Meridian Chronicles: Keepers & The Soul Key (#4)

Chapter 24 pt 3

 Talon extended his arm and grabbed Aiden, bringing him closer for a tight hug. They both laughed and patted each other's back.

"Son, well, yes, it is me. Are you disappointed?"

Meridian pushed herself between the two of them. "Disappointed? Aiden looks a lot like you."

Talon shook his head and said, "Maybe, but not totally. His mother had blue eyes. I have waited the whole of my life and the afterlife to meet you the way I wanted you to see me. Selena was gracious, I asked to be returned. Took some help of the Angels, but I guess they give some favors here and there."

"So, Dad, you are here? Really here? You aren't a spirit guide?"

"No, son, I am in the flesh. Now you and I have quite a bit to catch up on. I live here in a house around your grandparents. When they found me, they offered to help me transfer here. I was stationed in the military. Unfortunately, I have no recollection of my past life. Just the one, the angels, let me remember."

Aiden smiled and looked to Meridian. "It is like a dream come true!"

Aiden held Meridian tightly, and they pressed their lips to one another's and giggled with happiness and tears from their eyes.

"I can't believe it, I never asked to come back. But I wanted to. I just can't believe it!" Meridian shouted and hugged Aiden.

"Now we can have a date, and now I don't have to worry about that stupid curse! You are free from worries. Me and you! We have our whole lives ahead of us." Aiden picked Meridian up and hugged her tightly as they both continued to laugh.

As they turned to walk into the house, two other beings remained quiet during the happy exchanges. Never making themselves known.

"You think they can stay together now? Most humans never make it that far, huh?" There he was still in his best attire, Lahash stood in mild amusement alongside Echo.

"I think so, they are twin souls...together they form a soul key. They are destined to be together forever in this life or the next." Echo said as she took Lahash by the hand.

As they turned to leave the small quaint town of Salem, Lahash said, "I like it here, you think we could stay?"

Echo snorted, "Well, we have to tell everyone the news, don't we?"

Lahash leaned closer to her and whispered, "Ah, let em sweat it a bit, I say." He looked cut his eyes downward to look at the one he was so infatuated with. His lips were upturned as he put his arm around her.

"Aren't you worried that the dark one will come for you?" Echo asked.

Lahash let out a massive sigh, "Oh, I am not in total trouble; mean, we got rid of Warrick. He is quite upset with me, but not as much as Ipos and Valefor, they are the ones who will be kicked out of court. The dark one believes that I was under your spell, and everyone knows that demons are powerless against it. So, he can't make too much of a fuss. But as usual, history will repeat and I would say in a few thousand years, we will be once again trying to take over Etheria. But enough of that, let's talk about us."

Echo stopped him and looked him in the eyes, "Lahash, whoever said there was an us? I mean, who was to say I had you under my spell or not?"

Lahash grinned and said, "I guess it is for us to know and for the others to, well, try to find out."

Just as the unlikely pair left Tallulah's place where Meridian and Aiden were, an old car pulled up in front of the house. Hearing the door slam, both Echo and Lahash looked to see who it was.

There the dark-headed girl walked up to the porch and knocked on the door, and Aiden and Meridian both smiling opened the door. After their eyes landed on the person standing in the doorway, their smiles abruptly left their faces.

Lahash and Echo stood together and watched the scene play out on Tallulah's porch. Echo's eyes widened with shock and a forgotten character, to say the least.

Lahash laughed to himself as his steely eyes stared at the unwanted visitor, and he mumbled, "Raina."