It seemed like there were so many specific rules, but I suppose when you grow up knowing them, it doesn’t seem so excruciatingly detailed.

  “From there, you can only exit the same way you came in. You are connected to the portal, so as long as you can get back to it, you will be able to return. Gatekeepers, when invited, keep their physical bodies. It’s why they cannot stay for extended periods of time. They need the queen’s protection. She protects their physical body while they move around the afterlife, so they won’t wither away and die.”

  “That seems like a lot of rules,” I said, looking at the cracked mirror again.

  “It’s very specific.” She studied the mirror as well. “I don’t know what that was. The handprints and smoke…I’ve never seen anything like that. Normally, portals can only be opened on Earth to the afterlife. It’s far more complex to open a portal from the afterlife back to Earth, and requires an immense amount of power. If the powers of the afterlife are able to more easily access the mortal realm, I would assume it means something is wrong with the barriers put into place by the queen. Which is not good...That could possibly mean the destruction of the mortal realm as the afterlife bleeds into this one. The afterlife is meant as a place of rest and peace, not for the continued chaos that plagues this earth.”

  “It definitely feels like some shit is going down,” I said. It felt like we were running out of time. I was leaving in a few short weeks, and I was terrified of what I would find.

  “Let’s find you a beacon and keep working with your fabric. I want you to be as protected as possible going into this,” Priya said, giving the mirror one last look before she turned to me.

  “I’m scared,” I chewed on my bottom lip.

  “Me too,” Priya said quietly.

  “What if I can’t fix anything? Or I just get myself stuck or killed? What if the queen isn’t able to communicate with me? Or what if a demon attacks me?” My chest tightened and my mind started spiraling; I needed something to grab on to, to ground me.

  “Lincoln,” Priya said, grabbing my hands. “The only thing I know is that we will do this together and I will protect you until my dying breath. I promise you that.” She studied me intently.

  “But you can’t come with me,” I said, feeling my heart cleave in two.

  “Physically, I won’t be there, but I’ll be here.” She splayed her hand across my heart.“And despite the disgusting oddity that is Elijiah, he will be there and he is invested in protecting you. We will make it back to one another no matter what, through this life and the one after,” she said gravely.

  “Through this life and the one after,” I repeated.

  We walked away from the broken mirror and I couldn’t help but look back once more, expecting to see something leering behind the cracks. But all I saw was my own fear, reflected on my face.

  20

  My next few weeks became a whirlwind of training with Priya, researching the afterworld, reading accounts of deathwalkers, and distracting myself from the impending doom at the end of the week. I would be traveling to the afterworld in just a couple of days. I didn’t know if I was really ready, but I sure as hell would give it my best effort.

  I hadn’t seen Elijiah since that day almost a month ago, but I knew if I called him he would come. I didn’t want him to show up if he wasn’t going to answer any of my questions though. He had something bubbling underneath the surface that made me want to squirm and punch him in his ignorant mouth. He would act as my guide in the afterlife and that would be it. I hoped that when I meet the queen I can humbly ask her to get him off my ass.

  He seemed too eager to go with me, but at least he actually knows more about the afterlife than the gatekeepers do. I could only find accounts in books that recalled deathwalkers’ experiences and the occasional invitation extended to the gatekeepers.

  One afternoon I grilled Priya about the queen.

  “Okay so, let me tell you what I’ve learned and maybe you can help add some additional information?” I asked.

  “Let’s hear it, love,” she replied.

  “Everything about the queen describes her as ‘peaceful.’ Not dark and scary doom-death-talk like I would expect. If you were called, you would pop in to the queen’s residence and someone would walk you through?”

  Priya nodded and I kept rolling along.

  “And the actual residence of the afterlife changes based on the fashions of the decade. The afterlife evolves just like we do on Earth. But no one goes outside of her royal highness’ manor because no one knows what lies outside of her estate. You show up, do your thing, and leave?” I asked. I wanted to have as many details sorted out as I could before I actually ended up in the afterlife myself.

  “The only stories I read that described anything outside the queen’s home were about villages full of death. There are very few accounts of people going farther out and being greeted by small villages or beautiful naturescapes like gardens, forests, and mountains. Most stories talk about how tranquil and welcoming death is, not like the fiery pits of doom we were taught in Sunday school.” She winked and I gave a small chuckle. “Let’s not forget the demon prisons though. That sort of gives me hell-hath-no-fury vibes,” I said, tapping my chin.

  “Yes, the demon dungeon is probably the closest thing to the version of hell we learn about in modern day religions. The queen’s power keeps them all in their cages and her manor acts as an additional magical barrier because the dungeon is deep underground of her estate. A lot of her magical power is delegated to keep demons from escaping, which is why it’s so rare that one escapes from her grip. Visitors are not allowed, and armed magical guards are supposed to be there twenty-four seven.” She pursed her lips as if trying to puzzle out how any demon could escape a fortress like that.

  “How could any demons have the ability to escape all that?” I questioned.

  “I don’t know,” she whispered. Another mystery we’d been trying to figure out in the last month. I left that conversation with Priya a little more uneasy than when we started. I didn’t want to press any more and remind her of her own grief, so I went back to my own research once again.

  There were so many unknowns and I was, truthfully, terrified of what I would find when I arrived in the afterworld. The queen seemed amicable, but the rest of the afterworld was one big question mark.

  It seemed like, up until the event a decade ago, the queen would invite gatekeepers and deathwalkers to the afterlife fairly regularly to consult them, touch base, and better understand the dealings of Earth. It was a very amicable relationship based on mutual respect and trust for one another.

  Based on my sleuthing, all the accounts of the queen seemed pleasant, kind, and compassionate. Another interesting tidbit was that everyone saw something different in the queen, as if they saw what would make them feel most comfortable. Sometimes she was described as a young woman, other times an older maid, always with kind eyes and a warm smile. It was strange to wonder what she actually looks like.

  What does the queen look like when she’s simply being herself? Does that version of her actually exist?

  The angels of death were mentioned early in the texts, but rarely within the last one hundred years or so. The queen had guards, but none with wings. I wondered idly if they simply hid them or if the angels of death were what people wanted to see instead of the reality. Perhaps the wings aren’t necessary anymore. According to the texts, everything else in the afterlife evolved regularly, so why not the angels of death?

  Additionally, I found out that the queen’s immortal, so there’s no need for her to mother children because she’s always tied and destined to the throne. The afterlife is a matriarch through and through and cannot be ruled by anyone else but her.

  It made me feel marginally better to understand the history of what I was going into, but it also clearly highlighted why the last twenty-five years were so strange. First with the extremely violent demon attacks, then with the disappearance of the deathwalkers and the shut off of their hereditary powers. It all seemed out of sorts in comparison to the niceties of the thousands of years prior. No wonder the gatekeepers were eager and excited for a new deathwalker face.

  During my research, I had also reached out to Emir and Grey. Emir had been busy but Grey said, “Yes, Lincoln. All of this is incredibly strange. People downplay how odd it is because they don’t want to create panic or fear, but this shit is fucked up and scary. It gives people hope to know that we have someone who can access the afterlife and possibly find answers.”

  I tried not to feel like the weight of their world, and now mine, really was on my shoulders. I didn’t realize that everyone thought this was extremely peculiar until I read through the history. Literally nothing like this has ever happened before. Nothing has disrupted the balance before so what, exactly, is happening now? The system was built to uphold peace and resilience, so what on earth has changed to make it so catastrophically different? I can’t imagine being in the dark for this long. How incredibly exhausting and relentless these events must be for the gatekeepers.

  After all these conversations, I felt better having some background knowledge but my anxiety continued to rise, especially considering something had tried to drag my ass through the portal Priya and I opened previously. If the queen needs a deathwalker, why hasn’t she sent an invitation? What exactly was going on down there?

  Ugh.

  Everyone needed answers, including me.

  It’s wild that the mortal realm had no idea anything was amiss because humans had no idea about any of it. I mean, hell, I didn’t know anything about it until just a few months ago. The world could explode with demons one day and people would, literally, never see it coming. I didn't know how Priya and everyone else had been so calm about the whole thing until I showed up and became a catalyst for something more. I tried to just breathe through it all and not let anxiety cripple me, which is why training had been such a lovely distraction.

  I had gotten pretty good at using my silks similarly to the way Priya maneuvered with her chains. We even spelled them to shrink and change color on my whim so I could wear them around my body like clothing. Additionally, I had chosen a beacon. It was a small crystal pendant my mom had given me. Priya was wearing it around her chains, as I had asked her to keep it safe since she would be the one to watch over my body with Emir and Grey.

  “I think we deserve a night of fun from all the work we’ve been doing and the doom-and-gloom of the afterworld,” I said as we faced each other on my bed.

  “Agreed. What would you like to do, love?” She leaned in close to me, playing with the strands of my hair.

  “What’s your favorite place in the city?” I smiled at her.

  “My favorite place?” she repeated, thinking.

  “Oooh wait, I have an idea. Are you up for a little bit of adventure?” She sat up and moved off the bed.

  “I would love nothing more, where are we going?”

  “I’ll be back in one hour. Put on something fancy.” She winked. “I have a surprise for you.” Before I could ask anything else, she was out the door calling back, “Sixty minutes, Lincoln. Be ready!”

  I laughed as I took the challenge in stride and began to busy myself by finding an outfit that would knock Priya’s socks off. Once satisfied, I sat on the bed and waited for Priya to come back. I’d left the door unlocked so she could just walk in. I’d decided on a sleeveless black bodycon dress that accentuated my curves, and I’d artfully wrapped my silks around my arms like sleeves so I wouldn’t feel vulnerable or unprotected. I’d slipped on some strappy maroon sandals and pulled my dark waves back into a low ponytail. My makeup was the perfect smokey eyes with bright red lips.

  I looked damn good.

  I was just touching up my hair when an icy blast of power surged through the room moments before Elijiah entered. I didn’t turn around. I simply continued to primp and preen. I would not give him the satisfaction of my undivided attention.

  “Are you just going to sit there or are you going to say something?” I asked, casually turning around to see him lounging on my bed once I’d finished. I really fucking hated when he did that.

  “I was just admiring you, is all,” he said with a wink. He wore black slacks and a short-sleeved button-down, which had the top few buttons undone.

  “Thanks. I thought you said I was barely noticeable. Did you change your mind?” I raised a brow at him, hoping to get some clue as to what he meant. Any reaction could help me better understand his end goal.

  “You were when you were a child. All babies are made relatively equal. Little blobs with hardly anything differentiating them at all. It was like picking a random child out of a patch. You seemed the most inconspicuous.” He shrugged like it was no big deal.

  “Why would a child need to be inconspicuous?” I asked. A gnawing feeling grew in my stomach. He spoke in such weird, roundabout ways, but I knew it all fit together in a bigger picture. It was just impossible to solve a puzzle without knowing the important pieces.

  “Because we didn’t want others to find you before you were ready.” His eyes narrowed as he leaned forward. “Enjoy your evening tonight. I assume you will call me soon for your journey to the afterlife. Dress accordingly,” he said before I blinked and he was gone.

  “What does one wear to the afterlife?” I rolled my eyes.

  He was the most unhelpful, frustrating being ever.

  I took a deep breath and told myself to stop worrying about it. There wasn’t a damn thing I could do now other than enjoy this evening with Priya and do my best to be ready when the time came.

  “I can do this,” I whispered to myself as I pulled out my phone, calling Priya to tell her to hurry her ass up.

  21

  EMERGENCY MEETING. DIRECTORY HALL NOW.

  I blinked down at my phone the same moment Priya walked back through my door, looking breathtaking in a flowy dark purple dress. It skimmed her sides, almost floating around her ankles. Her chains were wrapped loosely around her waist and she wore black pumps. She had rings and bracelets decorating her hands and wrists. I wanted to run my finger along the tiny straps of her gown and let it all pool at her feet.

  “Well, damn,” I gaped at her, my mouth wide open. She smiled and reached her hands out to me. I grabbed them and held tight.

  “You too, love. You too,” she whispered.

  “What, exactly, constitutes as an emergency?” I asked slowly, feeling like I was not going to like the answer.

  “The last time we had one, a large and dangerous demon was loose, so it can’t be good.” She sighed. Her eyes looked distant, like the past was haunting her.

  “Maybe they won’t need us and we can just show up then slip out,” I said without much confidence. I was the only deathwalker in the USA branch that I knew of, possibly the whole GK Society. I’d been flying under the radar at my own pace up until now. It was no surprise that, eventually, that convenience would run out and I would be expected to act, to do something more. I was planning on doing it on my own time, but maybe that luxury expired.

  Priya gave me a sad smile.

  “Right. Well, let’s go,” I took her hand in mine and we headed out.

  The bar had a large “Closed” sign on it but people were slipping in. Emir was standing outside looking like a bouncer, tapping his foot.

  “Pri! Linc! Thank god. I was worried. You didn’t answer my texts!” He wrapped Priya in a hug, then squeezed my shoulder.

  “Sorry. Priya was driving and I wasn’t paying attention to my phone,” I said. I looked down at my screen and realized I had missed five texts from him. I winced. Probably should’ve been paying more attention.

  “What’s going on?” Priya asked.

  “There’s been a report of a large influx of afterworld activity all over the world, a full-scale global meeting was called. Hurry and go in through the door in my office. It leads to the meeting where the board members and head council are,” he said.

  My mouth dropped open for the second time this evening.

  The council only met annually and the board of directors met about the same. A global meeting was practically unheard of. It was dangerous to have everyone in the same place at the same time. Too much history and knowledge in one space could invite trouble.

  “Everyone is going to be in the same place?” I asked incredulously as Priya hurried us along, following the shuffle of people through the directory hall.

  “They will broadcast it for everyone to tune in. We will be in attendance at the actual meeting since our part in this is important,” she said. Priya glanced side-to-side with worry etched on her face. A new door had appeared in the middle of Emir’s office. The directory hall was so expansive. Doors could be created for anywhere at anytime, it seemed.

  “What do you think is going on?” I asked. The door was right in front of Emir’s desk and said: Level Five Security Door, Invitation Only.

  “I don’t know. But, because you are the only deathwalker in the entire world that we know of right now, I’m sure they’ll want something from you.” Her eyes focused wearily on me. She looked exhausted and scared, like she was afraid of what would come next.

  My eyes widened at her comment. It was one thing to be here with Priya and Emir and the GKs. It was another thing for high-level leaders in the Society to know who I am because I’m simply the only deathwalker left. No one had said those words out loud yet, even if I knew it. I naively thought that I could operate without calling attention to myself.

  “I never really thought of it that way,” I whispered, looking at the door like it might spontaneously burst into flames.