Immoral - G. Bailey Page 0,15
onto her, trying to soothe her by rubbing her back and just being here for her. Eventually she pulls away from me, and the room is a little emptier than it was before. I can still hear the vampires just outside the room though.
“Where do people go when they die?” she quietly asks, her words catching on thick emotions that break my heart. No one as young as she is should have to feel this way. I don’t have an answer for her, and I struggle to say anything, even as she stares at me like I should know. Thallon kneels down next to me and catches Aala’s attention.
“My papa used to tell me that everyone leaves this world only to find the next place their soul belongs, and you know what?” he asks, and she shakes her head. “I asked him how I would find my family in a new place. How would they know me?”
“What did he say?” she curiously asks as I wipe her cheeks of tears. I look down at her small hands, seeing a familiar ruby ring clutched in the middle of her palm. Why would Masita give her the ring? I wonder if she knew she would die; maybe Aala wasn’t the only one in her family with gifts.
“He took my hand and told me that souls remember other souls. That family and love are bonds that connect us far past the death of our mortal bodies,” he tells her and offers her his hand. “My name is Thallon, and I promise to protect you alongside Kaitlyn. We can’t replace your aunt, but we can be each other’s family. What do you think?”
We both pause as she slides one of her hands out of mine and into his, and somehow I know Thallon means every word. He will make sure she is safe and protected alongside me.
“We have to go and see the leaders of this place. They have a way of getting Ren,” Henry softly says behind me. Turning to see him, Vesnia and Bryne standing behind me. I look once at Thallon, and he nods, letting me know he will watch her and the other vampires while I go and get back their leader.
“Where the hell are we?” I ask as we step out of a cabin in the middle of a thick forest with one stone pathway through it, which is lit up with tiny solar lights. The sun is setting over the trees, casting thick yellow and vibrant oranges through the green leaves. It’s super beautiful here, but as I stare at the setting sun, I realise it wasn’t this late in the day before we came through the portal.
“That’s hard to explain, but I will try,” Henry says, linking his fingers with mine. “One of the tales leaders is hiding us in another dimension that is made with his powers. He literally made this world and can control what is in it. Effectively, it’s safe as long as he is alive,” Henry explains. “And the vampires won’t be sensed here.”
“How the heck do they have power like that?” I question, and Henry shrugs.
“At least they are the good guys, darlin’,” he replies, and I guess he does have a point. “We have been here, making a plan to rescue you. Ren spoke alone with Madi about a plan, and she promised to only tell you.”
“Let’s find her then,” I say, nodding once. As we walk through the forest, I start to wonder about Myles. He must have gotten off the academy somehow, but how is the question. I glance at Henry, taking in his curly locks of black hair, the fires in his eyes burning brightly as he glances at me, and they reflect off his golden skin. He looks tired, though, like he hasn’t slept well in a long time, and all things considered, that makes sense.
“Have you seen Myles since the academy fell?” I ask Henry, and he smiles at me.
“I saved the wolf for you, and he is on the tales island, waiting for you much like we all did,” he tells me. “Turns out wolves weigh a fuck ton.”
I laugh and rest my head on his shoulder, relief coursing through me. “I’ve missed you more than I can explain, Henry.”
“I’ve missed you more. I thought I might go mad while we had to figure out a plan. Gabriel was a good spy for us and told us they were planning to move forward with your