Page 93 of Two Who Live On

I paused; my throat tightened. There were so many words I wanted to say, so many things I needed to explain. It would have towait until after I’d grabbed Finn. Whether Milo didn’t realize or worried about potential problems in the future, he’d thank me once I saved Finn.

Milo changed the trajectory of his telekinesis, altering the direction of where the dying wisps floated. No. He couldn’t do this. I reached out using my own telekinesis to lure the wisp containing Finn closer.

Jamie’s body rose slightly, forcing Milo to return his efforts at the devil clamoring for life. Milo was too busy contending with pushback from a reluctant chimera and resisting the collapse of his body as he harnessed a hundred witches to exorcise this devil.

I pulled Finn away from the collection of wisps being banished one by one. Not him, though. Not like this. Not again.

Finn would never leave us again.

Opening my mind’s core, I dragged Finn’s consciousness safely into the depths of my magic where I could keep him safe. The battlefield where Milo worked to vanquish the devil vanished, and I sank into the deepest parts of my mind.

An eloquent ballroom materialized; the chandeliers dimmed immediately upon arrival because the change from night to this brightly lit room didn’t sit well for either of us. Finn had experienced darkness for too long, so long he’d lost track of time. He stood in the distance, thoughts filled with haunting confusion that festered at the seams of his awareness, but he tried to bury it as he took in everything about this place. He hadn’t seen my core in twelve years. Well, another part of him had, but that piece faded away once he’d spent all his magic holding him here. He wouldn’t have to worry about that this time. I knew what to do. I knew how to protect him.

It was filled with a few familiar traces since the last time I’d invited him into my mind, but renovating my inner core had changed much of what he recalled. Given time, I could replace the fancywallpaper, the sleek tiled floors, and return it to something more to his liking. I wanted him to feel at peace here in the inner core of my mind.

“I like what you’ve done with the place.” Finn ran his fingertips along a marble banister of a spiraling staircase, which led to an upper vault where I often sorted through intrusive thoughts. “A lot nicer than my headspace.”

“That’s never been true.” I approached him, struggling to keep the noise of a roaring devil from seeping into this place. When in other’s minds, it was easy to tune out the world, when in my own—everything often followed me, leaving me without a moment of peace. I didn’t need peace because I’d found mine again.

“I’ve missed you.” I hugged Finn.

His arms remained at his sides, hesitant of how to respond, so unlike the man I’d lost. The horrors of twelve lost years surfaced. Atrocities he’d endured while bound in the devil’s domain. Carnage. Agony. Death without dying. Again. Again. Again on an endless loop of sorrow. My tight embrace didn’t let up, searching his mind for something, anything from before.

Finn raised his arms, wrapping them under mine, and hugged me back. He rested his head on my shoulder, allowing the cruelty that clung freshly in his thoughts to wash away as a thousand joys blossomed.

Images fluttered between us during this embrace. So many moments of happiness Finn, Milo, and I shared a lifetime ago. Times I regretted never properly treating then, something I’d never do again. Two smiling men I longed to spend my forever with, a life I believed impossible after losing Finn, but now I could have it all.

This part of Finn, the memories circulating through his branch magic, contained all of him. His memories. His ideals. His bravery. Beauty. Compassion. Humor. Love. Heart. Perhaps, even a brokenpiece of his soul. A soul I’d keep tucked in my mind, safe from everything he’d endured since he was stolen from us. He would know joy again, true joy, here with me and Milo.

I ground my teeth, fighting to keep the bustling world from creeping in here, ruining this reunion. Released witches whispered, breathing in their freedom. A few trickled in, but I staved off most before they fizzled away as the dying demonic energy linked to them faded. Staring back at the entryway to my inner core, I twisted my fingers to draw the double doors closed. Finely crafted oak doors slammed shut, keeping the more intrusive sounds out.

“What’s happening?”

“Don’t worry about it. You’ll never have to worry about anything again.” I released Finn, smiling at him. His vacant expression was more reminiscent of my sour history. Though my smile came easily now, I knew it didn’t hold the same level of carefree confidence that’d carried Finn through life. No, this was a bittersweet happiness. I’d gladly accept it.

The devil wailed so loudly that it was almost impossible to dampen the sound from entering my mind’s core. Finn eyed me, questioning the banishment happening only a few feet away from where my body stood.

“Everything is fine,” I said. “Milo’s finishing off the devil, the chimera, that took you away.”

“That killed me, you mean.”

I struggled to find the right words. There were no right words for this moment, so I remained silent, allowing Finn to process his thoughts as he evaluated the lost years, the dead years. There was so much he’d missed.

“Is Milo going to be able to handle him on his own?” Finn’s voice cracked; unspeakable horrors crept to the surface of his thoughts. His breathing sped, body shaking. I held his hand to my face, sendingevery single memory of Enchanter Evergreen I had. Every heroic act Milo had accomplished over the twelve years since Finn had died. Image after image funneled between us, filled with cases, accomplishments, and feats unlike any of our trio believed we’d reach. “He really has become something, someone, amazing.”

“Yes,” I agreed. “And he’s not alone. The Inevitable Future always plans for any event. Right now, he’s gathered every guild in Chicago to remove the demons. He has a hundred enchanters helping him banish that devil as we speak.”

“He was never supposed to return here,” Finn said. “I thought I’d removed all memory of his intentions for you.”

I lowered Finn’s hand, interlocking my fingers with his, delighting in the sensation of his touch. “You did. It was perfect, but I messed that up.”

“Oh?”

“Do you recall breaking off a piece of your magic?”

Finn smiled, sincere, goofy, and for a few brief seconds, the history of horror vanished from his mind while he indulged in past delights.

“One for you, one for Milo. I didn’t think they’d worked, honestly.” He ran his free hand through his hair, ruffling his chestnut locks. “Sort of inspired them off your manifestations, but I was never as good at conjuring psychic personas like you.”

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