IN ANOTHER LIFE , josie saltzman ✔️

- 21. Love & Death

I awoke on a bed. When I opened my eyes and realized where I was I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. 3 days. 3 days without a way of getting out of this literal hell. Since my soul magic was gone I had no idea on how to call on the soul bond and connect with Josie. Maybe even activate the link between our minds. I groaned and got out of the bed.

"I was wondering... could you send out a message to your mother? I mean... she is the queen, right?" Clark asked when I got downstairs. "No, because I don't know how. Normally Sophia is the one recognizing the breaches between the..." I cut myself off when I got an idea. "Dad." I whispered. Clark raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?" He asked and I smiled. "My father! He is able to travel between his afterlife place and this hell hole. Sophia could be able to track down the breach to the point where my father would appear and then maybe if my father would stay long enough she'd send someone down here to check out the level of breach." Clark got up from his seat and looked down at me.

"This could actually work if... your father could remember you. So this plan is for nothing." He said and I began to think. "He's still bound to my mom! Maybe he is remembering me. Maybe-" Clark cut me off abruptly. "These are all maybes! You can't know for sure." Clark said and I began to wander around. "All I need is a bit of soul magic to call upon Josie or my mother..." I said and Clark put his hands on my shoulders and stopped me abruptly from walking. "You locked it into your girlfriends soul. There is no way for you to reach it." I frowned.

"Maybe I can't reach it... But what if a really dark revilas could be able to call forth the magic to the living? To Meridial's own power source? I'd just need an anchor." Clark shook his head. "Too dangerous. Ruby would kill you if she saw you." I groaned. "It's the only way! And Meridial's power source is much stronger than my magic. There is a small chance I could get us directly out of here and into the castle." I said. "From all I know you could die even meeting Ruby. If she is as powerful as you told me she could take you as an anchor to leave the dark world." He argued.

"Without my soul magic she has no magic to call upon to actually leave here. I'm worthless to her." I said. "Then why would she even consider helping us?" A small smile crept on my lips. "If I'd get through to her good side and let it take over then she is free. I know how to do that. I've did it before. Then she is able to leave Nemea once and for all. I may not be able to have my soul magic but I can still manipulate her into turning her to her good side." Clark chuckled.

"She's been dark for a thousand years. Not even someone like you can make her see the light inside of her." I smirked. "Oh, Clark. You clearly underrestimate me. I am a Hale. Revilas royalty. Plus, Hale women are known to be powerful and terrifying without magic." I said and he frowned. "Mom would be proud." I said to myself and then got ready to leave the house in the woods.

—

After I met Ruby alone, Clark joined us. Ruby smiled at the proposition and I sighed while I waited for her answer. Clark and I sat on wooden chairs at a large table in the former throne room of Nemea's castle.

"Well?" I asked after a while. "I want your mother to make me queen. Of Nemea. I want to perform magic that is coming out of the sacred grounds. I want my magic back. Only then we have a deal, princess." She said and held out her hand. I took her hand in mine and shook it. "Alright, then. I'll talk to my mother." I said.

—

"Remember this our only chance." Ruby said. I sat in a circle with Ruby on the opposite of me as Clark stood behind me. My hands were linked with Ruby's as she channeled the magic that was still inside me. Clark put his hands on my shoulders. "Hear us elders and let us out of the cage that has been torture to our soul. We call forth the magic of our ancestors! We call forth the magic of our queen!! Let us pass the lines of the worlds and let us return purified. Hear us elders so that we can leave this world in peace to regain strength in another! Hear us elders and let us pass!" Ruby and I yelled in unison and the ground began to shake beneath us.

Ruby and I gasped when bright light surrounded us and the three of us passed out as we crossed the barrier between the dead and the living.

"It's the princess!" The voice was faint and my eyes fluttered open as I regained consciousness. "Along Ruby and a human!" I struggled to sat up and I was helped up by the guards. "Oh, Amaya!" My mother's voice sounded relieved and then I heard a growl. When I began to look around Ruby also woke up. Clark was held up by the guards. "Throw her into the-" Mom said and I raised my hand. "No!" I said weak. "She saved me. She's purified." I struggled to say those words and my mother put her hands on my cheeks. "I trust your word, my love." She whispered.

I awoke on my bed and saw my mother sitting at the end of it, looking at me. "I was so scared..." she said and then got up to sit next to me. She brushed hair out of my face and touched my cheek. "I thought I lost you..." I noticed the blue stone in her other hand and sat up abruptly. It was followed by my groaning at the pain in my upper body. "Get that away from me." I said quietly and groaned.

"Don't you want to see Josie? And Hope?" She asked concerned and I shook my head and looked out to the closed window. "No, I don't. Mother, I promised Ruby that you'd crown her queen of Nemea. And she wants her magic back." I said and Mom scoffed. "How could you think of this right now? You have to get back on Earth and to your other half and your sister as soon as you're better." Mom said confused. "No!" I yelled and my eyes weakly glowed green. "No." I said calmer. "I will not leave Meridial, mother! I can't." I said and raised my voice again.

"Well, then. I will leave a gown and your crown for the coronation of Ruby here. Um, if you need me-" I cut her off with a sharp tone. "I won't. Now go please. I'm sure you have arrangements to make for the coronation." I said coldly and my mom and queen nodded and got up.

She gave me one last concerned look before she left my chambers.
I sat up straight and opened a small portal infront of me. I could see but I could not enter it. I saw Hope, Lizzie, Josie, MG and Landon sitting together on the benches by the field. They talked but I could not hear them. A few minutes later the portal was infront of them but they didn't see it. "I will do whatever it takes to get her back. Are you guys with me?" Josie asked and Hope sighed.

"If you say she is my sister then I believe you. I'm in." Hope said and it seemed like so long that I had heard her voice. "Of course, I'm with you, Jo." Lizzie said and then the portal abruptly closed and I fell back onto the bed.