by Ruby Raine
He so wished he could read her thoughts or see what was going on in her mind. She always seemed so busy in there.
“Hello,” called out another voice. It was Lucas. Melinda cleared her throat when he strode in, shirtless and sweaty, wearing a pair of low cut jeans.
Riley glowered at his brother.
Melinda yanked her eyes away. What had she just called Lucas, right, a workhorse. The guy was built, she’d give him that.
“Sorry for my appearance,” Lucas apologized. “I’ve been working in the gardens out back and on the house as well. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll return in a few minutes.” He nodded and disappeared.
Melinda glanced at her boyfriend, wishing he’d been the one sauntering in shirtless and sweaty. Riley rolled his eyes, seeing the wish in hers.
“I’ll be happy to oblige if we can ever get some time alone.”
“I just love living in a testosterone filled house,” reproached Lizzy sarcastically. “So what brings you two here? I can probably guess.”
“If you’re guessing Soul Hunter you’d be correct,” stated Melinda. “We are getting nowhere. Weeks are flying by.”
“You’re hoping we might have some light to shine,” assumed Lizzy.
“Yes,” Melinda replied.
“If your brothers allowed you to come here,” said Riley, “you must be getting desperate.”
“They trust you guys,” defended Melinda. Although her tone didn’t hold the belief in the words she spoke.
“Whatever,” Lizzy said, with a shrug that indicated she cared less about their opinions. “We’ll do what we can of course. I’m actually surprised you didn’t come sooner.” She looked directly at William. “Oh, right. Mr. Sexy Pants is ignoring me.”
Melinda sucked her lips to hold back a choked cough. William pretended not to hear Lizzy. Melinda tossed him a questioning gaze but he ignored her as well.
“If you please,” William said instead, “we would sincerely appreciate any information you can provide. I have been through most of your library previously. However, I was hoping to look again.”
“That must hurt you just a little,” Lizzy aimed specifically at William. “Asking for my help.”
Melinda cast her gaze between the two wondering what she had missed while a familiar pang of jealousy kicked at her heart. A reaction she had no right to, but could not help.
William held his tongue. Although, Melinda swore there was almost some color in his pasty cheeks. Embarrassment? Irritation? Impatience? She wasn’t quite sure.
“I make you speechless,” Lizzy clamored. “Not an easy feat I’m sure.”
“I do not wish to speak on personal matters at this time,” William said flatly. “I wish to look through your library. That is all.”
Lizzy shook her head and laughed. “You are one messed up vampire... truly. Especially if you think that,” she was cut off by a low snarl and a glare. She pointed her finger at his chest about to continue her assault when Lucas walked back in, pulling a shirt over his freshly showered body.
“You’re welcome to look through anything you need, William and Melinda.”
Lizzy dropped her hand, a reproaching look on her face that warned William, we’re not done yet, but I’ll wait.
“The way I see it,” Lucas continued, “Deanes created this problem, so consider our library at your disposal until it’s fixed.”
“That is most kind of you,” said William.
“I just wish we had more to offer. Something solid to help you find this thing. Truth is, my knowledge about magic is limited. I studied our family history, but I’ve never been one to practice magic. In fact, I prefer not to.”
Riley let out a huff and an eye roll, which his brother returned with a stern grimace. It was clear the two did not see eye to eye on this point.
“I might be able to offer some information,” revealed Lizzy. Her eyes shot to William. “I could have told you sooner if you weren’t being such a,” William cut her off.
“Please, Lisbeth. Anything you can share about the Soul Hunter I’m sure would be most helpful.”
Lizzy shrugged with a wry smile. “You’re far too easy to rile, William.” She winked. “Anyway, I only saw the Hunter twice. Both times while in my ghastly condition of course. The first time was when I opened the door allowing it onto the Isle from the Deane house in Boston. The second time was when it tried to get off the Isle. I guess from what my brothers explained to me, this was after the Howards, your parents Melinda, accidentally freed it from whatever prison it had gotten itself stuck in, while searching for the Soul of the Isle.”
“Yeah, it was just over four years ago,” Melinda replied softly. She had forgotten she’d told them about that while they were prepping the cave for Lizzy’s re-embodiment ceremony. Not that it mattered anyway. And Lizzy already knew the reason the Hunter was here since she’d let it onto the island in the first place.
“Yes. That fits the timing,” said Lizzy. “It tried to get through the door but I refused it. I assume after giving up on its attempt to leave, it went into hiding on the Isle. It cannot get off the Isle through any other manner. The magic used to cast that spell is very strong. Nearly unbreakable I’d wager. So it is still on the Isle, somewhere.”
William nodded. “Did the Hunter ever speak to you?” His tone was even and businesslike.
“Not to me. But I do believe it spoke with the Deane who sent it.”
“Did it take a solid form?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Never solid. I did hear strange sounds when it was near.”
“What kind of sounds?” asked Melinda.
“Not ones you want to remember hearing,” she replied honestly.
“Oh,” said Melinda, her voice catching in her throat.
“You wanna leave while they talk about this?” asked Riley.
“No. I’m okay. I can handle it.” She hoped.
Her father, Jack, was still a prisoner of the Soul Hunter. William glanced at Melinda as if needing additional confirmation. She nodded it was okay.
“Please elaborate Lisbeth,” requested the vampire.
“If you insist. It’s not pleasant,” she warned again. “Even in my ghastly condition being close to the Hunter was... dreadful. Its presence made everything around it cold and dark. Like life being sucked away. I can’t imagine what it would feel like if you were living and close to it.” She shuddered. “It did not speak to me with a voice, but rather this sound. Sort of like an echo that emanated from inside it. The echo was mournful. Heart wrenching to listen to. And I guess if you’re living, its voice can also be painful.”
Riley squeezed Melinda’s hand. This could not be easy for her to hear, seeing as her father was imprisoned inside this thing. She squeezed back, grateful for his presence and concern.
“Didn’t Emily say that as well?” Melinda aimed at William, her voice wavering a bit. “When she spoke with Freddy Collier, about when he got lost and saw the thing. Didn’t he say it hurt to hear it?”
“Yes.” He sighed. “So it has more than one voice. Or method of communicating.”
“Actually, I’d bet that it uses the inner echo to frighten. Or threaten.” Lizzy frowned. “I think it uses its echo voice to try to collect your soul. I think the Hunter believed it could capture mine and free itself, or at least frighten me into thinking it could claim my soul. Once it realized it could not, because my soul was already under a spell, it gave up and retreated into hiding.”
“Interesting,” mumbled William. “Had you been in a living body it could have collected your soul. But because your soul and your body had been separated, it could not.”
“So it has to have a living host to take from?” said Melinda.
“It would appear. I wonder...”
“What?” Melinda asked.
“If it would be able to collect anything from me?”
“William!” she scolded. His gaze flitted over to her. “No way in hell. Even if you don’t believe it,
I do think you have a soul. You’re not testing the theory by offering yourself to the Hunter. Not even in exchange for our father.”
He pinched his eyes together. It wasn’t exactly what he’d been thinking, but her concern warmed him. In ways it should not. He’d actually been thinking perhaps the Hunter could confirm whether he did have a soul, or not. But still, it would be a dangerous endeavor if it turned out he did.
“I agree.” Lizzy stated. “Bad idea. If vampires do have souls, then you’d just get sucked in too. And then we’d have two souls to free.”
“Yes. Well.” William stammered for a moment.
Riley let out a deflated sigh that Melinda tried to ignore. Her concern for William always brought this out of him. But there was nothing to be jealous about here. This was just honest truth. She would not risk William’s life, even to save her father. She was pretty sure her father would agree.
“Is there anything else?” asked William, to Lizzy.
“The Hunter eats souls. I can only assume these souls are stuck inside of it. I don’t honestly know what happens to them once they’re sucked in. Are they aware of what’s happened to them? Are they alive, or dead? I’m sorry I can’t answer those questions with any certainty. I only know that the sounds I heard echoing from inside the thing, were the wails of people who knew their torment would never end.”
Melinda hammered out a shaky rush of air.
“Sorry,” said Lizzy, her tone sympathetic. “I wish I could tell you more. I really do. But in all my years as a ghast, I learned very little about the Hunter. I wish now that I’d paid more attention. I was mostly just angry and bitter then, which is why I kept it here to begin with. I always expected it to try to escape again. I guess it must have known it was useless, or was biding its time. For all I know, time has no meaning to the Hunter. Months or years to us might be a mere blip for the thing.”
“Regardless of the circumstances, we are grateful you did not let it free,” said William. His tone was kinder towards Lizzy.
“And it is a lot more than we had to go on a month ago, when we had no idea where our father might be at all,” added Melinda. “And that’s at least something. Unfortunately, what you’ve been able to share is our only something. There’s absolutely nothing written down about these things. I mean, where do they come from? Where do they live? Is this the only one, or are there more? Do they live forever... are they even living beings?”
Riley squeezed Melinda’s hand as if trying to squeeze out the panic.
“Well, you know where the library is William,” said Lucas. “If you think it would do any good, you’re welcome to look again. Or take whatever you need.”
William nodded in thanks and made for the library. Lucas followed to help, pulling Riley with him. Lizzy said she’d grab some coffee and Melinda offered to help.
“I don’t think I need more myself,” she noted. Her caffeine and sugar buzz was still zinging through her blood and giving her the jitters. “Just a glass of water for me. That dress looks really nice on you by the way.”
“You and Emily picked well,” agreed Lizzy. “It’s still strange, these clothes you wear today. I love them,” she said in a throaty tone. “But there’s so little of them. I’m thrilled with them though. Can’t imagine ever going back to the throat to ankle dresses ever again. And the floppers,” she looked down at her feet. “So easy and fun and I can take them off and go barefoot with the flick of my foot.”
“Flip-flops,” laughed Melinda, correcting her. “And I agree, one of the best inventions ever.”
“And the paint on my toes. I’ve tried so many different colors already, but I think I like this color the best.” It was a ruby color, a few shades darker than Lizzy’s natural lip color.
“It does suit you,” agreed Melinda. “How are you settling in otherwise?”
“Not too bad. Now. That first night though, honestly, I was a wreck. It wasn’t at all what I expected. To feel again was so much harder than I thought it would be.”
“I thought you could feel, as a ghast?”
“Me too. And I did. Emotions at least. But once back in my skin it was like I’d just left my body. Everything I was feeling, thinking, remembering, experiencing right before I was ghasted, was all still fresh. Even physical injuries I’d gotten shortly before it happened, hadn’t quite healed yet. Like it had all just happened. Sort of like my human life came slamming back in just where it left off. Except I was the only living thing that still existed from that life. It was very... difficult.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that. I can only imagine how bad it sucked.”
“It did suck, but I had some help that night. It got better.”
“From your brothers?” assumed Melinda. It was what they called Lucas and Riley since it was too complicated to explain where Lizzy had just suddenly come from.
“No. From William. He got me back onto level ground. Got my head on straight so to speak.” She winked and grinned. “But he is by far the strangest vampire I’ve ever met.” Lizzy picked up the filled tray and left for the library before Melinda could ask what she meant. Her heart stalled for a minute. Something had definitely happened between Lizzy and William. She didn’t know what and it should not matter. But it did. It always did.
Nothing serious could have happened. I mean, William doesn’t have any sort of human relationships.
But the way he’s been acting.
No. Not possible. If they were involved in some way... it’s just. He can’t. He doesn’t. He told me he couldn’t.
Let it go. He probably just talked to her. Yeah, I’m sure Lizzy just needed someone to talk to. William is very good at that.
Melinda followed into the library.
“I’ve got coffee for anyone who wants it,” Lizzy was saying. “Sorry, William. I don’t keep spare blood on hand.” She sprung a playful grin his way.
“I’m not thirsty. I won’t be thirsty for a very long time.” His tone indicated irritation, but also a private meaning that only he and Lizzy understood. His glower returned to the book stack.
Melinda could not deny that there was something going on between Lizzy and William. But was angry with herself that it mattered.
Lucas already had a book open and flipped through some pages.
Melinda grabbed one and joined Riley on the couch he’d just sat down on. She sat with her back up against his side, with her legs crossing each other, but stretched out comfortably in front of her. She left her flip-flops on the floor.
Unconsciously, Riley turned and kissed her head, wrapping his arm around her chest, his hand resting on her shoulder. She let out a long sigh and gave his arm a soft peck. Such a simple act and yet when he did these simple acts they made her feel so very content, and safe. He always seemed to know when she needed it.
“Are you feeling better now?” he whispered in her ear.
She didn’t turn to look at him. “Yes. And no.”
“You want to talk about it?”
“Um. No.” Her eyes caught William. He pretended not to hear, but she knew he could. “It’s all good, Riley. Really.” She couldn’t talk about what upset her with a vampire who could hear everything, especially when it was William’s truth about the world speech which had upset her in the first place.
“Okay.” His voice sounded like he was frowning. She dropped her head, burying herself into the book in front of her. Riley must have caught her staring at William. Damn it. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
Riley exhaled. It sounded more like letting out a scowl. He returned to reading. The room was quiet but for the turning of pages, the sipping of coffee, followed by the occasional clearing of throats, and more and more, frustrated breaths as none of the books were the least bit helpful. Minutes turned to hours, filled with nothing but dead ends and disappointment.
“We’re getting nowhere,” growled Melinda, leaning her head forward. Riley rubbed her shoulders and she moaned and pouted in reply.
“I’m sorry you
’re not finding anything helpful,” said Lucas. He stretched back, leaning his chair onto its back legs.
Lizzy cleared her throat, her eyes sticking to the book in front of her.
“Sorry, right,” he said, planting the chair back on all four legs.
Melinda bit her lip, trying not to laugh at Lucas being scolded by Lizzy.
“If we could just try to treat the furniture with a little respect. Some of it has been around since before I was a ghast.”
“You’re right,” said Lucas. “Won’t happen again.”
“Anyway,” said Lizzy. “I actually have a thought. If I’m correct in my thinking, everything you guys have tried so far has included tracking the Hunter, correct?”
“Yes,” William replied.
She lifted her eyebrows and winked.
William frowned.
“I wasn’t flirting,” Lizzy retorted adding, “This time.”
William’s nostrils flared and he slammed his book closed a little louder than he’d meant to.
“You really are so easy to rile,” she said with a grin. “But I was going to say, I’m pretty sure I’ve just outsmarted you.” She aimed her words at the vampire.
William returned with a look that said, prove it.
“We’re thinking about it backwards.”
“Backwards?” repeated Melinda.
Lizzy’s gaze stuck to William’s as she let the vampire work through it. She watched the realization hit him, his logical side winning over his ego.
“Yes. Of course,” said William matter-of-factly. “We should not attempt to track the Hunter. We should make the Hunter, hunt. Do what it does naturally. And set a trap.”
“Is that a good idea? Trap the thing?” asked Lucas.
“You’re not going to be the bait,” muttered Melinda crossly, aiming her words at William.
Riley tried to hide a glower that indicated he wouldn’t mind if the vampire used himself as bait.
“I will not use myself as bait,” agreed William. “And no, it might not be a good idea. Still, its instincts are to hunt. If we could figure out how it does this, perhaps we could set a trap.”
