“You can’t be here. You need to leave,” Seraphina says.
“What’s going on?” Metis asks.
Bodie appears next to Seraphina. “Hey.”
Seraphina takes a step back. “Hi, Honey. This is Metis. He’s an old friend. And this is his beautiful wife, Aris. He just introduced me to her.”
She turns to Aris. “It’s so nice to meet you finally.”
To Aris’s surprise, Seraphina moves her hands to her shoulders and presses her against her chest before Aris can protest. It is an intimate gesture that Aris did not expect from someone she just met. Seraphina’s warm breath is next to her ears.
“Promise me you’ll leave. Metis can’t be here. The Sandman needs to be protected. Absinthe needs to be protected,” Seraphina whispers quickly.
Aris feels blood leaving her body. Shock surges like waves from the pit of her stomach.
Metis is the Sandman?
Before Seraphina’s lips leave her ears, she says, “Don’t drink it.”
Drink what?
Seraphina squeezes her shoulders. Aris takes it as a warning—now is not the time to push for answers. She nods and forces a smile. Bodie’s face breaks into a wide grin.
He puts his hand on Metis’s shoulder and says, “You know, you look so familiar. Have we met?”
Seraphina and Metis exchange a glance. “Metis is a famous pianist. You’ve probably seen his face on something somewhere.”
“Must be. Well, we’re so glad to have you here.”
“How did you two meet?” Metis asks.
“Seraphina was visiting Elara a few months back. She had a friend with her. What was his name? My memory’s not so good anymore.”
“Benja,” Seraphina says. Her voice is sad.
“Handsome guy,” Bodie says, “I met them at a bar downtown. They were staying at the Hotel of the Desert, near the preserve. I thought they were lovers until she came to my shop one day and asked me out on a date.”
“We haven’t been apart since,” Seraphina says.
“Never again,” Bodie says. He leans down and kisses her.
When he breaks away, he says, “All right! I need to get the party started. Excuse me.”
He walks off, leaving Seraphina alone with Metis and Aris.
“I guess you didn’t heed my advice,” Metis says.
Seraphina gives a small smile. “Neither did you.”
“Fair enough,” says Metis.
“I heard about Bodie soon after I joined the Dreamers,” Seraphina says. “When they described him, I knew he was my lover from the past cycle. You know, it wasn’t even that long after his dreams were erased that I joined. If only . . .”
Seraphina sighs. “When I decided to look for him, I didn’t know what I would find. I was afraid, so I came with Benja. He was the bravest person I knew.”
Aris wonders why Benja never mentioned Seraphina to her. Then she remembers. She was against him taking Absinthe, and she blamed all the Dreamers for influencing him. She wishes she had believed her friend while he was alive. She could have helped. At least Bodie is still here. If he will let her, she may be able to give his dreams back to him.
Seraphina says, “You were right on one thing though, Metis. We can’t force the past on someone who doesn’t want it.”
Aris sees Bodie coming out of a room she thinks is the kitchen. In his hands is a tray of shot glasses filled with clear liquid. He walks slowly around the room, trying to keep the drinks from spilling. He goes to each person, offering a glass to them. One by one they take them from the tray.
“Is that—?” Aris asks.
“No. Something else,” Metis says.
Bodie comes to stand in front of them.
“This is why you’re here, isn’t it?” Bodie says and winks.
Metis takes a glass. So, does Aris. Seraphina stiffens and gives Aris the slightest shake of her head. It’s imperceptible to everyone but her.
The sound of metal clinking against glass rings through the room, hushing everyone into silence. They look toward Bodie.
He speaks.
“Today I marry the woman of my dreams. Seraphina came into my life like a warm summer breeze. I cannot imagine my life without her. And I won’t. Tabula Rasa will not take her away from me anymore.” His voice is clear and cheerful. He sounds like someone on the top of the world.
He looks around at the smiling faces. “I know you all have the same desire. To stay forever with those we love. Here’s to that dream.”
Bodie raises the glass and brings it to his mouth.
“To love,” he says and drains it.
Everyone echoes him and drinks the shot. Aris yanks at Metis’s hand and shakes her head. Metis nods. Neither of them drink.
Aris watches as Bodie’s smile turns to a look of bewilderment. His legs collapse under him. As if a switch has been turned off, light exits his eyes. His inanimate body crashes to the floor.
In quick succession, one after another of those around him drop where they stand, like marionette dolls whose strings have been severed. The sound, like sacks of potatoes being thrown onto the floor, reverberates in Aris’ bones. Thud. Thud. Thud.
Aris hears a scream. It’s coming from her. Metis grabs the glass in her hand and throws it against a wall. It shatters into pieces.
“Shhh,” Seraphina says, “you’ll attract attention.”
Seraphina walks toward Bodie and lowers herself to the floor next to his lifeless body. She gently places his head on her lap. He looks peaceful, as if in slumber.
Aris feels a tremble, like that of an earthquake. Then she realizes its epicenter is her. She looks down at her hands and watches them vibrate uncontrollably.
“What happened, Seraphina?” Metis speaks. His voice is rough.
“Poison.”
“Did you do this?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you murder them?” Metis asks.
“I didn’t. I only made the poison. It was their choice. They wanted to die. They didn’t want to live without their lovers. A life without love is not a life.”
“Didn’t you love Bodie?” Aris asks.
“Yes. More than anything.” Seraphina looks up, and her face is painted with tears.
“You know Bodie didn’t even remember me?” she says. “The Interpreter took his dreams
