CHAPTER 9Mara sat in the living room of the house in which she had grown up, feeling both strange and at home while staring at the twinkling green light atop an ornately carved pedestal centered on the mantel over the fireplace. It was hard to believe this was the soul of her brother captured inside a luminaire. As her Sam approached the fireplace, the light brightened, as if it recognized his presence, giving him pause.
“Can he see me?” Sam asked Mara.
“How would I know?” she replied.
Sam lowered his face to peer into the bulb, sparks of emerald reflected from his eyes.
Ping came in from the kitchen and said, “I would suggest you not touch that. We’re not sure if the luminaire is adequate protection to keep you from being thrown back into your realm.” He took a seat next to Mara. “Dia
