Page 5 of Every Breath

Wait a minute. He was alive!

“Are you having fun?” Damon turned around to see his friend Paul standing behind him. “What the hell is going on? Why am I here? I thought when I came back, I would come back as me!”

“Oh, come on, you should have known better than that. Now, don’t you think you would have freaked people out if you walked around in your old body? Besides, Peter did say there would be conditions and you agreed to them.”

“But couldn’t I have at least come back as a brother? Or maybe someone not quite so pale.”

“You’re being dramatic. Besides, the ladies apparently find Mason Collins quite appealing.” Paul grinned widely. “I suppose you’re wondering what I’m doing here.”

“Well, it did cross my mind. Aren’t you supposed to be watching the Fox family?”

“I have someone taking care of them for me. I think you probably need me a little more than they do right now.”

“Well?”

“Okay, man, here’s the deal. You are Mason Collins. You’re forty-two, divorced with one son, and you own this home, a couple of car dealerships, and five other properties. You?—”

“Wait a minute. Are you telling me I’m that obnoxious car salesman on TV? Brandi and I used to make fun of this guy and his tacky commercials and now I’m supposed to be that cheese ball?”

“Hey, beggars can’t be choosers, man. So, are you going to let me finish?” Paul glared at him.

Damon sighed.

“I’m sure you’re wondering why this guy, right?”

“I have to admit I’m very curious.”

“Mason was due for a massive heart attack last night, which he would not have survived. He was going straight to, well, you know where. I think Luc is going to be upset that he didn’t get his clutches into this one. Anyway, this guy’s grandmother is a Watcher. You know Amanda Collins, don’t you?”

“This is Amanda’s grandson?”

“Yes. A really sweet lady, isn’t she? She couldn’t stand the thought of one of her flesh and blood spending eternity with the Dark One, so she has been campaigning Peter to bend the rules a little… although if anyone deserves to be downstairs, it’s certainly Mason Collins.” Paul shook his head.

“I’m still confused.”

“This is where you come in. You are going to redeem him. Right now his spirit is in limbo. You have to right the wrongs done by him while he was alive. He’s been a bad boy so you have your work cut out for you.”

“I have to redeem him? Isn’t it up to the individual to redeem themselves?”

“Normally, yes, but this was what Amanda chose as her reward. The thing is, even when he is redeemed in the eyes of the people he once hurt, Mason is still going to serve a long time in purgatory, and even then he might not make it upstairs, Still, purgatory is better than sharing time with Luc, and those are the breaks.”

“What if I don’t redeem him?”

“You have to come back, but you lose your Watcher status.”

“How am I going to do this and win Brandi back?”

“Well, my friend, you can’t get something for nothing, not even in heaven.”

“Look at me! Brandi might not even want me. I don’t think her preferences run to pasty white boys.”

“I’m sure any woman you loved cares more about the person inside than the surface, but like I said before, you’re seeing your new self from the eyes of a man. Seen through the eyes of a woman, you’re actually quite attractive. Now, let me finish telling you the rest of your conditions.”

“There’s more?” Damon asked in disbelief.

“Yup, but remember, this is what you wanted. You can’t tell Brandi who you were and you can’t tell her what Rodney did. She has to find out for herself. If you break one of these rules, you will be summoned back immediately to spend some time in purgatory with our friend Mason before the big guy lets you back in.”

“What happens if I redeem this guy, but I fail to win Brandi back?”

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