"We will. And Lia, we made our decision too. The next time the light comes for us, we're going together." Kyle half-smiled.
Ophelia wiped the tears from her eyes. Her friends would be happy, too. That's all she ever wanted for them. That's all Amry ever wanted for any of them. Picking up her little sister, Ophelia clutched Haven close to her chest. Mouthing one last, I love you, to her friends, she and Haven disappeared in the mist.
Alex stepped out of the shower and wrapped himself in a fuzzy towel. The steam on the mirror lay like a thick blanket, and he wiped it away with his hand in a circular motion. Standing in the glass looking back at him was Kyle and Zachary.
Startled, Alex jumped back.
“Not that it’s not great to see you guys, but a little privacy would be nice.”
“Oh yeah, sorry man.” Kyle turned his back toward the mirror.
Zachary followed his lead.
While Alex quickly dried off and slipped on some boxers, sweats, and a t-shirt, they explained how Amry reunited with John, and Ophelia's message to him before she and Haven made their journey home. Alex pushed back the tears trying to escape, before turning around to the guys.
“All done. How are you and Ruby doing?”
Zachary pivoted around. “Her benevolence has won over my uncle and just about everyone she meets. I did not realize how much it affected me when I thought she died. The idea that anyone would sacrifice themselves for me…I was consumed with guilt that had been festering and growing into the ugliness that could have eventually blackened my soul. Exactly what the demons wanted. But her robust approach to everything she does is contagious. She is slowly chipping away at my guilt and replacing it with hope.”
Alex high fived the air.
"You really are a dork, McKenna," Zachary laughed.
"Dork? Where'd you hear that?" Alex grinned.
"Oh. I taught it to him," Kyle said proudly.
“And Spot? Are the students warming to him?”
“Warming to him? They practically fight over who will take care of him when Ruby is busy on campus.”
“Alex. There’s something Bethany wanted me to tell you,” said Kyle. “We’ve decided to take the light when it comes for us. We’re hoping we luck out and you’re right about love goes on and being together.”
“I think Amry and John are proof of that.”
“Yeah man, we were thinking the same thing.”
“I’m so happy for you both.” Alex ran his fingers through his hair.
“Zachary, what about the demons? I mean they gotta still be lurking. Does your uncle think he can do anything about it?”
“He thinks as he has always thought, the lighter, the less darkness, the safer I remain. My powers are growing but they draw from good and that will deem me unattractive for the dwellers of the shadows.”
“Never forget that.”
“I shall not.”
Kyle stepped closer to the rim of the connection, “And you and Margaret? Any new cases since returning home?”
“Thankfully, things have been pretty quiet. Except for annoying little boys who interrupt when I’m talking.” Alex glanced to his left. Jacob, the ghost of a little six-year-old boy who had taken up permanent residence in the La Boccetta house, was tugging at his shirt. “Jacob, this is Kyle and Zachary. Guys, this is the precocious, Jacob O’Reilly.”
“Alex. Alex.” The boy continued to pull on Alex’s t-shirt, stretching it out at the bottom.
“Hey, you’re stretching out my shirt. Give me a few minutes and I’ll call for you.”
“I can’t wait.”
Zachary and Kyle covered their mouths trying to contain their laughter. Alex rolled his eyes. “Thanks guys…you’re so helpful.”
“Okay kiddo, what’s the burning urgency?”
“Are they from the school? The Academy of Souls?” Jacob scooted closer to the vanity and hopped up onto the counter. Sliding closer to the mirror, almost kissing it with his nose. “You guys are, aren’t you?”
“Yup, we go to the Academy, little man.” Kyle grinned.
“Can I go?”
Alex jerked his head toward the boy. “I thought you wanted to go to your parents.”
“I do. But I’m scared to go to the light. You know that, silly Alex. Their school sounds fun.”
“Alex huffed a long breath. “Help me out here guys.”
Zachary spoke softly, “I know it may seem to you like a place you would want to be, and there are many good souls here. However, they are all trying to go home to the light. Jacob, you have nothing to fear about the end of your journey. It sounds to me like you have family waiting, the longer you delay going to them, the sadder they will be. The Academy of Souls is just a place like any other, where we wait to complete our cycle. Why prolong your reunion with your parents just to make another temporary stop?”
The little boy retracted from the mirror and slid down to the floor. Head down, he murmured, “I guess.”
Alex crouched down to eye level with him, “Listen little guy, you can’t leave. I need you. Well, until your light comes again.”
“You do?” His eyes grew wide.
“Of course, I do. Look how many times you helped? What about Kyle from school?”
Kyle opened his mouth to speak but Alex put up a hand, “Different Kyle.”
“Oh, right on.”
“That’s right!” Jacob twirled.
“You showed that bully a thing or two, scared the hell out of him.”
Jacob giggled. “Okay Alex, I’ll stay and help you until it’s time.”
“Great. Now let me finish up here and then we can talk about your recent pranks on my little brother.”
Jacob lowered his, “Oh you heard.”
“I did. And you know…”
Before Alex could finish his sentence, the boy disappeared.
“What was that all about with your little brother?” Kyle raised a brow.
“Wilby, my kid brother. He hasn’t gotten his know yet and Jacob loves to take his things and hide them. Typical 6-year-old jokester, only this one is invisible to my brother and it drives him crazy. Hey, any repercussion from sending Roger to The Nowhere?
Kyle swiped his chin like he was stroking a beard, “Nope. That spaz got everything he deserved. He was delusional with a spoonful of looney. How about your great grandmother, she ever tell you how they knew each other?”
“That’s funny actually. Turns out, my great-grandfather was the one to give him his travel miles to the afterlife. Vincenzo was in love with my gram and tried to kidnap her. Gramps shot him and he was as miserable in spirit as he was when he was alive. Gram didn’t know he was doing such diabolical acts though. If she had, well, being shot would have been the least of his torture.” Alex chuckled.
The guys were motivated by awkward silence to wrap up the visit. “Thank you again, Alex for all your help. Everyone at the Academy cannot stop speaking about the breather that defeated the Soul Gatherer.” Zachary bent at the waist.
“Oh, for the love of the gods, Zachary stop bowing. You were just as responsible as I was. In fact, you all were. We did it together, without any one of us, it wouldn’t have worked.”
The teens nodded, “Good-bye, Alex.”
Alex stood gazing at his reflection. Life was good. He was good. His journey was just getting started. His excitement percolated again when he remembered Margaret was waiting for him in his bedroom. He couldn't wait to tell her the news.
"Hey Tesoro, you're not going to believe what just happened," he shouted.
"I don't know, but if involves leaving this room—forget it."
Yup. He really does love that girl.
The End
Acknowledgments
For Cooper ... the most consistent and loyal soul that has given me love, strength, and laughter. You are my forever boy.
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I'd like to thank my daughter, Stevie Aubuchon-Mendoza, for weathering through the first line of edits with each b
ook and not openly rolling her eyes. I know you want to.
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Also by Vicki-Ann Bush
Book 1: Alex McKenna & the Geranium Deaths
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About the Author
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Originally from New York, I currently reside in Nevada. Writing Young Adult paranormal, I find inspiration from events that have been in my life for as long as I can remember. Inheriting the sensitivity to the supernatural from my family, they continue to be an endless source of vision.
I am one of the 2017 & 2018 winners of, 50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading. Most recently, Alex McKenna & The Geranium Deaths received the Gold in the Readers Favorite Book Awards Contest for Young Adult Paranormal.
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