My Soul to Keep (The Soul Keeper Series - Young Adult Paranormal Romance)

by Solis, Melissa

  “Ohh, and you are a Keeper, two different things?” He nods.

  “Very. Cherubim are known as Warriors, Guardians or Soul Keepers.” He starts to walk back to my house at a leisurely pace. I stay by his side, eager for more information.

  “So is there any way I can see my mother?”

  “Not unless she gets an assignment here on Earth again.” In the red world the demons numbers are dwindling by the minute. We step aside as a carcass slowly fades into a shadow and I turn back and watch it completely disappear. We reach my steps. “We will continue our talk another time Brennen, and Happy Birthday. He smiles a soft kind smile, and takes off, blowing my hair up in his wake. I reach the top step and Will is there again. I inhale a quick breath, startled.

  “Almost forgot, your gift.”

  “You didn't have to get me anything.” I shake my head. He laughs hard and loud, his booming voice causes me to take a step back.

  “No, your gift of influence,” He fights off another chuckle. I look at him with my head turned. “You now have a very powerful ability to influence others by your words. We will go into the details of it with Elena when we start your training. But for now, don't tell anyone to go jump off a bridge or take a hike. Because they just might do exactly what you say.”

  “What, like mind control?” I balk. He smirks and folds his arms in front of his broad chest.

  “More like if someone were thinking about suicide and you told them to go jump off bridge they would choose to agree with you. When you speak now, people will naturally want to agree with you. So be careful, try and watch what you have to say. The good news is, now you can tell Mr. Hot-lips in there to slow down and he will actually listen.”

  I sit down on the patio to absorb everything. I don't know how long I sat there but I startle when Sam grabs my shoulder.

  “Bren, you okay?” I blink and try to focus on staying in my world. It looks like the evening is near.

  “Yes, I was just thinking, that's all.” I will have to carefully consider every word I say from now on.

  “I hear I'm a really good listener.” I smile at Sam. He is a good friend; we have gotten much closer this week. But nothing that is going through my mind can be shared with him.

  “I just miss my dad.”

  “Yep, why is it that the happiest occasions are often the saddest when you have lost a parent or a loved one? I guess it's because we wish they were here with us, sharing in the memories. But if your dad were here right now, what would he say?” Sam pulls me into his lap and holds me.

  “He would say, “Hey kid you are and always will be my baby,” Followed by his very bad impersonation of Marilyn Monroe, singing Happy Birthday Mr. President.” Just thinking of his voice makes me giggle.

  “He sounds like a pretty cool dad.”

  “He was.” Sam holds me for a while and the doorbell rings. I kiss his lips and hop up to go inside. I find Emily at the door. She looks amazing in slim red dress and matching heels.

  “Emily wow, you look so gorgeous.” I take her hand and spin her around. “Just, wow.” She giggles and hugs me.

  “Thanks, I have lost nineteen pounds so far. My mom and I have been taking a Zumba class and eating like a rabbit, a starving rabbit.” She gives a lighthearted laugh before bounding us up the stairs.

  “Em's,” I chastise her.

  “Relax, I am going to treat myself tonight!” She drags me to my room and starts digging through my closet. I plop on my bed. I wonder if I told her to eat sensible and healthy food if she would ‘obey’ me. She pulls out a slinky emerald dress and examines it.

  “This dress is perfect for tonight.” She pulls out a pair of black stilettos. I am so not in the mood for this party. I want to just go crawl under a rock somewhere and absorb all of my new found knowledge. I can't even begin to process everything. Emily tosses a strapless bra at me and some barely there panties. I pull off my clothes and slide the silky fabric over my body. The dress has thin delicate straps and a low hung cowl neckline and an even lower plunged back. I examine the look in the mirror. My eyes stand out like new leaves in spring.

  “Brennen, you’re gorgeous. Of course, you would be gorgeous in a potato sack.”

  The silver charm around my neck shimmers in the light. I slide it side to side on its chain and wonder what my mother’s face looked like. The letter said her eyes matched mine. I blink back at my reflection noticing how the flecks of blue and amber deepen the hue of jade to achieve my unique iris coloring. This is the only feature I can be sure of when I picture her in my head, the rest keeps changing and shifting.

  “Bren, are you okay?” Emily touches my arm. I give her a soft smile in the mirror and nod. I turn away as I catch a tear about to run over.

  “I just need a minute, would you mind checking on Sam?” She examines me with reserve and finally turns and closes the door behind her. I sit on my bed and pull my pillow into my lap. I pull open the drawer to my side table and fish out the letter from my dad. I never got to finish reading it.

  So now you know what I know Bren and I hope you are handling it better than I did at first. I met your mother while on mission in Bahrain. She was tending to an orphanage and our team had found a child that needed the help of the shelter. I brought the little boy in and she caught me in her spell the moment I laid eyes on her.

  She was so graceful, and beautiful, I was tongue-tied and practically tripping on my own feet when I walked over to her. She wore her golden hair up in a clip. She smelled like a rare exotic flower and like home all at the same time. She spoke with a British accent and her voice chimed like a silver bell. I learned her name was Emmagen. I asked her out for a drink after she was done for the day and she accepted. She was so easy to be with, our conversation came freely, and after that night we were inseparable. Then two weeks later, I had to go home. I almost went AWOL just to stay with her but she wouldn't have it. She said I needed to keep protecting lives, and it would break her heart if she stopped me from doing that. I tried to write her but I never heard from her again, until that morning.

  After I found you, I tried everything to find her again, so we could be a family, but of course, she was just gone. I wish you could have known her Brennen. In the short time I knew her, she changed me. Those two weeks taught me what love is. She made the world a better place, she truly was an Angel. Then again so are you.

  I hope you know how much I love you. I think I only told you forty-two times a day. But here is one more. I love you. Know that where ever you are right now, I am thinking of you. Know that whatever your life brings, I will be celebrating it with you. I will be giving you big crushing bear hugs every time you leave the house. When the wave splashes your face in the ocean, know that it's me. When one of my stupid catch phrases rings in your ear know that I whispered it. I am always with you in your heart baby girl. And you will always live in mine.

  Love,

  Daddy

  I crush the letter to my chest and cry. The door to my room eases open, it’s Sam. He sees me crying and the smile leaves his face. He wears a pair of black slacks and a freshly pressed crisp white shirt. He looks like he is ready for a photo shoot for a men’s cologne ad. He pulls up beside me, taking a strand of hair from my face and tucking it behind my ear.

  “You know it's your party and you can cry if you want to and all, but I think you'd have more fun if you would come down and join us.” I know he is trying to cheer me up but he is no Elijah in that department. Elijah could pull me in and whatever was wrong would disappear. I blink back the tears and in the process I see Will sitting in the corner. It startles me. I know Sam can't see him. Will holds up a finger to his lips warning me not to speak.

  “Brennen, we need you to dry it up and get down to your party, you have work to do. You can feel sorry for yourself later.” I scoff at Will’s audacity. In power for less than an hour and they already have me bidding their dirty work.

  “I'll come down, just let me just clean up okay?” Sam leaves me and
I fold the letter and hide it inside a large novel on my bookshelf, safe enough for now. My mascara is a mess and I could double for Rudolf. I reach for the makeup remover and reapply my face. Okay so now what? I am not exactly a social butterfly. I have two friends down there, three if you count Chris. Each step I take brings me closer to the party and the closer I get, the more my fear washes away. Sam takes my arm as I reach the bottom step.

  “You look beautiful baby.”

  “Thank you, so do you. I mean you look very handsome.” I smile and kiss his cheek. We walk hand in hand to the tent. Outside the night is cool but not cold. I wear a small black faux mink wrap around my shoulders. The party is in full swing down below.

  “Oh, Sam I can't believe you did all of this for me, thank you.” It is over the top and gorgeous. My eyes are wet once again at Sam’s generosity. He turns and wipes my eyes before kissing my lips softly.

  “You're welcome and we are going to have so much fun tonight.” He squeezes my hand as we enter the tent. There are already about one hundred people mingling in the tent and more scattered on the beach. A band is playing on a stage up front. The tables are dressed in black linen and small cupcake towers make the centerpiece for each one. The white frosted cupcakes each hold a sparkler in the middle. As we pass by people, they each wish me happy birthday. I say thank you to mostly strangers but a few I recognize from class.

  “Sam this is amazing.”

  “Come on let's get something to eat.” We walk over to a buffet table and everything looks so good. I grab a couple of bacon wrapped shrimp, something labeled Hawaiian meatballs, skewered with fresh pineapple, and a goat cheese stuffed mushroom. Copper tubs holds bottles of soda. Thank goodness we wouldn't be serving alcohol to all of these minors. I don't want anyone drinking and driving. Hmm, maybe that is why I was needed to “work” tonight. I set my plate down and jump up on the stage and ask the band for the mic. He looks a little taken aback but hands it to me. Let’s take this little gift for a test drive.

  “Um, hi everyone, thank you for coming to my birthday party, it means a lot to me that you would spend New Year’s with me too. I hope everyone here has a blast tonight. I only ask that you stay sober tonight, I care about the lives of everyone out on the road tonight and I hope you will do your part to stay safe. Thank you.” Everyone had given me their undivided attention it was sort of creepy and Stepford like. I walked back to my plate and Sam as the band fired back up.

  “Well I hope people take your advice. That was a sweet thing to say.”

  “Ha well lucky for us we aren't driving anywhere. I have a bottle of champagne in the fridge inside,” I say and Sam waggles his brow letting me know he is all for it. Emily and Chris join us at the table with their plates. “Hi Chris, thank you for coming.” He smiles back at me his mouth already full. “Hey Em, would you guys like to spend the night?”

  “Sure, I don't want to be driving around out there tonight.” I find her comment to be very off par from her usual bring-on-the-booze standards. So maybe I do have a subtle effect. The band is good, they are playing a wide variety of music and the lead singer is now pulling off Green Day. I notice Emily's plate holds a few cherry tomatoes and some almonds. This won't do if she is going to join us in a drink or two later.

  “Emily you have got to try these kabobs they are delicious.” I give her one off my plate and she devours it like a starved dog. I count my fingers when I retract my hand. Guess she was hungry. I glance at Sam and our eyes meet. “God Brennen looks so hot in that green dress.” And then I get a mental picture of me naked and I pull my head back. What the hell…? I find his gaze again. “I wonder if tonight we can do a little more than kiss, she looks like she wants more too.” Holy shit, did I just read his mind?

  “Um excuse me I am going to go freshen up.” I rise from the table and meet Emily's eyes. “What does she need to freshen up? She already looks perfect.” My eyes widen at my best friend, seriously? I pass several people on my way up to the house. Every person I make eye contact with, I can read their thoughts. Ari Campbell thinks that I am a spoiled little rich bitch who Sam should dump tonight. Sanchez wonders if Sam has hit that yet. Geeze I quit looking at people after that. I run upstairs and lock the door to my room. I blink and enter the other realm. I look around for Will. He enters the room by walking through the door, without opening it.

  “Will, I can read people's minds?”

  “The eyes are the window to one’s soul. You can read people's thoughts by looking in their eyes. How else will you find the words to sway their actions? It makes sense.”

  “Well can I turn it off? I don't want to see my naked body every time I look into Sam's eyes.” I wrap my arms around myself feeling vulnerable already. He bursts into laughter.

  “You will have to get used to it, I'm afraid there is no turning it off.”

  “What if I'm not wearing the necklace?”

  “The necklace has nothing to do with it now, once you put it on it did what it was made to do. It revealed your gifts.

  “What other gifts do I have? I don't want any more surprises.”

  “I really don't know. We will have to test you,” he says almost sounding apologetic. I pace the floor, my heels click into the wood. I feel like a grenade without its pin.

  “Tomorrow then,” I say before heading out my door and blinking back to my realm. Downstairs I grab the bottle of champagne from the fridge. I uncork it and pour myself a glass. I hear the door slide open and watch Sam striding towards me. I keep my gaze averted away from his eyes.

  “Care for a glass?” He pulls me into his chest and grabs my glass. He takes a long slow drink, finishing the glass, and then kisses me deeply, filling my mouth with the cool bubbles and his tongue. I hear him set the glass down and he grabs my waist lifting me effortlessly to the counter top. He positions himself between my thighs.

  “Sam don't you want to wait until we are married.” I allow him to search my eyes while I watch the scene shift in his mind. One second he pictures his zipper going down and the next second he pictures me in white lingerie. I see a ring on my finger and a new look of resolve in Sam's eye as he course corrects his decision to match my suggestion, fascinating. He picks me up and sets me on the ground.

  “Why don't you pour us all a glass? I will go find Em and Chris.” I take down three more flutes. I listen as the sound of fireworks boom outside. The town will have a big show later this evening and we should have a front row seat for it. I refill my glass and drink it down and before they return I fill it again. Emily strides in first, followed by Chris and Sam. They each grab a glass.

  “Here's to a new year and new possibilities. I hope we all open our hearts and follow our dreams. Cheers!” We clank glasses and from the corner of my eye, I see Emily wrap her arms around Sam and try to kiss him. I almost shoot champagne out of my nose. What the hell…? Sam's eyes widen and he pushes her away.

  “Emily!” we both yell out. Chris realizes what just went down and drags her off to the corner.

  “What the hell was that Emily?” Chris chastises her. I look to Sam and he shakes his head as if he is clueless. I think I might have an idea. I walk over to Emily. I look into her eyes and ask her.

  “Do you like Sam?” “I liked Sam first, but he loves you so much. And you are my best friend. Oh why did I do that? I just screwed everything up. Lie you have to lie!” Emily thinks.

  “What, no I just thought people kissed on New Year’s Eve, I'm really sorry Bren.” “Oh please believe me. Why did I do that? I was just following my dreams like she said to.”

  “It's cool Emily, here in America, we usually wait till midnight, and we kiss the one who brought us.” Great, me and my big mouth, I just need to quit talking. I gulp down another glass of bubs and find the bottle is empty. I grab another from the fridge; yeah it's been that kind of day. I pop the cork while the three of them stare at me like I'm an alien– awkward. Chris is thinking that Emily and Sam are totally doing it. Sam is thinking that I am pi
ssed and he hopes that I don't think he likes Em like that. Emily wants to crawl into a hole and die. Okay, time to make everything better. I walk over to Sam.

  “I love you baby, thank you again for this party.” I kiss him with a slow lingering kiss.

  “Mm, I love you too.” He pulls me in and hugs me. “How does she make me feel this way? I would do anything for her.” And I know he would.

  “Come on Em let's go dance,” I say while grabbing her hand. She manages to grab her glass before I haul us out to the tent.

  The tent’s population has tripled in size and the party is in full swing. We make our way to the dance floor and we manage to squeeze our way on to it. Bodies are stirring to the rhythm, mere inches apart from one another and Emily and I are one of them. I spot Sam and Chris talking over by the dessert bar. I hope they are okay. One little innocent word caused a hairline fracture in our once stable alliance. The question is, did I just slap a Band-Aid over it, or will the gaping rift between us widen irrevocably?

  The band takes a break and switches to D.J music. A popular line dance comes on and the crowd is moving in unison to the urban pulse. I want to dance with Sam. I try and will him over to me with my mind. Who knows maybe I am telepathic now too. He is watching me move but he keeps talking to Chris like he is distracted by something. It looks like things are getting heated. Suddenly, Chris shoves Sam then Sam punches Chris. Aw hell. I run over to them. Sam's punch lands square on Chris's jaw. Chris tackles Sam sending them both hurling towards the desserts. Okay nobody is going to get in the way of me and my chocolate or my boyfriend.

  “Stop it!” I yell out. They both look up at me. Sam has Chris in a head lock, he slowly releases him. Chris spits out blood and glares at me.

  “What's all this about?”

  “Fucker said your ass looked good enough to eat,” Sam thinks.

  “Sorry Brennen I was just being a jerk,” Chris apologizes. I'll say you were being a jerk. Sam straightens out his shirt and brushes his hand through his wavy hair.