Souls Endure (The Souls Trilogy Book 3)

by Anne B. Cole

Persephone squinted in vain. “A magical bracelet? Where? I want it.”

  “Not for six days, my love.”

  With a swift kick behind her knees, Hades sent Gretta sprawling into the depths of Tartarus.

  Pain and fear surrounded her.

  Chapter 34

  The Torments

  Sam

  Piercing screams surrounded Sam. Hundreds of flailing souls accompanied him. He focused on his family in an attempt to block the agony of the repetitive scorching of his soul.

  Justin and Mom are in a good place.

  He wished he could be with them and knew he had the ability to go to them.

  I won’t leave Tartarus without Gretta. Or Anya.

  Flames hissed, searing his spirit with a blast of burn impossible to compare to anything worldly.

  Unrelenting torture.

  The need to leave Tartarus swelled within him.

  Focus on finding Anya.

  A huge vat of churning grease boiled beneath Sam. Fear of drowning surged through his spirit. Hovering above the burning oil, he witnessed others drop into the bubbling inferno. The stench of burning flesh filled the steamy air.

  Screaming and writhing, spirits floated to the surface. Once succumbed to unconsciousness, the remnants of their spirits magically rose from the depths. Invisible hands slapped their faces into revival before plunging them back into the scalding oil.

  Fear. Pain. Fear. Pain. An endless cycle of continual suffering torments the condemned.

  Sam splatted into the grease. Sizzling oil seared his skin and filled his nose. He opened his eyes to excruciating burning. Screaming allowed the torrid grease to blister a path within him. Down his throat, into his lungs, and through every part of his body-like soul. The grease rapidly consumed him.

  And won.

  When he realized he had been removed from the inferno, Sam’s soul fell into the depths. Aware of the impending suffering, his fear heightened.

  Focus on Anya. Not the pain. Not the fear.

  He endured eight more burnings before a colorful bracelet caught his attention.

  Gretta?

  Her falling spirit reached for him. Their fingers grazed. He clutched her wrist. Together, they plunged into the fiery oil.

  Pain, fear, and a sliver of hope filled him.

  Don’t let go. No matter what, don’t let go.

  Sam wasn’t sure if he said the words. Even if he did, she would never be able to hear him over the sizzling grease.

  Darkness engulfed him.

  Sam came to his senses with a charred hand clutching his fingers. His gaze followed along the attached arm, past the blackened fibers of the woven bracelet. The green silk scarf wrapped on her other wrist glowed with live embers.

  “Gretta?”

  The spirit trembled. Burnt skin peeled from the remains of the spirit’s body, exposing patches of bone and tissue. Her head dropped to her chest. She held her hands in front of her face and wailed. “I did this to you. This is my fault. Stay away from me.” She stumbled out of reach.

  “I’ll never leave you. We can endure this together.” He gathered her in his arms and for a cherished moment, they became one.

  “No!” Gretta’s voice shrieked from above.

  Sam shielded the burned spirit from several souls falling around them. A wrist wrapped with a green scarf grazed his arm and continued descending into the abyss.

  “Gretta?” He created space between them when the trembling soul in his arms quaked with spasms of evil laughter.

  “Sam, you’re hurt,” Gretta called from below his feet.

  He peered where a floor should have been and saw Gretta flail into darkness. The charred spirit roared in laughter and back flipped out of his arms. Red eyes bulged from a wart-ridden, hairless head. A forked tongue flicked as scaly appendages sprouted from its torso.

  “What did you do with Gretta?” Sam screamed at the monster.

  It tilted its ugly head and roared.

  Another spirit fell past them. Gretta’s bracelet covered this spirit’s wrist as well. He pulled her to his side. The spirit screeched and disintegrated into mist.

  Another soul fell to his knees and wrapped arms around his ankles. He lifted her face and saw Gretta’s blue jean eyes light up.

  “I love you, Sam.”

  Before he had the chance to respond, her spirit shattered and sprinkled in shards over his feet.

  Terror took hold of him when another Gretta tapped his shoulder. He began to understand and refused to look at her.

  “Hades has Gretta. She is suffering in his presence, not here. These are mind games used to torture me.”

  The red-eyed monster reappeared. It morphed into a huge creature with three horns protruding from its forehead and crimson scales covering a segmented body. A whip of a tail curled around clawed toes.

  “Your wife’s fear is falling and endangering those she loves. Your fear is drowning and abandoning her.” The beast jabbed Sam with its horns and tossed him into the air. Cocking his head, he snarled, “Let the suffering continue.”

  Whatever force had kept Sam aloft, released. His spirit spiraled into the pit of burning grease.

  Focus on Anya. Not fear, not pain.

  When the scalding ceased, he found himself once again suspended over the steaming vat. More souls called his name and fell within inches of him. Many wore Gretta’s bracelet and green scarf.

  “Help me, Sam. I’m falling,” her voice wailed.

  “Take my hand.” At his touch, the spirit burst into flames and floated away.

  Concentrating on the fact the spirits were a trick, he squeezed his eyes shut. Pleas for help continued shrieking inside his head. A stench of decaying fish caused Sam’s stomach to roil. He fell to his knees and retched. When the stink grew stronger he opened his eyes.

  The crimson monster hovered inches in front of him. It hung its lopsided horned head and began dancing like a Chinese dragon. Underneath its clawed feet a woman’s rotting spirit split open, spilling her entrails. She reached a trembling hand to Sam. He touched the knotted green scarf around her wrist

  “No, this isn’t real. Gretta is with Hades,” Sam cried and pounded the monster with both fists.

  Another ‘Gretta' spirit dropped from the air and landed in a heap between the devilish demon and Sam. A bracelet shimmered as the soul clutched one of its horns and kicked its snout, snapping the enormous head back.

  The creature roared in annoyance, shook free of her hold, and flung her on her back. With one exhale, the behemoth burned her soul to a crisp and she crumbled into ashes.

  “Stop. Toss me into the grease fire. I cannot take anymore,” Sam cried.

  “As you wish.” The mutant whipped its barbed tail and smacked Sam in the head.

  Falling.

  Dozens of Gretta spirits accompanied Sam in his descent, screaming in terror. One soul after another reached for him. Each succeeded in grasping his hand before exploding, shattering, or melting with his touch.

  “Where is the hot oil? Demon, drown me for I cannot take this endless torment,” Sam pleaded.

  “You came back to me,” a spirit cried and fell alongside him. This one had neither a green scarf wrapped around her hand, nor a bracelet. “You’re finally here.”

  Sam hesitated when she closed the gap between them. Her hand slipped into his and he recognized the spirit. The memory of his love for her and what he did to her filled him with sorrow.

  “Anya, come with me. There is a way for us to leave.” Sam watched relief wave over her. She clenched his hand.

  A fist cracked into the side of his face.

  “Let. Her. Go.”

  A fierce blow to his ribs sent Sam sailing away from Anya’s spirit.

>   “Don’t ever touch her again,” the spirit in front of him doubled over.

  Sam quickly recovered and popped him with a left jab. Both recoiled from the hit. He touched his own jaw and felt the pain he had inflicted on his opponent.

  The spirit in front of him spat blood and drove his knuckles into Sam’s left eye. “What the hell?” He winced and covered his own eye.

  Anya stepped between them and tentatively touched the soul’s cheek. The two embraced.

  Sam immediately recognized their bond.

  “Lorenzo?”

  The spirit nodded in confirmation and pressed Anya’s head closer to his chest.

  “How is this possible? Never before have we been able to touch in Tartarus.” Lorenzo looked around, perplexed.

  Anya peeked through his arms at Sam. “I feel as if I know you.”

  With her fingers remaining laced within Lorenzo’s, she touched Sam’s hand. “With you here, I feel complete.”

  “The curse is broken. I can leave Tartarus and take you with me,” Sam said.

  Lorenzo spun defensively. The second he snatched her hand from Sam, she screamed in pain and dissolved into mist.

  Lorenzo fell to his knees, keening with despair.

  “Get up. We’ll find her.”

  “Who are you? I don’t know how, but I know you as well.” Lorenzo rose and faced Sam.

  “My spirit resided within you during your time in Milos. Anya trusts you in my presence since she fell in love with you while we were entwined.” Sam’s brow furrowed at his own words.

  Lorenzo sneered at him. “How do I know this is not a demon’s trick?”

  “You said you’ve never been able to touch Anya in Tartarus before.” Sam paused while Lorenzo agreed. “Together, we will take her out. We’ve both been cut by Asclepius’ blade and will be strong enough to bring her with us.” He pressed a hand to Lorenzo’s back and felt the warmth of his own touch.

  “I don’t understand. I feel your pain when I hit you. You feel it too.” He scrutinized Sam. “I may regret this, but I trust you. If there is a way for Anya to leave, we must find her.”

  Together they scanned the myriad of falling souls.

  “There she is,” Lorenzo shouted and jumped after one of the phony Gretta souls.

  Sam’s spirit writhed with jealousy when Lorenzo caught her. She snuggled into his chest. “Drop her. It isn’t Anya.”

  “You’re right. She isn’t Anya, but somehow I know this soul,” Lorenzo replied and clung to the spirit. They plummeted into the burning grease.

  Sam continued to hover. Hatred filled him at the sight of Lorenzo holding Gretta. “It’s a cruel mind trick. Gretta’s not here,” he repeated to himself and searched for Anya.

  His anger seemed to prevent him from falling. Hundreds of spirits fell past before he heard Anya’s voice.

  “Take my hand. I saw Lorenzo. He has your wife.” Anya began to drift away.

  “What?” He grabbed Anya’s arm and joined her descent. “Gretta is with Hades. We must get out of here.”

  “I can’t leave without Enzo,” Anya cried.

  “Over here,” Lorenzo called.

  Sam gritted his teeth when he spotted Gretta wrapped in Lorenzo’s arms.

  “You must let the soul go. It isn’t Gretta. Who knows what evil resides within.” Sam grabbed Anya’s hand and concentrated on the burn inside his chest where Asclepius’ blade cut him. “Lorenzo, you have the power to leave. Together we can bring Anya with us.”

  He watched Lorenzo wince and grab his left shoulder with his free arm. Gretta’s spirit fell to Lorenzo’s side. Sam felt a scorching pain in his own shoulder. “It’s where the blade cut you. Focus and channel your thoughts on leaving. Keep Anya between us.”

  Swirling light engulfed them. Sam wrapped his arms around Anya and Lorenzo. Together, they began floating away from the inferno.

  “Don’t leave me, again. Please, Sam. It’s me. I love you.” Gretta’s cries tore his heart in two.

  Lorenzo reached out and grasped her hand.

  “You’re evil.” Sam refused to look at the spirit who sounded so much like Gretta. He gripped Anya and they ascended farther from the depths. A flash of brilliant light flickered above his head. Thoughts of leaving Gretta behind ripped through him when her cries continued. Minnie’s prophecy drummed inside his head. ‘Don’t let emotions rule your actions.’ Their ascent halted inches beneath the crack of light.

  Sam felt the weight of Anya, Lorenzo, and the phony spirit tug them away from the light.

  “The spirit is not Gretta. It’s keeping us from leaving. Let her go,” Sam cried. “Hades has Gretta.”

  “I can’t leave her. I left her in Milos and I swore I’d never do it again,” Lorenzo shouted. He gathered the spirit into his embrace with Anya.

  Sam watched Anya entwine with the spirit. He kept one hand around her wrist.

  “We forgive you for leaving us,” the women exclaimed.

  Lorenzo embraced them and Sam hung on to Anya’s arm.

  Minnie’s prophecy rang inside Sam’s head. ‘Escape from Tartarus through trust and forgiveness spoken.’

  The crack widened, bathing them in light.

  “Hold on,” Sam hollered to the ball of entangled spirits.

  A callused hand appeared through the crack.

  “Trust and forgiveness spoken,” Sam repeated the prophecy and clutched the hand with blind trust. The weight of the three he held by Anya’s arm stretched his spirit to its limits.

  “I’m not strong enough,” Anya gasped.

  “Let the spirit go, Lorenzo. If she truly was Gretta, we’d be able to leave together.” Sam felt Anya’s hand slip. “Twist your hand and grab my wrist so I can tighten my grip.”

  Anya obeyed.

  “A sacrifice of two.” Gretta’s voice whispered.

  Sam’s load suddenly lightened and he was able to thrust one leg up and over the ledge. Arms wrapped around his torso.

  “Hang on, Anya. I’m almost out.”

  “No,” Lorenzo screamed. “I will not leave her again.”

  Sam felt the weight of Lorenzo’s spirit fall away.

  “Enzo,” Anya cried.

  Sam dragged her spirit over the edge and held her as she lamented the loss of Lorenzo.

  Chapter 35

  Swirling Abyss

  Sam

  “Let go of me. I’m going back.” Anya struggled.

  Sam clung to her waist when she dangled arms over the edge in search of her husband.

  “He’s gone,” Anya wept. “I want Enzo. He left me. Again.”

  Pain shot through Sam. For a moment, he could only hold the woman he had longed to rescue. Sobs turned into hiccups and her shoulders slumped in defeat. Loosened strands of her braided brown hair fell in curly wisps along her neck. Together, they stared into the black abyss.

  “Lorenzo has the ability to leave Tartarus. When he realizes Gretta isn’t there, he’ll come to you.” With a shaky hand, he tucked her to his side. Completely drained, he stumbled away from the edge and collapsed to the ground.

  Anya raised her gaze to him. “I felt him near me in Tartarus. Every time I reached for him he disappeared or turned to sand or mist. I never stopped trying to touch him even though I knew he’d leave me.”

  “Tartarus brings individual fears and pain to reality. I’m sorry, Anya. I’m the one who made Lorenzo leave you in Milos.” Sam watched brown eyes widen in bewildered recognition before filling with angry tears.

  “Who are you? I know you, but I don’t understand how.” She poked a finger on his chest. Within seconds of touching him, she softened. “I feel love for you, as if you’re—”

  “Anya, I’m your descendent. John and Lydia
are my great, great, great, great grandparents.” He removed her hand from his chest and held it within both of his. “I could be wrong about how many greats there are.”

  “My John?” Her lips quivered and a smile tugged the corners of her mouth. “Lydia and John? Yes, you have her eyes.” Her intense stare captured his thoughts. “There must be more. Tell me. Who is this Gretta and why did Lorenzo go back for her?”

  “She is my wife. The ring you gave me—no, I’m sorry, the ring you gave Lorenzo was cursed. He gave it to his sister, Roxana. Passed through several generations, the ring made its way to Gretta’s finger.” He paused, feeling his heart ache for her.

  “Gretta is a descendent of Roxana? Of course Lorenzo would try to save her.” Her eyes narrowed. “You said you made Lorenzo leave me in Milos. How is this possible if you are John’s descendent?”

  “Aye, she has you there, American. Allow me to explain.” The hand that pulled Sam out of Tartarus clapped him on the shoulder.

  “Peter?” Anya disappeared within the stout man’s embrace.

  “Where is your man, Enzo? It’s been a long time since I’ve seen his ugly face.”

  “Lorenzo was with us. A rogue spirit, looking like Gretta, latched onto him while we were in Tartarus. He refused to leave without her,” Sam explained.

  Anya shook her head. “No. Gretta is in Tartarus.”

  Peter stepped out of Anya’s embrace. He shuffled his feet to the edge and peered over. “Anya is correct, American.”

  Sam refused to believe.

  Peter motioned to a group of boulders. The three of them sat together. “Anya, I think I understand why you couldn’t leave Tartarus even though the curse had been broken. Enzo’s sister, Roxana, helped Sam and Gretta’s spirits entwine within you and Lorenzo in real life through time travel. During your stay in Tartarus, Enzo wasn’t strong enough to get you out. Once Sam arrived, you recognized him and he gave you the hope you needed to leave.”