Beneath was a rocky cavern with row after row—hundreds of thousands of jars. An intensely strong, sweet smell, like dead flowers, immediately filled my nose. I resisted the urge to gag. Little spider-like creatures crawled all over the jars, their hairy legs clicking against the glass. Every so often one would stop and put something in its mouth.
“What’s in the jars?” I had to ask, though I was terrified of the answer.
“I’m sure you can guess.” He smiled though it was more of a smirk.
Souls, Tortevia whispered into my mind. And I knew she was right.
“No. No. No. No. No. The gods can’t know you’re doing this.”
He patted my knee. “Of course they know, Venus. The gods know everything.”
Sickness filled my stomach. “Impossible. They would never allow you to keep souls from returning to the Creator. Never.” Tears filled my eyes. How long had they been down there? “I can’t believe it.” My teeth chattered, and I bit my tongue. “Why did you show me this?” I sniffled, wiping at the tears falling onto my cheeks. “Why? I just want my parents. Can’t I have my parents?” Even as I spoke I knew rescuing my parents wouldn’t be enough anymore. I couldn’t leave those souls in such an awful room indefinitely. No way. Something needed to be done. I had to help them. And Michael. Did he know what his father did?
“I showed you my Room of Souls because your parents aren’t in the first or second degree of Helker as you may have been led to believe. You’re parents were murdered, and their souls dwell in the cavern with the rest.” He motioned to the cavity below.
“You’re lying. Surely.” I choked on the words; unable to believe he spoke the truth. The banquet room began to spin. And pain—an agony like I’ never experienced—filled every crevice of my being. My parents were dead. Their souls trapped deep within Helker, prisoners of this-this monster. “That can’t be.”
“I have no reason to lie,” he said softly, but without compassion.
“Who . . . killed them?” I asked.
“The murderer is of no consequence. When a body dies, I collect the soul and bring it here.”
I looked up then, searching his empty face for some semblance of empathy. There was none. How ironic, I thought. A few weeks ago I despised all emotion, and now I yearned to find some within the creature before me. More than ever, I knew I would not leave without freeing their souls. Dead or not, I wouldn’t let them suffer at Ramien’s hands. Finding at a tiny piece of anger within my heart, I grabbed onto it, and held fast. “You will give me my parents.”
“I rather hoped you’d say that.”
My eyebrows rose in question. I hadn’t planned on such a response. I was prepared for a battle.
Ramien shrugged. “I’ll free your parents’ souls, allow them to return to the Creator. For a price.”
I groaned. If it was money he was after, I could manage a large payment. Easily. Alayeah was a wealthy country. “How much?” I asked, grinding my teeth to keep the sorrow from my voice. I’d mourn my parents later. First things first.
He snorted in disgust and popped a green grape, from one of the bounteous tables, into his mouth. “The price of your parents’ freedom can’t be compensated with money, dear Venus. There is only one thing in all of Kelari I desire. And I will take nothing else. But, upon payment, your parents will be released. Agreed?” He tensed up, like a coiled spring.
“What is it?” I asked, hesitant.
Do not agree, Venus. There is another way to free your parents. Tortevia’s voice rumbled in my head. I had my doubts. She’d been with me more than six weeks, but her voice roaring into my mind had only just begun. How could I trust her words? Please, believe me.
My gaze went to the Room of Souls. The endless rows of jars filled with tortured souls. The creepy spiders crawling all over them. I had to agree to his terms, whatever they were. It was the least I could do.
Ramien read my hesitation. “I promise. This is the only way. Even your gods, Ith and Aetha, would concur that the only way to release a soul is through me.” He stepped closer, and I smelled the syrupy stench of his breath.
What other choice did I have? If only Zaren were here. He would know what course to take.
“This is a limited time offer.”
I nodded. “Fine. Yes. Agreed.” My heart sank into my throat.
A radiant grin broke across his face, and he cheered like a jovial boy.
6. One
“What is it you want?” A menacing anxiety filled in whatever cracks hadn’t already solidified with pain. A part of me felt separate from what happened. The idea that I was in Helker, making deals, seeing tortured souls, and Angela’s face fall off—it all seemed unreal. My insides churned as I debated how I got myself into this mess. I should’ve been in bed, thinking of Zaren, and finding out how to help my sister, and my parents. Not wherever I was, making deals with a demon.
It is real. Believe it. Ramien is deadly serious. Tortevia seemed disappointed. She told me not to agree to whatever Ramien wanted, but I didn’t see another way to save my parents. Whatever it was he wanted, I’d give it. Do it. My parents needed me, and I was their only salvation.
“First things first. We need a toast.” Ramien took two gemstone goblets from a nearby table. They filled of their own volition with a clear, sparkling liquid. He handed one to me. “Here’s to a new age. One where you and I rule the Universe—together.” He winked.
“You seem pretty sure of yourself. What makes you think I’d do anything with you?” I took a sip of the bubbly liquid, hoping to rid my mouth of its ashy taste. The drink was actually quite refreshing. I drained the glass.
“Because you said ‘yes,’ dear Venus.”
I swallowed and it felt like sand going down my throat. “To what?”
He sauntered over and pulled me by the shoulders to my feet “I’ll free your parents when you become my wife.”
“Your wife?” Michael burst into the room and pushed Ramien away from me. “I never agreed to such BS! She’s . . . she’s . . .”
Michael rubbernecked his gaze between Ramien and me. I knew the word Michael wanted to say. I knew what he believed. Just like the night in the cave, the night he declared his love, the night I became immortal. He believed I was his.
Ramien completed Michael’s sentence. “Yours. Is that the word you are too cowardly to say?” Ramien seethed. His skin rippled, fading in and out. “What a disgrace to your heritage. Your birthright. A true ferether doesn’t have emotion except those he creates by causing souls to suffer. How can you be my son if you retain feelings for her?” He spat out the words, shoving a finger into Michael’s chest as he spoke.
“I won’t let you touch her again.” Michael leaned into Ramien’s assault. Fury radiated from him. Nervous, I stepped away from them. The air hissed with their heated energy.
“You’re weak,” Ramien continued, his voice lowered, more menacing. “You possess unlimited power, but you don’t know how to use it. I wanted to be your teacher, train you, but alas . . . a teacher must have a willing student.” He paused a moment. Then spitting in Michael’s face, he went on, “You may think you can stop me, but—”
Michael suddenly had a gun. It just appeared in his hand from out of nowhere. Before I blinked, he shot Ramien in the face. Pieces of Ramien went everywhere, like paint spattering across a canvas. My stomach turned. White lights spotted my vision. Michael grabbed my hand and said, “Run!”
My head spinning, I took off after him. “Where did you get a gun? Is he dead?”
He answered my questions quickly and succinctly. “Out of thin air. Not even close.” Michael gave me a quick smile. “We’re getting out of here.”
“Fabu,” I said as I ran alongside him. He saved me again. Well, at least he was trying. And I did want to be saved, but the Room of Souls crept into my mind. My parents’ souls, possibly even my sister’s were trapped below. I had to help.
All the information I gathered from Palmo indicated my parents died
because of me. It was my fault. Some among the Chans even spoke of rumors that a rebel faction wanted Alayeah. To get it, they accused me of inexcusable crimes. My family suffered the consequences. If Michael and I got out of here, I would go to Zaren. He would help us get the souls out. As reigning royalty in Alayeah, if I decreed it, I could dispatch an army into Helker. First, we needed to escape.
When we reached the double doors at the end of the room, Michael pulled it opened, and we ran through. The gilded hallway extended in both directions way past what I was able to see. “Which way?”
“Left,” he said pulling me along.
I followed since I had no idea where we were or how we got here. Everything was turned around. If I could find the door Michael and I entered Helker from, I would be able to use Britorent and get us home.
“Do you know where we’re going?” I finally asked.
He grunted in response.
After running for what seemed like hours, we still hadn’t come to the end of the hall. Finally I pulled on Michael’s arm. “Stop.”
“No, we can’t. You don’t understand.” Dread oozed from Michael.
“We have to. Running isn’t doing us any good.” For emphasis, I pointed at the long hallway, still without an end on both sides.
“It is. It is.” He let out a strangled cry. “There has to be a point to all of this.”
I stopped, and pulled on his hand, making him stop with me.
Michael.”
“Arghhhh!” He started pacing. “Frank was bad enough, but Ramien is worse.” Michael was agitated, talking fast, rambling really. He fisted his hands in his hair. “At first I thought it was cool. I mean when Ramien showed up at Ith and Aetha’s, I was excited. The gods let me go with him as long as I promised . . .” He trailed off, shaking his head. “I mean you’ve seen him. Ramien can morph. He can change reality. Alter the way others look, the way he looks. And to taste a soul.” He let out a gravelly moan. “It’s like the most amazing feeling ever.” His jaws clenched. “Ramien showed me how to do all of it. My new powers made me feel awesome. Like a superhero or something. And I thought I’d be able to, I don’t know, use them help people . . . help you . . . but no, it’s like everything else in my life. Ramien is shit. What . . . god did I piss off—?”
“You are a god. At least you’re half of one. And you’ll do well to control your anger. It seems I need to teach you a lesson. One you won’t soon forget.” Ramien was unexpectedly next to me. I should’ve known by the sickly sweet smell filling the hall. His face was back to normal. Like Michael never shot him.
I hadn’t had a chance to asked Michael about his ‘out of thin air’ comment with the gun, but I guessed it must’ve been part of his new ferether abilities. Michael said ferethers could alter time, reality. I figured that included objects as well. More significant right now was Ramien’s comment about Michael. “What do you mean Michael’s half god? I thought you said he was like you.”
Ramien’s mouth twisted into a sinister smile. “Stiel is the planet of the gods. They are called Eternals. It’s where Ith and Aetha are from—more or less. Millennia ago, my kind were Eternals, until we were banished. Exiled for crimes we didn’t commit. I believe you might know a little something about such atrocious errors.” Ramien squeezed my chin with a hand.
“Answer me.” He squeezed harder.
“Yes, I do,” I said sharply.
“Such fervor in you. I like it. You’ll serve me well.”
“Let go.” I tried to wrench from his grasp. As a kelvieri I was stronger than most creatures. But Ramien was stronger still. His face turned steely, and I felt an energy press into my mind, my limbs.
“You opposed me. I believe it’s time to have some fun.” My body walked, without my permission, over to Michael. “You’re going to make my boy writhe in pain.”
I watched in horror as my hands came up to Michael’s face. His eyes widened, but he didn’t move, and I wondered if he couldn’t. My thumbs moved toward Michael’s eyes and continued until I pushed them from their sockets. Michael screamed. With all the energy of my soul, I tried to stop, but my thumbs buried themselves. Liquid, and blood oozed from where his eyes used to be.
I heard Ramien clap gleefully.
Ramien forced me away from Michael, and toward him. “Shall I take her while you lie there and listen, son?” Ramien’s words permeated the thick air.
Michael didn’t respond. I didn’t know if he even could. He fell to the ground writhing like snakes were in his veins. But he didn’t make a sound. As though he held in his cries of agony for my benefit. He clutched his stomach, pulled in his knees. He looked the way I felt.
As I walked, my bloody fingers untied my blouse, exposing the black unisa underneath. Oh, no. Please no. I turned in on myself, my only thought getting away from Ramien. When I stood in front of him, he placed a hand on my breast.
“Ramien,” Michael rasped.
“What is it, boy?” Ramien fondled me over my shirt. I couldn’t move.
“Leave her alone, and I-I’ll do whatever you ask.”
I wanted to help Michael. I really wanted to kill Ramien. My body wouldn’t let me do anything. Ramien was in complete control.
“Agreed,” Ramien said simply, and the power he had over my body slipped away.
I swung at Ramien, desperate to knock some of his smug pride off his face, but he caught my wrist. “You need to understand I won’t tolerate insolence. If Michael defies me, he suffers. You defy me, you suffer.”
“What more do you think you can do to me?” I asked, exhaling and inhaling my words between panted breaths. “My parents are already dead,” I said, glaring. But inside I shook with fear. I knew of many, many terrors he could inflict upon me, or those I loved. What if he knew where Amberlee was? What if he hurt Zaren?
“You’ll see.” He stepped so close our chests touched. “Sleep, little Princess. When you wake, all will be revealed.
7. Who Will Save Your Soul
When I was ten I would sneak away from the music teacher and run through the flower mazes in our family’s gardens. Inevitably I’d get lost, but I never worried. Because, I knew. Knew. Zaren would rescue me.
When I came to, and as the gloomy weightiness of sleep fell away from my mind like cobwebs, Zaren was my first thought.
He would find me.
And then what, I wondered. I agreed to Ramien’s terms. My parents’ souls would be freed if I married him. The thought terrified me. I’d been promised to Palmo for many years. Growing up I became more aware of what the prospect meant. While I wasn’t thrilled, I didn’t mind either. It was the way things were done in our world. Our way of life. The marriage would promote continued allegiance between the country of Canaru and Alayeah. Of course, in light of recent revelations, all of them involving Palmo and his supposed plan to usurp Alayeah’s throne, Palmo had been placed him in the first degree of Helker, while he awaited his trial.
Neither Zaren nor I believed Palmo acted alone. But, for some reason, the young prince felt obligated to protect the real offender. It was preposterous! The boy was sniveling. Barely past fourteen. He didn’t have a sinister bone in his body, let alone the wherewithal to come up with and execute a plan to have my irrihunter killed, me exiled to Earth, and my parents and sister taken. But the King of Canaru, Palmo’s own father, testified against him, which made me highly suspicious. I figured Palmo was the scapegoat. Taking the fall for the real villain, but I couldn’t prove it. Not yet. If the King would sacrifice his only son, allow him to die . . . I shuddered to think what might come next. Palmo wasn’t talking either. He seemed satisfied to suffer in his prison cell in Helker.
A scraping sound, like claws across concrete, brought me out of my reverie. I took the opportunity to examine my sparse surroundings. It certainly wasn’t luxurious, like the dining hall, or the bedroom. Peering through the darkness I searched for the owner of the noise. And let out a cry. “Sadraden.”
A small roar answered, followed
by heavy breathing. Jumping up, I ran over. “Sadraden!” My irrihunter. My best friend since I was little. I hesitated to touch her. The syrupy smell I was beginning to associate with Ramien emanated from her. “Where are we?” I whispered. Then added with a desperate sob, “You’re dead, aren’t you?”
Hush, child. You know I am. Her voice scraped through my mind the way her claws scratched along the solid floor.
I swallowed another sob. “I’m so sorry.” A tear trickled down my cheek. I brushed it away; astounded I heard her thoughts. “Were you always able to do this?” I mumbled.
What? Speak into your mind? She gave a rattled roar, shaking her dull black mane. Of course. But you weren’t able to hear me. Her legs shook from the weight of her body. She fell forward, onto her knees. With a sigh, she rested her head on her paws, licking them.
“Let me get you something to drink.” I scanned the room for some water. Our room was nothing more than an earthen container. A death box, I thought, momentarily terrified.
It’s no use. Water will do nothing to refresh me. My soul is imprisoned in this body just as we are confined within the dirt. Ramien has a message he wants me to deliver. She took a ragged breath.
“If this body isn’t part of you, why are you in so much pain?” I asked, rushing over to her, leaning my head against her jaw, the way I used to. I stroked her behind the ears, noticing her once soft fur was scruffy, and felt wiry beneath my fingertips.
Ramien feeds off a soul’s agony. Don’t worry yourself, it’s temporary. Sadraden closed her eyes.
She said Ramien had a message. “What does Ramien want you to tell me?” I had a feeling it had to do with my comment about him not being able to hurt me. Knowing my irrihunter was in pain twisted my guts. If I didn’t do what I promised he would also make my parents souls’ suffer.
Sadraden let out a strangled growl. Don’t give in to him. I sense he’s afraid of you, which is why he wants to control you.
Immortal Essence Box Set: Aligned, Exiled, Beguiled Page 32
