Navi
"It's been two months, Elizabeth. I've done everything humanly possible to forget him. I've been so busy fighting demons that I barely have enough energy to brush my teeth, but I always have plenty of energy to miss him." I flopped back into the soft grass, my feet still dangling in the river, and stared at the rising sun. "I can't love anyone else."
She nodded sadly, her eyes telling me she completely understood.
"So… maybe I'll become a nun. Nuns don't go to hell. I've never had a nun in my army. If I can't get over Alec, maybe I'll just be in love him from a convent, and never hurt another guy with my traitorous heart."
She rolled her eyes, which was both alarming and slightly amusing from a ghost with translucent skin. "I think quitting school was unwise. It provided a much needed distraction. Perhaps enough that you wouldn't have had to spend time with Bryson to find relief."
I cocked my head to the side to see her. There was still the outline of tears in her soul from the battle the night before, or the night before that… we'd been fighting every single night for so long that I couldn't keep track anymore. "You're probably right. But I can't keep up. I was failing two classes and mid-terms were coming up. There was no way I could study for them."
"When the sea witch rises, we will kill her and then you can finish school." Elizabeth nodded like she was so positive that's what would happen.
"She's killing off all my army. I'm not going to have one to fight with by the time she rises." I traced a dandelion, wondering why I was here at the river where I'd come with Alec so often instead of home sleeping. "That's probably her plan, huh?"
Elizabeth nodded slowly, her ghostly fingers trailing in the water as she lay on her stomach, one hand propped under her chin. "She's sending her demons every night to diminish our forces, and when she's confident she can overtake us, she will rise."
"Well that's just awesome. I wonder if Death will let me scour hell for some more recruits." Rumors of our constant battles had spread, and finding more souls willing to fight with us was getting difficult. Death himself was trying to bargain with them, offering rides on his hell hounds or tea and biscuits at night when they returned to their cells. So far, it wasn't helping much, but I held out hope.
"I wish we could contact some of the other Agents. I'd like to see if they're having the same problem we are." I sat up so fast my head spun, and I had to try to hold my brain in my skull with both hands. "Ouch. Maybe we could ask Death if he would consider creating another Agent."
Elizabeth looked up sharply. "Are you going to quit?"
I shook my head, but gently this time. "No. No way. But if there was another Agent, with my strength and power, we'd have a much better chance of killing the sea witch."
"Your mother and aunt were both Agents and they did not succeed." Elizabeth relaxed back onto her fist as the sun's rays shone through her, sparkling against her soul. It almost hurt my eyes to look at her, she was so bright.
I slumped back onto the grass. "Yeah, I guess. Maybe we could convince the souls in limbo to join us. But I can't offer them freedom."
"They might join just for protection. Her demons are snatching up any of the souls they see—whether they're yours or just trapped ghosts."
The sun felt like it was frying my eyes. I slowly rolled over and shoved myself to my feet. "I'll get started early tonight. We'll see if we can find some souls to recruit before the sun goes down and we have to fight."
Her eyes widened. "Your shoulder is wounded, Navi. You should have taken care of that as soon as the demons sank into the sea."
I glanced down. "Oh. Yeah, so it is. It will heal tonight. I won't die from blood loss before then." I started slowly walking down the dirt road, swinging my shoes. "What are you going to do today?" I asked as she floated beside me.
"I will search for recruits. Maybe I could go to the other Agents. Gather information."
"That will take you clear across the world. You won't be able to come back quickly if something were to happen. Unless you went through Death's chambers."
She shook her head vehemently. "No, no. I'll stay here. In case you have need of me."
I gave her a sympathetic smile. She was so brave. But facing Death alone, no matter how adorable he seemed to me, was something she just couldn't do. And I didn't blame her. "Maybe one day we will find someone to travel with you."