said to Ramin and me. “Just let him take you, Harper.”
“I’ll see you soon, hopefully,” Ramin whispered.
“You be careful, you hear? Neraka needs you, and I sure as hell don’t want to see your boy taking your place,” I replied firmly.
“We’ll both fight this as hard as we can, Harper. I only wish to see you back in your body, with your husband… just as I wish to someday return home and find nothing but peace, happiness, and prosperity.”
Herbert came forward, his arms wide open. He kept a remarkably straight, albeit deformed, face, though I couldn’t ignore the tiny string of drool stretching from the corner of his mouth. Oh, God, he’s slobbering already…
“He’s an animal, Harper,” Ramin whispered. “He can’t control such a reaction. Have faith.”
“Herbert has never hurt anyone while under my rule,” Ibrahim said, noticing how long it was taking me to let go of Ramin. He couldn’t see me, but he would’ve seen Herbert taking me in if I’d let go by now. “Besides, remember, Harper. Herbert is free only after he delivers your soul safely back to your body. If he doesn’t, I’ll be able to track him and destroy him. Once you’re well and conscious again, I will break the spell on his pencil case. That’s how it works.”
That gave me enough confidence to take the next step. I could feel myself loosening up inside Ramin. Herbert’s big, black eyes grew even bigger. I figured he could see me better, now that I wasn’t fused to the Fire Hermessi anymore.
Gut-wrenching shrieks pierced the sky. Bajangs were going down. There was a bloody fight taking place, worryingly close to the crater. I heard strange swooshes and grunts, heartbreaking wails and bloodcurdling growls. We had to get away from here, fast.
Herbert slowly reached out, while I did the same. Phoenix gasped. “Holy crap, I see you… sort of. You’re just a mass of white light.”
“This is so beautifully weird,” Kailani murmured, staring at me.
So they could see me now. Sort of. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that Herbert and I were touching one another, and Herbert had made himself visible to them. Perhaps I was visible by proxy. The ghoul pulled me out of Ramin and pressed me against his skinny chest like a cloth. I didn’t even realize I was literally being absorbed into him until I could practically feel his insides, moist and cold, tightening around me.
For a few seconds, I was blind.
“Open your eyes, darling.” A hissing voice startled me. I could hear it so clearly, as if it was inside me. The voice inside me, while I’m inside a ghoul… Oh, boy… It snickered. I’d amused it. “Yes, Harper, you can hear me, and I can hear you. I can hear your thoughts… everything. So, careful what you think of.”
“Herbert?” I croaked.
Clarity engulfed me, as I could see, once more. This time, however, I had a view of the world through Herbert’s eyes. Everything seemed more colorful, the image sharper and brighter. Before us, Ramin stood—a flaming figure, the fire licking at the air around him.
“Mm-hm. You’re in me, and I promise not to eat you. How’s that for a beginning to our new friendship?” he replied. His tone was heavy, weighing me down with every consonant. “Don’t be afraid. I can feel your fear, and it’s quite insulting. I promised the warlock I’d keep you safe, and I will. Ignore the drool, darling. A well-behaved dog won’t take the snack until you give it to him, but that won’t stop the poor chap from drooling.”
Actually, that made a lot of sense. It also made me giggle. “You consider yourself as well trained as a dog?”
“I didn’t ask for it, but… yes,” Herbert said. “Now, are we ready to go?”
“Hold on,” I replied, noticing Ramin move.
The Fire Hermessi took a step forward, and I could sense the ghoul’s wariness. He wasn’t fond of the Hermessi, from what I was able to tell. “You hold her close,” he said, “or it won’t just be the witches you’ll have to deal with if anything happens to her, Herbert.”
Herbert purred like a cat and gave Ramin a nod. “Don’t even go there,” the ghoul said to me, inwardly. “Little known fact, but an angry Hermessi can rough up a ghoul, if provoked. I haven’t experienced it myself, but I hear it’s nasty business.”
“Insightful. And somewhat reassuring, actually. Thank you, Herbert,” I replied politely, doing my best to put my fear aside,