Behind My Shadow - Book Three

45. This Is The Worthwhile Fight

"Do you think it'll really work, lady?" Bishop tilts his head as he eyes me curiously.

I'm pacing back and forth in my bedroom, anxiously wringing my fingers together. "It might," I force myself to sound optimistic. This is my only option, I gotta believe it can work. "I mean, spirit is pretty much limitless. I can read people's minds with it, I can feel people's emotions with it, I can even see the shade of their soul, so I mean...what's searching through the endless void of spirits to find one?" I force another smile.

"Well, I think it's a bloody good idea, lady," Bishop woofs and wags his tail with encouragement. "If anyone can find your mum, it's you."

"Thanks, bud," I grin as I sit cross-legged on the floor in front of him. "I guess I'll try meditating...?"

"Mind as well, lady!" He rolls over on his back, bumping into me as he rolls closer. "Y'know your mum's spirit better than anyone. I bet you'll find her in no time!" His whole body wiggles as he wags his tail.

"I hope so," I smile despite myself as I stroke his fluffy chest.

"Hey, enough of that!" He huffs and rolls over to his belly. "Focus, lady! I know I'm an adorable, fluffy distraction but ya gotta focus!"

I laugh and shake my head. "Aye, aye captain." I salute with a wink. Now I close my eyes and focus on calming my spirit, willing myself to melt into a relaxed, tranquil state of mind. Naturally given the pressure I feel, this takes a few moments. I slowly release the breath I was holding and now envision enlarging my spirit, spreading my awareness beyond the confines of my body.

I can feel my spirit fill the room around me and now to my amazement, I can sense Bishop's presence. I can feel his hope through his spirit as he watches me intently. Aw, my little buddy is really rooting for me. I feel my heart melt.

Now I coax my spirit to spread farther throughout the Alice Tower.

I wince with pain as I'm suddenly overwhelmed by the presence of my guards. There are so many of them! My spirit is almost frantic as I try to shuffle through them all.

Ugh, this will take forever if I skim through everyone's spirit.

I force myself to dull my senses as I continue spreading throughout the castle. Don't focus on anyone except for Mom's spirit, I coach myself. I have no idea how far away she is from the Palace, and I also have no idea how far my spiritual awareness can detect lifeforms but I'm certainly hellbent on testing the limits to my powers, so I force my spirit to stretch out even farther -

I gasp with shock as I suddenly sense her.

And she's close, alarmingly close.

"Mom?" I whisper with disbelief, zeroing in on her spirit. Her presence is so familiar to me, I'd recognize her anywhere. To me Mom has always been my safe place, my security blanket, my protecter, my provider. My mom was all I had growing up, she's everything to me. I feel tears spring to my eyes as I wildly track down any trace of her.

Her location astounds me.

She's right here in the freakin' Palace! She's in the Tower of Hearts!

I gasp as if surfacing from deep water as my senses suddenly come flooding back to me. My eyes fly open. "I found her!" I wildly exclaim as I scramble up to my feet.

"What? Really?" Bishop excitedly flies up to his paws. "Where is she, lady?" He eagerly bounces around my legs.

"Her freakin' sister is holding her captive in her Tower!" I frantically start pacing. "OMG, I can't believe it...all this time Mom has been right here in the freakin' Palace!" I rake both hands through my hair. "This is insane! This is crazy! OMG, this is insane!" I feel excitement, relief and a fresh wave of fear collide together all at once in my heart. "I gotta save her!" I race for my door.