by Kate Keir
“I hope you’re right, Pen. I’m struggling to make sense of it all without him here. It’s strange to have only known him for such a short time, but to be unable to imagine life without him in it,” I admitted.
“You shared his power, Flora. You and Lyall have to be bonded to do that. There is no way he’ll be able to stay away from you for very long.” She smiled reassuringly.
“In the meantime, what are we going to do about our new information?” My voice came out a little lighter after Pen’s reassuring words.
Pen gave me a devilish smile. “I suppose we’re going have to catch ourselves a Draugur and encourage it to swallow some of your blood.”
I laughed. “But if it works, how are we going to get my blood into every Draugur?”
“Right now, I’m not too sure. We can work that out when we know your blood really does make them change sides. Although we do have a backup plan now we know you can kill rogue souls.”
“That’s true,” I said brightly. “Can I tell the others?”
“I definitely think you should. It will be a great morale boost for them to know what you’re capable of,” Pen confirmed.
I rose from the table. “Perfect, I’ll let Freya know now. I probably owe her some girl time, seeing as I went out without her this morning.”
Pen stopped me with a gentle hand on my wrist. I sat back down and gave her an enquiring look.
“Flora, one person who is not going to be pleased with your new ability is Sluag.”
I frowned. “I hadn’t thought about that.”
“He’s going to be furious. His greatest fear is that he will eventually run out of rogue souls. Now you’ve found a way to take them from him. If you were a target for him before, you’ve probably just been bumped up to the top of his most-wanted list.” Pen spoke seriously.
I shuddered. Great, this almost certainly meant detention in the Endwood the next time I went to sleep.
“Pen, I have to find a way to stop him from summoning me.”
“I was just about to say the exact same thing. I’ll keep working on it. I promise.” She released my wrist and I stood up.
“Thank you.” I smiled as I headed for the door.
“Flora? Sluag will try and do something to provoke you. That’s the way he works. Whatever he says or does in the Endwood, wait until you come back to the mortal world before you react to him, okay?”
I nodded. A sense of dread wound its way through the pit of my stomach as I wondered what evil Sluag had in store as my punishment.
Chapter Eighteen
After I left Pen, I went straight to Freya’s room. She opened her door and grinned at me. “Your telling off over?”
I returned her smile sheepishly. “Yep. Although, I really didn’t do it on purpose, Freya. I genuinely went for a run.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Artair and Enid are training in the Everwood. Want to go and watch them, or join them?”
I paused, thinking about my encounter with Artair the day before. I didn’t really want a repeat performance, but on the other hand, I was going to have to face him sooner or later.
“Okay, but if Artair makes it clear he really doesn’t want me there, then I’ll back off and give him some more time.”
“Even if he’s angry with you, you’re still his Soul Keeper, Flora. He’ll have to come around eventually.”
I shrugged. “I know, but I don’t want to push him while he’s still grieving.”
We made our way outside, and we quickly faded from the grounds of Castle Dion, appearing instead in the Everwood. I looked around me with a smile, wondering at how much I loved this place I had only discovered existed a few months ago.
We heard the sounds of wooden sticks clashing together just a short distance away, and without a word, we both started toward the sound. As we neared a clearing in the trees, I made out the figures of Artair and Enid in practise combat.
They both held bamboo poles that were around five feet long. They were using the staves as weapons, and as we watched, they continuously came together in a flurry of blows and, then stepped back to catch their breath before trying to outdo each other once again.
Naturally, Artair was far more skilled than Enid, and he got the better of her over and over again. Enid’s frustration showed in her scrunched up, angry face as she rushed at Artair for the thousandth time.
Freya and I sat down at the edge of the clearing, curious to see how the training session would evolve. When she noticed us, Enid winced with embarrassment at us witnessing her failed attacks.
“Don’t let us put you off, honey. We’re team Enid, all the way.” Freya winked and smiled at the younger girl as she spoke.
Enid paused to return the smile and was rewarded with a gentle tap on her hip from Artair’s pole as he caught her unawares. She glared at him before lifting her own pole and resuming her uncoordinated attacks.
Freya laughed softly. “She’s adorable.”
I frowned in response. “Call me hard, but I don’t want adorable Dion, Freya. They’re the ones who are gonna get killed. She needs to toughen up and quick.”
“Wow, you really have come a long way from the confused human girl that Finlay brought to us all those months ago.” It seemed I’d annoyed her.
“I’m not judging Enid, Freya. I’m still learning too. I do feel sorry for her, though. She’s just a kid, and she’s nowhere near ready for what we’re facing. I don’t want to see the same thing that happened to Mara, happen to her.” I lowered my voice as I finished, not wanting to provoke Artair into a fight.
With pursed lips, Freya watched Enid’s attempts to better Artair. “You’re right. We have to help her get better.”
“We also need to find Finlay’s replacement so we can train him too. I have no idea how long we have until Sluag manages to create his super Draugur, but we need to be ready for it, and we’ll need every Dion we can get.” I watched Enid finally manage to land a hit on Artair’s shoulder, and I smiled in delight.
Freya also smiled at Enid’s success. “If Pen can’t find Finlay’s replacement, then I have no idea how we can.”
“Let’s hope he finds us,” I offered.
Freya changed the subject. “So, what happened this morning?”
I told Freya everything, including my suspicion that my blood had turned the Draugur from enemy into willing servant. I made sure I spoke loud enough for Artair and Enid to hear what I was saying, and it wasn’t long before they took a break from training and wandered over to sit with us, listening intently to what I had to say.
“What are we waiting for then?” Artair asked. “Let’s go and find another Draugur and test your theory, Flora.”
I was relieved he didn’t seem to be holding a grudge against me over Finlay, but I still held firm in my answer.
“Not while we have Enid with us.” I gave her an apologetic look as I spoke.
“She has to learn sometime, Flora,” he shot back.
My voice was low. “Don’t let your feelings toward Finlay and I cloud your judgement on this one, Artair. She’s been here days. She’s too new.”
“She might be new, Flora but she’s a Dion. She’s supposed to protect you, and the sooner she learns how to do that, the sooner you have one more person able to take care of you.”
I knew he was right, I had lost Finlay, Mara, and Lyall. I needed help in the form of Dion. I just wasn’t sure I could justify involving Enid so soon after her whole world had been tipped upside-down.
“We’re all you have left, Flora.” Artair gestured to himself, Enid, and then Freya as he spoke.
“It’s not ideal, Flora but he’s right, the sooner she starts to learn, the sooner she can protect herself.” Freya watched my face for a reaction.
“I want to get better.” Enid spoke so softly I barely heard her.
I turned to the younger girl. “I know you do and you will get better, but for now, I’m just not sure we should be taking you on a Draugur hunt.”
Enid’s eyes widened as she stared over my shoulder. “I don’t think you need to take me anywhere. I think they found us.”
I jumped to my feet and turned at the same time to follow Enid’s gaze. Freya and Artair were also on their feet in seconds. Freya hissed in a breath as we took in the sight of four Draugur approaching us through the trees.
They hadn’t bothered to disguise their features since we were in the Everwood and there were no humans around. As I watched them, my lip curled in disgust. Their skin was grey and corpselike, tombstone teeth were few and far between inside their gaping mouths, and a sticky mucus trickled down their chins as they salivated in anticipation of getting their claws into us.
Freya protectively pushed Enid behind her. Enid was still staring at the Draugur, her face a mixture of fear and nausea.
“We’re outnumbered,” murmured Freya.
“I’m going to change.” Artair began his shift to becoming an eagle before any of us had a chance to reply.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped up next to Freya so Enid was hidden behind us both. “Don’t take any risks, but if we can keep one alive, we can try my blood.”
Both Freya and Artair nodded, although Artair was more bird than man now. With a sudden burst of feathers and a screech, he flew up above our heads and dived for the eyes of the closest monster to him.
I didn’t hesitate. “Esperi rith tai, mortis oct suoil, fortun rais dor, al noi pertina.”
The Draugur I targeted fell to its knees with a howl of fury as the blue arc of flame burst from my hand and tore the rogue soul from its body before my energy turned red and crushed it out of existence.
Freya fired me a look of surprise and admiration as she pulled out a small hunting knife and ran it across the throat of the nearest Draugur to her, buying me enough time to repeat the process on it.
My eyes found Enid’s. The girl was frozen to the spot, with a look of pure terror etched on her face as a third Draugur approached her. I glanced at Artair’s Draugur which was now writhing on the floor in eyeless agony. The eagle was nowhere to be seen.
I turned back to Freya. “Can you hold onto this one while I finish Artair’s Draugur off? I’d rather have one that’s undamaged to test my blood on.”
She nodded and flew at the Draugur that seemed so intent on getting to Enid. I turned my attention toward the thrashing body of Artair’s Draugur and spoke my magic.
As the rogue soul disappeared forever, I experienced a terrifying moment of being unable to breathe. My legs started to tremble, and a feeling of sickness wound its way through my stomach. I dropped to my knees with my head bowed and was startled to see drops of blood falling from my nose to speckle the grass.
“Flora, are you all right?” Artair came to his knees beside me. He’d changed back into human form.
I nodded, panting. “I think I just used a bit too much energy. I’ll be okay in a minute. Help them.” I gestured toward where Freya and Enid were struggling to keep the fighting Draugur pinned to the ground.
Artair ran to help the others, and I gradually made my way back to my feet. I hadn’t realised there would be such consequences for using so much energy. For a brief moment, I wished Lyall was here to help replenish what I’d lost and to give me a hug.
Turning my attention to the others, I smiled grimly as I approached the kicking and thrashing Draugur. Freya and Enid each held an end of one of the wooden poles that Artair and Enid had been training with. They had the pole pressed across the monster’s throat, pinning it to the ground.
Artair crouched over the snapping and snarling Draugur, holding its arms down against the grass to allow me the space to get close enough to feed it my blood.
As I knelt down near its head the Draugur turned its mottled face toward me and hissed. “My master has a surprise in store for you, and you won’t like it.”
Ignoring the Draugur, I reached over and grasped Freya’s knife, ready to slice my palm and access my blood.
It snorted laughter. “If you think you can kill me with that, you’ve learnt nothing, Soul Keeper.”
I pressed the sharp blade into my skin, bringing droplets of blood to the surface. The Draugur looked confused.
I pressed my other hand against its forehead, pulling its head back and giving me access to its rotten mouth. It was quiet now, unsure of what I was doing.
I held my bleeding hand above it and allowed the red liquid to form a bead before dropping into the Draugur’s mouth. It tried to turn its head away, but I held it firm even as it hissed and cursed at me.
Within seconds, the monster stopped fighting and hissing, instead becoming completely silent. I waved at the others to let go and back off.
“Are you sure, Flora?” Freya asked.
“Even if it hasn’t worked, it won’t kill me. It would only try to take me to Sluag, and I can end it anytime.” I spoke firmly despite the subtle nausea that remained at the back of my throat.
The three Dion slowly released the Draugur and backed off. I stayed on my knees next to it. When it sat up, I saw Artair move as though to intervene.
“No,” I whispered, and although he growled, he stayed where he was.
The Draugur got to its knees and turned to face me. This is it.
“How can I serve you, Soul Keeper?” The Draugur spoke with reverence as it bowed before me.
Chapter Nineteen
I didn’t miss a heartbeat as soon as I had confirmation the Draugur was mine; I spoke the incantation and pulled the rogue soul from its hiding place within the grotesque body.
As the soul evaporated into nothing, I felt a slight tap on my arm. “Wasn’t it a good soul now?” Enid asked timidly.
I shook my head at her in disbelief. I was dizzy, my legs were weak, and I felt sick. I didn’t need someone questioning my motives for killing rogue souls.
“No, it was still evil, it just wanted to change sides.” My voice came out sounding harder than I had intended.
Enid shrank back from my tone, and Freya gave me a questioning look. “She has a point, Flora. It could have been useful.”
I raised my eyebrows at her. “How could it have been useful, Freya? No matter who it supported, it was still the soul of a murderer or a violent person or someone bad. It didn’t deserve to stay.”
Freya stood up and held her hand out to Enid. “I don’t know, you’re probably right. It just seemed a little unfair to change its loyalty to you and then kill it.”
Artair stood and moved until he was next to me. He held out a hand and helped me up onto my shaky legs. “I have no sympathy for the rogue. It made its choices in life and it finally paid the price.”
I was a little surprised to receive support from this quarter, but I was happy to accept Artair’s backing. “Thanks,” I murmured.
“Although maybe we should change your name to Soul Reaper.” He grinned.
Freya rolled her eyes. “All I’m saying is I felt a bit sorry for it.”
I stepped forward, grateful I was feeling a little better after my energy expenditure. “Truly, I don’t feel sorry. This is our opportunity to really hit back at Sluag, and we should take it.”
“You’re right, Flora.” Freya still looked unconvinced. “I’m going to head back to the castle for lunch. You want to come with me?” This last was aimed at Enid, and the young girl nodded.
After they had left, I turned to Artair and smiled. “Thank you, for understanding.”
He shrugged. “It’s okay. You know how I feel about rogue souls. I think they should all be put down.”
I frowned. “No matter how you look at it, Finlay isn’t a rogue, Artair. He did what he thought was right, and he’s paid the price for it.”
Artair began to shimmer and fade from the Everwood. “You know how I feel about it, Flora, and I’m not going to change my mind. Good job on the Draugur though.”
After he left, I realised Finlay might have been around and listening to our conversation. I sat with my back to a thick-trunked tree and clo
sed my eyes, casting a mental net through my domain.
After several failed attempts to find him, I finally felt a slight trembling through the silver thread of the net. He was upset, which meant he had heard what Artair said.
Finlay, come and talk to me? I’m not leaving until you do.
I stubbornly pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapping my arms around my legs, I waited.
After around twenty minutes, my eyes grew heavy, and after a moment of fighting it, I eventually gave in to the sleepiness that crept over me. Using so much energy to kill the four Draugur had really taken its toll on me.
Hearing a rustling sound, I lifted my head, expecting to see the little Finlay—light approaching. Instead my eyes found spindly, black trees. The grass beneath me was a cold, depthless colour.
The rustling sound was made by Sluag’s boots as he walked slowly across the dead grass toward me. I was still completely wiped-out by my fight with the Draugur, and it took all of my energy to speak. “Sluag.”
“Yes, it’s me, Little Dreamer. You look exhausted, I must say.” He stopped inches away from me and looked down at me in the way someone might look at a piece of roadkill.
“I am a bit.” I started to stand, using the tree behind me to keep me steady on my feet.
His eyes darkened. I had never seen him look angry, and it terrified me. “You should be tired after all of the killing you’ve been indulging in.”
Managing to stand, I pulled in a deep breath, knowing he couldn’t harm me here but still afraid of the darkness behind his burning orange eyes. “So, you know about that, huh?”
“I know everything, Flora,” he roared as his hand shot forward and wrapped around my throat, lifting me to my toes and pressing my back against the cracked bark of the tree.
Unable to speak, I groaned and kicked out with my foot until I felt it connect with his shin. He hissed and released his grip on me.
I massaged my neck and glared at him. “Jesus, your manners have gone out of the window.”
