Page 88 of Death Deals

Just then, my light rushed over my skin again and exploded outward.

“What’s happening?” I called to Eli, who was staring at me with a mix of fear and wonder. Energy shot through my every nerve, flooding me with strength unlike I’d ever felt before. Every inch of me tingled, and power rushed through my veins like a drug. Soon, I was numb all over. I couldn’t even feel my lips when I spoke. “Eli?”

He only gaped at me, unable to utter a single sound.

That’s when I realized that my body was lifting into the air, slowly climbing higher. Every head lifted to watch me.

My God, what was happening?!

As if struck in the head, I snapped into unconsciousness, the harbor, my friends, all lost to me. I was faced with nothing but blackness as I floated in the dark recesses of my mind. Like it’d been after my Trials, a colorful image emerged before me, a bubble of energy taking form.

My memories? Was I finally getting them back?

But I’d witnessed them burst last time. Felt them leave me. I thought I’d lost them forever.

Slowly, a picture formed in the swirling colors, a face appearing.

Brown hair, brown eyes, pale skin, and full lips spread into a confident smile.

It was me.

Me. As I was now—not a memory—and staring back at me.

I didn’t understand. Why was I seeing myself?

The edges of the image stretched and enlarged before my eyes. For a second, I thought it might explode like the others, but instead, the vibrant colors consumed the darkness entirely, and for the first time in my afterlife, a wave of assurance consumed me.

This was it. This was me. After all this time, I’d found her, the person I was supposed to be. And ironically, she’d been right here all this time. I’d just needed to believe in her.

My eyes snapped open to find everyone but Eli shielding their eyes from the brightness radiating off me. I drifted toward the dock, and when my boots met the boards, Bertha evaporated from my hand and the light surrounding me dimmed.

Eli was in front of me suddenly, scooping me into his arms. He lifted me into the air and spun me, grinning ear to ear.

“You did it, Jade!” he shouted happily. “You did it! You Ascended!”

Holy shit. Was that what’d happened?

After all that, how could I doubt it?

When Eli’s gaze latched onto mine, something passed across his face, some unspoken words. Afraid he’d say those three words I dreaded again, I tapped his shoulder to let me down.

As if snapped from a trance, he shook his head. “Ah, yes. Sorry.” He put me back on my feet, but the smile never left his handsome face.

“Thanks,” I said, fixing my shirt before the awkwardness of the moment could settle over us. “It was pretty amazing, wasn’t it?”

At the corner of my eye, I spotted Queen Imani looking my way. Without saying a word, she waved toward her vampires and together they disappeared into the night. After my confrontation with Hector and the other Perezes, I was surprised they’d even shown up. But I was thankful for it. Having them in the fight was a big help.

When a subtle knock started in the center of my mind, I hesitated. A voice echoed behind my ears.

“Jade, can you hear me?”

It was Eli.

Looking back at him, I froze. His lips never moved; his voice was coming from inside my head.

“Yes, it’s me.”He was talking to me telepathically.

“No way,”I thought back, stunned.

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