Then, Zina had connected them, and the world disappeared all around them. They shot out of their bodies and up into the spiritual plane. They were still within Black House. In fact, she felt almost trapped within the bounds.

“You won’t be able to leave. That is another reason for choosing this space. It already contains so many spirits that its purpose has shifted to containment, and I didn’t want us to get too far away,” Zina told her.

Kerrigan looked down at her body, just a wisp of what she had been down below. “I can’t believe I did it.”

“I did it,” Zina corrected her. “But we will get you there. The important point is that you should feel safe in these confines. The last time you did this with Gelryn, you were out of control, and I want a safe learning environment. Now, we’re going to push back down into our bodies and let you try.”

Kerrigan nodded, and before she finished doing so, she was rushed back to the surface. She blinked awake in shock. “Whoa.”

“Your turn.”

She gulped and then reached back for her spirit magic. It jumped to her as if it had a life force of its own. She didn’t know what she was doing, but she fumbled for Zina as well. Nothing happened the first few times as she slipped around her teacher. Then, with a jump of force, she jerked them both upward.

“Slow down,” Zina commanded.

Kerrigan stopped and found them a floor up. She’d pulled them straight through the floorboards and nearly out of the house. Something Zina had said was impossible.

“That wasn’t too bad. How did it feel?”

“Good,” Kerrigan admitted. It had felt powerful. Like she had been meant for this.

“Excellent. Now, put us back.”

That was harder. Her magic didn’t want to release. It was so happy to be flexed that the return took a full half hour before it relaxed enough to let them soar back through the floor and into their bodies.

Kerrigan didn’t even feel tired. Normally, spirit magic of any kind drained her reserves. Visions made her pass out. The Night of the Dead must have had such a profound impact that it wasn’t even hurting her. No wonder Zina had waited.

They did it a dozen more times. Each one with more accuracy and control. It was still hard to pull herself back into her body, but by the final time, she was doing it in a matter of minutes.

Zina nodded at her once. “Good. That will be all for tonight. We’ll meet back at the winter solstice.”

“Wait,” Kerrigan gasped, grasping her hands harder. “Please. I’m not ready. This is so necessary.”

“I don’t want to drain you, dear.”

“I’m not. I feel like it’s refilling my magic rather than draining it. I’ve never felt anything like it.”