hand moves up and touches her mouth as if she’s trying to make sense of my words.
I realized I haven’t been clear. “You were so young. You had your whole life ahead of you. And then it was over. Just like that.”
Charlotte’s face lights up, and her smile returns. “Don’t cry, Piper. I’m so happy. Even my dog is here with me.” And on cue, the Yorkie she used to have is next to her, pawing at her leg for attention.
I scratch him behind the ears. “Remember how sad we were when he died?”
Charlotte shakes her head. “He never died, Piper. He’s here. See?”
It takes me a few seconds to process her words, and I realize she only remembers good things about life.
I bend down, and Charlotte wipes my cheeks, and I gather her again into a hug. “Everyone missed you so much. You had the loveliest funeral. It was perfect.” I think of her funeral, the only one I’ve ever been to. I told my mom I’d seen Charlotte there, up by the altar. Like a ghost and an angel blended into one. So small, but shining and looking right at me.
My mom told me I’d imagined it, and she made me promise never to talk about it again.
“Your parents missed you, Charlotte. Everyone did. Even my mom.” I’m rambling now, but I want her to know how much I cared. What an impact she had on my life. If not for Charlotte, I may never have had a true friend before Chloe. And seeing Charlotte, I know I can’t let Chloe go, even though I know Chloe would be happy here. I may be the most selfish person in the planet, but she’s the only friend I have.
But Charlotte shakes her head. “It doesn’t matter.”
I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn to see Shayne. “Humans can’t escape death. The best they can hope for is to leave their sorrows behind at the River Acheron and come to live here,” he says
I look around at the world I’ve come into and wonder what Charlotte’s sorrow was. Does someone that young have a true sorrow? “But everyone doesn’t make it here,” I say.
Shayne shakes his head. “And everyone doesn’t deserve to either.”
Charlotte’s dancing back and forth on her feet like she can’t contain herself. “Are you coming, Piper?
I look to Shayne who gives an “I don’t know” shrug.
“Coming where?” I ask.
“The sculpture contest,” Charlotte says. “Meet me there.” And then she runs off before I can say another word. I’m struck by how different our reactions are. She’s acting like we were just hanging out yesterday, and I watched her be buried and have lived six years since.
I turn to Shayne. “Can we go?”
He nods his head toward a giant dune. “We need to check in first.”
Chapter 16
Rhadamanthus
We walk over the dune toward a house I haven’t noticed until now. In fact, the more I think about it, the more sure I am that it wasn’t here two minutes ago. Maybe in paradise, things can appear out of nowhere.
“Who lives here?” I ask. As we get closer, the beach clears until it’s just Shayne and me walking side by side. He reaches for my hand and holds it. I pretend my heart isn’t beating like crazy.
“Rhadamanthus,” he says, like it’s a name everyone should know.
I guess he sees my blank look.
“Overlord of the Elysian Fields.” Shayne smiles and gives my hand a squeeze. “And one of my best friends.”
My stomach fills with jitters when I think of meeting Shayne’s best friend, and I guess Shayne can tell.
“You’ll love Rhadam,” he says. “Of the company in the Underworld, he’s the best. Though I’ll be honest—the competition isn’t too tough.”
I grin, and the thought that Shayne wants me to meet his best friend warms me. Like he wants to show me off, when, in fact, it’s me who would want to show him off. Though, aside from Chloe, I have only my mom to show him to. And I can imagine her reaction.
“What’s so funny?” Shayne asks.
“I’m not sure
“What?”
I laugh again at the absurdity. “I was just thinking of how my mom would react if I brought you home to meet her.”
Shayne’s face goes deadpan. “Your mom would try to skewer me.” But then he gives me a playful smile. “So can I take that as an invitation?”
I figure the question doesn’t even need an answer. Ahead of me in the sand, I spot something dark, and when we reach it, I bend down to pick up a black oyster shell.
“So much of the fish life is dying…” my voice carries off, and I look upward. I’m not sure how to phrase it.
“Above ground?” Shayne finishes for me.
I nod. “It’s hard to find any shells at the beach.” The beach back in Virginia scarred me. Dead fish littered it, and the birds that fed on them coated the sand like filth. It was one of those images that never goes away. I can still remember when the alarms sounded, signaling that the sea level was rising. Everyone was supposed to evacuate the beaches. And most people did. The bodies of those who didn’t washed up for weeks afterward. But the sea life never had a chance. Contaminants rushed in with the rising water and killed armies of species. My mom and I had walked the beach for hours, and all we saw was death.
Shayne must be able to read some of the horror on my face. “Your mom took you to the beach when you were younger?”
I reach down, picking up another shell which curves in on itself until I can’t see anything but a single dot in the center. I try to focus on it instead of the memory of dead fish. “We used to live by a beach. Back in Virginia, when I knew Charlotte.”
“I never knew that.”
“Why would you? Are you omniscient?” The thought of Shayne knowing everything sends a rush of adrenaline into my chest.
“If only.” He shakes his head, and for a moment, he looks so vulnerable. So normal. “Omniscience is not within the power of the gods.”
I laugh. “That’s a good thing, I think. Anyway, my mom never wanted anyone to know who we were or where we lived.”
“So why’d you move?” He’s casual, reaching down, grabbing a handful of sand, letting it fall through his fingers. Each grain sparkles in the sun, and it’s so white, when it hits the ground, it reminds me of powdered sugar. But he wants the answer. I hear it in his voice.
“It was right after Charlotte died.” My heart starts pounding when I begin to tell him, catching me totally off guard.
“What happened?” He’s looking at me now, coaxing the words out with his eyes.
“Nothing.” I throw up my arms. “I don’t know. I mean one minute we’re there going to her funeral. And the next thing I know, my mom’s telling me to pack my bags. That my father had shown up at the funeral. That he was coming to take me away. And we’re leaving that night.”
Shayne takes the hand not holding the black oyster shell. “Did you see him?”
I shake my head, and though my heart is still pounding, it feels good to get it out. “My father? No. I was only eleven. I don’t even know what he looks like. But I’ve heard it my entire life. That if my dad found me, he’d take me away and never let me see my mom again. That he was a dangerous terrorist and was wanted by the government. She told me we needed to be more careful. It was always the same old story.”
“So you never met your dad?”
“No. My parents got divorced when I was a baby. Or maybe they weren’t even married. Sometimes I
