It was a simple room. It was a little like some of the ashrams Dom had visited in India. Large, flat cushions of bright, embroidered fabric were scattered across the floor and at the far end of the circle was the Awe, as Dom remembered her, in her dark-haired, dark-eyed loveliness, seated cross-legged on one of them.
‘Dominic. It is so wonderful to see you here. I have been looking forward to this. And Eva. I am in a different form to when we last met, but I am no less happy to see your beautiful face. Sit with me.’
The two of them sat on one of the cushions beside the woman and waited. Dom absorbed again the energy in the air, which made him feel peaceful and invigorated at the same time.
‘This is where we are reunited briefly – or eternally.’ She smiled. ‘You are my energy, in the form of humans. This is where you decide what your souls want to do next.’
‘And our bodies?’ Dom asked.
‘Most people are done with their bodies at this point. But it is always your choice, Dominic.’ She tilted her head. ‘You have questions?’
‘Deora. What will happen to her? She wants to destroy you.’
‘I know this, of course, Dominic, I know everything.’ She gazed at both of them, her gracious face serious. ‘But just as I have given you freedom to choose your lives and actions, I have also given it to the Superios. It takes time to evolve, much time. Fortunately we are not in short supply of time. Deora has not learned everything she needs to yet and she will try again to reach me, to destroy me. Aro and Amalia, your friends, will no doubt face her again. They have a great many things to teach her.’
‘And my sister? What happens to her?’
The Awe smiled. ‘Whatever she wishes and whatever she chooses. Part of mortality is letting go, Dominic. You may have to let go of your sister here. You may not.’
‘I don’t understand,’ Eva interrupted in a low voice. ‘I came before you a long time ago. I am sure I did not choose to be a Guide for so many, many years. How was that my choice?’
‘It was not the choice of your conscious mind, Eva, it was the choice of your soul,’ the Awe explained. ‘Your soul knew you needed more time to process your own grief at your death, and you found that in helping others do the same thing. Your soul yearned for love, and in becoming a Guide, you met Dominic, whom you love.’
Eva blushed a little and looked at Dom quickly.
‘We want to be together,’ Dom said. ‘Don’t we?’
Eva nodded.
‘That is what your mind says, Dominic. And that is what your heart says. But I will only be able to listen to your soul, which weighs up all of those things and makes the wisest decisions. I will listen to your soul and I will send you each on the journey you need.’ She put her palms together and placed them at her lips. ‘Such a beautiful passage you have had through this Afterworld, Eva and Dominic. I am blessed by your lives and proud of your journey. Are you ready?’
Dom turned to Eva. ‘I don’t really understand this. But if, you know, my soul, is messed up and chooses something weird, I just want you to know . . .’
Eva leaned forward and kissed him, holding his head tight to hers, and he kissed her back because he was out of words and tired and didn’t want to make any more decisions.
When she pulled back, Eva met his eyes. ‘I love you. I have since . . . since soon after I met you. Thank you for getting me out of the City. And finding me here. And . . . everything. And if we aren’t together on the next part of our journey, we will be eventually. Look at Eduardo.’
Dom smiled. ‘Okay. I’ll believe you. You’ve always been right about everything.’ He held her hand. ‘I love you, too. You’re the most amazing, strong, brilliant dead girl I’ve ever met.’
She laughed and so did the Awe, the sound a symphony.
‘Are you ready to speak to me?’ she asked gently.
‘Yes.’ Eva sat up straight, still holding Dom’s hand.
‘Yes,’ Dom said. He squeezed Eva’s hand.
‘Then close your eyes and continue your endless journey of life,’ the Awe commanded, and they did.
Dom felt nothing at first. Then he had a sensation of sudden and powerful movement as though he had fallen. His grip on Eva’s hand slipped.
He opened his eyes. And smiled. It was exactly where he wanted to be.