemingly sure of herself. “When I touched his soul I only experienced a deep determination from him.”
It should’ve made me happy to hear he wasn’t angry. It didn’t. Maybe Kipp’s determination was more so because he chose to no longer be with me. The truth of all this sank in deep. I gripped my middle and didn’t restrain my tears to release the horrific feeling inside.
“Don’t cry.” Holly stepped forward, reaching out for me, but of course pulled her hand away since it was a useless action. “I wish I could do something. You’re doing so much for us. But I’m afraid I can’t.”
“He left me?” I couldn’t even begin to accept this. He was gone. How? Why? I sank to my knees, dropped my head into my hands and cried. “Not like this. How could he leave like this?”
“Tell me what I can do to help you?”
I shook my head in my hands sending more tears to drip onto my palms. After a hard sob, I finally peeked up at her. “There’s nothing you can do.”
Worry crossed her face. “I…” At her pause, I waved her on. “I don’t want to scare you, but I want to be honest.“
What more could she say to break my heart? “Tell me.”
“If he stays even near the gateway for too long—let alone go into the Netherworld—he’ll be stuck and won’t be able to come back.” At my sheer panic that had no doubt crossed my features, she added, “I’m sure he knows this since it’s kinda common knowledge.”
I wondered how she was so confident since she’d said she didn’t know much about the Netherworld, but right now I only cared about getting Kipp home. The rest I could figure out later. “Do you know how long he has?”
“For everyone it’s different. Because I’ve been around for so long, the time I can spend there has decreased. I have an hour or so, and nothing more. But newer ghosts are granted longer stays because I think it’s understood they’re confused and need to sort things out.”
I tried to let that sink in, but asked the only question that really mattered. “So, he has time?”
“I suspect he does.”
I wiped my tears and realized I shouldn’t be having a breakdown in front of a ghost. She had enough pain and confusion to deal with without adding mine into the mix. I stood, on shaky feet, and pulled myself together. “Thank you for coming to tell me.”
She smiled, full of compassion. “If you need anything please come and ask. Good luck with the demon and I hope it all goes well.” Then, poof, she was gone.
I blinked once before the world spun around me. I sank to my knees again, and placed my hands on the ground. I gasped, forced the sob away, but then it broke free. From the day Kipp entered my life, he’d been there, always near me. I’d grown used to it.
I closed my eyes engulfed with emptiness. He’d come back. He had to. He loved me and that was surely enough to get him to see reason.
