28. Sammie

CHAPTER 28

SAMMIE

W arm, endless white light surrounds where I stand. Nothingness fills every sense. No touch of the cold breeze from a heartbeat earlier. No sounds of Lewis by my side. No sounds at all. No tang of blood, snow, and desperation. I take a tentative step. It echoes through the space. I freeze, not knowing if walking—or any movement, for that matter—is a good idea.

"Sammie."

My breath stops. A yearning in my center turns to warmth, and I spin back. "Grandma?"

She is standing in her favorite button-down blouse and long forest green skirt, her grey hair twisted and pinned up. Her kind eyes connect with mine, a soft smile pulling over her face. Heat prickles behind my eyes. I slap a hand to my mouth, and she extends her arms to me.

I close the space between us, and she wraps me in a tight hug as sobs spill from my throat. She rubs my back, the way she always did when I was upset as a little girl. I compose myself. Whatever this is, I am not wasting the chance to see her again with self-pity. I push back, holding her at arm's length. "How is this possible?"

"This is limbo, sweet girl."

"You have been in limbo all these years?"

I look around. The place is the definition of nothing. Like somewhere insanity would go and thrive.

"No, I haven't been here since I left you."

"Then why are you here now?"

She brushes my cheek with the back of her hand, and her chin wobbles. "I'm here for you."

"What?"

"This is the place souls go when they have not decided a final destination."

"Oh."

So, I'm dead.

I lose my hold on her as my legs give out on me. She kneels in front of me and tilts her head. "You did it, Sammie. You broke that heinous woman's curse on that poor boy. I am so proud of you, honey."

"Lewis is okay?" I choke out.

"Lewis is fine. You are one powerful witch, my girl."

I huff out a breath. So much for power—I still ended up dead. When Lewis gets here, he will kill me all over again. I huff a strangled laugh. "What happens now?"

She holds my chin with her thin hand. "Now, you choose."

"What, like heaven or hell?"

A laugh vibrates in her chest, and she shakes her head. "No, sweetness, you can choose to rest or to live." She nods her head, eyes sparkling with pure love and wonder. I place my hands on her shoulders and press my forehead to hers. I don't want to leave Lewis, my family, or Serena. I still have so much left to do. So many things to experience and places to explore.

"I know you do, darling."

She heard me. I lean back.

"Yes, I did." She smiles, crinkling her nose.

"How?"

"I have always had the gift of hearing other's thoughts when they are close. The thoughts of those I love dearly come through the loudest."

"I never knew . . ."

"We all have different gifts. Yours appear to be strictly elemental. But believe me, your powers are like nothing we have seen for centuries. A witch who can command and survive all four elements at once is not only rare, it's almost impossible. Don't let people take advantage of you, Sammie girl."

"I won't."

"Right, now you are up to date. It's time."

"Time to choose?"

She nods.

As much as I want to get back, I don't want to leave her. We have been living without her for over a decade, and it has felt like a part of our souls is missing.

"I miss you, Grandma; we all do."

"I know my sweet girl, but I made a choice and I had to accept the consequences."

"What was your choice?"

She is quiet for a moment; I can see the indecision in her eyes. Looking at me squarely, she grabs my shoulders. "You must know, this was my choice, and nobody else is to blame for the outcome."

I nod and try to steady my breath.

"I tried to help your Lewis. It is what I was doing when my magic became too much for me. I was not able to harness all four elements as you did. Three was a stretch, but I didn't want to give up. That poor boy had been hounded by that despicable witch for centuries. If I could stop her, I would. As it turns out, not only was I unable to cure his curse, my powers imploded on me. That was the last day I practiced. I wish I could have helped him. I wasn't strong enough."

She stares into the white void. I open my mouth to say something, anything, but nothing comes. She was trying to save Lewis when she died.

Holy Goddess . . .

No wonder he was so reluctant to let me try. He watched her die. There is no doubt he knew my connection to her. I sob and fall into her chest. She rubs my back, her hands circling through swirling motions. All this time, I thought he was being stubborn. He was protecting me, again. Trying to protect me from the knowledge of how my grandma died.

She had died helping a sworn enemy to witches. The depth of her kindness has always been known, but now I truly understand what it is to wield a power no other can match. It is to serve those who need to be served, defended, or protected. It is so much bigger than vampires and witches. Enemies and friends. If only the world would think like my grandmother had. Imagine the effect of unfiltered kindness.

"Sammie, you can choose whichever way you want to go. It is yours to make, no other's."

For a moment, the space of one heartbeat, I wonder what it would be like to stay here with her. To be in a space where kindness trumps everything else. To be in heaven with my grandma.

To never want. Never feel fear, sadness, overwhelm, annoyance, anger, or jealousy. To be at peace. No more bad witch, good witch. No more putting other people at risk because of who I am or who I love. Lewis would be safe. Serena would be free of her burden.

But how do I say goodbye to my parents and Jackson?

How do I leave my mate? We just found each other.

I ponder both ways.

Every thought is heavy. Too heavy.

"Sammie?"

I look up at the face I have loved all my life. Her eyes search mine.

I step closer to her. "I have made my decision."

She kisses my cheek.

Tears fall, burning their way down my skin.

Her thumb wipes them away, and she tilts her head, offering a soft smile. "Good."

I close my eyes and step into her space. Her lips press to my forehead.

"I love you, my girl."

"I love you, too, Grandma."

She releases my arms, and I smile, letting warmth spool from my center outwards. The whiteness brightens before crumbling to darkness.

I suck in a sharp breath.

I know in my heart I made the right choice.

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