Twenty-Six

When we had everything ready and had decided what Jordan would do once his spirit was at the barrier of the world of the living and that of the dead, I found myself doing everything as slowly as I could. Because if Jordan and Justice were still here, then they weren't in danger of being consumed by the wraith.

"I know what you're doing, and I love you, but we need to get going," Jordan said.

"Jordan, I know you're meant to do this, but I don't want to lose either one of you. Just please be careful." There was no other solution other than to stop the wraith before he could cross the veil. Once that happened, he'd continue to get stronger until eventually we wouldn't be able to stop him. We couldn't let that happen.

"Jordan, this is the symbol I want you to use. When you come upon a spirit that the wraith seems to target then you'll want to mark them," Janis said.

"How will we know which spirit the wraith will target?" Justice asked, because now apparently, he was part of the gang and was included in everything. Not that I minded, but it was strange considering he was a ghost. "Is it as simple as it being those that glow brighter?"

"Jordan will know. You mentioned they look different to you, the brighter the more spiritual energy," Janis said.

"Yes, but some were only light—they have no human form," Jordan said.

"Those are spirits that have ascended. They're no longer the spirit of a human, they've moved on and are pure energy. They are power but not the power the wraith is interested in. It wants the spirits who are new to crossing and still have all their human abilities intact because they don't know what's happened to them. They're led to the veil, and they cross over usually without incident, but some aren't ready yet. Those are the ones it's targeting. The ones who still feel the pull to go back to their body and aren't ready to cross the veil."

"I noticed Edith glowed from inside when she first appeared to me there. Her light was very bright compared to some of the other spirits. There were a few others that glowed as brightly as her but not many," Jordan said.

Janis smiled and I knew once again Jordan had figured it out. "You're really good at this," I said, and he blushed.

"I'm not sure about that but I know I can handle it, and I will always come back to you," Jordan said, and brushed his thumb against my cheek.

"And I'll make sure of it," Justice said.

"There are some protections I have for the two of you." I'd used the time we had to read the journal and find what I thought would help them the most. I had chosen the same symbol that Jordan had been marked with when he was at the boundary. "This way I know without a doubt the mark is there, and the link between us is strong." Using the same charcoal paint from before I drew the Merkaba, two interconnected pyramids that would protect him and combine our powers.

"Justice, stay close to Jordan. If you wander too far away from him, you may be tempted to cross over. But if you choose to go then I'll understand," I said. His eyes met mine and I wondered when this wayward spirit had become my friend. I closed my eyes and drew on the part of me that was not completely human.

"Necromancer," Justice whispered, before I reached out my hand and gripped his shoulder.

"I mark you so you will feel the tether that connects your spirit to mine. You will pass through to the land of the dead, but you will also return to the land of the living with Jordan."

"Yes, Necromancer," Justice said. His spirit was under my influence now, and no matter what he may have wanted to say or do, all he was able to do was what I allowed. I hated using this influence over him, but I didn't want to risk him while he was in the spirit realm. "I bind your spirit to Jordan. Your fates are tied together while you're at the boundary, and you will protect each other as you would yourself." Justice nodded. Jordan wasn't under my influence. I would never do that to him. I loved him, and I trusted him to make the best choices he could while he was out of his body.

"We're ready," Jordan said, and Janis helped him get settled where he had before. This time he had different markings and held a vial clenched in one hand. It was strange to imagine he'd be able to carry whatever it was with him, but none of what we could do made any logical sense. He lay down and after Janis had settled the crystals and other items around and on him, he slipped into the deep sleep I now knew was when his spirit was separating from his body.

"Bran." I turned at the sound of my name and was surprised to see both Jordan and Justice standing there. "Don't worry, we'll be back." Justice nodded but didn't speak. Buddy took a step toward them, but with a look from Jordan he walked back over to Jordan's body and settled down next to him.

"Hurry back to me," I said, just as the two of them faded away.

Janis was busy fanning the sage and other herbs that would keep them safe while I sat next to Jordan and took his hand. I'd secured the rope that bound me to him onto my wrist and felt a slight tug but didn't think anything of it other than a sign we were still attached. From this side nothing was visible, but Jordan had said it was a silver thread he could clearly see and feel while he was there. All I cared about was that we were tied together. No matter how far apart, we were still together.