“Well, it’s healing me,” I say. “I feel fine. Strong. Ready to do what I need to.”
“That may be so, nieta. But don’t forget you are thinner, paler, and I have no way of knowing if your friend Axel—”
“He’s not my friend,” I snap, but Paloma proceeds undeterred.
“I have no idea if he healed your heart properly. I have no idea how long his healing will hold.”
“I don’t know either.” I make a concerted effort to soften my tone. “But I can’t let that stop me. It was truly a miracle he was able to save me at all. I have no idea who he is, how he did it, or why he did it. All I know is that so far it’s worked, and it’s all I have to go on. That, and a whole lot of faith that between the combined efforts of you, Axel, and the spring, the healing will continue.”
One look at her face, the way she holds herself so stiffly, tells me she remains unsure.
“Look, I know you’re worried about losing me again just one day after I returned, but we both know the score. We both know the inherited dangers of being a Seeker.”
“It wasn’t quite as dangerous in my day.” Her fingers twist nervously at the row of small shell buttons lining the front of her cardigan.
“Somehow I doubt that.” I head for my clo
set, searching for my old green army jacket, but I can’t seem to find it. “There were Richters then, just as there are now.” I place my hands on my hips and frown.
“Aw, but Cade is a whole new breed of Richter,” Paloma says, and as much as I’d like to refute it, we both know it’s true. “Still, I fear you are running on adrenaline. And while you may feel strong now, it won’t last. That sort of thing never does. You’re bound to crash at some point, and then what?”
“You’re right.” I drop my hands, trading the search for my jacket for a search for shoes. “You usually are. But the thing is, adrenaline is all that I’ve got, so it’s just going to have to suffice. I’m stronger than you think, abuela.” I lean against the wall, and slide my feet into a pair of old sneakers. The cool black boots Jennika bought me for Christmas got lost along with the rest of the clothes that I died in. “And despite the scar on my chest, I’m not nearly as frail as I look. Besides, I’m the only one who can do this. I was born to do this.”
“But your training—”
“My training was hastened, I know. But you’ve taught me a lot, and you’ve taught me well. It’ll have to suffice. There’s only one thing…” I reach into my bag and retrieve the bloody athame. “Cade used this to kill me. And Dace used this to kill Cade. And I’m wondering how all of this could’ve happened, when we sanctified it with Valentina’s essence. Wasn’t that supposed to protect me?”
“It did protect you. You’re still here. And Dace is too.”
“Axel saved me. And Coyote saved Dace by default.”
“Who knows what forces are at work,” she says, taking the knife from me. Her gaze firm as she says, “I will take care of this, if you take care of three things before you leave.”
I wait, having no idea what they’ll be.
“First, call your mother.”
I drop my head in my hands, horrified I had to be reminded to do that. Jennika must be totally freaking. Not to mention how she’ll never forgive me for waiting so long to phone her.
“And second, if you’re looking for your jacket, it’s in my room. I know it’s a favorite of yours so I took the liberty of patching it up.”
I grin in appreciation. “And third?” My gaze meets hers.
“Meet me in my bedroom when you’re ready. There’s one last ritual still left to perform.”
* * *
Paloma swipes two oversized decorative pillows from her bed and places them just a few feet apart on the colorful handwoven rug. Its border surrounded by a thick layer of salt and white tapered candles placed a few inches apart. “Your mother must be very relieved,” she says.
“Relieved I’m alive. Angry I didn’t call her the second I returned. Bursting into tears every time I spoke, telling me that she feared she’d never hear my voice again, while in the next breath insisting she knew deep down inside I was alive. You know, typical Jennika.” I grin at the memory. Vowing to visit her in L.A. just as soon as this whole mess is over. “Oh, and just so you know, she also threatened to board the first plane that’s headed this way.”
Paloma’s eyes flash in alarm, which is something I rarely get to see. But then, just the mere thought of Jennika often has that effect on people.
“I tried to dissuade her. Told her I wouldn’t be around much. That as of tonight, I’m heading into another dimension and I have no idea how long I’ll be gone. And she took it surprisingly well. Suspiciously well. Which means you can probably expect to find her on your doorstep within the next four to five hours. Anyway, what’s this about?” I motion toward the pillows.
“We don’t have time for a sweat lodge, and I’m not sure I could bear the heat. This is the best I could do under the circumstances. I only hope that it works.” The words are spoken with an undercurrent of urgency that sets me on edge. She motions for me to take the pillow closest to me, as she claims the opposite one. The two of us facing each other, legs crossed, hands resting on our knees, she says, “I’m not sure if this will work, but I have to try.” She speaks in a tone so tense, I’m not sure what to make of it.
“Paloma, what’s going on here? What is this?” I ask.