Free Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

brittle laugh. “My soul?”
    But she isn’t laughing. “Listen, Lia. There
is
something you should know about traveling the Plane. The soul can be free of the body for only so long before the astral
     cord, the thread connecting body and soul, is severed. Once that happens, the soul can never return.”
    “Do you… do you mean that one’s body would be left empty, as if it were dead?” My voice is shrill as a rising tide of hysteria
     fills my throat.
    She holds up a hand, trying to calm me. “It doesn’t happen often, all right? There are not many in the Otherworlds with strength
     enough to separate a soul from its living body. But it
can
happen.” She swallows, and though she tries to hide it, I see her fear. “I… I have heard of a place, an awful place, called
     the Void. A place where displaced souls are banished. A place between life and death. I think that is where the dark thing
     meant to take you. To the Void.”
    “Do you mean to say that one’s soul would be stranded there forever?” My voice is a squeak.
    “Those who are banished to the Void are lost for eternity.” Her eyes are haunted. “Listen, Lia. I don’t know all the ways
     of the Otherworlds, all right? But the dark thing wanted you, and I have never seen something so powerful fall short of its
     mark. Yet…
    “For some reason, it couldn’t reach you. I’ve no idea what it was that protected you from the full measure of its force, but
     it would be wise to avoid travel until we find out — or until you can be certain you will have the same protection next time.”

    We walk back to the house in silence. When Birchwood comes into view, Sonia puts a hand on my arm, looking upward. I follow
     her gaze to see Alice watching us from an upstairs window.
    “Do be careful, Lia,” Sonia says. “Be careful until we find some understanding.”
    My sister is too far away for me to see her expression, but even still, I feel the cold fingers of fear at the sight of her
     shadowy figure in the window.
    Sonia and I continue to the courtyard, and I watch as she leaves in her hired carriage. I wait for it to disappear down the
     tree-lined path before turning away from the house. I don’t wish to speak to Alice about Sonia. Not yet.
    I hear the rush of water before I come to the riverbank. Last week’s rain has filled the river to the brim, causing it to
     race over the rocky bottom at a furious pace. Stepping off the stone terrace, I head into the sheltered copse of evergreens,
     maples, and oaks. It is almost lunchtime, and I wonder if James will be waiting.
    “James?” My voice would be quiet in any other setting, but here it resonates among the serenity of the riverbank. “Are you
     here, James?”
    Strong arms grab me from behind, lifting me off my feet. A squeal escapes my throat, and I kick my feet in blind instinct
     to free myself from the steely grip. As I lift my fists, preparing to pummel my unseen assailant, I am turned around to face
     my captor. Warm lips close on mine, his hands loosening their grip on my shoulders and finding their way into my hair instead.
    I lose myself in the kiss, feeling as if the river rushes through me, all the way from the hair on my head to the soles of
     my feet.
    Then I shove and step away.
    “Ugh! Goodness, James! You gave me such a fright!” I favor him with a childish and ineffective punch to the shoulder. “Someone
     might have come upon us!”
    He laughs, covering his mouth with a palm as if to compose himself. His face becomes more serious when he sees the expression
     on my face. “I’m sorry, Lia. Really. But who else would grab you so?”
    There is still a trace of amusement in his eyes, and I glare at him in the hopes of removing it.
    He comes closer, looking around and pulling me taut against him. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I’m only happy to see you.
     It takes such effort to see you in the library in front of my father, to see you on the street with Alice, to see you