Chapter 38

'Nova, 'I had to go back. The dark-souled ones are in a frenzy because of the ones we sent on holiday in Alterealm. Stay inside. I will be back as soon as I can. One of the journals has information my father needs to see, so I borrowed it. And yours (for my eyes only)—

'No roof hunting, please. I’ll see you soon.

'Bastian.

'P.S. I think your fish like me.'

Nova set the note down. The dark-souled ones were in a frenzy? What did that mean?

Folding the blanket, she put it over the couch and went to the library. The journals were all over the desk. Biting her lip, she went around it and started to put them back in the trunk in the proper order. She didn’t need to pause to look at dates, she knew the correct order just by glancing at them. When she reached the missing one, she sat down. Now what? The journals had never left here or been read by others. It felt like she had just broken all the unwritten rules, having someone down here, sharing the journals.

Lives were at stake now, surely that warranted an exception. The dark ones were looking for her, more actively than before. For the first time since her time as the keeper had begun, she felt unsafe, everything Bastian told her made her unsure. What did it mean that she was his other? She looked at her hand, remembering the feeling when they touched. It had been unlike anything she could have imagined. It excited and frightened her at the same time.

She should have asked questions, but Bastian’s reaction had stunted all clear thought. Picking up the red book, she opened the tabbed section and looked at it. The section was the list of the properties the soul had accumulated through the years. Nova had been to all of them at least once over the years, except the one that was almost a day’s ride outside the city. She could never bring herself to go to that one. According to the book, it was tended by someone trusted, and their descendants through the years. She’d always been curious about that but was too afraid to leave the journals behind and go.

Turning in the chair, she flipped the monitor on for the cameras. It was part of her daily routine, to check on the outside world. When she reached the last camera, she jumped back, sending the chair rolling backward. It was the camera on this building, near the roof. Crissy was leaning in front of it smiling at her. She held something in front of the camera, too close for Nova to make out what it was.

She glanced at the fish like their input was important. Getting no reaction, she got up and hurried toward the ladder. Her route to the roof wasn’t hidden like everything else. There was a ladder outside the window upstairs.

She was a little out of breath when her feet were finally on the roof. Crissy stood there, smiling at her.

“I’m glad you looked through your camera,” she nodded, “Vic doesn’t like it when I hang from places.”

Nova glanced to the spot on the roof the camera was below. “Why were you hanging from the roof?”

“To get your attention.” She gave her a look that made Nova feel like she’d asked the wrong question. “To give you this.” Crissy held out her hand, a rubber watch hanging from it. “We, Autumn, and I thought you should have it.”

Nova took it and looked at it.

“It only goes to one location, but it’s the safest place you could be.” Crissy nodded.

Nova flipped the cover open to see one button under it. “Where’s the safest location?”

Crissy’s brows furrowed. “The landing room. Oh, you mean where. Alterealm.” She nodded again. Coming over, she pointed to it. “If you’re in trouble, just push it.”

She glanced from the bracelet to Crissy a few times and then closed the cover and put it in her pocket. When wasn’t she in some sort of trouble?

“You should go,” Crissy blurted out.

“Go back inside?”

Crissy shook her head. “No, to the white house and talk to the lady. I think she’s a lady, but I can’t be sure, she might be like the man who isn’t one, but many.” Her phone rang, she looked at it. “Oh, I have to go.” She smiled and then closed her eyes and disappeared.

White house? What lady? Turning, she realized she was standing in the middle of the roof, alone. “Time to make some decisions,” she mumbled to herself as she climbed back down the ladder.

***

An hour later she added a new notebook and a few pens to the duffle bag and then looked around the room. She was feeling so many things right now, all she could do was stand there. She was nervous, doing this. She hadn’t left the city in seven years. Excited from the anticipation of doing it mixed in with the paranoia and guilt—if anything happened, the last two journals weren’t here for the next keeper.

She glanced toward the library, she even felt guilt over the fish. How sad was that?

Inhaling a slow deep breath, she picked up the bag. She was being silly. She’d be back here in a few days. By then, Bastian and the Alterealm royals would have things well in hand and she would, hopefully, know what she planned on doing about Bastian.

Being his other was something she still didn’t understand—but what if this soul was meant to carry on as it had been? Recording things in journals, that he himself said had answers and information they needed. What if this soul was meant to move on, time after time?

As she went up the ladder, she hoped she could remember which brick was lose, so she could put the key behind it. It wouldn’t do the next keeper any good if she couldn’t find the right one. She grinned as she put the table back into place, when she’d found this building, she thought for sure she had lost her mind, trying to wiggle bricks to find a key. Of course, when she’d found it, that had meant all the things in her head were real and not just wild dreams. That had been an emotional realization.

Pushing the brick back in place, she stepped back and looked at it. “Just a precautionary, I’ll be back.” She whispered and turned to go down the alley before she changed her mind.

All of her hair was tucked into a hat, hopefully, it made her less recognizable.

When she went around the corner, past the Gemini women’s place, she saw Ava and Karma standing there, almost like they were waiting for her.

Ava gave her a nod, then started in her direction. Nova bit her lip wondering if something was going on. She glanced at the bag in her hand. “Crissy said you were going on a trip soon.”

Nova tried to hide her surprise but failed when Karma smirked. “I need to go check on some things.”

Ava nodded slowly. “It’s a good time for a trip. Are you walking to the bus station?”

Nova nodded.

“Mind if we come with you?”

She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t relieved. “I’d like that.”

Ava zipped up her jacket and looked over at Karma. “Just let us know if you see any of those jerks that are after you. Karma hasn’t had any fun in months.”

Nova didn’t know what skills Karma had, but the slow smile on her face told her she was safe with these women.

They walked in silence for half a block.

“Does the soul sucker know you’re going on a holiday?”

Nova shook her head. “I’ll call him once I’m there.”

“Good call, he’s not going to be happy.”

Nova already knew that. “Things are getting complicated—he needs to focus on dealing with what is going on, with me out of the picture he’ll be more help.”

Karma chuckled. “I doubt he’s going to see it that way. Crissy explained what was going on and Capri says we need to help where we can.”

That made Nova feel better. With the Alterealm family and Gemini’s helping, the dark souls wouldn’t stand a chance. She paused in step when she saw a homeless woman pulling a small wagon down an alley, her soul was close to moving on. She wondered if she knew that.

“All good?” Ava was watching her.

Nova nodded. “Yes, just thinking.” It wasn’t a complete lie; it was the first time she’d thought about a soul’s rebirth instead of death.

“It’s safe where you’re going?” Karma glanced around.

“I think so.” She honestly didn’t know. “I’ve never been there, so the ones looking for me won’t be looking there.”

“They’re scouring the city, searching for you, so not being here is a good idea.”

Nova didn’t reply to Ava, just kept walking. The bus station was a block away now.

“We’ll wait by the bus until it leaves, if you spot any trouble on it, let us know.”

Nova gripped the strap on her bag tighter. “Thank you.” She looked at every person nearby, checking—always checking. “I brought all of the things your friends gave me.”

Ava grinned. “The little bottle, Flora gave you is your quick getaway. I’ve seen it in action before, one squirt of that in the face, and they dropped to their knees and screamed like a two-year-old.”

Nova debated for a moment about stopping and putting the little mist bottle in her pocket, but she wanted to get to the station early, so she could get a seat and the back of the bus. The idea of being trapped in a vehicle with no way to escape if she needed to was making her second guess her decision.

“Hey.” Ava touched her arm to get her attention. “You’ll be fine. Drop a little extra cash and get a ticket that runs straight through, with no stops.”

Nova nodded, having thought of that earlier when she checked out the bus routes. “I’ll have to take a cab for a bit once I get there.”

“You should have them drop you near to where you’re going and not on the doorstep,” Karma suggested.

Nova nodded. “That’s a good idea, thank you.”

Ava motioned to the station. “Go, we’ve got your back.”

Nova blew out a breath. “I don’t know how Crissy knew, but I’m glad she spoke to you before I left.”

Ava’s expression sobered. “We’ve seen the things she’s survived and know what she says is solid.”

Karma nodded. “She deserves the eternal safety the Justice will give her.”

Nova didn’t understand what they were talking about but nodded anyway. Crissy’s pure honesty, even when she was confusing was something everyone needed.

As the bus began to move, Nova glanced out the window to see Ava and Karma still standing there. Pulling out her phone, she looked at it. Should she tell Bastian now or later that she was going away? She may not know him well, but she could see him chasing the bus down the street. Biting her lip, she put it back in her pocket. Definitely later.