My Soul to Take (Soul Keepers (Young Adult paranormal romance))

by Melissa Solis

  “Good luck with that. Your Elijah doesn’t even know you’re missing yet!” A laugh surfaces from beneath his sneer as he turns on his heel and walks out. The others slowly trickle out of the room after him.

  In the crowd I see a face that causes me to look twice. It’s the boy from my class. The one I met at the party in the fall, Jesson. His eyes look up and meet mine laced with guilt. He is one of them? Panic floods my heart once again and I’m about to call out to him even though I know he is the enemy. But he gives me a furtive look that says, “Please don’t say anything”. A second later and his expression has deadened like the rest of the crowd’s. He continues to make his way out of the door.

  That night at the party, he was so kind to me. He seemed like such a cool person, dancing with me and not even being a flirt. I play the scene back in my mind. We had talked about me being elected president in class and we had danced. He asked me where I lived. Oh goodness no, he told them where to find me. Elijah said that he destroyed the only ones who knew my location. Jesson must have been sent to find me and report back what I was doing and my whereabouts. That is probably how they found my house and waged a war overhead. I can’t really trust anyone, can I?

  Malphas had a son who was assassinated. Equal retribution would be to do the same to me. He’s going to kill me. No one knows where I’m and it’s my own stupid fault. Fear and pain well up inside of me and I expel the contents of my stomach onto the ugly stone paved floor.

  All is quiet in the dark chamber once again. By body is in agony. I drift in and out of sleep with no real comfortable place to rest. My only options are to lie on the cold stone floor or lounge in a hard wooden chair. The only thing near me is an empty bowl. The sight of which makes me feel like I could be here for a very long time. As grandma would say, “At least you have a pot to piss in.”

  So much empty time has passed. My hunger has me writhing in further discomfort. It’s had to be at least two days since I had anything to eat or drink. I’m exhausted, drained both physically and mentally. My body must be wrecked with a fever because I keep trembling as if I were freezing. I can’t take much more of this.

  The lock on the door awakens me. A pale stream of light leaks into the dim room. A figure crosses into the path of the light and silently walks over to me. He is cloaked under a large hood so that I can’t make out his face. My hands wrap around my body trying to warm my skin, my body convulses from the cold. He sets down a plate with a sandwich and a bottle of water. He turns and hurries back out of the door. I swallow hard smelling the food and dying of thirst. I wince as I drop to my knees from the pain of being beaten earlier. My wrists throb, swollen and caked in dried blood. Every muscle in my abdomen cries out at the abrupt movement. I think he severely damaged something inside of me.

  I inhale the sandwich and drink the water down quickly. A while later the cloaked man returns to take the dish and an empty bottle. He puts two pills in my hand and offers me another bottle. I take it and he gently wraps a blanket around my shoulders. The slight warmth it brings me quells the tremors just enough to allow me to drift asleep for the night, or day whichever it is right now.

  ***

  It feels as if days have gone by. No one has opened the large locked door since the night I was brought the meal and a blanket. The level of darkness has never changed and although I can make out their heartbeats outside of the room I’m kept in. No one has come near the hallway that leads to my door. I’ve mapped out the lay of this building by their heartbeats. Elijah’s trick has left me with a fairly detailed image of this place that I’ve replicated in my mind.

  Hunger, thirst and cold, human torture in its most basic form, yet highly effective. It does things to the psyche that are irreversible. Deny anyone even one of these simple needs and he’s bound to break. Deny him of all three and watch him go insane. The fever keeps coming back and I know something is seriously wrong with my body. Why won’t he just come and kill me? I’ve begged for death, cried for it, yet it never comes. I’ve whimpered out Elijah’s name over and over again, but he never comes either.

  Four hearts gather in the corner two floors above me and a fifth joins them, they converge for several minutes and disperse when another being draws near. Their blood pumps harder and faster after their meeting and I wonder what they’re doing. Something secretive, plotting a revolt, revenge against another? Speculation is the only thing keeping me distracted from the pain.

  Elijah must be sick with worry by now. I think it’s been at least a week since I was taken. He must be looking for me everywhere. He is so proud of the fact that he has never let any harm come to me. And now I’m dying a slow death of dehydration and starvation, possibly even internal bleeding. Malphas won’t have to crush me to dust I will already be a desiccant when he comes to finish me off.

  As if he heard my thoughts evoking his name, the villain of my demise has returned, alone this time. In a white, flawlessly pressed shirt and inky blue jeans. He pulls a chair from the wall over and sets it across from mine. My head rolls listlessly around on my shoulders. He swings a leg over the seat and rests his forearms on the back.

  “Hey kid, you don’t look so hot,” he mocks.

  “Please...” I try to get out but my voice is gone and has been for a couple of days now. My lips are rough and flaky.

  “I’ve heard you pray for death, but sorry dear, God can’t hear you down here. I can gladly oblige if you like? Put you out of your misery? Oh I promise to be quick about it. Would you like that?” I consider his proposal while he stares straight through me. A tearless cry shudders from my body.

  “Not quite ready for a commitment yet? Well perhaps if you knew for a fact that you will take your last breath wrapped in my arms, you would prefer not to draw out the inevitable.” He takes his hand and touches two fingers to my temple. A fog of smoke creeps over my eyes and when it clears I see myself in his arms. I’m older but not aged to a point of considerable difference. He looks like the same flawless twenty something. My cheeks are sunken in and my darkened eyes look miles away as if I’m dreaming while wide awake. Maybe they keep me locked up here for years, until my body can no long thrive on tiny meals delivered days apart. I see the moment the faint hint of light leaves my eyes. I watch as my body relaxes into him and I know I’m no longer a part of this world. I die all alone in the arms of this cruel being. I turn my head away from his hand. He smiles in satisfaction.

  “I know what their plans for you are my pet, and it’s such a pity that such a beautiful plan has to go to waste.” He gets up from his chair and pauses next to me on his way out. “Or perhaps we could find a similar goal to re-prioritize your future. I’ve the power to give you what you really want. I can make it so that you and Elijah can live out your days in blissful contentment. Because as you just saw, you will never get your happy ending Brennen. Sleep on it. I’ll return later. I so look forward to our chats.” As if he commanded it, my eyes shut and I fall into a deep sleep.

  Dreams that I’ve never experienced so vividly, come to me as if I were actually living them and I notice the smallest of details. Though I’m withered and frail looking, I don’t look unhappy. I’m looking at a photo album of Elijah’s and me, our life together. I see the years go by in the photos as we age. All of a sudden the pages start to crumble in my hands, and his face disappears from all of the photos like someone decided to rip him from me like some non-vital organ. But he was vital, I begin to gasp for air and find none to breathe. I don’t understand why I can’t breathe. Panic ensues as I claw at my neck and pound on my chest before finally succumbing to the suffocation. On the floor, my fingers touch over a picture that’s mostly reduced to ashes, only a portion of Elijah’s hand remains. My eyes close as my body relaxes for the last time.

  The smell of bread warms my nose to its blissful aroma. My eyes peek open as my cheek rests on the cold stone floor. I’m still alive. How? The pale stream of light filters in and I see the hooded man sitting next to me. He reveals his face
by removing the cloak. Jesson lifts my head from the floor and puts a bottle of water to my lips. His eyes are full of pity. He has lost my trust and I don’t know whether or not to drink. Maybe they decided poison was a good way to finish me off. A quick death would be better than this slow fade into the dark however. He slowly gives me a sip and I accept it. I cough and sputter before finally drinking down a mouthful.

  “I’m so sorry Brennen, help is coming, just stay with me,” he whispers. He feeds me a bite of the sandwich and stays until I finish both. “It’s very hard for me to get in here without them knowing. But even if they capture me, I will go down fighting for you.” I still can’t speak, my throat is too parched from dehydration. Or maybe Malphas shut me up for a reason. He slips two more pain relievers in my hand and then he takes both of my hands in his and squeezes them gently, warming them immediately. I look up at him, attempting to thank him by meeting his eyes. He looks sad as he tears himself away, almost as if it’s difficult to leave me in this condition alone.

  Jesson wants to help me? He is the reason I was captured in the first place. I don’t understand. The token of kindness he’s shown me, contradicts everything these demons have put me through.

  I think about the offer Malphas has put on the table. He gives me Elijah in exchange for me being on their side. I hate to admit it but I would rather die in the demon’s arms alone, than be on their side. In order to do what he is promising he would have to get Elijah to join the ranks of the fallen. Elijah would never do that nor would I want him to. I’m thankful that I was able to share one kiss with a man like Elijah, even if that is all that we ever have it will have been enough. “You’ll never get your happy ending,” his voice repeats in my head as if he is taunting me from his chambers.

  That night when most of the hearts are beating at a slowed pace, I hear someone enter the building. His heartbeat goes up and down like he is calm but hurried. He is sneaking in. Yes, he is coming down my hall. Another joins him in the hall and now they’re both at the door. My head bobs loosely above my neck to the beat.

  The heavy lock is opened and the door slowly opens. A shock of white hair, even in this darkness, alerts me to Nehemiah’s presence. The other person stays at the door. Jesson I presume. Nehemiah puts a hand on my restraints and the lock pops open. He scoops me up and begins to carry me out of the room. I want to hate him. I want to scream for him to put me down. He is the one keeping me from my happy ending after all. He gave the order that keeps that dull ache inside of me fresh with every soul baring look Elijah’s blue eyes bless me with.

  Nehemiah squeezes the breath out of me.

  “I’m so truly sorry Brennen, please forgive me.” The desperation in his voice is heartfelt. “You’re their last hope,” Elijah’s words sound off in my head, and I can’t help but feel sympathy for Nehemiah. He carries me through the building I now know as if I were the architect who designed the beast. I even offer direction with my free hand as we make our way out of the building. The last door opens and blinding morning light causes me to shove my face into Nehemiah’s chest.

  “Brennen, hang on.” We are instantly teleported back to my house. Nehemiah lowers me to the sofa and glares at the fireplace as it roars to life. Elijah is by his side almost instantly. The horror on his face tells me with brutal honesty how terrible I must look. I go to speak, but my voice has long since gone.

  “Heal her Elijah,” Nehemiah states like it’s the obvious thing to do. Elijah blinks like he is just waking up from a long afternoon nap. Grief washes over his perfect features as he assesses my injuries. He locks me in his steel cage arms and I feel his tears wet my face as he holds his cheek against mine. He is crying for me.

  “I’m so sorry Brennen.” He picks up my wrist and touches it to his lips. I close my eyes and revel in his touch. He heals my wrists and then my throat. His warm lips on my neck should feel like a gift from Heaven right now but they have lost that pull on me. I’m numb. He may have as well had his foot pressed against my throat.

  Next he puts his hand under my shirt and his flat palm on my abdomen. A concerned look crosses his face as if he is reading my MRI results. A warm glow permeates through the soft fabric of my shirt reminding me of the red light inside the spa. My body is growing stronger with his touch. His face shows no more concern than it would had he been stirring a pot on the stove, waiting for it to come to a boil. Fresh tears spring from my eyes and Nehemiah looks away ashamed for what he has done to us.

  At least Elijah knows why I’m crying. Once he has healed me he turns from me. His beautiful blue eyes have faded as if veiled by a sheik, their once brilliant light is now just a dying ember glowing from under a pile of ash.

  “How long was I gone?” I say when I realize I can speak again. Nehemiah narrows his eyes in Elijah’s direction. I can tell Elijah feels like an utter failure. It’s the first time he has ever let any harm come to me.

  “They held you for over a week, but like the In-Between, time is different. This is why Elijah didn’t realize you were gone until just a few hours ago. It’s only the next morning since you were taken from here.

  “Jesson told us what happened when he came to warn us. He risked his cover to rescue you.”

  “His cover?” I ask, trying to catch up.

  Nehemiah nods. “He is one of the fallen that is trying to earn God’s grace back by helping us when we need him to.” Hm I see, that seems like an interesting story for another time. I would have been dead by the time they found me if it hadn’t been for Jesson’s food and help.

  Elijah comes over to me and stares at my feet. I can tell he is burdened a great deal about what happened.

  “I’m so sorry for letting you out of my sights. It will never happen again.”

  “I asked you to give me privacy, it’s not your fault.” Nehemiah’s face would dare to say otherwise. He glares at Elijah. I wonder why he came to my rescue and not Elijah.

  “Where was I anyway and how do we make sure I’m never ever taken by that man again?

  “The best way I can put it, you were in their holding bin. Mostly it’s used to sort the souls of the condemned before they enter into hell.”

  “Why didn’t he just kill me?” Nehemiah’s brows swoop down like a seagull over the water. His white hair looks like a rift of snow settled atop his head, he is cold and impersonal. Elena is the same so it must be an angel thing, at least with their kind.

  “Malphas undoubtedly feared the consequence that taking your life would enthrall.”

  “He showed me my death. He said I would die alone and in his arms.” An involuntary shudder runs through me as I picture his cold hands touching me.

  “Brennen, don’t believe a word that demon spits out of his rancid mouth.”

  “He said I would never get my happy ending.” I look up to Elijah when I say this and we both turn to Nehemiah.

  “Brennen, trust me what you want now can and will change. You have a happy ending.” Vague promises must be on a two for one special with him and Elena.

  After Nehemiah leaves, Elijah tends to my care. He fills me up with warm soup which he surprisingly prepared from a can because I needed food in my stomach yesterday. He runs me a bath and sits against the bathroom door while I clean up. I don’t think he’ll ever be more than three feet away from me again. I emerge from the bath exhausted. I climb straight into bed and Elijah turns out the light.

  “No please leave it on.” He clicks the lamp back on and settles next to me on top of the blanket.

  “Let me help you sleep.” I nod into him and bury my nose between his pectoral muscles and breathe in his blissful aroma. Tonight he is pancakes dripping with syrup and bacon and salty sea air. Tonight he smells like my childhood.

  I wake up in sheer panic crying out for someone to kill me. My heart is pounding harder than I’ve ever felt before. A tympanic symphony explodes from within my body. Elijah’s hands draw me in as he softly whispers, “It’s okay, and you’re okay. I’m here.” I blink rapidly
around the room trying to gather my bearings. I was back in the stone room begging for Malphas to end my life, begging for him to stop the pain. He just kept kicking me and stomping on me. I hugged my stomach and rocked in my bed. All the while Elijah tried to calm me. This became my new nightly routine.

  The nightmares made me anxious all the time. I was always on edge, and always looking over my shoulder. I constantly listened for heartbeats even when Elijah reassured me we were alone.

  Chapter 4 ~ Destiny

  Journal of E.M February 3rd 2013

  I’ve decided to continue writing in my journal but this journal will be for my eyes only. Not that I ever dreamed Brennen would get her surreptitious hands on my other journal. I had written it to her because for years I couldn’t talk to her in person. But now I can and although we spend hours talking I still want some thoughts to remain private. Especially now, knowing what I know. I really don’t understand why they would allow this.

  I’ve decided not to tell Brennen, although this decision has not come lightly. No, I’ve given this careful consideration. I don’t want to make her choices any harder than they have to be. I know what she will do when the time comes because I know Brennen better than she knows herself.

  She’s sleeping on my chest right now. Her soft hair is tickling my nose. She snuggles her nose into my chest and takes in my scent. This is our time and it’s ephemeral. We both savor every second we have like this, knowing that a change is coming, moving down on us like a speeding train and we are tied to the rails.

  I can’t believe I almost lost her. She can never be left unprotected. I wasn’t thinking clearly, granting her request for privacy. I should have followed her at a distance, but that night was so hard. She came home so happy. I had been miserable all day being away from her. All I wanted to do was pull her in and pour my lips over hers. She is so easy to love. This order is frustrating and infuriating.

  The night Nehemiah brought her back I was given a message from my creator. “Tell Brennen that I heard her.” At the time I didn’t know what it meant. But the moment she was back in my arms I became fully aware. That barrier that I always felt when I got too close, was gone.