“Eric!” Selena flung herself toward the two men, but they’d vanished before she could reach them. She’d seen the light that had shined on Eric’s face and she knew it for what it was. It was Heaven that was calling to him.
But then she saw something else, almost like a shadow that instead of darkening Étienne’s face seemed to drain it of light, and she knew that too for what it was. She saw the moment Eric realized this as well and knew the moment he’d known that Étienne would never leave her alone.
Before she’d been able to react he’d grabbed his brother and threw himself, along with Étienne into the darkness.
Selena was on her knees on the floor in the middle of her living room staring at nothingness. He’d sacrificed his soul to make sure she was safe and happy. Instead she was completely heartbroken and surely dying.
Sobs racked her body and she hugged her arms around herself. She wanted to die. “Please God, please. Make this go away. Please,” she begged. She couldn’t breathe. Losing him would be unbearable, but knowing that he was suffering because of her would surely make her lose her mind.
She laughed hysterically. Perhaps it was better that way, she thought. If she was crazy, then maybe she wouldn’t feel the pain.
And then anger set in. “Damn you, Eric! You stupid, stupid man! You left me and… oomph!” Selena was hit out of nowhere by a large mass. She lay sprawled on the floor with her face in the shag rug. “Aahh!” She yelled as she struggled to get up.
The mass got off her and grabbing her by the armpits lifted her as if she weighed nothing. She whirled around, not sure what she would find.
“Eric!”
Eric hauled her to him and kissed her deeply, passionately. “Mon amour, I was so afraid I would never see you again.”
She pulled away slightly and looked up into his sea green eyes. “How?”
“I don’t know. I was there one minute, and the next I was spat out. Rejected.”
“Oh, Eric.” Selena rained sweet kisses all over his face.
He lifted her off her feet and carried her to the bedroom. “I am sorry, but I must have you now.”
“Yes, Eric, please,” she replied breathlessly, her body ready for him.
Eric took her roughly and she devoured him. They’d been through too much in the last two days and they were desperate for each other.
They made love all night, taking a few breaks in between.
It was now the following afternoon and she and Eric sat on the sofa watching TV, with Selena’s head on his lap while he played with her hair.
“Eric,” she said.
“Mmm.”
Selena sat up and looked into his eyes. “I know that Heaven called to you. If you want to go I would understand.” Even though she would, it still hurt her to say the words.
Eric smiled and tucked a loose strand of blond hair behind her ear. “I am in Heaven, mon amour.” The love that shone in his eyes when he looked at her proved that he spoke the truth.
“So am I,” she said and kissed him lightly. “Then you will stay with me?”
“I will. I vow to be with you until we can both make the journey to the beyond together.”
“And we’ll be together for all eternity.”
Selena turned her head then and smiled at Christie. “Now you know,” she said and Christie woke up.