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Cynthia nodded, eyeing the cards appreciatively. “What do the colors indicate?”

“Those are different life courses, so I can visually follow each flow.”

“Sure, sure. I can see the accessibility benefit from it.” Cynthia was studying the wall like this was an art exhibit. “Does it come with a color key?”

“Of course it comes with a color key.” Ashley hadn’t expected an appreciative audience. Maybe she could have been bonding with Cynthia over charts and lists this whole time instead of just using her as a party buddy.

“But I’m going to…” Ashley lifted the half-opened note again.

“Right. Go on ahead.” Cynthia brushed her off. “I’m going to look at this a little longer.”

Ashley sat back on her hiding box—an embarrassing designation but apt—and opened the folded envelope. She was pleased to see the art of folded notes hadn’t dissolved with the rise of cell phones and texting.

A flash of silver fell out.

Ashley caught it before it hit the floor. It was her necklace from Claribel. Ashley covered her mouth, holding in a sob. The exchanging of things meant they were really over. But would Esther really have bothered going back to the witches just to get Ashley her necklace back?

She scanned the letter. It was an apology.

“Anything good?” Cynthia sat down on the box next to her.

Ashley didn’t answer. She read in silence then read the whole thing again before looking at the necklace in her shaking hand. “This is the yellow cards?”

“Yellowcard? Like the band?”

“Not the band.” Ashley paused. “Wait. How have you heard of Yellowcard?”

Cynthia rolled her eyes. “I’m not dead. Well, no, technically I am. But I still listen to music. Just because I died in the seventies doesn’t mean that’s the only music I’m allowed to listen to forever.”

That was another fascinating subject Ashley didn’t have time to dig deeper into right now. “Whatever, I’m not talking about the band.” She pointed to the colorful wall. “The cards. Yellow isthe life plan I’d take if I were human. Yellow for sunshine. I don’t even need my color key for that one.”

“Why would you even make that plan?”

She shrugged. “I had a lot of free time this week.”

Really, she couldn’t get the comment August made that day on the beach about a cure out of her head. She thought she’d misheard him. But it looked like it really was what she’d thought. That was why she’d made the yellow cards. Once she’d started on the plan, she couldn’t stop. It was the easiest of the card choices. She walked over to the board and followed the yellow blocks.

She’d get a teaching degree—her hands trembling at the thought of creating lesson plans, of buying school supplies—and maybe get a position coaching cheer at the local high school while she was at it. The idea of organizing while being part of a team, a community, where she didn’t have to prove herself by hiding who she was, was everything and more than she hoped for. This was the ultimate life plan. Everything else was a patchwork of making do with what she had. She held the necklace in her hand, the key to her happily ever after. She could take it right now and get everything.

“So that necklace will make you not a vampire? How do you know it’ll work?” Cynthia’s words pulled Ashley back to the present.

This potion was the work of witches. Witches, who were out to end vampires. Despite knowing that witchcraft didn’t kill Konstantine, Ashley didn’t trust them. A decade in the vampire world had given her a lifetime of distrust. And how could she take a potion made by people she couldn’t trust? But this was coming from Esther. And despite everything that had happened, she still trusted her and valued Esther’s opinion.

“I don’t.” Ashley considered the wall. “I’ll have to make another list.”

Cynthia nodded in agreement, and Ashley returned her attention to the wall. Maybe if she made a points system to rank the pros and cons of each choice, she’d have tangible evidence if the rewards outweigh the risks.

“I’d love to see what you come up with.” Cynthia headed for the stairs. “But I have a phone call I need to make. Text me when you’re done.”

This shouldn’t take too long. Ashley pulled out her colored pens.

Only an hour later, Ashley had the numbers tallied and beautifully organized in her notebook. She pulled out her phone and texted Cynthia.

Ashley

It’s ready!!!

Cynthia