Soul Keeper

by Kate Keir

  “Perhaps they’re right. Just make sure you take care of yourself, okay?”

  “Don’t worry, Lyall I’m not going to drink at three in the afternoon. I’m not that out of control.” I laughed.

  “Okay, but be safe and be aware, love.” Then turning toward Mara and Freya, he called out, “Take good care of her, Dion.”

  “Of course, we will, Lyall. Chill.” Freya rolled her eyes.

  Turning back to me, he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on my forehead. “Have fun, see you when you get back.”

  “Okay, bye,” I mumbled back, touched but a little embarrassed by his concern.

  Mara and Freya started to tease me relentlessly as we made our way outside and into Freya’s car, and they carried on for the entire journey to the restaurant.

  When we were sat inside the restaurant and had drinks on the table and pizzas ordered, Mara’s teasing turned into questioning. “Seriously, though, Flora, are you and Lyall actually together now?”

  “No, we aren’t together. We’re getting on amazingly, and he’s been so good at helping me with my shifting training. I think he just worries about me.”

  “Although you still haven’t managed to shift yet? You sure that’s all you two are up to when you’re training?” Freya smirked.

  I laughed. “The only reason I haven’t shifted yet is because I’m awful at it. I honestly don’t know how Lyall can keep so patient with me.”

  “I’m sure you’re not awful at it,” Mara interceded. “It’s a tough thing to master when you know what you’re trying to become. I can’t imagine how hard it must be when you have no clue what you’re aiming to be.”

  “Tell me about it.” I sighed.

  “You do know there’s a good chance you’ll become either the same animal or the same coloured animal as the Dion you’re bonded to?” Freya asked me just as our food arrived.

  We all waited quietly for the waiter to finish putting our pizzas on the table. Shape-shifting wasn’t something we could really discuss in earshot of a human. I smiled to myself when I realised I no longer thought of myself as completely human; it was equal parts weird and hilarious.

  As soon as the waiter left, I questioned Freya further about my inner animal. “Lyall told me I could become the same animal as the Dion I was bonded to, but he didn’t mention that I could just become the same colour but a different species. Is that true?”

  “Completely true. Ask Pen. She’ll confirm it. She found it written in one of those dusty old books she loves trailing through.” Freya stopped talking to push a slice of ham and pineapple pizza into her mouth.

  “I will,” I mused. “Hey, do either of you know what Pen found out last time she was down in Edinburgh? It’s like a huge secret that only Finlay and her know about.”

  “She doesn’t usually discuss much of that stuff with us, unless she feels it’s something we really need to know. I’d be surprised if she told Finlay either. Are you sure he knows?” Mara queried.

  I thought again about how weird Finlay got when I asked him about the prophecies and when I mentioned the things Sluag had said. Maybe he was just weird about all of this.

  “I’m not sure. I thought he did but maybe I was wrong.” I decided a subject change was needed.

  “Anyway, how are things with you and Artair?” I asked Mara.

  Her face lit up in the way it always did when she spoke about Artair. “Things are perfect. Things are always perfect with us.”

  Freya made a fake balking sound and pretended to push her fingers down her throat. But Mara’s good nature didn’t allow her to take it to heart.

  “Actually, things are a little bit better than perfect right now.” Mara sounded secretive.

  “Tell?” both Freya and I chorused.

  “Artair asked me to marry him. I mean not right away, but I said yes. We’re engaged.” Her voice went up an octave at the end of the sentence.

  Even Freya couldn’t keep her usual pretend cold front up at the news. We both squealed in delight and gave Mara huge hugs and congratulations. The other diners gave us strange sideways glances, and the three of us sat back in our seats grinning and talking more quietly.

  “You’ll be needing bridesmaids, of course.” I gestured emphatically at myself and Freya as I spoke.

  “I am not wearing one of those dresses,” Freya grumbled.

  “Calm down, you two. We have no idea when it’s going to happen. We haven’t even told Pen yet. Plus, we’re still so young, there’s really no rush at all.” Mara laughed.

  “Well I can’t wait until the big day. I’m so excited for you both, Mara.” I spoke with genuine delight. This was just the sort of news I needed after my last few days of worrying over Sluag and Finlay.

  “I can’t wait to go and shop.” Freya was already standing up from the table. “Are you two ready to go?”

  Laughing, Mara and I stood up. Mara nodded, “Yep, I think so. Let’s go.”

  We paid the bill quickly and headed out onto the street in the direction of the shops.

  The afternoon was sunny, and a warm breeze followed us along the maze-like streets of the city. We must have gone into fifty shops, and the other girls were laden with bags of clothes, shoes, and cosmetics. Money was no problem for a Soul Keeper and her Dion, apparently. Pen provided all of the Dion with bank cards that seemingly had no limit to them.

  “You’ll get a bank card too, Flora. I’m sure Pen will have ordered one for you,” Mara had assured me when we started shopping.

  “In the meantime, I can get whatever you need with mine.” Freya had held up her card and beamed.

  I had never been a big fan of shopping, but I took advantage of Freya’s bank card and bought a pair of jeans, two new tops and a gorgeous new pair of black boots that came halfway up my calf. They were definitely too warm for the summer, but they would be perfect for the cold Scottish winter.

  As we left the most recent shop that Freya and Mara had practically cleared out, we approached a bookshop, and I turned eagerly to them.

  “I’d quite like to buy a couple of books.”

  Both girls looked at me blankly, but Freya handed me her bank card.

  “The pin is four, one, seven, nine. I’ll use Mara’s for now. We’ll be in the clothes shop over the road, okay?”

  “You two should read more. It’s enlightening.” I took the offered card.

  “You know, I think we’ll stick with clothes for now, Flora. Will you be all right by yourself?” Mara looked doubtful.

  “I’ll be fine. It’s broad daylight. I won’t be too long. I’ll come and find you when I’m done.”

  We said goodbye, and I headed into the cool, dimly lit bookshop. The smell of new books hit my nose, and I inhaled deeply. If Finlay had been my primary saviour after my parents’ deaths, books had been the next best thing.

  There was nothing in the world I preferred above letting my mind completely sink into the pages of a book. I could easily spend hours inside a different world, often becoming so immersed that when I put the book down, I would be almost dazed by reality for a few hours afterward.

  As I walked along the shelf-lined aisles, scouring the titles, my eyes drifted up and down rhythmically as they followed the variety of different fonts. I laughed softly to myself as I thought about how I now lived within one of these fantasy worlds.

  I spent about fifteen minutes browsing the store until I had six books in my arms. I had reached the very back of the shop where it was quiet and darker than the window-lit front area. Turning to head back in the direction of the checkout, I almost walked in to a tall man who looked to be about my age.

  “Oops, sorry,” I mumbled as I swerved past him.

  “Could you put this back please? I don’t think I’ll buy it.” Before I could explain I actually didn’t work there, he dropped the book he was holding on top of my own pile and disappeared quickly into the gloomy half-light of the shop.

  “Great,” I growled.

  Spotting a small
table at the end of the aisle, I hurried over and dropped the pile of books onto it. I left my own choices on the table and picked up the book the stranger had dropped on top of the pile, intending to put it back on the nearest shelf.

  I was just about to post the book into a vacant slot on the shelf when the title caught my eye.

  Traitor.

  I paused, inhaling sharply. I lifted the book back down and studied the cover. It was a solid black colour with the title printed in crimson red across its centre. There was no author name.

  I hooked my index finger under the cover and slowly peeled it back to reveal the dedication page. I really didn’t want to look. I wanted to put the book back and walk out of the shop, but morbid curiosity made me focus on the single line that was handwritten in the same crimson colour as the title,

  Say hello to Finlay for me, Little Dreamer.

  Dropping the book on top of the discarded pile I would now never buy, I jogged back along the aisle, holding my breath until I burst through the shop door and onto the street. I almost collided with Mara and Freya as I emerged, blinking into the sun.

  “What’s up, Flora? Are you okay?” Freya placed a concerned hand on my arm.

  Catching my breath, I shot a look back over my shoulder, toward the bookshop. “There was a Draugur inside. It didn’t try to hurt me. It—it was just there to give me a message.”

  “We need to go back.” Mara started walking quickly in the direction of the car.

  Shivering, despite the warmth of the sun, I followed closely behind her. “Yeah we do.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Pen was furious with us.

  As soon as we arrived back at Castle Dion we had gone to find the older woman and let her know I had encountered a Draugur. It was the part where I went into the bookshop alone that really made her mad.

  “I don’t know what to say to you. After what happened on Flora’s night out, you still let her go off alone in the mortal world. You know how unsafe it is for us all out there. Sticking together surely isn’t that difficult.” She was glowering at Freya and Mara as she paced up and down the great hall.

  I couldn’t let the others take the blame for everything. “Pen, I was the one who said I’d be fine. I chose to go into the store alone. They went along with it to give me five minutes to myself.”

  She stopped walking and fixed her gaze on me. “You are a Soul Keeper. If we lose you, we lose everything. You have a responsibility to the entire world to stay safe and alive. What you did was selfish and irresponsible.”

  The words stung, and I dropped my gaze to the floor, tears burning at the back of my eyes. It hurt to be told I was selfish after how hard I had worked since finding out I was a Soul Keeper.

  “Pen, I’m so sorry.” Mara had her own tears pooling in her huge brown eyes.

  “Me too.” Freya didn’t look sorry. She looked defiant. But that was just her way.

  “Leave us. I need to speak with Flora alone. I love you both with all of my heart, girls. I’m just angry right now, and I think you understand why.”

  Both girls nodded and hurriedly let themselves out of the main door, leaving me alone with Pen.

  I stood awkwardly, scraping the toe of my boot across a piece of the stone floor that jutted up into a tiny peak.

  “Sit down, Flora.” Pen took a seat herself.

  I was shocked to notice that Pen looked really quite old all of a sudden. “Pen, I’m so sorry—”

  She cut me off. “I know you are, Flora. But your scolding is over. We have far more serious matters to discuss. You didn’t tell me that Sluag had summoned you again.”

  Crap, I hadn’t realised we were going to be talking about that.

  “I was going to tell you, Pen. I just wanted to try and work out what he was trying to do first. You asked me not to pay attention to his lies so I was trying to sort out what was truth and what wasn’t in my own head.”

  “So once again he encourages secrets and lies between you and your Dion. He’s winning, Flora. He’s getting inside your head and causing you to doubt us and yourself. You have to remember I have been here before.”

  I sat back in my chair and rubbed at my eyes in frustration. It seemed I couldn’t get anything right anymore. The truth was, I had been trying to protect Finlay. I was worried that if Pen knew what Sluag had told me, she would turn against my best friend. But after the latest trick with the Draugur and the book this afternoon, I couldn’t keep Finlay out of it any longer.

  Pen’s voice was softer now. “The truth, Flora. Start with the summoning and finish with today’s events.”

  I told the story of my dream, including my childish stand against Sluag, which made her smile a little. I finished by telling Pen about the bookshop and the book that the Draugur had dumped in my arms.

  “I didn’t tell you right away because I was trying to figure things out. I felt as though I’d be betraying Finlay if I told anyone, and we’ve only just managed to fix things between us. I’m sorry, Pen. I wasn’t trying to lie to you.” I sighed heavily as I finished talking.

  “Oh, Flora, I understand better than you could ever imagine. I know what it is to care for someone so deeply that you would protect them at all costs.”

  I sagged in relief. Of course, Pen would understand. She would have done anything to protect her husband because of how much she cared for him. “Thank you, Pen. You have no idea how relieved that makes me feel.” I started to stand.

  “Stay seated, Flora. We still have much to talk about.”

  I frowned but sat back down in the dark wooden chair.

  “Flora, I have to ask you something now, and before you answer, I want you to sit and think about the question for at least one minute. Do you promise me you will?”

  I swallowed hard and nodded. I knew I wasn’t going to like the question.

  “Flora, do you believe there is any truth in the things Sluag has said about Finlay?”

  Even though I’d made a promise, my mouth flew open automatically to say no. But Pen silenced me with a single raised index finger. She pointed to the large clock on the wall and mouthed, One minute.

  I sat in the silence and really thought about Pen’s question. Did I believe Finlay could be a traitor? If I was honest with myself, then no, I didn’t believe he would ever betray me. Although on the other hand, he had been so evasive when I questioned him about the prophecies and when I told him what Sluag had said about him, that I was convinced something wasn’t right.

  Thirty seconds stretched out and finally became a minute as the second hand on the clock completed a full rotation. I was more confused now than I had been at the start of the minute. I looked at Pen, scared to hear her repeat her question.

  “So, do you believe there is any truth in what Sluag has told you about Finlay, Flora?”

  “I don’t know,” I admitted quietly.

  “Then Sluag has achieved what he set out to do. One the one hand, if Finlay has been to see Sluag and has indeed agreed to betray you, then Sluag has stolen your best friend and confidant and has acquired an ally who lives within the very heart of your Dion. This puts you in grave danger indeed, Flora.”

  A single tear slid down my cheek as I listened to Pen speak.

  “On the other hand. If Sluag is lying, which is extremely likely. Then that means he has gotten himself so far under your skin you have been almost convinced that the one person on whom you should always be able to rely is in fact a traitor. In essence, Sluag is tearing your relationship with Finlay apart before your very eyes.”

  “It doesn’t matter what I do or think. He’s already won. You warned me he’d break me and my Dion apart. Even knowing everything I do, I’ve still let him make me doubt my best friend. Finlay will never forgive me if he finds out.” I dropped my head into my hands, my arms resting on the solid oak table.

  “For what it’s worth, Flora, I don’t believe Finlay is a traitor to you. I believe he is jealous of Lyall. I believe he’s struggling to handle your new
place in the world. But I honestly cannot accept that he would go to the Endwood voluntarily to speak with that monster. Sluag has nothing to offer Finlay that would entice him to change sides.”

  “When you put it that way, it makes complete sense, Pen. God, I’m such an idiot. You warned me that Sluag would do this, and I’ve played right into his hands. How could I ever have doubted Finlay after everything he’s done for me?”

  “I am working on finding a way to prevent Sluag from summoning you, Flora. I know how distressing it must be to be kidnapped in your sleep. It sounds like you handle Sluag well when you are in the Endwood, but I will be happier when we can find a way to stop him from getting to you.”

  “Do you think that’s possible?” I looked at Pen hopefully.

  “I think it may be. But be patient. I am working on more than one thing right now, Flora. I’m trying to find a way to create Dion from people who are already adults so we don’t have to wait for replacements to be born and grow older.”

  I frowned. “You mean in case one of my Dion die?”

  She smiled. “I’m not planning on any of us dying, Flora. Don’t worry. It would mean that no Soul Keeper would ever be left without any Dion to care for them, however.”

  I knew she was thinking back to Aiden losing all of his protectors except her.

  “That goes hand in hand with something else I have discovered in the prophecies. I believe there is a way to convert the Draugur.”

  “Convert them? How?” I was curious.

  “There is a passage in one of the manuscripts that says, A Blood Inheritance Secures Allegiance. I can’t be sure yet, but I think it refers to a ritual that can literally force the Draugur to swap their loyalty from Sluag to you.”

  “Wow, that would be nice. No more minions of darkness trying to drag me to hell.” I laughed.

  “There is so much for me to work on, Flora, and I am only one person. I will do my best to unravel all of the prophecies, but I need time to do it.”

  “Which means you need me to stop trying to get myself killed and start trusting my Dion, right?” I asked sheepishly.