Read Her Black Heart (The Dark Amulet Series Book 2) Online
Authors: A.J. Norris
Her Black Heart (The Dark Amulet Series Book 2) (27 page)
Julia
“Tell me again why we’re here?” Raz asked.
“Morbid curiosity,” Julia replied.
“This isn’t healthy, and did I already mention this isn’t a good idea?”
“Many times. Many. Times.” She wore her hair tucked into a Tiger’s baseball cap, a hoodie on top of that, and dark sunglasses. They stayed in the back of the room in the last row of chairs, away from the other attendees. At the head of the room an easel held a large framed portrait. Laid on top of the closed casket was a bouquet of peace lilies. A wreath of pink roses with a ribbon that read
‘Beloved Sister’
sat off to the side, nearby.
A minister recited the prayers, I Don’t Believe in Death and Wings of the Angels. Both more apt than anyone knew. He said a few nice words about her that nobody believed and invited any of the guests up to speak if they wished. Her blotchy-faced sister Jasmine walked to the podium and adjusted the microphone.
Julia sniffled as a tear meandered down her face. She tasted the salty droplet on her lips. “I’m really dead, aren’t I?” Raz put his arm around her shoulder. She sagged and leaned into him.
Jasmine began to speak. “Um, I’d like to say a few words about how I want to remember my twin sister, Julia.” She unfolded a lined notebook piece of paper. “I remember when we got our ears pierced at the mall and I made you go first because I was scared. Even though I never asked, you held my hand when it was my turn.” Her sister paused to wipe her nose. “I remember all the family camping trips our parents called a vacation. We’d roll our eyes every summer while Dad loaded up the mini-van. You remember, don’t you?” Her twin spoke as if she knew Julia was in the room.
Yes.
Jasmine cleared her throat before she continued. “We groaned all the way there, but secretly loved it. What I remember the most about you, is what no one else saw. Like the time some boys were picking on one of the special needs kids from school at the bus stop, throwing rocks, and you picked up those rocks and threw them back. Nailed a couple too.” The audience chuckled and Jasmine smiled. “You were always the brave one, the strong one.” Her sister’s voice wavered. “And that’s how I want to remember you. Always.”
Raz stroked the back of Julia’s hand resting on her lap. She looked at their hands together. His dwarfed hers. Closing her eyes, she tilted back her head and sighed. Attending her own funeral was gigantically stupid but she was glad she came. Her life had ended so abruptly there wasn’t time to mourn its passing. Since day one of the afterlife, Julia hadn’t stopped.
“We should go,” Raz said.
“You’re probably right. Looks like it’s over, anyway,” she said. They stood and waited for guests to move out of the row. Julia craned her neck over her still seated friends and family members. What was she looking for?
“What’s wrong?” Raz asked.
“It’s nothing. I just thought…oh nothing.”
“No. What?”
“I dunno,” she shrugged. “I guess I hoped to see someone. But I don’t see her.” The crowd emptied from the room, heading to their cars for the procession to the cemetery. Raz had only agreed to this excursion if she promised that they wouldn’t go to the gravesite.
“Who?”
She blew out a breath. “This old lady I know, knew. Augustina.”
Raz opened his mouth to speak then shut it.
“What is it?” she asked.
He twirled an index finger so she’d turn around. Augustina was headed right for them.
“They always want to attend their own memorial service,” the old woman said.
“I’ll never understand,” Raz replied.
Julia froze.
Wait, what’s going on?
“How…? How did you—”
“We had a date Friday, did you forget?”
“No, I mean, how did you know I was here? That it’s me?” The old woman’s eyes glowed.
Julia gasped.
Holy…
Augustina giggled. “Surprise.” She eyed Raz. “Are you taking good care of her? I heard about her plunge.”
“That wasn’t my fault,” he said.
“Just watch out for her. I like this one."
The light faded but Julia still gaped at her. “You’re an angel?”
“Was, still am.” Augustina shrugged. “I chose to fall, but—”
“Why?”
“Love, honey. Why else?”
“But Abaddon, can’t he hurt you?”
The fallen angel waved her off. “Pfft. Arcadia, no. That asshat never dared go near me. Despite my husband ripping my wings out, I was still stronger than that stupid demon wanna-be. I’m Warrior class. Which means—”
“Which means, she can go primal on his ass,” Raz interjected.
“What about now?”
“Even now. I may look decrepit, but I’m not.”
“But how?”
“It’s only my outer shell that ages like a human, inside I still got it.”
“Did you know what was going to happen to me?”
“Not exactly,” Augustina replied. “But I recognized the amulet you always wore, caught my attention. I still got contacts in the area. I spread the word something was going to go down.”
“Wow,” Julia smiled. The old angel winked and disappeared. She turned back to her Guardian angel. “Soooo, that was weird. I had no idea.”
“There are a lot more of us than humans realize.”
“I
guess
.”
He joined their hands and they went outside. Julia squinted in the sunlight as she looked up at him. “Will you always be around?”
“Yeah,” he chuckled. “Don’t you want me to be?”
“Yes. But do think you could teach me how to fly? I’m going to have to get over this fear sometime, right?”
“Well, you are a Guardian angel now. Probably a good idea. You think you’re ready for that?”
Julia smirked. “I hate you, you know.”
“I know. I love you too.” He smiled and kissed her.
Julia’s black heart was no longer.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to take a moment to thank all the people who have provided their support and encouragement during my writing journey: My incredibly supportive husband and family; my trusty beta reader, Sarah LoCascio, Phil S. and all the rest of the OFW’s motley crew; and the members of WR. I also want to give a shout out to my editor, Felicia A. Sullivan, and the Limitless team.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A.J. Norris is a lover of all books but her loyalty remains with her first crush; romance. She graduated from a mid-western college with a degree in absolutely nothing to do with writing whatsoever. It wasn’t until well after college when the build-up of voices inside her head became too overwhelming and needed to be let out, that she began to write. She isn’t following a family legacy of writers, only a need to put words on a piece of paper.
A.J. is a movie buff, especially book adaptations, loves watching her son play baseball and communing with other writers. She lives with her family who are extremely tolerant (at least most of the time) of all her late nights behind the computer, clack clacking away.