by annie nadine
“What did they do?” Annie asked to urge him to continue.
“Finally, when the situation was almost out of control ten trackers were sent to kill him, Timothy was leading the group. They lured Stewart to a thick forest where a secluded structure was located. This was where the first soul snatcher was created. Remember the woman who sacrificed the innocent?” He reminded but she already remembered.
“Yes, I do,” she said feeling nervous of where the story was headed.
“It is where she lived. Their plan was to get him inside and stab him there. They were not sure if this would work, as they were basing their plan on the vague information they had from Timothy, but they could not think of anything else. They fought him with all of their strength and he killed them off one by one. The battle went for hours. Eventually it came down to two trackers. One managed to push him into the house and stab him but it did not kill him. There Stewart removed the dagger, killed the tracker and went for Timothy standing outside the open door. However, when Stewart reached the portal he could not step out.” Eli sounded surprised even though he was the one telling the story.
“What did Timothy do?” Annie asked feeling as if she were part of the story herself.
“He stayed near the house and monitored Stewart as best he could. Stewart tried to escape through every possible opening but to no avail. He was prohibited from exiting just as snatchers are prohibited from entering before they are invited in,” Eli answered.
“But you said that none of the trackers have ever met Timothy. How do you know any of this has happened?” Annie thought it strange to take the word of someone they had never even met so seriously.
“He writes to us,” Eli said, as if this would be enough. She looked at him, dumbfound that never meeting Timothy didn’t even seem to bother him.
“Is Stewart still there?” Annie asked breathlessly. All of it was becoming too strange for her.
“Timothy is the only one who knows where the place is located. He returns every so often to see what has come of Stewart and he says that he lives.” Eli sounded amazed.
“How is that possible?” Annie asked starting to realise there was so much more to Baden than she knew.
“We do not know. He does not look starved or dying. He just lives forever in that place, unable to escape.” Still, Eli sounded astonished.
“So, what of Baden?” She asked trying to sound much less interested than she actually was.
“He has not been stabbed through before but we suspect that he is quite the same,” Eli reasoned. Annie thought of when she stabbed Baden and realised what had happened. She thought of confessing but decided not to, Eli already assumed what he needed to know.
“Do you know Baden personally?” Annie asked, curious as to Eli’s knowledge. Instead of answering he just looked at her for a moment or two. He seemed to be having an internal battle but she wasn’t sure why.
“I did know him but he turned into a monster,” he answered eventually. His tone was level but there was emotion in his eyes.
“How do you know he is a monster?” She couldn’t help but ask, even though part of her was too fearful to know the answer.
“He has only been turned for a few years and he has killed more than any other snatcher we know of. Once I heard of a whole inn full of people he killed.” Eli sounded disgusted.
“Are you sure he did that?” Annie hoped with everything in her that somehow he was mistaken.
“He made it quite clear it was him. He was gracious enough to send correspondence to keep us updated of his pillages.” Eli looked repulsed to have to even say the words. Annie started to feel sick.
“How was he changed?” She asked, trying to block out the thoughts in her mind of Baden being a nightmare to others. Eli looked taken back by the question, like he wasn’t sure what to say. “Eli?” Annie said, waiting for him to say something. He snapped out of his daze and focused on her again.
“He…uh,” Eli stumbled over his words and cleared his throat. “He was on a routine scout for snatchers one night with his partner. They followed two people into the graveyard, a man and a woman. They thought only the man was a snatcher. The woman had disappeared by the time they caught up to them. They killed the snatcher easily and the woman came out from hiding. Baden got too close and she lunged at him, biting him before they even realised what she was.” His recount sounded like a list rather than a story and he looked utterly detached from it.
“And…is there a trigger why he did the things he is known for?” Annie wondered. Surely there had to be a reason, not that it would really make it any better.
This was a moment that Eli could use to tell her the truth, a truth that he had kept to himself for so many years. A secret that had plagued him until he felt lost within himself. But as he looked into her eyes he couldn’t come to terms with facing her reaction, so he let it go.
“No,” he lied. The word was so final that it felt like a bucket of cold water had been thrown over her.
“I do not think I can listen to another word,” she said as she closed the journal. She stood and handed it back to Eli. He stood with her and took the book from her.
“I know this is all quite overwhelming but you need to stay away from him. If he ever comes near you again or tries to do anything, you must tell me,” he instructed. Annie simply nodded. For a reason she could not deduce she still kept her secret from him.
“Good night, Eli,” she said avoiding having to answer him.
“Good night,” he replied. She left and went to her room, passing Garrick on her way out.
“Goodnight, Miss Belle,” Garrick said, moving out of her way as she came through the door.
“Goodnight, Garrick,” she responded quickly then was on her way. She rushed to her room hoping she would be able to forget everything she heard tonight but knowing that she probably never would.
Garrick walked up to Eli who remained standing after Annie’s exit.
“Would you like me to arrange other accommodation for Miss Belle, now that Baden has made an appearance?” Garrick asked.
“I do not think that is necessary. Baden does not know she lives here and he definitely will not be coming here any time soon. This is the last place he will look for her,” Eli reasoned confidently. Garrick hoped that he was right.
CHAPTER 29
Annie went to her room and closed the door. It was as if she was running from everything she heard. She made her way through the dark room and lit the lamp on her bedside table. She turned to move to the fireplace to light a fire in hopes to ease the chill that had seeped inside. Before she made it very far she froze.
Baden was standing only a few feet away. He was still dressed in his formal attire as was she. He stood with his hands in his pockets, his head slightly bowed as if he were under submission. His posture made him look vulnerable and almost defenceless, maybe with a hint of regret.
Only moments passed but it felt like days standing there looking at him. He stood there as perfect as an oil painting, just watching at her. She played with the material of her skirt nervously. She could die at any moment and still her heart beat fast because of him, fast in the good way.
“I can feel your fear,” he said breaking the silence. She tried to slow her heart but failed.
“How is that?” She had no idea how she pushed the words out.
“For one thing, your heart is beating faster than it usually does,” he explained. He decided that being honest with her was the only way he was going to prove how he felt. He had always been a closed off person, especially in the last few years as he was hardened by his hatred and secluded by his own choices. But for her he would show himself.
“I think fear may only be part of the reason for the pace of my heart,” she whispered but he still heard. Trying to act as casual as possible, she pulled her gloves off and threw them on the bed. He noticed the goose bumps on her skin.
“You are cold, you should move over to the fire,” he suggested glancing
back at the fireplace then looking back to her. She looked past him and noticed for the first time that it was lit. She looked back to him in question. Half a smile moved to his lips and he looked down as if he was embarrassed. “I thought you might be cold,” he explained.
Annie blinked a few times as if this would help her to understand. She went to move towards the fire but hesitated because she would have to walk past him. He sensed what she was feeling and walked over to the fireplace to clear her path. He stepped off to one side of the fire, hands still in his pockets.
He looked over to her and casually leaned against the wall, looking beautifully otherworldly in the dim glow of the flames. Before she had decided whether or not she should, she walked over and stood on the opposite side of the fireplace, keeping her eyes on him the whole time. She watched him as he stood there, not because she was afraid but more so because she couldn’t look away.
“You look breathtaking,” he said softly. His voice matched the flames, they were warm and melted all over her skin. Her breathing fluttered a little and she tried to tame it as she was coming to realise that he noticed every little thing about her. She looked down to her dress as if to try and see what he was seeing. Before she could answer there was a knock at the door.
Annie quickly looked up at Baden and their eyes locked. There seemed to be two distinct questions in his eyes; how much do you care and how much do you trust me? By answering her visitor it meant that he might get caught and that she didn’t want him around. If she didn’t answer then it meant she would be left alone with him.
They both just stood there looking at each other, waiting to see what would happen. Though Baden still stood casually he looked tense.
“Annie,” Eli called from behind the closed door. She steadied her breathing so as not to be heard. Suddenly she heard the doorknob turning and she yelled the only thing she could think that would stop him from coming in.
“I am getting changed,” she said clearly and loudly. Eli quickly pulled the door closed.
“I apologise. When you did not answer I was coming in to ensure you were safe,” he explained through the door.
“I am fine. I am off to bed, it has been a long day,” she lied as she stared at Baden. He watched her intently as she spoke.
“I will speak with you tomorrow then,” Eli called out.
“Thank you, have a pleasant sleep,” Annie said to try and make sure he would leave.
“You also,” he responded then there was silence. After a moment Baden spoke.
“Eli is gone,” he assured her. Annie still had a little fear in her due to Baden. She had no idea what he was capable of. Maybe he was trying to steal her soul? All she knew was that he was doing a fine job of it. She looked off to the flames to try and give herself a moment to concentrate.
“How is it that you are able to read me so well?” She asked, thinking back to all the times he had done so. When he didn’t answer straight away she looked over to him to find that he was just staring at her.
“When you are turned into a snatcher your human senses and abilities are magnified greatly but there are some who become even more developed.” He seemed reluctant to go on but he could feel that she wanted him to. “Some who are changed, depending on the bane that changed them and how strong they were to begin with, get other senses also. They sometimes can sense someone’s soul.”
“What do you mean, sense?” Her voice was quiet as she tried to take it all in.
“It helps to determine what type of souls there are out there. We can also tell if someone is lying or hateful or…in love…” he explained. Great, well the cat was out of the bag in this instance.
“What is the purpose in having that sense?” She thought it was a rather intimate thing for deadly beings to have. He swallowed hard before he answered, like the next words were going to change everything.
“It helps for when they are trying to steal souls.” He felt her soul churn in anguish at the thought and it made him feel despicable.
“So you ‘read’ me then?” She felt even more vulnerable than she did before.
“I have learned how to turn it off and can choose to…but I did not with you,” he confessed. She wasn’t sure if she was annoyed or complimented by that.
“Why not?” Her voice was even but he could feel that there was hope inside of her. He smiled to himself, as if it should be clear.
“With your soul I cannot only feel it but I can see it and taste it and even hear it sometimes…your soul is...beautiful. It is unlike any other soul I have ever found and it has become my escape.” His words were said so lovingly that she felt tears sting the back of her eyes but she pushed them away immediately. She was not going to let him manipulate her with nice words.
There was silence for a time. She didn’t know what to say to him and he could feel that she was refusing to believe him. Her struggle made him feel guilt because he was a burden to her. She stared into the fire trying not to let her soul trust him.
“I thought you were…” She said softly, opting not to say the word dead. That night in the rain had tormented her every night since it happened.
“Unfortunately I cannot die so easily,” he said with sorrow in his voice. Though she was not looking at him she could feel his eyes on her. She didn’t like his comment and couldn’t look away any longer.
“Why were you laying on the ground looking lifeless? Why not just stand up if you were still alive?” She asked. She could have been spared the agony of losing him.
“When you stabbed me you only just missed my heart. Usually, even if it had gone through, the dagger would have no effect,” he answered.
“Usually,” she repeated, picking up on the word. He paused before he answered.
“Because of my feelings towards you it could have brought me to an end,” he added almost reluctantly. He had never felt so vulnerable in his life. He was typically the one who had power and control over things and now he had none of that, all because of this one person.
“What feelings? What is the difference?” She asked, missing the point. He looked at her closely, gently.
“The one that a soul snatcher loves, regardless of the snatchers strength, has the ability to kill them,” he said seriously.
Annie was stunned but tried to seem unfazed. Her heart beat fast and she tried to steady it but failed miserably. He could just be lying and she shouldn’t believe him. His revelation was too much to take in at the moment, whether it was true or not, so she changed the subject.
“Eli told me what you were...you were a tracker.” She said the words evenly. Baden couldn’t tell how she felt about it because there were so many conflicting emotions playing around in her. He nodded and looked away from her because he was ashamed.
“What else did he tell you?” He asked knowing Eli would have left out one major detail.
“I have been told what you have done, to so many people.” Again her tone was even. She was afraid and disgusted by his actions but she couldn’t ignore how she felt for him. Somehow she still cared and it confused her. She felt like the common sense part of her was beating the illogical part of her over the head to try and stop the stupidity of it but it wasn’t getting through. He nodded once, keeping his eyes on the flames.
“I have been a nightmare in the lives of countless people. I have killed the innocent, taken their lives because I was full of hate. I am a monster in the purest sense of the word.” His voice was coated in honesty and filled with remorse. He knew what all of this meant, that she would not want him, but he did not want her to love him not knowing what he had done. That would not even be love.
“And now it pains you?” She surprised him by asking. He looked over to her to find her watching him closely. All he could do was nod as the guilt swam around in him. Though she was only human he felt as if she could read his soul, like no one else could. “Why?” She asked. He thought for a moment before he answered.
“For most of my life I was someone who did what they
were told. I was a tracker so I did what I had to when in that role. When I was turned I took the role of a soul snatcher but I will not lie, it was my choice to kill. I hated everyone because someone I trusted had betrayed me. I foolishly took it out on others,” Baden answered honestly.
“But what is the difference now?” Annie asked feeling she had not gained her answer. He pushed off the wall and stood straight. She took half a step back in reaction to his movement.
“You are the difference.” The words were said so softly that she almost didn’t hear them. She looked at him in shock. “I had not found value in anyone or anything and I did as I pleased, disposing of people like they were nothing. Even if there was good in anyone’s soul, I could not look past their failings to see it. Soon enough I just stopped looking for the good altogether and I saw everyone as if they were rodents. But then I found you…” Baden paused for a moment just to look at her. “Your soul was laced with nothing but purity and after that, every soul I saw I couldn’t help but look past their faults and see their value. I discovered that I was the one choosing not to see the goodness within others, though it was there. Then I realised what I had become and what I had done.”
