Released Souls

by Karice Bolton

  I followed the map that Dace had given me showing where they had buried my father and judging by the looks of the markers, I was getting close. My eyes trailed along the marble and granite headstones that dotted the pathway when I finally spotted what I was looking for on the back of the property. The large stone columbarium stretched along the cemetery acting as part-wall, part-shrine and was also near where my father was located. The light from my wand bounced off the commemorative brass plaques that were hung directly over the tiny openings that family and friends used to leave keepsakes of their loved one who had perished.

  I observed the large, granite fountain at the end of the columbarium that was marked on the map and looked directly behind it, finding the mammoth sarcophagus peeking out. My heart started racing at the thought of unlocking my father’s tomb and waking him.

  Dace had taped the key that would unlock my father’s tomb on the piece of paper he left, and I had the potion that would wake him.

  The burial ground was especially eerie on a night like tonight. My father’s wasn’t the only above ground tomb, but I certainly hoped he was the only one who wasn’t dead. The thought of more than one almost-dead person was a bit frightening.

  Making my way to the sarcophagus, my ears pounded as my heart rate accelerated with every step forward. Logan would absolutely kill me for being out here alone.

  I was now frightened beyond belief no matter what I told myself. After all I was the one who put my dad here, and now I was expecting his help. I was holding my wand so tightly my fingers pulsed with the beat of my heart as I walked the last few steps.

  The marker read, “A man not known to himself or others.”

  Leave it to Dace and Bakula to want to get the last word in, no matter the circumstance.

  The tomb was so much larger up close. I let my finger run along the polished stone, feeling for a keyhole.

  I pressed my face against the cold surface, wondering if I really did want to unleash my father on the world again. I don’t know if I was expecting to hear him rustling around or what, but the silence was a relief. My index finger ran over a hole. It had to be a keyhole, and now I wasn’t sure I wanted to wake him.

  If he’s as angry as I thought he might be, there’s no stopping him from connecting with Eben and continuing where he left off. I can’t refreeze him. But there was something inside of me that hoped that wouldn’t happen. The visions I saw of us together in the graveyard didn’t look as if it turned out horrible. But human nature could always throw a wrench in things. If it looked like it might be headed that way, I’d have to stop him again.

  I backed up from the tombstone and looked underneath the lip of the stone where my finger felt the opening. I saw the spot I needed to insert the key. Instead of immediately sticking the key inside, I backed up and began to backtrack.

  We’d been doing pretty decent in the fight so far. We’d gotten Bakula back. Our side had been infiltrating the Praedivinus orders around the world. Lara was out of the picture. Things were slowly coming together. But I still didn’t know what the Praedivinus order was after, and I needed to know that before I could feel completely comfortable doing what I felt needed to be done.

  I felt the nectunt begin to warm and realized Logan figured out I had snuck out. It would only be a matter of time before he tracked me down. Apparently, it was now or never.

  I walked over to the slab and stuck the key inside and turned it slightly to the left until it stopped. I released my fingers from the key and took a step back. The key began moving on its own and went around one full circle. My palms began to get clammy as I watched beams of light radiate from the cracks around the tombstone.

  To say I was afraid was an understatement. I began feeling very angry with myself for attempting something so foolish alone. What was the big deal about bringing Logan? Oh yeah. He wouldn’t have allowed it.

  The reality of the situation hit me when the sound of stone scraped against itself. It was the equivalent of nails on a chalkboard. As the gaps around the tomb widened, the light became brighter, and I had to look away to get the dots to go away. I felt really dazed and found myself taking one step after another backward.

  Even though it was the middle of the night, I quickly looked around the cemetery afraid someone might see the spectacle that was unfolding before me. However, the place was still and silent as it should be.

  Keeping my eyes on the lawn as the light continued to disperse seemed like the best option so that I wasn’t blinded again. Afraid that I might miss something, I very slowly raised my lids toward the opening of the sarcophagus.

  The stone lid stopped moving, and I watched a thick fog continuously roll out of the sarcophagus. A soft glow radiated from the opening, and I ventured forward holding my breath, afraid of what I might see.

  I waved my hands around to rid the area of the fog, and looked down to see my father. His eyes were closed, and he looked peaceful. He didn’t look like someone who was capable of so much evil, but I saw it and he was.

  My hands were trembling as I reached in my pocket for the potion and twisted the cap off. I touched my father’s frozen chin and leveraged it so his mouth opened slightly. My hands were shaking so badly that I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to dribble the elixir into his mouth.

  Softly chanting a peaceful verse, I let the liquid trickle into his mouth and hoped for the best. I didn’t know if his waking would be a violent, hopping out of the tomb type of reaction, or if he’d slowly come to. I honestly didn’t know which I’d prefer. I emptied the bottle and took a step back, waiting. Putting him in this state could only be used once, so it’s not like if things started to go badly I could just freeze him again.

  The hooting from the owl changed slightly. The intervals sped up, and the owl came closer to where I was standing. There were trees in every direction so I wasn’t sure where it was perched.

  I kept looking at my father, expecting something about him to become filled with life again but stillness was maintained. The fog had diminished around the tomb, and I noticed one of my father’s fingers twitch. Even though I’d been waiting for a sign, the movement startled me, and I stepped back a couple more feet.

  I glanced up to the night sky and noticed more company. Countless bats were circling around us. I couldn’t even begin to tell how many had arrived for what was about to unfold.

  The twitching finger turned into a hand moving. His hand slid over to the side of the sarcophagus, and his fingers wrapped around the edge. Looking very carefully at his face, I watched as his eyes slowly opened. They were staring straight in front of him, looking into the night sky. He slowly blinked as his chest began to move slightly, heaving up and down.

  He didn’t seem startled or disoriented, which led me to believe that his memory was still intact. He probably remembered exactly what happened to put him in this predicament in the first place. Or at least I hoped he’d remember because I really didn’t feel like rehashing everything.

  His head slowly turned in my direction, and a wicked smile spread across his face.

  “I wondered who would be the one to let me out of here,” his voice hoarse. “I certainly didn’t expect it would be you.”

  My insides tensed up. I really wished I wasn’t alone.

  “The world is full of surprises.”

  “Not very original.” He began sitting up slowly and took notice of where he had been hidden.

  “A cemetery. That’s certainly morbid.”

  And with one quick movement, he hopped out of the tomb as if nothing had ever happened.

  “Nice work, Triss,” he said, genuinely proud.

  “Thanks,” I replied curtly.

  “Well I’m sure waking me wasn’t a decision that you made lightly so I’d love to know why you did it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful. I can’t get much done in that condition.”

  “I’m here to find out what’s been driving the Praedivinus order all of this time. I want to know what it is that Eben’s after,
” I said, placing my hand on my hip.

  “Oh. Where to begin?” his voice almost sang. “The Praedivinus order has been after so much for so long. I wouldn’t even know —”

  “Well, start with Eben then,” I interrupted him, undeterred.

  “He’s after something that I don’t even think exists,” he began. “I mean we’ve gotten close a few times, but the formula always wears off.”

  Formula again. Interesting.

  “Let’s put it this way. What’s so important that your father would let his own daughter be killed?” I asked, staring into my father’s frigid eyes.

  “Lara’s dead?” my father’s voice became soft and his gaze fell to the ground.

  I let silence become the answer.

  “What happened to her?” his voice hoarse once more.

  “I killed her,” I lied, replying matter-of-factly. I waited for him to look at me. I wanted to throw a warning at him by highlighting anything that showed strength or fierceness.

  “Oh, no,” my father whispered.

  He took a step forward and I took one back.

  “That’s exactly what Eben would’ve wanted.” His eyes connected with mine and clouded over. “It looks like you’re exactly what Eben has always dreamed of.”

  I bit my lip, realizing that’s exactly what Logan saved me from. He didn’t want me to become something that Eben could point to — some sort of evil that couldn’t be explained away. Logan saved me from myself once again.

  “Eben’ll probably set my death up too,” he said simply. “I’m of no use to him now. He’s got his sights set on you. I always knew my sister and father thought I wasn’t cut out for this.”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “Guess they were right.”

  Was my father coming around or was he just mourning the loss of the power he never truly obtained?

  “So back to your father. What is it that he’s after?” I asked, choking down my apprehension.

  “I don’t know that I want to tell you. Seems like you’ll stop at nothing to get what you want.” My father took another step toward me.

  “What I want is to end the Praedivinus order and to stop the hate and deceit from spreading about our world,” I challenged. “Don’t twist this any other way.”

  “Then what do you care about what my father’s after?” His eyes narrowed on me. “Or should I say what your grandfather is after.”

  “It will make it easier for me to stop him if I know what he’s searching for.”

  “Do you really believe that? Once I tell you what he’s been after, you might become just as obsessed. What a quandary,” he said, intertwining his fingers with one another.

  I began shifting uncomfortably as the nectunt began burning. Logan was close.

  “Do you really think I’ve come all this way to get involved in dark sorcery? That’s absurd. I’m my mother’s daughter. I’m nothing like you or my grandfather.”

  “I don’t know that I believe that. I’d imagine something from me must be running through your veins, possibly lighting you up a little…”

  As my father continued speaking, I saw the subtle glow from the woods behind the cemetery. There were now countless eyes following our interactions, ready to pounce if anything should go wrong. My furry friends had arrived.

  “In fact, I see a warm glint of something every time you move your hands. Almost like this,” he replied, displaying his palms that danced with tiny flames. “How about if you share with me what you might have inherited, I’ll share with you what your grandfather’s after.”

  I hated making deals. There’s the obvious problem that he might not follow through, but what’s worse was that I didn’t know what he’d get from me showing him my ability. He knows I possess the ability to throw flames. Why was that not enough? Why was not seeing the glow in my palms enough?

  “Okay. You tell me first, and I’ll shoot a flame,” I agreed.

  “Immortality.”

  I was taken aback. I was expecting a long explanation not a one-word impossibility. I stood frozen. Was that even possible? Did immortality exist?

  “Intriguing you?” my father inquired.

  I shook my head no. “It just figures.” And with that reply, I flicked my wrist quickly and tossed a flame near my father’s feet.

  “Beautiful,” he whispered. “So what are you going to do with that information I gave you?”

  I shook my head. “It just tells me how hard he’ll be willing to fight us. Nothing more.”

  My father cocked his head to the right. “I’m not sure I believe you. I think there was glimmer of hope or something like it that I saw flash through your eyes once I mentioned immortality.”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “So you don’t think your father will have a use for you any longer… what are your plans? Can I count on you not to fight against us? I don’t expect you to fight for us, but I’m hopeful you’ll leave our work alone.”

  “Babe, I’m coming up behind you,” Logan channeled.

  He’s here already! Oh no!

  “Oh, the perfect pupil who got away,” my father laughed. “It’s nice of you to show up, Logan. I’m glad I can count on you to always come to my daughter’s aid.”

  “I took down your sister, and I’ll have no problem destroying you,” Logan shouted from behind me. “Leave us alone.”

  Shoot! So much for my ruse.

  My father shot me a glance and a half-smirk.

  “You took out my sister?” he asked Logan. “I was under the impression my daughter did. Interesting fabrication, Triss. Makes what I told you less burdensome on me. Maybe you aren’t as cold and calculating as I thought. Does explain why Logan’s eyes are no longer blue. You must’ve really dug deep, Logan.”

  “What did he tell you?” Logan asked, glancing at me quickly. He was now standing between my father and me.

  “Nothing important,” I replied.

  “Keeping secrets, are we?” my father chuckled. “Oh, young love…the complexities of everything.”

  “To answer your question, I will not fight you or your cause in any manner. I know what the handwriting is for me already. There’s no telling when or where my father will instruct the Praedivinus order to strike me down. But I can tell you that I’ll be doing my best to stay out of their way and your way. I don’t plan on being found and that includes me staying out of everything. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must be on my way.”

  I watched as my father tipped his head at us and turned around, walking into the woods. He never looked back.

  Chapter 20

  “What were you thinking?” Logan’s voice thundered around me. He pressed me against the wall in our bedroom. We had decided that no matter where we hid, we’d be found so we were back at my real house. I just couldn’t handle the hiding any longer.

  He softly grabbed my chin and lifted his brow, waiting for my response.

  “I needed answers,” I whispered, feeling his firmness push into me.

  “I’m not letting this moment escape,” he whispered hotly. Shivers paraded down my spine as he teased me softly with his fingertips, running them up and down my side.

  “What moment?” I asked, breathless from his touch.

  “Makeup sex. We can see if it’s all it’s cracked up to be.” Leave it to him to wonder. He dominated the air space between us as I melted into the wall from his words. Judging by the look in his silver eyes, I had a lot to look forward to.

  Logan slowly guided his fingers along my shirt, careful to trace every curve of my body until he reached the cotton’s edge. He slid the shirt over my head, tossing it on the floor. With my skin exposed, I wrapped my arms around him to feel him against me, but he didn’t move toward me. A smirk spread across his lips as he carefully pinned my wrists above my head. I attempted to squirm, but he stopped me quickly as he trailed his mouth along my jaw.

  “If I could stop everything from happening I would,” his voice deepened as he now towered over me, taking every part of me in w
ith his eyes. “You don’t deserve the burden you’re carrying.”

  “Don’t say that. I’ll be able to handle it,” I whispered, shifting slightly against the wall.

  “I don’t doubt that.” His grin was intoxicating and his lips looked wonderfully soft. “I just wish I could fix it all — end it all.”

  Still not releasing my wrists with his one hand, he coiled my hair with his fingers, pulling it on top of my head. He began softly kissing my throat, still not allowing me to grasp him. His mouth traveled slowly and deliberately along my exposed skin, as my body began to shudder with anticipation. I gasped as he reached my stomach, the softness of his kisses turning to light nibbles as he released my wrists.

  His smile was wicked as his strong hands slid around my bare waist, bringing me against him. His fingers slipped between my skin and waistband as he quickly unfastened the button and shoved down the zipper. He left me quivering as he stepped back from me, pulling off his shirt and tossing it with the collection.

  His hard abs flexed as he reached for me, and my world completely exploded.

  “I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure we never lose this,” he whispered. “My world would cease to exist if you weren’t in it.”

  “I love you, babe,” I whispered, feeling the devotion we shared between us.

  Logan’s lips slowly parted and connected with mine. The warmth that pooled deep inside of me began spreading at a rapid rate as he carried me to our bed. A moan escaped from my mouth as his fingers trailed down my back. My body collapsed under him as he laid me on our bed.

  “Now where were we?” he whispered, trailing his kisses lower and lower along my stomach.

  ***

  “What are you doing?” I asked, thumping him playfully.

  “You’re not going to like it,” he replied, shaking his head.