Glancing in the rear-view mirror I notice the curtains to our room are pulled slightly apart. Ascot is watching me.
Great, he’s probably second guessing giving me his keys.
I stop and wait, watching for my chance to turn onto the busy street when my phone dings. Several rows of cars are still approaching so I glance down.
Ascot: “You r not going to break it.”
I look back up as a continuing flood of vehicles pass by, and grab the phone.
Me: “Just being cautious.”
Ascot: “I have good insurance, live a little.”
I roll my eyes and smile, glancing back up, finally there’s a break in traffic. So, I hit the gas, squealing the tires and give out a yelp, the BMW taking off like a rocket.
Holy shit!
My heart beats faster, my fingers tightly wrapped around the steering wheel, but surprisingly, the car is beyond easy to drive. This is actually really fun.
Ascot is right. I need to live a little.
Watching my speed, I carefully weave in and out of traffic with ease, somehow avoiding several stoplights. I finally make it to the apartment building, noticing the sun is still above the horizon but not for long. I pull into the parking lot and slip into Ascot’s usual spot before exiting, hitting the lock button on the key fob.
The front door entrance is unlocked, as usual, and I rush up the stairs to the second floor. Spirit is nowhere to be seen but I can feel them above in Ascot’s bedroom near the portal, and there are lots of them.
“Sylvia?” I call out as I walk through my door. I glance around the room, untouched since this morning, not abnormal, but something isn’t right. “Sylvia…”
“I am here,” she says, walking down the hall towards me. “Where have you been?”
“What do you mean, where have I been?” I ask. “You can always find me. I was with Ascot.”
Sylvia shakes her head, her expression washed in concern. “I can no longer attend you outside the apartment building.”
“What?” I blurt out and she closes her eyes.
“The portal, it must be caused by the spirits coming through it,” she blinks. “Last night, when I went to communicate with them again, it must have bound me to this place. It’s the only thing I can think of.”
“What? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t know until you left this morning and I couldn’t go with you.”
Shit.
Sylvia takes my hand. “Which means you have to be extra careful whenever you’re not here,” her face clears and she gasps, hands tightening around mine. “Oh my, you are…” her eyes go wide, “Elise, you are im-immortal.”
I close my eyes, forgetting I haven’t had a chance to talk to her yet. I barely had a chance to wrap my brain around it. Besides, she’s been busy upstairs, keeping the spirits away, including Liv and Becca.
“Yes,” I whisper, “the cut on my foot,” I start to explain but she shakes her head, and closes her eyes. I don’t have to tell her anything, she can see it all telepathically, everything…Ascot, my healed foot, and my immortality, just by touch.
Her lips twist and then she opens her eyes. “Ascot is special, isn’t he?”
I nod, “Yes.”
“You and him together,” she whispers, “that’s what created the portal,” she says, still holding my hands. “Asclepius, the healer,” she murmurs, staring into my eyes, “Ascot is the son of Apollo, the Greek god.”
I silently nod again.
Sylvia swallows. “It’s not the portal keeping me here at all,” she concludes, her blue eyes becoming glassy. “It’s your immortally,” she whispers. “I can no longer protect you.”
“What do you mean? We’ll always be together.”
“It won’t be the same, Elise,” a tear escapes from the corner of her eye. “My work with you has come to an end.”
“No!” I shake my head. “That’s impossible! It can’t be…”
“I’m afraid it is,” she wipes away a tear from my cheek before wiping her own. “It was bound to happen eventually, Elise, but it doesn’t mean I can never visit you,” she pulls me in for a hug. “It just means you don’t need me anymore. Not in the same way.”
“I will always need you,” I whisper, resting my chin on her shoulder. “You can’t leave me. Promise me you won’t ever leave me.”
“I won’t, I just won’t be attending you,” she kisses my cheek. “All you have to do now is summon me,” she whispers in my ear.
“And you’ll come?”
“Of course, dear, always.”
I let go, relieved as I look into her beautiful blue eyes. “I can’t believe it even happened. I mean, how can I be…”
“Immortal?” Sylvia whispers.
I slowly nod. “I didn’t know, how could I have known?”
“It’s not your fault,” her eyes suddenly brighten, “and maybe, just maybe, this will mean no more Liv and Becca.”
“Oh my god, what?” my brows push together.
Sylvia slowly nods, looking away as if working it out in her head. “Yes, and if I’m right, I’m pretty sure they can never be a threat to you or your soul again.”
“I don’t understand,” my breath hitches.
She smiles. “Your immortality, you’re no longer vulnerable to death.”
“Dear God,” I look away and start to pace. “Y-You’re right, I-I can’t die,” I raise my brows, clasping my palms together. “They fed on my fear, my anxiety, they can’t drain my energy. I won’t be of any use to them now,” I smile. “I don’t have to be frightened of them anymore.”
“That’s right,” she says, smiling back at me.
We both reach out and hug one another as I sob happy tears, her hands gently patting my back. “I’m free, Sylvia, I’m finally free.”
A few moments go by and I release her, sniffing as I grab a tissue from the coffee table.
“Why did you take off with Ascot?” she asks, tilting her head. “I saw you leave with him in his car.”
I wipe my nose and I look up at her. “Oh, yeah,” I blink, trying to focus. “The renter below us, Marcus Logan, he’s been dealing and selling drugs. Ascot is trying to keep it from escalating.”
“Why does he need you?”
“He needed to ask a favor.”
“Ah,” she nods, he is trying to stay hidden from his father?”
“Damn, you’re good,” I smirk. “And yes, among other family members.”
“Oh,” she looks away, ignoring my compliment, deep in thought before looking back at me. “What kind of favor?”
I pull in a long breath. “The portal,” I whisper. “It can draw unwanted attention as well. He asked if you and I could close it,” I scratch the back of my head. “For good.”
Sylvia walks passed me and begins to pace. “I-I don’t know, maybe,” she shakes her head. “Ascot does realize he’s partly the cause of it, right?”
I nod. “Yeah, which is another reason he’s staying away for now. I assume because of all the desperate spirits, competing for his help.”