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“You wish to walk between all planes freely, as we do?” one of the Order intoned. “With him at your side?”
“I am sure, but…” She turned to me. “Are you sure you want this? Are you sure you’ll give up eternal bliss for one very long life with one very stubborn woman?”
I looked at her, not even knowing how to express all the ways I felt. I had lived for so long in the darkness without any kind of love, and now it seemed like I had all the love in the world. My soul, my mother, Marnie… in just one afternoon, it had been returned to me. An entire damnation had been undone in the time span of just a few days—in the time span it took for me to fall in love.
“I—I…” I stammered, then tried to buy time by running my fingers through my hair. I wanted to say yes confidently, but the word was lodged in my throat.
“It is what he wants,” my mother said softly. “He’s even more stubborn than you, dear, but he’s good and true.” She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek. “Go on, my boy. My brave, beautiful boy. Go live the life that you deserve.”
The Order member stared at me. “Do you accept?”
“Yes.” I nodded, reaching for Marnie’s hand as I stepped forward. The dam in my throat finally broke, freeing the words. “I want what she wants. It’s not giving up eternal bliss. It’s gaining it. I just can’t believe she would want to spend it with me.”
“Ah, but you’re so handsome,” my mother said.
“I wasn’t, Momma, trust me.” I grinned, then squeezed Marnie’s hand and brought our joined fingers to my lips. Marnie smiled as I kissed our hands. “If she loved me then, I can’t imagine what life will be like now.”
Marnie rolled her eyes. “Please, that face paint didn't stop you from being a total babe.”
“And you would do as we ask to maintain the balance?” another of the Order asked, crossing his arms over his barrel chest. “Do not say yes lightly. If you intend to restore the cosmos, you will be called upon.”
“Yes,” Marnie and I both said. This time, the yes was as confident as I wanted it to be.
“Very well,” the seraph said, raising one massive hand.
A warmth washed over me, and I could tell by the way Marnie sighed that it washed over her, too. I felt clothes press against me and smelled the familiar scent of my leather jacket. Boots cradled my feet, and though all my aches and pains had healed when my soul returned, I felt buoyant and bright. I felt full of life. I looked beside me to see Marnie restored as well, her dress now white instead of black. She had no wounds either, and her purple tangles were gleaming and tied back in a loose, clean braid.
“We will call upon you soon,” the guardian said. He seemed to be the most talkative of the Order and acted as a mouthpiece. “For now, enjoy being the first truly Living Undead. Enjoy your time together.”
Marnie closed her eyes and smiled beatifically. “I like the sound of that.”
“And now, where do you desire to go?” the Guardian of the Gate said, his words almost like a sigh as his wings flapped.
“Home,” Marnie and I both said at once.
23
MARNIE
“We’re back,” Gabe said, more to himself than me, I think. He pressed his hands against his chest, felt how solid he was in this plane, and then swept me up in his arms.
He was warm and solid against me, as if we were still in Hell, except I could feel sunshine on my face. I looked up at the house and smiled. The first time I’d seen the home, I’d seen some promise there, but it had quickly been eclipsed by my life… by Beck… by all the things that made me feel less than. Now, with Gabe at my side, it seemed like a palace.
“Honey, we’re home,” I whispered, both to myself and to Gabe.
The door swung open easily. It had been unlocked this whole time. If I had anything of value, that fact might have been concerning, but unless Beck’s new shit was still lying around, the thieves would be disappointed.
But why would his stuff still be here? That would be stupid. We’d broken up, and he hated this house.
Yet as I walked into my own house, there was that damned TV and gaming console, almost seeming to glare at me as I looked to the left toward the living room.
“What the… Why is this still here?” I muttered darkly, then stormed forward into the living room. There was no sign of Beck, but I noticed two empty beer cans on the coffee table. I clicked on the television impatiently, and the smart display on the TV informed me that it had been a week since I’d last been in the house. It felt both too short and too long of a span of time.
“Hell warps time,” Gabe said softly as he touched my elbow. It was like he’d read my mind.
“All the more reason why it should be gone,” I muttered, heading out of the living room and up the stairs. Gabe followed, hot on my heels. As we ascended, a thump sounded from somewhere on the second story. I looked over my shoulder and shared a look with Gabe. His gaze was steely, ready for anything.
I walked up the stairs and peeked into the first, smaller bedroom. The door was open, and all of Beck’s musical equipment was still set up inside. That asshole.
