Page 14 of The Redeemable 4

Chapter Four

I needed a nap. I needed to decompress from the turmoil of Raphael’s chop shop hospital, preferably in the arms of someone who loved me.

Unfortunately, Luc was off rubbing shoulders with the world’s superpowers at the U.N. Summit. I walked into the living room, which was kind of an ironic name for any room in Hell, and flopped down onto an overstuffed couch with a pale blue floral pattern that was completely out of place in this realm. It made me laugh, but damn it was comfy.

Gusion walked in carrying a bundle of herbs that stunk.

“I would like to speak to Arcadia, if she’s receiving?” He asked like a 19th century gentleman.

Hi Gus, what’s up?

“I was looking into your, err predicament, and while I can’t find a way to put your soul back in its rightful body, I did find a way for you to spirit walk into someone else’s dreams. I found it in a text I received from the wise woman of a tribe of Pictish warriors that ceased to exist long before civilization advanced enough to stop believing in magic.”

I loved Gusion. Sometimes you were fooled by his good looks, his charming manner or his manwhore ways, but underneath that was a scholar with a genuine compassion for the plight of man.

That would be so amazing. It's just, I need them, you know? Would Ace be there? No offence Ace, but I’d like to have sex once in my life without you waiting in the wings, filling out scorecards.

Gusion laughed and I winked. I only ever scored them once or twice. Spoilsport.

“Unfortunately, Ace is the link to keeping your spirit on the earthly plane. She goes where you go by necessity, but she is more of a tether than an active participant.”

Arcadia sighed dramatically, but I could feel her excitement bubbling inside me. I can live with that. When can we do this?

Gus waved around his bundle of greenery like a sceptre. “Now, if you’d like?”

Arcadia let out a squeal of delight and I winced. That was not a pleasant noise inside someone else's head. “I think she would like that.”

Gus sat next to me, and I swung around so I could lay my head on his thighs. He ran his fingers through my ebony locks, and I resisted the urge to purr.

“Stop making that noise, I have to concentrate,” he mock chided. “Otherwise I might turn you into a goat rather than sending Arcadia’s spirit anywhere.” He grabbed his bundle of herbs, and I noticed golden string tying the bundle at each end. I could smell sage and rosemary, but couldn’t identify some of the more pungent scents. One smelled like the river Styx. It wasn’t pleasant. He snapped the bundle in half with ease, even though it was probably as thick as my wrist. He wrote an unrecognizable rune on my forehead, and I screwed up my nose as the scents got stronger. Arcadia better appreciate this. Gusion chanted in a dead language that I couldn’t decipher, and then I was being tugged out of my body and through the spirit realm at breakneck speed. In a fraction of an instant, we were standing in Eli’s bedroom, staring down at his sleeping form.

“Ace?” Cady whispered, and I looked at her. She was whole and in beautiful Technicolor, but still a little off, as dreams have a tendency to be.

“I’m here.”

“I can’t see you. Or feel you. It’s like you’re gone.”

Huh. This must be what Gus meant about me being a spectator.

“I’m definitely here. Don’t worry, I’ll just hang outside the door until you’re done. Have fun.”

Arcadia smiled radiantly. “I will.”

I walked toward the doorway and stopped. Not because I wanted to, but because I was physically unable to leave the room. Dammit. Gus was being literal when he said we were tethered.

I went and stood in the corner, between Eli’s dresser and the wall. If they couldn’t see me, I could at least give them the illusion of privacy. Arcadia climbed into bed with Eli, wrapping her body around his until she resembled a naked jetpack.

“Eli.” She ran her fingers down his bicep. “Eli.”

Eli rolled over and wrapped his arms around her waist, snuggling his face into the crook of her neck, still sound asleep. Then his eyes slowly opened.

“Arcadia?” He blinked rapidly. “How are you here?” He pulled back so he could see her, every tiny line, and every freckle.

“I’m not really here. Gus sent me into your dreams.”

“Gusion? The prince of hell?”

Arcadia nodded. “They don’t really like being called that, you know.”

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