House of Phoenyx: House of Phoenyx book 1

by T. John Greene

  Epilogue

  Sixteen days later…

  Percaline cried herself to sleep most nights and tonight was no exception. She had been able to go a couple of days with her emotions turned off, but even then it wasn’t any less painful to see Lucas in her dreams. He would touch her, kiss her, and hold her face and she needed that, even if her waking life was less substantial because of it. She needed to feel connected to him even if it was just in her subconscious.

  Her dreams were the only thing she looked forward to because it was her time with Lucas. While asleep, Percaline cried as her emotions and the memories came flooding back. “I love you,” Lucas said and kissed her before he stabbed himself in the heart with the arrow.

  It was the first and the last time he had said the words “I love you” to her. Percaline moaned and moved in her sleep, trying to wake herself up, but she couldn’t. It was like she was being forced to remain unconscious, so instead she switched dreams. Now she was in the Underworld walking toward the House of Phoenyx. Jon was beside her and he was carrying Lucas as a child with him.

  “Is Lucas with you? Is that why you’re showing me this?” Percaline asked. An ongoing fear of hers was to find out that Lucas’s soul would be locked in Tartarus with Azazel, but she wouldn’t allow that. She would make sure that at his soul would make it to Heaven where he belonged.

  Jon didn’t respond. “Jon, I’m so sorry,” she began, grabbing and holding onto Lucas’s tiny shoe. “I miss him. I miss you,” she finished, dehydrated from the couple of tears that now joined the oceans she’d cried since Lucas’s death. “Are you mad at me? Is that why you’re not speaking to me? Because I got Lucas killed? Is that why you haven’t visited?” she desperately asked.

  “My name’s not Jon,” Jon said, finally engaging her.

  Percaline didn’t understand. “But you’re my Uncle Jon,” she said, looking at him inquisitively. They were almost to House of Phoenyx property.

  “I’m not your Uncle Jon,” he said again, nodding to the gate as it opened. “My name is Gavin.” The drawbridge lowered.

  Percaline still didn’t understand. “If your name is really Gavin and you’re not my Uncle Jon, then why do you have Lucas and who are you?” She did not like to play games, especially with little ghost children. They were creepy enough without the mind games.

  “I’m your twin brother and I’m returning Lucas to you from Purgatory,” he answered. “Now wake up and let us in.”

  Lucas’s body and soul hadn’t gone to Heaven because he had killed himself. Instead, it had gone to Purgatory and someone named Gavin was bringing him to her.

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  Here’s a sneak peek at

  Saint of Saints, the next book in the

  House of Phoenyx series.