SWNOVELS Chapter CHAPTER 22
I slip off Nic’s back, my feet hitting the cold dirt covered cement floor as we all gather inside the tomb. Right off the bat I can tell something is wrong. My eyes take in the scene before me, but my mind doesn’t want to comprehend what it sees. I hear both Lisa and Steve shout no from behind me. It nearly doesn’t register in my brain all the sobs sounding around me from the rest of the Coven and I notice that the circle members have all fallen to their knees, leaving me standing frozen on my feet by myself.
Slumped against the base of the slab stone where I’m assuming my body had been placed is Jean. Her body is unmoving and must have crumbled straight to the ground from where she stood. I am in shock as I stare at the empty shell that is before me. Her lifeless eyes staring up towards the ceiling above. There is no way that this can be her. It has to be a joke, right? I just visited with her but a night ago in her dream. I watch in stunned silence as Dominic and Steve rise back to their feet and make their way to her lifeless form.
They bend over and scoop her up like she weighs nothing more than a feather. Next, they placed her on the stone that had been my bed like a delicate flower. No one bothers to hide their tears as we all join hands around Jean’s resting body and then Lisa and Steven begin a chant that I have never heard before. As I listen to them speak, each circle member begins to say the chant seconds after the person before them begins to say it.
My mind finally begins to process the scene at hand, and I continue to stare. However, as I look at her body, I notice that she has somehow managed to hold on to something and it is held tight within her right hand. Before I realize what, I am doing, I have made my way up to her, my hand already placed over hers when someone shouts out ‘what are you doing?’ I have no idea who has said this, but it doesn’t matter since I continue my movements anyway.
I slowly, gently pry her hand open to reveal the item that had been enclosed within. Taking the crumpled slip of paper, I open it and smooth out the wrinkles and creases that had come about from bunching the paper up within her hand. Reading over the words, my mouth falls open in a shocked ‘O’, and then I turn from Jean and look across from the group until my eyes fall upon Nic’s. “What? What is it?” Dominic asks as he takes a step towards me.
Lowering my eyes back to the letter, I read for all of them to hear;
Hello my darling dear,
I apologize that I am not there to greet you back into this world. I am very sad that I was unable to see your bright beautiful smile one last time before I departed from this world. Death and I made an agreement for your return. Do not fear, nor blame yourself for my choice. I willingly accepted it to be able to reunite you and my grandson once again, because if there is one thing I know, it is that there is no power greater than the power of love.
Once you are rested, I recommend that you and your coven seek out High Priestess. First, she has instructions for when and how to proceed with my burial. However, more importantly, she and I have found some answers in regard to questions Raegan has asked. But to that, I do not want you to concern yourself nor do I want the coven to concern themselves for the next 3 days over what the High Priestess has to share with you all. Rest, relax and enjoy your holiday.
Love to you all,
Sincerely, Jean!
Nic comes to stand beside me, removing the note gently from my hands, he skims over it and then it gets passed around to everyone else in our group. The tears that were previously frozen in the corners of my eyes just moments ago are now streaming freely down my face like a waterfall. She sacrificed her life to allow me to return.
Dominic wraps his arms around me, allowing me to sob into his shoulder. My voice quivers as I go to speak, “she agreed to change places with me. That’s why I was able to return. She made a deal with Death so that I could come back…” Nic just pulls me closer to him, placing kisses on my forehead and upon my head trying to sooth my emotions. Stepping away from him, I lift my hand and place it on his chest, indicating for him not to follow me. “I just need a minute,” I add as I walk outside, needing fresh air. For a second or two I feel like I might hyperventilate.
Having forgotten that we are in the dead of winter, I am shocked as the cold hits me. Instantly, shivers travel along my body, causing my teeth to chatter. I sigh deeply as I stare at the stars in the sky, but as the cold air hits my lungs, I start coughing. Apparently too much fresh air can be dangerous too, LOL. I turn around and go back inside the mausoleum. There’s so much I want to say but my tongue seems to be stuck to the roof of my mouth. However, before I can stop myself a yawn escapes my mouth and I look to Nic pleadingly to take me home. Who knew returning from the dead could be so exhausting.
Nic scoops me up, cradling me as if I were a baby against his chest. “All right guys let’s get out of here. Dad said he will call High Priestess in the evening to square away the ceremonial burial for Jean, but right now Alina needs to rest.
Everyone groans and tries to whine in protest which causes a smile to sneak across my lips because they don’t want to leave me. They all want to visit with me, ‘catch up’, but I really am tired and so I tell them all that I promise we will all meet up tomorrow, because I mean, I really do want to know what all has happened since I’ve been ‘away’.
Dominic opens his Jeep door for me, and I climb into the passenger seat while he walks around to climb into the driver’s side. Closing my eyes, I rest my head against the window briefly before my eyes are snapping wide open with shock. “Oh my gosh Nic! I completely forgot to tell you the reason why I was screaming so much when you found me.” I turned in my seat to see his face looking at me, concern, creasing his forehead. “Something followed me from the spirit world. I don’t know what exactly, but I do know it is pure evil! I’m afraid it is that awful Cal spirit that was torturing me in the Spirit Realm. If it is though, his strength has grown ten-fold!”
Nic takes my hand in his, interlocking our fingers before bringing my hand to his lips, kissing the back of my palm. “We will worry about that tomorrow. For tonight though, let’s just worry about getting you home and into bed.”