The words niggled at the back of my brain. “I’ve read some of the reports from the area. You have a larger than normal wraith population.”
“We do.” Tara nodded. “Before you ask the obvious next question, I’m not sure why. There has to be a reason, but I don’t know what it is. I don’t get involved in reaper politics.”
That made sense, although it did beg another obvious question. “And what do you do here?”
“I’m a facilitator.” Tara was matter-of-fact. “I’m something of a liaison between the real world and this one. I don’t have a foot firmly planted in either world, although I can answer questions on both sides.”
“So ... basically you’re saying it’s the best of both worlds.”
“I’m saying that I know a little bit about everything,” Tara clarified, her earlier smile all but invisible as she opened the door at the end of the narrow hallway and hit the light switch on the wall, flooding the cavernous room to the point I had to blink several times to adjust. “This is your territory. You’re in charge of this ... and I don’t envy you.”
I jerked my eyes to the one thing I’d been dying to see since I’d returned. Oh, who am I kidding? I’d been dying to see it since I was a kid, since that one brief glimpse I got at another world. It had shaped me. The death of my parents was only part of it. The whispers on the other side, the voices, they were what constantly called to me.
This is why I was back. The death gate. The portal to the other side.
“Wow!” My voice came out in a breathy whisper as I took in the shimmering surface of the portal. “That is ... exactly as I remember it.”
Tara was less than impressed. “Yes. It’s pretty. It’s also dangerous.”
I barely registered her words. “How is it dangerous? Has there been a breach? If so, that wasn’t included in my packet.”
Tara involuntarily shuddered at the implication. “There has never been a breach, at least as long as I’ve been here. I don’t know why you would say that. A breach isn’t funny. It’s not a joke.”
I arched an eyebrow as I regarded her. “I know it’s not a joke. It’s just ... you said it was dangerous. That’s naturally where my mind jumped. It was a question, not a suggestion.”
“Yes, well, I don’t like it as a suggestion either.” Tara was clearly uncomfortable as she shifted from one foot to the other. “Nobody wants a breach. That could be disastrous.”
I didn’t disagree. Tara, however, seemed chilled to the bone at the very thought. “I’m here to make sure there’s not a breach,” I offered softly.
“Yes, well, I hope you’re good at your job.” Tara turned prim as she tugged on her polo shirt to smooth it. “I’ll leave you to look around. Like I said, the rest of your staff will be here tomorrow. I’m sorry about the delay.”
I wasn’t. The idea of looking around on my own was a dream I thought impossible to realize. I was happy for the few moments of quiet. “Don’t worry about it. I don’t plan to stay long. I simply want to look around, get my bearings, and then tomorrow is another day.”
“It is indeed.”
Tara offered a half-wave before shuffling toward the door. It didn’t escape my attention that she worked overtime not to stare at the gate. To me, it was a magical portal to another world ... one where my parents were being kept comfortable until I could join them on the other side. To her it was obviously something else.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I offered quietly.
“Yeah. Tomorrow.” Tara didn’t so much as glance over her shoulder as she disappeared through the door.
I watched her go, a mixture of trepidation and curiosity flooding me. She was an odd one and I looked forward to learning more about her. For now, I had other things on my mind.
I focused my full attention on the gate opening and smiled when the telltale sound of whispers reached my ears. This is what I remembered from my childhood, the voices and the feeling of warmth emanating from the opening.
This is why I came back.
This is what I searched for since I was seven and had lost everything.
This is ... home.
I had no intention of losing it a second time.
Two
I didn’t sleep well.
It could’ve been the fact that I was in new surroundings. The island was eerily quiet, something I would have to get used to. I’d spent the better portion of my life in the French Quarter, which always bustled with activity. Belle Isle seemed almost desolate in comparison.
Anxiety over my new job fueled me, too. I was technically the boss here. I was in charge of the gate. If something happened, it would be on me. I didn’t shy from responsibility, but I was still getting used to the idea of being the big boss.
Of course I had no idea what sort of boss I wanted to be. I figured that would come with time. At least I hoped it would come with time.
I arrived fifteen minutes early. My security cards had been delivered while I slept, slid under my door. I tried to keep my hands from shaking as I let myself into the aquarium. It was early, so Tara wasn’t behind the front desk. That was probably for the best.
I glanced at the tanks as I shuffled through the building and headed toward the door that led to the facility’s inner sanctum. My shoes echoed on the marble floor, creating a spooky environment, as if I were trapped in a horror movie and about to be attacked. I pushed those thoughts out of my head — they weren’t helpful — and used my new card to enter the back hallway.
I was almost to the room that housed the gate when I finally heard voices, which caused me to slow my pace as I listened to what sounded like a rather robust conversation.
“I’m not saying that I want to be a prostitute,” a woman insisted, her voice young and strong. “I’m merely saying that I don’t understand why prostitution is illegal.”
“It’s illegal because people are puritans,” a male voice responded. “People want to tell others how to live their lives, and sex is an easy gateway for that.”
“I wish people would spend more time worrying about themselves and less about what others are doing.”
“That goes against human nature.”
“What do you know about human nature?”
“More than you might realize.”
I could’ve remained in the hallway eavesdropping. Part of me wanted to. It was an excellent way to get to know my new co-workers. But if they caught me it would reflect badly. That wasn’t the reputation I wanted to garner.
Instead, I pushed open the door and pasted a bright smile on my face. It felt unnatural, forced, but I didn’t want to appear unfriendly.
The two people in the room looked up when they heard my shoes on the floor and my senses kicked into overdrive when I felt a spasm of power clench. I couldn’t decide if it was due to an involuntary reaction from me or a little something special offered by the two strangers staring at me with unveiled interest.
“Hi,” I offered lamely, internally cursing myself. “I’m Isabella Sage. Call me Izzy. I don’t really respond to Isabella. I definitely don’t respond to Bella —you know, the whole Twilight thing — but if you call me Izzy I’ll always answer.”