This.
Now.
Gretchen became too emotionally attached and it showed in the misery along her expression. The dark depths in her eyes told me how many moments—just like this one—she’d witnessed. And how every moment she’d ever experienced had haunted her.
To understand why Gretchen had wanted out of the mystical world brought a sense of gratefulness to her that I doubted I’d feel if I hadn’t witnessed this moment. She helped me, when deep down she probably didn’t want to, and that made me appreciate her friendship more than I could possibly put into words.
Alexander finally leaned away from Gretchen. “I always told you, magic would never leave you, and you couldn’t stay away forever.” He smiled. “You’ve done so well, Gretchen.”
More tears now flooded her fa
ce, and she whispered, “Thank you.”
He lowered his hands from Gretchen’s face and with his stare fixated on Amelia, he backed up until he stood in the center of the circle. Loud sobs came from Amelia, and I could see Dane fighting back his own grief.
Lord, it seemed like even Earth mourned, everything was so eerily silent. I sensed Max and Eddie as they stood in behind me. Zach’s hand continued to squeeze mine so tight. But no one moved. No crickets sang. No wind rustled. The world, for these few seconds, seemed to stop.
Gretchen wiped at her face, drew in a deep breath, and straightened her shoulders. She stepped closer to the outside of the circle, and without pause, chanted, “Angels of Protection. Angels who clear. Remove all spirits who don't belong here.”
On the second chant, Alexander smiled as he scanned over each face. “Don’t worry for me, where I’m going…” He glanced up at the starry sky before he looked to us again with no sadness etched into his features, only acceptance. “I’ll be just fine.”
As Gretchen said the chant for the final time, the same bright light that had enveloped Caley when Alexander entered her body once again erupted. I shielded my eyes, looking down at the waving flame of the candle in the wind, knowing only I saw the light.
Then, with a roar of wind blowing out all the candles, I caught the scent of the burnt wick rushing through the air, and then I heard a loud thump. I immediately glanced up and released Zach’s hand at the same time. I squinted and peered through the dark night, when I spotted Caley in the center of the circle, motionless.
“Oh, god.” I ran forward with Zach right next to me. I dropped to my knees at the edge of the circle and I jerked my head toward Gretchen, who had lit a few of the candles again for light. “Can I touch her?”
Gretchen gathered the bowl and took it over to the swamp where she dumped the water in. She murmured a few words, which I took to be thanks for her magic, and then she turned to me and nodded. “The spell is now closed. Go ahead.”
I crawled into the circle and practically jumped on top of Caley, shaking her violently. “Caley, wake up. God, please wake up.”
One shake…two…three…four…five…
My screams at her morphed with Zach’s as he now mirrored the hard shakes on Caley’s body.
When I finally resorted to rolling her from side-to-side, her body slid over the grass that would no doubt leave her clothes grass stained, and finally, a low groan stopped me mid-turn. “I’m going to barf if you keep doing that.”
I exhaled loudly as Caley settled onto her back. Her arms sprawled alongside her, while Zach’s hands were now tight on her legs. After a few more groans from her and the realization she wasn’t about to vomit, I asked, “You okay?”
She opened her eyes, her baby blues sharp with her glare. “Oh yes, I’ve just been possessed. Don’t you know, I’m fucking fabulous!”
Before I had a chance to answer her or feel guilty, Zach had her in his arms, gripping her so tight. I witnessed the effect it had on Caley. Her harsh expression melted away, telling me she had been far more afraid than pissed. Well, for now, until she learned how long I had allowed Alexander to stay in her body.
At the loud relieved breath behind me, I glanced over my shoulder and noticed the solace on Eddie’s and Max’s faces. Then, I looked to Amelia, who remained in Dane’s arms, but appeared to have mastered the art of shielding emotions, too.
She seemed to be holding it together, and considering what she’d been through, I thought she deserved to crumble. Perhaps, though, as I’d done so many times, she waited for privacy to allow her world to fall apart.
Gretchen smiled softly at me, then she looked to my right, and when I followed her gaze, Zach was finally leaning away from Caley. He lowered her to the ground, staring at her with a look of love I’ve seen come from Zach in regards to Caley, many times. “Are you all right?” he asked her.
Caley gave a slow nod, rubbing her forehead. “I feel like I have a wicked hangover, but other than that, yeah, I’m good.”
“After a night’s rest, you’ll feel better,” Gretchen said.
Caley’s mouth parted to respond when Max’s cell phone rang, cutting through the dark night and causing me to startle. Caley laughed, staring at me incredulously. “Shouldn’t I be the jumpy one?”
I chuckled, grasping my chest to keep my heart from exploding out of my chest. “You’re right—you totally deserve to be on edge.” I took her hand, resting on her stomach, and smiled. “Thank you, Caley, for doing what you did.”
“You still owe me.” Her eyes narrowed. “Like, for the rest of your life.” She sat up and looked over my shoulder to Dane and Amelia. “So, did it work? Is the ghost gone?”