The Soulkeepers Box Set

by G. P. Ching

  Mara nodded.

  God turned to Henry. “Perhaps it is time for you to share with Mara how you came to your station.”

  Henry’s head snapped up and his lips parted in a silent gasp.

  “She seems up to the challenge.” God strode to the window, broke apart into the light, and was gone.

  Watching the sand rush through the hourglass, Mara burst into tears, rolling her face into Henry’s chest. He hugged her to him and rubbed her back in slow circles.

  “Mara. Mara, don’t cry. It’s going to be okay. I need to tell you something. God gave me a way for us to be together.”

  Mara tipped her head back so she could see his face. “What? How?”

  “I need to tell you how I became Death.”

  Chapter 19

  Mara and Henry

  Out of surprise and confusion, Mara pushed back from Henry’s chest and wiped the tears from under her eyes. “I thought you said you couldn’t tell anyone? I thought there were cosmic handcuffs on your vocal cords or something?”

  “There were. But God just gave me permission to tell you. You might say the handcuffs have been unlocked.”

  Mara slid out of bed and wrapped herself in a fluffy red robe that appeared on the chaise lounge by the window. She took a seat at the table and conjured a cup of coffee from the ether. The steaming mug she lifted to her lips read Instant Undead, Just Add Coffee.

  “Would you like one?” she asked Henry, bobbing the cup.

  “No. I’m fine.”

  “I'm ready. Spill this super-secret story about how you became Death. Then tell me how it’s going to keep us together.”

  Henry got up and walked to the window. He rested his hands on the stone sill and stared out across the rolling English hillside. “Where should I begin?”

  Mara brushed her hair back from her face. “At the beginning. I want to know everything about you.”

  Henry nodded but kept his eyes fixed on the horizon. With the far-off nostalgia of long-distant memories, he began his story. “I was born in 1332, in a village called Wickshire in England. People say that you come into this world alone and you leave alone but that wasn’t the case for me. I was a twin. I came into the world with William.

  “Our parents, Richard and Mary Gravel, owned an inn called the Golden Goose. There were only about two hundred people living in Wickshire at the time, but because our inn was on a well-traveled road, my parents earned a fine living and due to that, William and I grew up with more comforts than most people in our town.

  “Things were different then. There were no computers or telephones. Often we were the first to hear news because messengers would rest at the Golden Goose on the way to more important places.

  “Once we were old enough, William and I spent our time in the tavern talking with the guests about any number of things. Our conversations and interests varied widely. Although we were twins, William was always a strapping boy. From the time we were twelve, he already looked like a man and worked like an ox. I, on the other hand, was sickly as a baby. I was smaller and thinner. Often my gaunt cheeks would provoke some concerned traveler to ask if my parents were feeding me. I was eating, better than most at that time, but I couldn’t gain weight.

  “William talked with patrons about hunting and swordplay. He once met a knight who thought he’d make an excellent squire. That’s what William wanted to be, a knight. I’m not sure why he didn’t take the man up on his offer. I can’t remember now. I hope it wasn’t because he didn’t want to leave me, but it probably was. We were like that, as different as we were, wholly together.”

  “What did you want to be?” Mara asked.

  “Unlike William, I spent my time talking to messengers and religious men. My dream was to become a priest.”

  “A priest?” Mara’s eyes widened.

  Henry grinned. “It might have been different had I known a girl like you, Mara. Priests were the scholars of my time. I eventually learned to read and even owned a Bible.”

  Mara interrupted. “Learned to read? Didn’t everyone know how to read? Didn’t children go to school?”

  “Not necessarily. If you were a boy and your parents had money, you might go to the monastery for an education, but most people only learned what they needed to for their occupation. By the time we were thirteen, William and I helped run the inn. I knew how to make all different kinds of ale by then. We never went to school. I learned from our guests. It was rare to be able to read as well as I could. And owning an actual book was almost unheard of in our town.”

  Henry planted both palms on the windowsill, as if he needed the stone to keep upright. “Our father died in his sleep when we were sixteen,” he said.

  Leaning forward, Mara placed her hand on Henry’s, rubbing her thumb across the back. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It was a long time ago.” Henry's eyes met hers. “The night he died, the sound of footsteps outside my room woke me, and I watched a man with flaming red eyes enter my father’s bedchamber. I crept to the doorway in time to see the man pull my father’s soul from his body. Of course, I thought I was dreaming but in the morning he was dead.”

  “How awful,” Mara said.

  “Our father’s death was extremely difficult for William and me, but we learned to carry on. By that time, we were running the inn anyway. Our mother handled the cooking and the cleaning. We brewed the ale and managed the tavern. Then one night a messenger came with a story that would change everything. The Black Death had come to England.”

  “Wait, the Black Death, like the plague?” Mara's face twisted in horror.

  Henry nodded gravely. “At first it seemed like a faraway thing. The messengers brought word of an illness. Boils on the armpits and groin were the harbingers of certain death. We heard of entire towns dying out and the places discussed by our patrons grew closer and closer. People abandoned their homes and livelihood and ran from the disease, often staying with us on their journey. Then the unthinkable happened. A man staying with us grew ill and was found to have the Black Death.”

  Mara swallowed hard. Her hands were sweating and she wiped them on her robe. “We had to learn about the plague in school. They say it was spread by rats and fleas.”

  “We didn’t know. Life was different then. Faced with their impending death, people became animals. They abandoned their families, took part in drinking and debauchery. Others became hermits, isolating themselves from everyone. Eventually, we feared for our lives and closed the inn. Still death came for us. My mother fell first, then my brother. I cared for them both, knowing I’d be next.”

  “Weren’t you scared? It must have been terrifying. How did you make yourself stay?”

  He turned toward her, leaning his hip against the windowsill. “I’d spent enough time studying with the priests to believe that only the body dies. I knew I couldn’t leave and still keep my soul. I was prepared to die if it meant doing the right thing.”

  Mara always felt Henry was a good person, despite having the position of Death. As she looked into his dark eyes, she was sure of that now. She could see the soul inside the man shining like a star.

  “William died in my arms a few days after my mother. That’s when things became bizarre. I saw the man with the flaming red eyes again. He came to my brother and pulled his soul from his body. I hadn’t eaten in days and I thought I might be hallucinating but when I saw the door open and the light shine on my brother, I rushed forward and dove into the light before William.

  “Death stopped me. ‘This door is not for you,' he said. I struggled against his grip, all the time watching William move into the light behind me. ‘Let me go!’ I said, but Death looked me in the eye and asked, ‘Do you challenge me?’”

  “He asked you if you challenged him?” Mara shook her head. What did it mean?

  “Yes. I wasn’t sure what he meant. I just wanted to be with my brother, to know that he’d be well wherever he was going. But he asked me again, ‘Do you challenge me?’ I said, ‘Yes.’
”

  Mara grimaced. “You challenged the existing Death? While you were still alive?”

  “Yes, Mara, I did. I had no idea what I was doing, only that I desperately wanted to join William in the light. But words are weapons when it comes to old magic. I had challenged Death and there was no going back.

  “The next thing I knew I was in the woods with Death. God was on our right and the devil on our left. God issued the challenge. Somewhere in the woods was a scroll. Whoever found the scroll and read it would become immortal. Would become Death. The other would die and must move on to Heaven or Hell.

  “I ran through the trees as fast as my legs would carry me. I searched until I thought I might collapse from exhaustion. Deep within the forest, I came upon a meadow. The scroll was tethered to a tree in clear sight and Death waited there for me. He could have easily read the scroll himself first but instead he watched me pluck it from its hiding place. As I read the words from the parchment, I knew without a doubt that Death had wanted me to challenge him. He had invited me to win. When I was done reading, I became this, and he moved on to his eternity. The Black Death had left him worn and tired. He was relieved to walk into the light.”

  Henry rubbed his eyes with the heels of his palms.

  “You never got to see William or the rest of your family?” Mara lamented.

  “No.”

  She grabbed his wrists and pulled them down from his face, wiping his tears away with her thumbs. “What about your servants here, Tom and Andrew with the horses. They are dead and they are here. What makes them different?”

  “They were destined for Hell and chose to be servants here instead of serving that eternity. I am allowed a few but their existence is shallow and owned, nothing I would want for my brother. I am happy he joined my parents in the light. I do miss him though.”

  Mara pressed her lips against his forehead, then lowered her face to meet his and closed her eyes. “Thank you, Henry. It couldn’t have been easy to relive that story.”

  “No.”

  “Why do you think God wanted you to tell me?”

  “I think she wanted me to know that if you moved on, there was a way I could go with you. I could offer someone else the challenge.”

  Mara frowned. “Oh. I don’t like the thought of you sacrificing yourself for me.”

  “Maybe it’s time, Mara. You, William, my parents, it might be nice to be together. It would be nice to rest.”

  Pressing her cheek against Henry’s, she watched the hourglass out of the corner of her eye and wondered why going to Heaven, with or without Henry, didn’t feel like a happy ending at all.

  Chapter 20

  Jacob and Malini

  Inside the secret cavern under Laudner’s Flowers and Gifts, Jacob led the new Soulkeeper, Ethan, to the boat wedged in the white sand. After helping Malini over the side, he motioned for Ethan to take a seat at the bow. Jacob positioned himself next to Malini near the mast.

  “Are we being mean, Jacob?” Malini whispered into his ear.

  “Absolutely not. If we have to take him, we might as well enjoy it.” Jacob grinned.

  Since Dr. Silva and Gideon weren’t human, they couldn’t get past the cherubim at the gate into Eden. Lillian was already in Eden, as were the Guillians, Jesse, and Master Lee. That left Jacob and Malini to chaperone the newest Soulkeeper.

  At the front of the boat, Ethan was roughly the color of glow-in-the-dark slime. “I didn’t ask about the creepy passageway under the flower shop, or why there’s a boat in a cavern without any water. But I'd really like to know how we plan to get where we are going.” He eyed the solid wall behind him. “Is this going to hurt?”

  Malini unhooked her sunglasses from her T-shirt and slid them on. Jacob did the same. “Nope. Won’t hurt, but you might want to hang on.” Jacob yanked on the rope to raise the sail.

  A roar like a freight train rumbled through the cavern, starting far off and low but growing to an eardrum-crushing decibel. The ball of fire that exploded toward them surrounded the boat with heat and light before ricocheting off the back wall and catching the sail.

  “HOLY SHIIIIII—” Ethan white knuckled the wooden hull.

  Jacob and Malini exchanged grins and stretched their arms above their heads roller coaster style. A few seconds later, the boat drifted down an aquamarine river surrounded by white sand.

  Ethan turned toward them in his seat. From under a mop of disheveled black hair, his brown eyes gawked at Jacob, rimmed with dark half-circles and sunken into an unshaven face. He looked like someone found him on the side of the road, and maybe Dr. Silva had. Jacob hadn’t had the chance to ask.

  “That was … that was…” Ethan stuttered.

  Malini reached for Ethan, as if she were going to apologize. Her eyebrows knit together in empathy.

  “That was awesome!” Ethan said. “If this is the ride there, I can’t wait to see what Eden’s like.”

  Malini laughed and returned to her seat.

  “You are a Soulkeeper.” Jacob reached his fist forward to bump Ethan’s. “What can you do, anyway?”

  Ethan leaned against the side of the boat and gave a half grin. Jacob’s sunglasses flipped off his face and landed on Ethan's, who then tilted his chin toward the sun.

  “Thanks. It’s bright out here.”

  Malini arched an eyebrow. “Impressive.”

  The boat coasted under the perpetually flaming swords of the cherubim. Jacob’s body slid through the invisible membrane like gelatin through a strainer. Even though he'd been through it before, he never got used to the way the gate to Eden sifted his cells, making sure he was worthy and human. Ethan must have felt it, too, because he brushed his hands over his face like he was clearing away spiderwebs.

  “It takes a few times to know what to expect,” Jacob said.

  “Do you get the slice and dice on the way out, too?” Ethan asked.

  “No. It’s a one-way security system,” Malini answered.

  A purple and red Macaw flew overhead, disappearing into the exotic foliage as the boat docked itself. Jacob climbed out first, offering Malini his hand. Ethan tossed his bag over his shoulder and got out on his own.

  “This way.” Jacob headed up the path toward Eden.

  “Where are you from, Ethan?” Malini asked.

  “Los Angeles. I’m supposed to be a freshman at UCLA, but I guess that’s on hold now.”

  “How much has Dr. Silva told you about what’s going on?” Malini asked.

  “Not much. Aside from convincing me I’m a Soulkeeper, she wasn’t exactly forthcoming with the info.”

  Jacob grunted. “Sounds like Dr. Silva.”

  “So, she’s always a distant, self-serving crab?” Ethan laughed.

  “Not always, but frequently, yes.”

  Malini nodded in agreement.

  “I would have asked more questions but she said I needed to get some rest to be ready for today.”

  “Well, that was probably good advice,” Malini said.

  “Might have been if I actually got any. The fighting was too loud. Dr. Silva and Gideon were at it for hours.”

  Malini stopped mid-stride. Jacob did, too, turning toward Ethan on the path. “Gideon and Dr. Silva were fighting?”

  “Like cats and dogs, no pun intended.”

  “What were they fighting about?” Malini asked.

  Ethan crossed his arms over his chest. “I didn’t hear the whole thing but there was something about loyalties. Gideon didn’t want her to do something because he was afraid they couldn’t be together if she did. She wanted him to realize they might never be together anyway. He offered to fix the problem. Someone broke something. I’ve gotta tell ya, it was scary. More than once I thought about sneaking out and going home. But then it was over. I guess Dr. Silva left because Gideon brought me to the shop this morning.”

  Jacob narrowed his eyes toward Malini. “What’s going on, Healer?”

  “I don’t know. She’s bringing in two more Soulke
epers this afternoon. Maybe she wanted to get an early start. When we’re done here, I’ll talk to Gideon and find out.” She placed a hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. I know this is overwhelming. Dr. Silva isn’t usually that bad. I don’t know what’s going on but we’ll figure it out. We’re going to take good care of you here, I promise.”

  Ethan bobbed his head. “Thanks.”

  They continued around the corner and up the hill, until the jungle ended and a manicured lawn reached toward a stucco mansion. The freshly painted sign in the yard read Eden School for Soulkeepers, Est. 10,000 B.C.

  “Mom has spruced up the place.” Jacob opened the door and led the way into the jewel-encrusted foyer. “She’s even dusted.”

  “How did she get this done so fast? This place is huge.” Malini eyed the cobweb-free chandelier inquisitively.

  Jacob advanced down the main hallway to the lecture hall in the west wing. His mom's voice filtered through the door. He slipped inside and took a seat in the back. Malini and Ethan followed.

  Lillian lectured to the five Soulkeepers at the front of the room. “We know that becoming a Soulkeeper requires a specific gene, hereditary and recessive. Those with the gene may or may not become Soulkeepers in their lifetime. The gene activates when the person is put through an extreme circumstance, usually a threat to their life or the loss of a loved one, sometimes both.”

  She used a pointer to circle the adrenal gland on a medical diagram. “We think that the flood of cortisol in the system triggers the gene to activate. Once activated, the gene produces proteins that enable our special abilities. Much of this is speculation as we have limited capabilities to perform medical testing here. What we know for sure is that practicing the use of your skills decreases the side effects associated with the flood of proteins in the body.

  “For example, my gift is the ability to wield any weapon. In the beginning, using the gift would result in severe muscle fatigue. But with practice, Master Lee and I were able to exponentially increase my endurance. In addition, practice helps us fully expose the extent of our power. So, continuing with my personal experience, practice brought out complimentary qualities of super-human speed and superior kinesthetic intelligence.”