Soul Catcher

by E. L. Todd

  Father Hyphalia detailed his experience channeling Lukein’s soul to the afterlife. He described the soul as tormented, depressed, and wronged. He voiced his suspicions that the Duke of Paso Robles hadn’t passed by natural means, but by a more sinister one—murder. He voiced his concern that Drake may be responsible.

  “Do you have proof of this treason?” they asked.

  “No,” the holy man admitted. “But I am certain of its truth.”

  “Without further evidence of his deception, we cannot hold him accountable within our council,” they said. “There is nothing we can do.”

  The holy man nodded. “I sense darkness within his soul,” he said. “Be wary of him.”

  The council nodded.

  Father Giloth looked at the Duke of Aleutian across the library. His fingertips covered his lips, hiding the curve of his smile. The Nature Priest spotted the concealed sneer, and was happy to know that grin would disappear momentarily.

  Rancar spoke for the council. “We have come to a decision regarding the new leadership of the province of Paso Robles. All of your valid points and opinions were taken under consideration, and we feel that our choice will benefit all the parties of the Continent.”

  Steward Josiah retained a stoic expression and Drake’s sneer widened as they awaited the announcement. Rancar looked down at this joined hands on the surface of the table, gathering his resolve before he continued. Father Giloth waited for the sweet sound of Drake’s rejection.

  “We have decided to install one of the dukes as the new ruler of Paso Robles,” he said. Father Giloth’s eyes widened at their declaration; it was the exact opposite choice they had discussed beforehand. Father Hyphalia looked at Rancar with a confused visage. Rancar wiped the sweat from his brow before he continued, despite the winter chill that crept into the library. “We feel that it is essential to have an experienced ruler reside over the throne and ensure the perseverance of the realm, rather than an inexperienced citizen.”

  “Which duke will preside over this province?” Steward Josiah asked with interest. “How will we decide this?”

  “Actually,” Rancar said, “we have already selected a candidate. We feel this duke has flourished during his reign, and has been a wonderful ally to the rest of the Continent. We have no doubt about his capabilities.”

  Father Giloth squeezed his scepter. What he had feared was coming to pass, despite his best efforts to prevent it.

  “Who have you selected?” Artremian asked.

  Drake removed his hand and looked at Father Giloth, his smile even wider than a moment ago. Father Giloth’s heart pounded in his chest when he met his gaze. His blood pulsed in his ears.

  “Lord Drake Aleutian,” Rancar announced.

  Aequor Plains

  16

  The moon illuminated the forest with a sliver of white light, only allowing Accacia to see a mere foot ahead. Trickles of radiant moonlight flashed across the forest floor and mingled with the dark shadows of the drying leaves from the withering canopy. Accacia was too frightened of the nighttime wildlife to appreciate its astounding beauty. However, it was a cloudless night and Accacia could see the twinkling stars shine brilliantly from the heavens. The elongated shadows of the trees stretched across the grass of the forest floor and took different shapes. Beautiful flowers could be seen in the darkness, so bright were their colors.

  The absence of clouds brought a harsh chill across the land. Accacia tightened her thin cloak around herself to contain as much precious body heat as possible. Wisps of moist vapors escaped from her nostrils, rising upwards until the mist dissipated into the air, no longer visible. It would be ideal to travel during the day and sleep at night, but Accacia knew it would be too frigid for her to sleep in the frozen darkness.

  The unexpected shrieks of the wild birds made Accacia jump with fright every few minutes, wary of what caused their loud provocation. She crept through the trees and looked around in all directions. She feared an unexpected assault from a large bear or a famished coyote. The limited sword skills she learned from Aleco wouldn’t protect her from the predators of the woods. She was also concerned she would blindly stumble into the Hideaway of the Serpentine Guild, although that was her intended mission. In an attempt to ignore the sinister sounds of the restless woodlands, Accacia concentrated her thoughts on the cause of her nighttime visit to the forest.

  The upsetting events between her and Aleco replayed in her mind as she continued to inch through the dim forest. Remembering his painful words caused her eyes to smart. When she confessed her obscene lifestyle, she assumed he would be compassionate and accepting, since she was forced against her will—she never thought he would use it as a weapon against her. Her eyes began to well up again as she thought about it.

  Accacia massaged the purple bruises on her arms and cringed at the painful contact. The soreness was so prominent, it was difficult to swing her arms as she walked. She couldn’t decide what was more agonizing; the bruises or how she received them. The tears began to fall when she reflected on Aleco’s demented actions. How the man she trusted so deeply could twist her fragile skin so vehemently, further damaging her already wounded body and mind—something he promised he would never do. Accacia realized she should never have breached his guarded privacy, but his deranged behavior was unacceptable and unforgivable.

  The thick tears blurred her limited vision, and she stumbled through the darkened forest unable to focus on her direction. Powerless to examine the invisible landscape before her, her foot caught in the crevasse of a tree root and she tripped to the ground.

  Accacia scraped her elbows on the wood and blood seeped from the scratch in her skin. She groaned to herself as she felt the wet liquid on her fingertips. She wished she had grabbed her jacket before Aleco threw her out.

  Accacia gathered firewood from the forest floor and ignited the wood. She was clueless as to the location of the Serpentine Guild, so instead of futilely searching for their hideaway, she invited them to come to her. She pressed the fabric of her shirt against the slice in her arm, slowing the flow of blood. The scrape burned under the pressure and she cringed until the stinging finally abated. Exhausted, she leaned her bruised body against the tree stump and closed her eyes.

  Aleco had abandoned her to the unknown world and she was still shocked by his decision to leave her alone. He knew she had no idea where she was and this crushed Accacia the most—he had left her unprotected. She would never acknowledge the truth, but Aleco made her feel safe. She knew he could protect her, but now he no longer wanted to.

  Accacia wished she knew more of the geography of the Continent. In her studies with Father Giloth, they discussed the provinces of the lands and their various rules and regulations, but, other than Orgoom Forest and Aleutian Keep, she had never been to any of these places. Aleco accompanied her on her first visit to Roslyn and rescued her from Morkarh, but she felt the latter didn’t count—after all, she had only visited the prison.

  She’d spent most of her short life within the safe borders of Orgoom Forest, until she was stolen from her beloved home by the retched duke. Just thinking of the disgusting monster made acidic bile rise to her throat. She remembered the abject terror on Father Giloth’s face when the duke dragged her onto his horse, preparing to transport her to his keep. He begged Drake to reconsider.

  “Drake,” he yelled, “this is my daughter. You cannot do this. Please return her to me.”

  Drake kissed her forehead and wrapped his arms around her tiny waist, squeezing her thin body to his chest.

  “Perhaps you shouldn’t have fathered such a beautiful child,” he said. He ran his gloved hands through her silky hair. “Or you should have hidden her better.”

  Thick tears dripped down Accacia’s face. She tried to push away from him but she was coerced to lean against his vast torso. His muscled arms were too powerful against her slight build, and she was forced to remain still. She could feel the bulge of his manhood grow in size against her back a
s she fought against his restraint. She cringed at his slightest touch even though his caress was gentle.

  Drake enjoyed utilizing his hefty size to overpower her. His blue eyes widened in excitement when she flinched from his embrace, and he smiled as he held her in place against her hopeless struggle.

  Father Giloth’s typical calm features and infamous smile were long gone. “I’m warning you,” Father Giloth threatened. His eyes wide with intense hatred, a sight Accacia had never before witnessed.

  “You will do nothing, old man.” The duke smirked. He pulled on the hide reins of his white gelding and led him away. “If you work against me, I will burn this entire forest to the ground, along with you, if you are still alive.” He led his obedient steed towards the border, his armored soldiers following. “Your distress is negligent, Father. She will be taken care of,” he said. “Soon, she will be a real woman.”

  Father Giloth clenched his staff and steadied his anger. Accacia knew he could not unleash his majestic powers. If he did he would lose them. According to his oath, he could only use his almighty powers to protect the forest and its inhabitants. If he unleashed his magical strength, the duke would only return with his army to destroy Orgoom Forest and savagely execute its inhabitants. Father Giloth would have no powers to stop the attack. Accacia knew he had to sacrifice her to protect his people.

  As the duke and his men departed the forest, the Naturalists stood behind the Nature Priest, expecting him to intervene with his monumental gifts, but Father Giloth remained silently glued to his spot, watching them take their leave. Accacia knew he would sacrifice his own life to protect her, his daughter in every way but blood. However, he couldn’t risk the innocence of the forest, the home of so many creatures and men, and the source of his powers. He made the right decision and Accacia accepted that. She knew he would regret the decision forever.

  After the foundations of the campsite were prepared, the duke’s lavish tent was erected and the guards were posted on watch for the evening. The duke dragged Accacia under the canvas and closed the flaps behind him. That night, the assaults began.

  He pushed her onto her back and ripped her clothes away. She battled for her freedom by hitting him in the face and kicking with all the force she could unleash. He overcame her efforts and laid his muscled mass on top of her, pinning her weak arms to her sides. She begged him to stop. Drake spread her thin legs apart and pinned them to her chest.

  “Please don’t do this,” she cried.

  Drake leaned over her and gazed at her thin lips, soaked with her own tears, and they shined in the dim light of the tent. He kissed them and tasted the bitter salt on his lips. Her green eyes shone bright with fear as she struggled beneath him; intensifying his arousal. He examined every curve of her luscious body. He grabbed her small breasts and squeezed hard; she screamed in protest at his intrusion.

  “Stop,” she yelled. “Don’t do this to me.”

  He kissed her breasts, stomach and hips, enjoying the sweet taste of her skin. He continued to her thin neck, which he sucked with relish, and he enjoyed the feel of her petite body under his chiseled physique. The tears poured down her curved face, making the duke even more excited.

  “Please,” she yelled to the surrounding soldiers. “Someone help me!”

  She continued to plead to the men outside the tent. Drake smiled at her. “Yes, they can hear you,” he said. “But no one is going to rescue you.” He sucked on her delicate nipples and she yelped at his rough contact. “So please continue.”

  He thrust his massive girth inside of her untouched place and groaned. Accacia cried out at his rough entrance. New tears flooded her eyes. The pain was unbearable. She could feel her insides stretching and ripping, bleeding from the trauma as Drake continued to plunge deep inside of her. He knew she was bleeding but that didn’t slow his pace. He moaned in pleasure as he pushed himself entirely within her, feeling her body expand at his entry. His breathing grew labored and shallow as his body worked harder to quicken his rhythm. Warm sweat dripped down his strong chest as he quickened his pace. He squeezed her arms as he bucked himself inside of her. He moaned as he thrust deep into her.

  “I knew you were a virgin,” he said.

  Accacia jumped at the screech of an owl. She wiped her tears away as her mind returned to the present. Accacia never blamed Father Giloth for his decision that unforgettable afternoon. She knew if he could have spared her, he would have. Father Giloth had loved her like his own daughter since the day she fell into his possession, and she never doubted his adoration for her. At a very young age, Father Giloth explained to Accacia she had come to reside in the forest because her parents were killed directly outside his lands. He had adopted her as his own.

  Accacia refrained from inquiring more about their unexpected execution because she was too petrified to hear the gruesome details of their untimely deaths. She knew they perished on the outskirts of the forest, and the knowledge disturbed her so deeply, she never approached the borders of the land. Before Drake abducted her from her secluded woodland home, Accacia had never left Orgoom Forest.

  After years of internal debate, she asked Father Giloth for the account. His response was unexpected.

  “Not today,” he said, squeezing her petite hand within his own. “Not today.”

  Accacia didn’t understand. Today was no different from any other.

  “When?” she asked.

  The old man smiled. “I will know when the time is right.”

  Accacia was returning to her master now, so she doubted she’d ever discover the truth. Accacia’s eyes flashed open at the sound of voices and she was brought back to the present.

  “Stand up,” a man shouted.

  Their heavy footfalls thudded against the earth, snapping the thin twigs under their weight as they advanced toward her location. They were almost upon her. Accacia’s heart squeezed in fear—she didn’t want to go through with it but knew she had to. “If I must,” she said and rose to her feet. She was surprised by the confidence in her voice; she sounded braver than she felt.

  They stood before her, their sharp blades held at the ready. Their gleaming swords shone in the moonlight, displaying the frightful sharpness. They adorned themselves in the matching attire of the guild; just like Accacia had seen through Aleco’s eyes. Their deep brown eyes focused on Accacia, and she felt threatened by their piercing gazes. Accacia displayed her hands above her head in surrender. “Aleco sent me,” she said. “I am the woman you seek.”

  The large guildsman to her left forced the sharp curve of his blade against her exposed throat, pressing the cold steel against her fine skin. “We seek many women,” he hissed into her ear. He pressed the sword deeper into her sensitive epidermis. She felt the sting of the cut. The beads of warm blood drizzled down her collar. “Be a little more specific.”

  “My name is Accacia and I belong to the Duke of Aleutian, a very powerful man,” she said as she glanced to the sharp sword forced against her neck. “So I suggest you don’t anger him.”

  The man released her and examined Accacia’s features as the blood trickled down her fair skin. He waited for her to wipe it away, but she continued to meet his gaze. “You look valuable,” he said as his eyes roamed across her curves. Accacia was disgusted with all men; they were all the same. “Let’s see if you are really worth the price of your reward.”

  Accacia felt cold, and not because of the frigid air. The man unfastened his cloak and tossed it to the ground. “Hold her down,” he instructed his comrade. The other guildsman stepped towards her with outstretched hands. “We’ll take turns. I’ll go first.”

  Panic rose into her throat. “The duke will kill you,” she threatened. She screamed when the guildsman grasped her shoulders and forced her to the frozen ground. Accacia jerked her body away with the all the strength she had, but his weight was too strong. Accacia felt her mind plunge into the realm of insanity, as tears slid down her cheeks while the guildsman forced her to the earth. She
wished she had never left Aleco; she wished he was there now, despite what he had done to her. Accacia tried to threaten the man before he ripped her clothes away. “Lord Aleutian will kill you!”

  “No,” a familiar voice said from the darkness. Accacia flinched at the sound of the intruder; she recognized it immediately. “I will.”

  Both men unsheathed their weapons. The guildsmen were so quick that Accacia didn’t even witness their movements, but Aleco was faster. He sliced his serrated blade down the center of the man’s hard skull, almost severing it in half, and kicked his bleeding corpse aside. His bloody sword flung droplets as he turned to the other guildsman. The man recognized him. “Aleco, what are you doing?”

  “Some early spring cleaning.” Aleco stabbed him through the chest. The man hunched over and covered the wound with his palm, trying to breathe with his remaining lung. Aleco pitied the man. “I can’t just let you suffer,” he said. Aleco decapitated him with his black blade. The pair watched his head drop to the floor. “You’re welcome.”

  Accacia covered her face with her palms, disgusted by the sight. Aleco’s face was hidden within his black hood once again, and Accacia wondered how the other guild members recognized him. Aleco looked at Accacia. “Are you insane?” he asked her incredulously. “Why would you light a fire in the middle of their territory? Of course they are going to see you.”

  “I wanted to be seen,” she said as she wiped her tears away and brushed the dirt from her clothes. She felt the drops of blood on her neck but she ignored them. Accacia was still overwhelmed by the episode; she had almost been raped, again. She was tired of it.