17. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

SERA

Below me looms The Valley of Souls, and I'm struck first by the eerie, sickly atmosphere.

The landscape is both haunting and unsettling, shrouded in a thin, toxic mist that clings to everything like a ghostly poison.

Twisted, dying trees line the valley, their branches reaching out like skeletal fingers toward us.

The stench of rot hangs in the air, and the ground appears to be covered in decaying vegetation of some kind.

"Almaberries," Ender supplies, answering my thought.

I hum, noting that the vibrant orange now is a disgusting brown.

"Where do you get fresh ones?"

"I have one tree warded, but the wards are weakening. It might not even be intact anymore since I last visited."

We descend into the valley, and that's when I see the souls.

Restless and translucent, they drift around aimlessly.

They move with a sorrowful grace, their forms flickering like dying embers.

Some appear almost human, their features etched with anguish, while others are mere wisps of light, barely holding together.

The sickly light of the valley makes their suffering even more palpable, casting a grim pallor over everything.

A whirlwind of emotions threatens to overwhelm me.

Where is my aunt?!

"This way," Ender answers my panicked thought.

He takes my hand, leading me to a part of the valley that isn't covered in putrid fruit.

One soul sits by herself, her head down, as if in contemplation.

"Denine!" I cry, and her head shoots up.

"Sera!"

She tries to hug me, but that's the thing about souls—they aren't exactly corporeal.

It's the sentiment that counts, but what I wouldn't give to feel her arms around me again.

"Ender promised to bring you to me."

"Sorry it's taken so long!"

"No worries, dearie. Souls don't really notice the passing of time."

This just makes me feel worse—like I've failed her, somehow.

"Have you been waiting on me before you cross?"

"Yes, you're my unfinished business. Ender told me you would be coming to this realm for a while, and I was done with Earth. The human form is so tedious when you're ancient."

"You make old age sound so fun."

"It's horrible!" she gasps, ignoring my sarcasm. "I mean, sometimes it's fun, especially when I would pretend to forget my meds."

"I see you're still a menace."

"Always."

"Are you going to join Franny?"

"Can't—something's keeping me tethered here still, I can feel it."

My heart sinks because if I had to hazard a guess, I'm the reason my aunt can't go to The Beyond.

"It's me. I'm keeping you here, I think. I'm so sorry."

"Don't be sorry. The Veil isn't so bad."

I snort. "It's collapsing."

"Pardon?" she squawks as Ender shushes me.

"Do you want a soul uprising," he hisses.

"No, but Denine needs to know!"

"That's right. I might be a soul, but I'm not useless. Actually, scratch that—I am useless, but I can offer my wisdom after living many Earth years in a wrinkly old lady's body."

"See?"

Ender looks exasperated. "Fine. She knows, now keep it down."

"And what do you two plan to do about this collapse?"

"I'm thinking of a plan—"

"Nothing. She's planning nothing because she can't do anything. As an Erlking, I'm privy to the future. Sera can't seem to accept that I know what's coming is inevitable, and she can't change it."

"May I have a moment to speak with Seraphine alone?"

Ender looks undecided before nodding his head and drifting away.

The second he's out of earshot, I spill all the details to my aunt, who doesn't seem at all fazed that Ender freaking kidnapped me.

"It's very dashing of him, isn't it?"

I roll my eyes. "This isn't a romance novel. Kidnapping is illegal for a reason."

"On Earth. Probably not here in The Veil. And did you know that Scotsmen used to kidnap their brides?"

"You mean when women didn't have any rights?"

"Right. Ok, point taken. Kidnapping aside, you seem to care for Ender, am I right?"

"I do. He's helped me grow a lot over these last few weeks, while he's…deteriorated? I don't know the right word. When I first was brought to The Veil, Ender spoke so eloquently and deeply. Now though, it's like he's holding himself back. Like his inner turmoil is eating away at him. I know he's doing his best to shoulder the impending collapse of the realm on his own, and I'm sure that's taking a toll, too. He says he loves me and that we're mates, but won't let me help and allow us to grow closer."

"Well, of course not—he's a man, isn't he?"

"Er, yes."

"Then that's your answer, dear. Men think they can do everything on their own—especially those with mates. His base instinct is to protect you, not include you. But as we've discussed, Ender isn't a Highlander from the sixteenth century. He's…a bird-man from this century, and as such, should follow his own advice and stop acting childish, despite his past. Maybe it's time you told the poor guy that you love him."

My eyes widen at this suggestion. "Um, well, I'm not quite certain—"

"Sera, you love him. I can tell by the way you talk about him, but you're so afraid someone is going to take him away from you, that you'll always hold yourself back. You did with Franny and me. It took us years to get you to open up, but when you did—what a love. Why are you denying your destiny?"

"I'm not denying it. I'm just not sure."

"Have you tried seducing him again?"

I blush and laugh, knowing Denine is no stranger to the art of seduction.

Memories flood back, and I hear Ender choke some distance away as I think about accidentally walking in on my aunt once with her ‘gentleman friend'.

"No. He works me until I'm too exhausted to move or think. I drop off to sleep the second my head hits the pillow."

"Ooo, he's a crafty one, but he's no match for your feminine wiles. Catch him unawares and then really drive home the moment by telling him how you really feel—that you lo—"

"Yes, yes, shhhh. I get it. Maybe. We'll see. Do you think you can cross now? Maybe you just needed to give me advice?"

Denine closes her eyes, her form wavering for a moment but she doesn't disappear into The Beyond.

"No. Still stuck here."

"Damn. Don't worry. I'll think of something."

"You always do, dear."

"I'll be back tomorrow to visit."

"And I expect to hear all about it!"

I wrinkle my nose. "Ew. I'm not telling you about my sex life."

"Well somebody better. Ghost nooky just isn't a thing. We're not corporeal enough to get off."

"Delightful," I groan, staring up at the sky. "I love you, Denine."

"See? It's not that hard to say it."

It's a good thing she doesn't have a physical body because I might smack her.

I fly over to Ender, who slants me an amused smirk.

"Glad to see your violent tendencies extend to others and not just me."

"Funny. Can we come back tomorrow?"

"After your lessons."

"Are you finally going to teach me how to use my powers?"

"Yes."

"Good. The more I know, the more I can help everyone here."

Ender sighs. "It's a lost cause. Let's go."

I scowl and turn away from him to wave at Denine, but she doesn't see me, lost in the sway of the souls around her.

They look so peaceful, but I know this is their limbo.

"Why can't the souls leave The Veil?" I wonder as we fly back to Ender's house.

"Because they're bound to this realm by their unfinished business or unresolved emotions. This is what prevents them from moving on to The Beyond."

"So The Veil acts as a purgatory of sorts?"

"Yes, but not in a religious sense. And because The Veil is unstable, it exacerbates the souls' entrapment. The environmental pressure from space distorts the boundaries of the realm, making it even more difficult for souls to find the way to cross over. As a result, their very existence is tied to the fate of The Veil."

"And that fate is…"

"To become nonexistent."

I knew this. I knew it the moment Ender explained it this morning, but the finality of it fills me with dread.

What if Denine can't cross over?

Her soul will be lost for all eternity, never to shine its light again.

I have to do something. Franny is waiting for her sister.

And I need to know that someday we'll all be reunited.

"Ender, we have to fix this."

He stops flying and hangs his head. " We can't—I can't, and neither can you. I'm sorry, Sera."

"What can we fix?"

The Teraphim doesn't answer, and I fly over him until my wings brush against his.

"Maybe…maybe we should start by fixing us."

His head whips up when I say this, and my heart jumps to my throat.

Raw need and pain are etched across his face, and sadness fills me.

Ender's not going to bridge the gap between us, but that's alright.

Because I am.