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A soul-crushing weight pressed down on me as her face flitted through my head. Guilt bubbled in my chest at the thought of leaving her behind. She’d already had to deal with the devastation of losing my dad too early. Could I really even consider abandoning her?
It probably made me a monster for even allowing myself to imagine living a half-life here. It was selfish of me not to consider her.
Theodore waved off my comment casually with one hand, his silver and gold rings glinting in the moonlight. “Those things lose their appeal over time.” His eyes followed the dancing spirits, a look of satisfaction playing out over his features. “Human lives are so short—they’re over before you can fully live it. I’ve never been human, but I’ve watched you all enviously. You have no idea how precious the time you have is until it’s taken from you. It never fails. Souls will beg andbegto go back. They promise me that they’ll change their lives for the better, but only when they gaze upon the horrors that wait for them beyond the mirror.”
I studied his profile, running my eyes along the dips and hollows of that strange skeleton façade. It wasn’t a mask, nor was it face paint. It really seemed like it was a part of his skin, as if some inner light was glowing beneath the surface. If I was being honest with myself, and I rarely was these days, I might even say he was beautiful. In some kind of morbid, macabre way, I couldn’t help but find myself…attracted. I shook my head as he turned to face me again, flicking my eyes to the side to avoid his.
Theodore chuckled, the sound deep and throaty. “You’re rather fascinating, you know,” he said as he reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. His touch was ice cold tonight, but it felt nice. I met his eyes. They were all black again, the stars shining in them. “For a mortal,” he added.
I pinned him with a look. “Somehow I don’t thinkfascinatingis the right word.” More like hopeless, lost, confused and pissed off.
“You’re just proving my point and you don’t even know it,” he said with a teasing chuckle. “You’re fascinating to me because you place so much value on a life that never once served you the way it ought to have. You’re fascinating to me because even though I can offer you a taste of immortality, you can’t help but to put others needs before your own desires.”
I blinked at him, stunned, unable to formulate a response. Did he really think that of me?
“You’re thinking of your grandmother,” he said, running the back of his finger over my cheek. I tried not to squirm under his touch, wondering why he suddenly felt the need to do so without hesitation. His expression softened into something resembling sympathy.
“I’m not going to even ask how you knew that, because I probably don’t want to know.” I sighed, my shoulders drooping. Bael’s fiddle slowed into a somber song, hauntingly low and shrill at the shame time. “I don’t know if I can leave her.” My voice was more of a whisper, but I knew he could hear me just fine. Bael probably could too.
I got the distinct feeling that the two of them knew exactly what they were doing. They were performing a well choreographed dance, and I was the unsuspecting partner.
“Why don’t we pay her a visit then, and you can ask her how she feels about this yourself?” he suggested.
I jolted in shock, blinking up at him, not quite understanding. “What are you talking about, Theodore? That’s impossible—” The last time I’d seen grandma Anne, I’d been dreaming—or I thought I was dreaming. It was hard to tell what was real anymore. But if I really was stuck in the purgatory, how could I see her?
“I am the spirit of the crossroads, Moria. She’s an experienced and powerful mambo,” Theodore said, cutting off my wild train of thought. Pinching my chin lightly, he made me look at him. “Take some time to consider my offer. As you know, time passes slowly enough in the mortal world that your body still has yet to cool.”
I stared into Theodore's hypnotic eyes, feeling his breath on my face. I knew that he was a divine being with unimaginable powers and the ability to manipulate me in ways no mortal could, but somehow I knew he wasn’t manipulating me at all.
“You scare me,” I said. Our faces were so close as he ran the pads of his fingers down my cheek languidly.
“Good,” he said, his full lips tilting up on one side. I could just barely see the texture of his dark skin under the glowing skull. “You’d be reckless not to fear me.”
“But you won’t hurt me, will you.” It wasn’t a question. I already knew the answer down into my bones.
Cupping my cheek with his large palm, he held me in place as he brought his face closer to mine, until our lips were softly brushing. I held my breath, my heart hammering, even though I knew it was a figment of my imagination. I had no real pulse here. I had no blood or breath or any of those things that created life. But I could feel all of it a thousand times stronger than I ever had before.
“I won’t hurt you. Nor will I allow anyone else to hurt you ever again,” he growled lowly, before pressing his lips to mine with force.
As our lips met, a spark was ignited between us and I was engulfed in internal flames. His hands were firm as they traveled up and down my back before cupping my head in his palms. Our tongues entwined until I felt like I was drowning in the intensity of his kiss. Suddenly, all of my senses were heightened, and I could feel every point of contact between our bodies.
I knew nothing about what being with Theodore or Bael, or both of them, would entail or what it might do to me, but for now, all I could feel was pleasure.
I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck, pulling him closer to me, just as Bael’s fiddle picked up speed. The melody was sharp, intense and frantic, and I could feel him watching us like a physical brand on my skin.
Theodore’s hands inched lower and I gasped as he grabbed onto my waist with a possessive strength. The spirit of the crossroads kissed me with passion and fury, and it was utterly intoxicating and slightly taboo. This wasMet Kalfou. An immortal spirit that reigned over the afterlife, feared by so many back home. This was the reaper, the gate keeper, the jailer of souls. And yet he devoured me as if I was the last meal he’d ever have, and he planned on savoring ever morsel.
As we broke the kiss, he pressed his forehead against mine, looking deep into my eyes. “You belong to me now,” he said softly. As quickly as it started, Theodore pulled away from me leaving us both gasping for air. "Take your time to think Moria." He said quietly before disappearing into thin air leaving no trace behind except for the lingering warmth from his touch on my skin which left an impression deeper than anything else ever had.
Idragged on my clothes as I emerged from my second long nap, my head still groggy. As I finished dressing, a small slip of paper flitted across the room and came to rest under the door that led outside. It had been hours since Bael had left me at my wagon with a gentle kiss goodbye and a knowing wink that sent something tumbling through my insides. But now I wasn't sure if I was glad or disappointed that he hadn't stayed.
Tentatively picking up the paper, I scanned it for any signs of writing. Nothing. It was all blank and lifeless. I had almost tossed it away when a glimmer of gold caught my eye. The script came alive, as if something or someone was writing in real time.
Come play with us…
There was no name and no signature, but I had a feeling it was from Ellie. In place of the three little dots were tiny golden hearts, and the scrawl was a bit old school. A smile tugged at my lips.
I dressed quickly in a gauzy dress the color of roses that showed off a lot of bare skin, leaving my hair down, my long coppery curls falling down my back. I didn’t have any shoes, so I left barefoot.
