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“Raven,” Jayce breathes out her name like a prayer. “You’re okay.”
“I am,” she says before tears start falling.
Eli drops down on her opposite side from Jayce, flanking her. It’s easy to see how they’re meant to be together. I’m just going to get in the way.
“Hey, hey, hey,” Eli soothes her. “What’s this about?” He swipes the tears from her face and from the panic on his own, he hasn’t seen her like this before.
“There’s a strange connection between us that I can’t explain,” she starts, staring down at her lap, twisting her fingers in the hem of her shirt. “I’ve been meaning to say something but what would have been the point? He was a ghost and I’m alive. Nothing could have happened. But when he’s close, there’s this pull to him that is hard to ignore.”
“Of course, there is,” Jayce says so casually we all freeze. He holds up his hands like he knows we’re all questioning his sanity. “Listen. There’s no such thing as a coincidence. Raven looking just like Iris? I’m not one to believe in legends, but soulmates are something notated all throughout mythology. There were whole goddesses dedicated to it. I’ve seen enough in the last few weeks to know damn well that things aren’t as simple as I always thought.”
“But I kissed him,” she argues. My heart aches for her. I know this is on me, that I leaned in for her when I should have left. But it was like I was under a spell, unable to resist.
“And you brought a ghost back to life,” Jayce says, pointing to me. “Look. He’s sweating, panicked, those are emotions of the living.”
“So, you think this was meant to be all along? A second chance?” Eli asks, giving the words swirling around in my head a voice.
“Of course, it was,” Jayce said, pointing at Raven. “You are telling me that she is an exact replica of Iris for no reason? That you haven’t considered how strange this is, how of all the hauntings in this town, we ended up on Wolf’s doorstep?”
“I have,” Eli admits.
“I’m sorry,” Raven says quietly. “I would never try to hurt you guys like this.”
“Raven, I know,” Jayce tells her softly. “We get it. And I don’t think you can ignore this connection with him any more than we could ignore the connection we have with you. You have a way of drawing people in and no matter how I turn this over in my own head…it feels right. I can’t tell you how I’m accepting this so easily, other than it makes sense.”
“I wasn’t even that shocked to see the man alive,” Eli agrees with a humorless laugh. “Our life is fucked up.”
“Lucien?” Raven’s voice cuts through the state of shock I’m in and I blink a few times to put myself back in the present. It’s hard to process. I went from floating around with no mass to feeling the heart beating in my chest. My mind can’t make sense of the fact I have a skeleton rotting in a grave yet I can walk over to the woman calling out to me. “Are you okay?”
“Hey, man, you look like you’re going to get sick,” Jayce adds, grabbing a waste basket and pushing it into my hands. Soon, all three of them are around me, offering me a bottle of water as I dry heave.
“This is a panic attack,” Eli says. “I’ve dealt with them. Lucien, listen to me, focus on the room around you. Name five things you see. Ground yourself. And take steady breaths.”
It sounds strange but I do as he asks, forcing my lungs to comply as I scan the room. Everything is so much more vibrant on this side of the veil. Smells, sounds, colors, it’s all so intense.
First, I find the beads she was using, the oranges and reds bright and reflecting in the desk light she has over them.
Second, my gaze stops on the window, the afternoon sun dipping below the horizon painting the sky in the same hues as her beads.
Third, is the feel of clothes clinging to my body. It’s not exactly what he was getting at with five things in the room, but it’s so strange and intense I can’t help but use it.
Fourth, I’m drawn to the painting on the wall. It’s a dark forest with a moon shining brightly above it, casting a glow over the whole thing. Whoever painted it was talented.
Fifth, I finally look at the girl who changed it all. Her face is different, no mistaking her as Iris. No. Raven is her own person. A kind soul with a sarcastic exterior. She’s funny and sweet, all mixed into one. The kind of person who grabs your attention without trying yet doesn’t know how breathtaking she is. Even the dark clothes and makeup she wears add to her beauty.
“There you are,” she smiles at me, her hazel eyes soft as her hand touches my cheek. Her skin is so soft, the touch gentle, it has goosebumps breaking out over my skin.
“How is this possible?” I breathe out as I fight for words. “I’m wearing the same outfit I was buried in, yet I’m alive.”
“It’s called a second chance. We’ll figure it out, Lucien,” she promises. And instead of reasoning it out a million times like I would have before, I choose to believe her. Because now that I have her, that I have a body, a life, I won’t waste it with simple worries. If I’ve learned anything it’s that life is fleeting and I will enjoy every second of this new one.
“Well, first things first. Let’s get you some clothes from this decade.” Eli laughs and pats me on the shoulder. My chest warms at their welcoming reception. I’d expected anger and fear, but there’s none. I just can’t figure out why they are being so nice to me. Raven just admitted that we kissed and they didn’t want to kick me out.
“Come on, Wolf. Between Eli and I, we should have something that will fit.”
“What about Raven? Shouldn’t we take her to get checked out or something?”
“Lucien, I’m fine. Really. I think the kiss and you coming to life took more out of me than I expected. That scryer said that you were getting power from me and now we know why. I was meant to bring you back. Now we have to get Stella back to Hell where she belongs.”
