Tessa has a secret--one that draws the unwanted attention of a hidden world beyond our own. When an innocent game turns deadly, she's guilt-ridden, determined to set things right for the guy she loves. But can she save his soul before time runs out...
Thanks for all your messages demanding more! I will continue to write this story between my updates on The Dream Weaver/Traveler series. Hope you like the latest installment. Thanks for reading.
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"Jake!" I wanted to punch him. "What the hell are you still doing here?"
"I—" He paused, pursed his lips and took a deep breath. "Truth is, I couldn't leave you. Not to face..." He looked around at the black gunk covering the ground next to me. "Well, whatever the hell that thing was. No amount of heaven would let me forgive myself if that thing killed you."
Guilt caught in my throat. Jake was a good guy, maybe one of the best I'd ever known. He'd given up heaven to make sure I'd be safe and here I was yelling at him. My eyes burned, and I tried to swallow.
God, I wish I'd stayed home tonight. Then none of this would have happened. Jake not only paid once for my mistake—but twice. Right now I felt like the worst person that ever existed.
"Sorry— You should never have been here..." I gestured to the barren surroundings of the underworld. I pushed myself to my feet and winced at the pain radiating from the burnt section of my leg. "And here you are, dealing with my garbage."
Before sheathing my sword, I wiped the flat side of the blade against the black goo on my leg and watched it evaporate. Unfortunately, it did nothing for the blistering acid burn the goo had already made. Geez, isn't this the day that keeps on giving.
"Oh God, that looks bad." Jake stared at my leg as I limped toward him.
Of course, he'd be worried about me, even after everything. I glanced at the ground and wiped my eyes.
"Come on," I said, turning to face the way we'd come. I kept my eyes on the path, hoping he hadn't seen the tears brewing.
"What's the plan now? You know—for me?"
The plan? Good point, we needed a plan. It wasn't like there was a necromancer manual or anything, but maybe there was something in the notes and journals my father left me. I wouldn't know. I still hadn't gotten past the first few pages. Every time I started, the memory of him would overtake me, and I'd put them back in the box. Currently, they were under my bed collecting dust.
"I guess I'll have to face the demon in my dorm room," I mumbled and zipped my hoodie.
"No offense, but I think I've had my fill of demons for a lifetime." He started to laugh. "A lifetime... That's funny, especially now, huh?"
"You're taking this well."
Jake shrugged and slipped his arm under my shoulder, letting me use him as a crutch. "I always feel better after a good joke. Don't you?"
I nodded. "And here I thought I was supposed to look after you." I limped forward and gritted my teeth trying to take my mind off the pain.
He chuckled, and I looked up to see him smile. "And how's that working for ya?" he asked, nudging me with his elbow.
