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"No," I whispered,as if someone had split me wide open Tears welled up and spilled down my cheeks I wiped at them hastily "That didn’t make me feel better at all"

"I didn’t think it would, but you insisted" He headed around the front of the cottage--the cottage I wasn’t sure I could even look at now "People loved you--still love you Mourning is never easy But they will heal, and they will continue to live"

And I wanted that--I wanted theain, I didn’t want them here They deserved to live

"The Elixir is no ht you’d like to know that"

I looked up at Apollo as we crossed the beach, the sand warm under my bare feet Since I’d died, I’d boycotted shoes "Thank you"

"So on the Elixir for so long, butwell Many are presented with options they’ve never had before" He stopped, several feet froency Council iven a spot on the Council"

My mouth dropped open "Are you serious? A half-blood on the Council? Oh ods, that’s…, that’s awesorin appeared on his lips "Only a few days have passed, but a lot has happened Aiden took his spot on the Council as well"

I sucked in a shallow breath as pride swelled through me "He did? His parents…"

"He did With his vote, aave those rights I proalore, I felt like I needed to sit down This was ave his seat to Solos"

My eyes widened "He did what? I reat about Solos, but ould he do that?" Then fear poured into ht? He’s not going to do anything stupid--"

"He’s not going to do anything stupid He will be okay," Apollo responded "Change is co for our society, Alexandria It will take some time, but it will happen Just like you will come to accept your new path"

Thrown off by that last statement, I took a step back, away from Apollo "My new path?"

"Yes, it’s tiaped at hih ti to visit you ilare "Remember what you did with Caleb to honor your mother and those who died last sue of subject left

"You used spirit boats as a way ofon, didn’t you?"

I frowned "Were you peeping on nored that "I think you need to do the sa for yourself"

"What the what?" I stared at him, stunned into stupidity "You want me to set a spirit boat into the ocean that’s meant for me?"

Apollo nodded once more "I think it’s the perfect idea It will be symbolic and hopefully a new start for yourself"

Several seconds passed while I waited for hi" and slap me on the shoulder, but he didn’t "You’re serious"

"Do I look like I’?"

Actually, he looked like he wanted to hit me "But that is so…weird"

"It is not weird" His gaze dropped over me "But you should be dressed nicer than this, like you hen you did it before"

My mouth opened, but before I could utter a word, Apollo snapped his fingers, and ed while on my body Jeans and tank top, my choice of afterlife attire, turned into the black tube dress I’d worn the day Caleb and I had set the little spirit boats free

Saze "That’s…that’s creepy, because there had to be a split second when I was naked, so don’t do that again"

He shrugged and then held out his once-empty palm Not so empty now A spirit boat rested in his hand, candle and all

I hesitated "You’re really going tothe urge to rollto be swayed on this e Ever since Apollo had killedloose on hi a damn spirit boat in hands, I didn’t have it in reed to beco hoould probably end

Shaking ers wrapped around it, a tiny flaile spirit boat in ht?"

"You need to let go of your old life, Alexandria"

"My only life," I muttered

Apollo didn’t respond to that