AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Zoe, I...”
Zoe gazed into Shadow’s eyes. Deep within the darkness, she could see his inner light, yearning to be free. And she knew all it would take was for her to speak from the heart. For the first time, she drew on the strength that welled deep inside her, and spoke once more.
“You’ve spent your life saving others. But you don’t need to do this alone anymore.” Zoe smiled as the golden light of the will-ó-wisps bathed them in a magical aura. “Let me stay, Shadow. Together, we can save the Underworld. Together, we can save each other.”
Light bloomed in Shadow’s eyes, burning through the darkness of his doubts like a glorious sunrise. With a smile, he drew himself closer to Zoe, and pressed his lips to hers. It was a kiss that promised they would no longer be alone. A kiss fueled by the magic in their hearts.
They danced once more beneath the boughs of Persephone’s Tree, serenaded by the song of the will-ó-wisps. As the moon made its graceful descent below the horizon, and the first rays of sunlight slipped over the landscape, Zoe felt the power of Persephone’s magic wane. She drew a startled breath as their feet left the solid ground, until they danced gently in the air, like blossom petals caught in a soft breeze.
“Until next time, Zoe.”
Shadow pressed his lips to hers, savoring every second of their time together. Zoe held him closer, trying to fight the bonds that would take him from her. She committed every sensation to her memory. The power of his muscular frame as they held each other close. The sensation of his stubble against her skin. The feeling of his lips on hers, as they sealed their promise to one another.
The last slivers of moonlight faded from view, until a glorious sunlight broke across the landscape. Despite the warmth of the sun’s rays, Zoe shivered as Shadow’s touch grew cold, and she felt him slip away into the darkness. The song of the will-ó-wisps faded as they returned to their boughs, while her feet returned to the ground with a soft thud.
Zoe blinked back her tears as all grew still in the clearing. But as a playful buzz filled her ears, she turned to the lone will-ó-wisp that fluttered beside her.
“Well, it looks like you and I have some work to do, little guy.” Zoe smiled softly as the will-ó-wisp buzzed in agreement. “Now, let’s save the Underworld.”
16
The sun hung low in the sky, catching the branches of the frost-covered trees, until they gleamed like jewels. The ice-covered landscape might once have seemed barren, but in the golden hour of sunlight, it looked as though it had been coated in diamond dust. Zoe adjusted her position as she studied the sight in wonder, until the click of her camera shutter broke the peaceful silence. She smiled as a buzz filled her ears, until the will-ó-wisp perched on her shoulder.
“Well, what do you think?” Together, they studied the photograph on the camera’s display, before the will-ó-wisp buzzed in approval. “I think that might just be our best one yet. Now come on, we’ve got some work to do.”
Together, they returned to the motel, and took a seat at the bar of Misty’s saloon. Zoe uploaded the photos to her laptop, admiring each of the shots of the landscape as they flashed before her. A photo of the frozen valleys of the Underworld, glittering in the sunlight. A photo of the Bubbling Bog as a geyser erupted into the air. A photo of the luxurious emerald furnishings of Misty’s saloon bar. Each image was a snapshot in time, capturing a fragment of the magic of the Underworld.
“Hiya, fleshie!”
Zoe yelped as Spooks’ head burst from her laptop screen. “Spooks, we’ve been over this! Must you try to give me a heart attack every five minutes?”
“I just thought you’d like to see my new invention. I call it the Snowball Slingshot!” Spooks grinned as he plucked a contraption from thin air. “You just place a handful of snow in these cups here, then yank it back like a slingshot...”
Zoe’s eyes widened as she studied the snow-filled contraption. “Is that... my bra?”
“What? So, then these snowball holders are meant for your...“ Spooks spluttered in shock as he looked from the cups of his newfound contraption, to Zoe’s cleavage. “But why would your bra be slung from my chandelier?”
Heat rose to Zoe’s cheeks as she recalled her night with Shadow. “Err, well...”
“Huh, what do we have here?” Zoe exhaled with relief as Spooks peered at her laptop screen, grateful for the poltergeist’s short attention span. “And why are you snooping around all the sights?”
“It’s a secret. Isn’t that right, little guy?” Zoe smiled as the will-ó-wisp buzzed in agreement, before she fixed Spooks with a parental glare. “Now quit poking around on my laptop. This isn’t one of your inventions to play with...”
“Oh, how much chaos could a meddling poltergeist like me cause?” Spooks yelped as a series of shrill buzzes blasted from the laptop, until dozens of windows flashed haphazardly across the screen. “On second thoughts, perhaps this fleshie technology is a little more advanced than I’m used to...”
Zoe groaned as the poltergeist fled from her laptop, only to freeze as a commanding voice echoed from the speakers. She peered at the screen in surprise as a familiar figure came into view.
“Mr. Gravesend?”
“Zoe, it’s about time!” Mr. Gravesend squinted through his spectacles, and arced an eyebrow. “I trust this call means you bring good news?”
Zoe shot Spooks a scowl as he perched on his candelabra, whistling innocently as he swung back and forth.
“Actually, there’s been a change of plan...” Zoe’s stomach churned as she drew her next breath. “I’m afraid there’s been a mistake.”
”A mistake?“ Mr. Gravesend inhaled deeply, before his eyes narrowed into tiny beads. “What kind of mistake?”
Zoe’s insides turned watery under the intensity of Mr. Gravesend’s stare. Her mind flashed with the dreams she had once held. The promotion. The new office. Wiping the irritating sneer from Swindleton’s sniveling face. But no matter how much her mind begged for her to reconsider, a greater power stirred within her heart. She glanced at the will-ó-wisp, who gave her a reassuring buzz, before she returned her gaze to her laptop.
