Page 67 of Loving Amari

You’re such a romantic.

“Only for you, baby.”

We talk for hours. About nothing and everything. About her loneliness in limbo, about my struggles in the living world. About hope and fear and love that transcends physical boundaries.

Eventually, I feel her presence start to fade.

I have to go. But I’ll be back tomorrow night. Same time.

“I’ll be waiting,” I promise. “I’ll always be waiting.”

I love you, Amari.

“I love you too, Carla. More than immortality itself.”

She fades completely, and I’m alone again. But this time, the loneliness doesn’t feel quite so crushing. Because now I know she’s fighting to come back to me. And I’ll wait forever if that’s what it takes.

I look down at Tofi, who’s staring up at me with her many eyes.

“Tomorrow night,” I tell her. “We’ll talk to Mommy again tomorrow night.”

Tofi sends me images of happiness and patience. Of waiting together. Of family.

I smile and finish my drink, already counting down the hours until I can hear her voice again.

22

CARLA

Alexis starts shutting down her computer and turning off the lights after a long day of causing more bullshit and chaos to Medina Corp and Wintermoon. I’ve been paying close attention to her because I’m pissed off and I know she’s the reason for so much pain.

I think about the vision I received of Alexis. A faceless man with brown skin approaching her in Amari’s office at Medina Shadow Coven, holding Alexis’s head by her hair. He places it on my desk. I grin and look up at the man.

“Thank you. I’ve been waiting for you to deliver this to me.”

I can’t hear his response in the vision, but I stand and pick up the head. Alexis’s eyes are open, mouth frozen in a silent scream. Blood drips from the severed neck onto my desk.

“I’m going to have so much fun with you in limbo,” I tell the head with a wicked smile.

I toss it back to the man. “Burn it for all I care. It’s the soul I want.”

I come out of my flashback vision to see Alexis heading out of her office, walking through the empty cubicles toward the elevator.

She pauses, gasping when I suddenly appear in front of her. My eyes glow pink, a confident smirk on my face.

Alexis takes a step back, her hand flying to her chest. “What the fuck?”

I give her a dark laugh. “Oh, I’m not going to kill you. I’m forbidden to do that anyway. I can’t use my magic for my own personal gain.”

I grin wider, enjoying the fear bleeding into her expression. “But I’ve found a way around it. There’s always a loophole.”

“What the fuck do you want?” she spits out, trying to sound brave.

I point at her. “You. I want your soul, but I’m getting your head too. I’ve seen your death and it’s not pretty. It’s horrendous, actually. I don’t know who you pissed off, but I’m thankful that you did. And you don’t get to live a long, prosperous life terrorizing Wintermoon. It’s coming soon. Much sooner than you think. A few years, tops. I look forward to your head landing on my desk.”

Alexis’s face pales. “Just take the power if you want it so bad.”

“I saw that too.” I start to pace around her, wanting to grab her by the throat but knowing I can’t. The rules of my ascension bind me. “It’s not my place to take the magic. I’m forbidden from interfering with the affairs of this realm because I’ve ascended.”