Page 60 of The Beyond
Everything he’d said, everything she hadn’t, played over in her mind since she’d returned.
She should have told him that she loved him. She should have not cared that he deserved better than her. She should have…
She stepped into the brightly lit restaurant and saw Tara standing inside, holding a pitcher of water.
When Tara saw her, she smiled and walked over and hugged her. “You’re back.”
“I am, but not for long,” Selene admitted. “I came back to get some help. Scott’s been taken.”
“Taken?” Tara gasped. “By whom?”
Selene felt her heart sink. “Our brother.”
“Wait, what?” Tara shook her head. “We have a brother?”
“Yes.” Selene glanced around. “Can you take a break?”
Tara looked around the crowded place. “Yes, but… How about you sit. I’ll bring us something to eat and we can talk.” Tara motioned towards an empty booth.
Selene walked over and sat down. Moments later, the rest of the group she’d met last time she’d been in town were sitting at the table across from her.
“Oh, hey,” she said, waving oddly. Everyone was just watching her.
“Are you okay?” Jessica asked.
“I…” She felt her throat close up and then, to her horror, she burst out crying.
Several people moved to her booth. None of them, thankfully, reached to touch her or hug her. Instead, they shielded her from the prying eyes of others. They waited and then listened to her relay the entire story. At one point, Tara sat down next to her and held Selene’s hand while she talked.
When the entire story was out, including the bit about her not telling Scott she loved him, she felt drained. Soul and body.
“Here.” Tara set a massive pile of fried chicken with mashed potatoes and white gravy in front of her.
“Comfort food,” Tara said with a shrug as she dug into her own plate.
“What happens now?” someone asked.
Selene wiped the tears from her eyes and then picked up a chunk of chicken, dragged it through the potatoes and gravy, and took a bite.
“Now, Tara and I go to Elysium and, together with Lucas, we save Scott,” she said between bites.
“How?” Tara asked. “How do we do that?”
“I can get us there,” Selene answered.
“How?” Jess asked.
“The same way Brea can go places.” Selene motioned to the couple sitting at the table near them. “Only, I can travel to the Underworld.”
“Which is where Elysium is?” Tara asked, taking a sip of her water.
“Yes, it’s… well, no. It’s supposed to be at the end of the Earth,” Selene answered.
“Which means?” Tara asked.
Selene set down the fork of potatoes she was about to shovel into her mouth. “Which means we try and, if we fail, we try again.”
Tara glanced around. “I… I’ll need to talk to Colt.” She motioned towards the kitchen doors.
