Gaia wasn’t what Addison expected. The lush surroundings reminded her of a flourishing rainforest. Abundant. Rich. Thriving. Everything was different here—the air, the water, the trees—all alive, all communicating on the same frequency. All co-existing as one. If there was an afterlife, Gaia was the place Addison envisioned it would be like.
As daylight spread across the land, Addison brushed a hand along the side of a tree. Its surface roots were like sprawling fingers. She could see where they began, but not where they ended. The moment the bark grazed her hand, she heard a faint humming, like the tree was communicating, welcoming her to this place. It moved and swayed, its branches bending, as if bowing to her. A comforting sense of calm washed over her body, a feeling unlike any she’d ever experienced. It was as if she’d been here before, and now, she’d come home.
As her curiosity grew, she nudged Samael. “Where is this place? Where is Gaia?”
“Gaia is a parallel universe, a world within a world.”
Luke, Lia, and Addison exchanged confused glances.
“I’m not sure we follow,” Addison said.
“Think of it in the same way you would the spirits you’ve helped move on these past years. You were the only one who saw them, weren’t you?”
Addison nodded.
“No one else may have seen them, but they were still there,” Samael said. “Much like we are here now.”
“Are you saying spirits, those who were once living, exist in this place?” Lia asked.
“I’m saying Gaia exists alongside the Earth.”
“And what part of the Earth would that be?” Lia asked. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
“No human has ever discovered its location, and they never will. It’s veiled from them, a protection bestowed on this place by my ancestors … and yours.”
“Where is everyone?” Addison asked.
“You’ll see, soon enough,” Samael replied.
They forged ahead, walking beside a bushy path until they came to the entrance of a magnificent temple made of white marble. It was several stories high with arched windows on every level and had an array of pillars lining the front.
“It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” Addison said.
“I second that,” Luke added.
Samael grinned and opened his arms wide. “Yes, it is. Gaia holds much beauty. Welcome.”
A solid wood door adorned with carved leaves opened to display a great hall. At the opposite end, a woman sat on a throne. She had long, white hair and a youthful glow, even though she was mature in years. A crown encrusted with black jewels rested atop her head, and she was dressed in a flowing gown that looked like it had been spun from pure gold.
The woman held out her arms, beckoning Addison to come closer. “I’ve waited so long for you, child.”
“You knew I was coming?”
“I know a great many things. Every moment of your life, from the beginning to now has brought you here, to this place in time … to me.”
Samael added, “This moment is for you, and you alone. Go, now. I’ll take Luke, Lia, and Amara Jane with me and show them around. We’ll meet up with you later.”
As if sensing Addison’s hesitation, Luke reached out, giving her hand a squeeze. “Go. Speak with her. We’ll be fine. I won’t let Amara Jane out of my sight.”
Addison nodded and walked inside. As she neared the woman, she said, “Are you Aryanna?”
“I am. You have grown into a stunning woman, full of wisdom and grace. You remind me of your maternal grandmother, Marjorie.”
“You knew her?”
“I did. Long ago.”
“I don’t understand. How is that possible?”
“Like your father, I too have lived for centuries. There was a time when necromancers and sorcerers were friends, a time when we lived together in peace. Back in those days, we formed a council, coming together to focus on the greater good.”
“When did everything change?” Addison asked.
“On a day when disagreements turned to anger, and anger to hate. Not everyone is suited to peace and harmony. It takes a great deal of strength, patience, and perseverance to maintain over time. Some do not have what it takes. It’s a pity. It is also the truth.”
Addison wondered if Aryanna had been referring to Aamon. Could he have been responsible for breaking the alliances between species? She thought back to her encounter with Joan Waterhouse, and the advice she’d given Addison a couple of years earlier: You must choose, Addison. You must decide who you will become from this day forward.
She’d always assumed Joan meant she needed to choose one or the other—sorcerer or necromancer. Now it was clear she’d misinterpreted Joan’s meaning. It was never about accepting one and rejecting the other. She could choose to become both, using the blood that flowed within her from both parents to bring everyone together at long last.
Aryanna stood.
Taking Addison’s hands in her own, she said, “You understand now, don’t you? You know who you are to become.”
“How did you—”
Aryanna tapped a finger to the side of her head. “I hear your thoughts. I know your worries and your fears, and I know the one thing you desire most.”
“And what would that be?”
“To avenge the death of your mother, of course.”
“Not just her. Everyone Aamon has put to death over the centuries. I came here because I want to stop him. My father believes I need your help to do it.”
Aryanna remained silent for a time, and then said, “Everything you need to conquer him is inside of you. Magic is as much about wit and intuition as it is about casting spells and enchantments. You have much to learn. First, we eat and give you time to settle in from your journey. Then we begin.”