City of Fractured Souls

by Olivia Ash

  Edric, Ezekiel, and Andreas rushed to her, having dispersed of the other creatures. They poked and prodded her for injuries. Aside from the holes the claws left on her chest, she was fine. She didn’t even really feel them. It was more of an annoying itch than pain. She shrugged her men off and smiled at each of them.

  “We’d better get back before any patrols from the castle come this way. That fight was anything but silent,” she said.

  “Agreed,” Edric said, and Andreas and Ezekiel nodded.

  They each turned on their heels and left quickly, sticking to the shadows and listening for signs of being followed.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Sophia

  They made their way back to camp as Torra tore through the woods, eyes widened with fear.

  “They found us! They’re taking my people right now!”

  Sophia ran after her, and Edric, Ezekiel, and Andreas followed behind her. Twigs and branches swatted Sophia’s cheeks, stinging with burning pain. She didn’t slow down until Torra did, who hunkered behind a boulder and peeked out over the top at a group of Lady Naomi’s men who were shackling and beating the village people.

  Torra looked at Sophia with tears streaking down her cheeks. “Help them. Please,” she whispered.

  Sophia nodded and looked to her men, each slightly inclining their heads in affirmation that they were ready. With a heavy sigh, she leapt out of the woods and into the village, sword ready to slice the first throat she came to that didn’t belong to one of the villagers.

  But the men saw her coming, turning around and smiling viciously, which caused Sophia to stop in her tracks.

  What the… ?

  “Well, well… what do we have here?” an alluring voice asked just as a woman stepped out from behind one of the huts. “Such a beautiful face. An even better addition to my ranks.”

  It was a trap. The woman was Lady Naomi. She must have known about them snooping around the castle. Sophia bit her bottom lip. She should have seen this coming.

  The woman, Lady Naomi, sauntered her way toward them, stopping just outside the reach of Sophia’s sword. Naomi studied Sophia with a discriminating eye. Like she was a piece of meat. Sophia stood taller, head held high.

  The woman said, “So, you are the one who has been traipsing through the land, killing off my men and trying to rescue these wretched creatures.” Her voice was thick like honey, alluring, and very much so matched her appearance. It was like the woman’s voice was an enchantment. Sophia almost wanted to fall under it. Except her gut kept her from doing so. That, and the magic that continued to pulse under her skin. She clicked her tongue. “How very naughty of you.”

  “If you weren’t enslaving everyone you could get your hands on, I wouldn’t have to set them free in the first place.”

  She smiled, and damn if it wasn’t as bright as the sun and just as warm. This woman had danger written all over her. The voice, her looks, those were all pretenses to confuse and capture prey. Or slaves, in this case.

  “My spies spoke the truth about you,” Lady Naomi said. “You have incredibly powerful magic.” She licked her lips. “Exquisite.”

  Sophia took a step back and said, “Take one more step and I’ll have to cut up that pretty little face of yours.”

  The woman laughed. She looked around her then back to Sophia. “Feisty too. I’m going to have fun pulling that magic from you. Especially since I know how to use it.”

  The men shuffled behind Sophia and she was well aware of how badly they wanted to get this fight done and over with. Sophia did too.

  “You won’t touch me,” she said, standing her ground and holding her sword at the ready.

  The woman laughed again and seemed unperturbed by Sophia’s gesture. “How cute. But I’m afraid you don’t have a choice. There are more fighters on my side than yours, and what little work you’ll make for my men, it will be worth it in the end. You’re about to make me powerful.”

  Fat chance.

  Sophia had heard enough. She would be damned if she let herself be captured and manipulated and have her magic torn from her, much less stand idly by and watch her men be slaughtered with the innocent people of the village.

  She didn’t think. She only reacted and thrust the sword forward, lunging as she did so. Lady Naomi’s eyes widened, and she jumped out of the way.

  “Attack now! Keep the girl alive!” the woman called out as she made her way toward the back of the group.

  The men clustered in front of them. Sophia slashed and hacked at whoever got in her way. She was going to make sure Naomi paid for her transgressions against innocent people and her threat against herself. Meanwhile, her men, whom she always trusted to fight at her side, took down the thugs that hadn’t stood in Sophia’s path to the woman.

  One by one, men fell before her as she made her way to the woman. When she finally stood before her, the woman smiled. Her hands took on an orange glow and Sophia’s magic sparked along her body.

  “Impressive,” the woman said and shot a beam of fiery light toward her. Sophia dodged out of the way and immediately climbed to her feet and swung her sword, slicing the woman on her upper arm. “Bitch! You’ll pay for that.”

  Sophia lunged out of the way of the next blast of heat and held her hand out as she sent sparks flying toward Lady Naomi’s face. The woman ducked, and Sophia wished the woman would stand still long enough for her to be killed. Stepping up her game, the woman pulled a sword of fire out of thin air and slashed at Sophia. She jumped back at the last second, barely missing the tip of the blazing weapon with her torso.

  She finally managed to disarm the woman by twisting to the side and cutting the arm that held the magical blade. It dissipated into nothing. Sophia swung her leg out and spun close to the ground, kicking Naomi’s feet out from underneath her and hitting the ground hard on her back. The air left her lungs with a grunt, and Sophia wasted no time in climbing on top of the woman with the tip of her blade angled downward.

  Sophia went to plunge the blade into the woman’s chest as she looked up at her with a strange glint in her eyes. Ignoring the look, she thrust the sword down, stabbing only ground.

  Lady Naomi had disappeared into nothing.

  Sophia grunted as she pulled herself from the ground, using her sword as leverage. Turning, she took stock of her men. The thugs were all killed and some of the villagers had injuries of their own. Ezekiel limped and fell to his knees.

  With a gasp, Sophia ran to him. He had been stabbed. Blood pooled around his fingers. The villagers surrounded her, and two men rushed forward to help him up. The man from before approached them and said, “We know of an enclave that would provide safety and healing assistance to your friend here.”

  Sophia nodded. “Thank you. Your help is kind. But it’s no longer safe for you and your family here. Come with us to the enclave. We can plan for a way to take out Naomi and free the rest of your people.”

  Torra approached her, eyes frightened and shoulders trembling. “I apologize. I should have been watching for them. I should have done something.”

  Sophia placed a hand on her shoulder. There was nothing the girl could’ve done. “It’s all right. Can you lead us to the enclave?”

  “Yes, I can.”

  “Good, let’s go. I’ll still keep my promise to help you and your people.”

  Though, she hoped she could do so, and get her men out of the mountain before they faded completely. Even now, and with the help of the amulet, Edric and Ezekiel were starting to succumb to the effects of the mountain, growing weaker by the day, though much slower than before.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Ezekiel

  The enclave was set half a day’s journey from the castle. Though beautiful in its own right, the people inhabiting it were even more enchanting. Races he never heard of huddled together, working for the same purpose. Freedom. Ezekiel wanted nothing more than to pull out his journal and jot down notes on the things he had seen, but his body refused to
obey his whim. As it was, the trip took a lot out of him. More than he cared to admit, even though Sophia fussed over him. He liked having her be his nurse. Though he hated that he was in the state he was in. He thought he could be more useful coming up with tinctures and potions to help heal the sick and wounded that filled the enclave more than lying on a comfortable mattress.

  When they arrived, the dryads (as he had come to know them as) spoke of the efforts he and his group had made to help them. As a token of appreciation, they gifted an entire cottage to them. Sophia had insisted that he take the most comfortable bed so he could rest well. He would’ve rather had Sophia sleep in the bed, but she wouldn’t have it. Afterall, he was the one injured and succumbing to the sickness the mountain magic gave him.

  “Are you comfortable?” Sophia asked as she checked the bandage on his torso.

  “I am.” He nodded and smiled at her when she met his gaze.

  She was so much more than what she seemed, and the mystery surrounding her was just a fraction of what drew him to her. They had a similar history. A broken childhood. A family stolen from them by death. She had become the center of his universe, and he would never be the same now that she was a part of his life.

  “Where’s Andreas and Edric?” he asked, hoping for casual conversation.

  She smiled. “Playing with the children.”

  “You’re kidding?” His eyes widened. He couldn’t quite picture the event.

  “I know. I would have a hard time believing it myself if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.” She tucked a strand of blond hair that had fallen out of her braid behind her ear. The motion of that simple thing stirred a fire in Ezekiel’s gut.

  “Those poor children,” he said and chuckled. Stabbing pain shot through him. He winced.

  “You should be more concerned with resting,” she said, leveling her blue eyes on him. Eyes that threatened to consume him each time he looked into them.

  He reached for her hand and wove his fingers through hers. A warm, tingling sensation shot up his arm. She brushed her fingers through his hair. That move of hers pushed him over the edge of all his self-control. He pulled her to him, kissing her with such powerful force. It was like he was starving for her, and she sustained him in such a way no food or drink ever could.

  Though injured, just kissing her made him feel so much better. His kisses turned more aggressive and she moaned against his mouth which made his need grow even stronger. Emboldened, he massaged her breasts through her shirt and she responded by climbing carefully on top of him. He worked her out of her shirt while she ran her fingers over his chest, gently scratching her nails against his skin, causing the ache of need to course through him stronger than ever.

  If he was doomed to die in the mountain, he wanted to have her one last time. Fill her with his love and be satisfied that he had the chance to be with her once more before his time in this world was over and done for.

  Sophia helped him out of his pants and she climbed back on top of him. But he would have none of that. He wanted to be in control, even if it took the last of his strength. But even as that thought crossed his mind, he felt stronger, more powerful. Almost whole again.

  She giggled as he tossed her to her back and planted kisses along her stomach toward her breast, where he paused to suck and nibble on them. Her gasp of pleasure and her fingers clutching the back of his head egged him on further. He continued up, leaving a trail of kisses from her chest to her neck and jawline, all the way to her lips.

  His cocked rubbed at the supple mound of flesh between her legs and her warm wetness was both enticing and inviting.

  He edged the tip of his erection near her entry where her breaths quickened at the mere touch of him. He smiled devilishly at her and kissed her some more. When she least expected it, and her body quaking with need, he pushed himself inside her and damn near exploded right then and there.

  Biting back that aching feeling, he focused on the moment, the freeing feeling of being with her like this. The way he felt healed and wondered at the magnificence that was Sophia.

  Her love flooded him with so much gratitude. And he was ever so grateful that even if he would die in the mountain, he could never leave her side. She was his family. To live without her would be to live half a life. If even for a day.

  As he finished her off, with the echoes of her pleasure ringing in his ears, he himself finished and curled her into his arms as they both worked to catch their breath.

  In that moment, he knew he was better. He was stronger, healthier, like the mountain had never poisoned him. She strengthened him and it was through sex with him that he was refueled in both magic and health.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Sophia

  Sophia loved the way Ezekiel’s arms felt around her and the way that her head was cradled in the bend of his shoulder as he held her close to him. His breathing was slow and even. The color had returned to his skin, and it was as if the magic hadn’t poisoned him to begin with.

  Sex with her had done the same for Edric. She wondered what it was about her and her magic that sustained the men. Part of her believed it went beyond just sharing a piece of her soul.

  Andreas and Edric kept their distance, allowing for her and Ezekiel to have some time together. She loved that they respected her alone time with each of her men. But she couldn’t sleep. And she wanted to do something productive with her time like helping some of the people that hosted her and her team.

  Pulling herself from the bed, she stifled a giggle as Ezekiel grumbled and tried to keep her close. She succeeded at slipping away from him, pulling the covers tighter around him so he could get more rest. She made her way to the wash basin to clean up before slipping into some clean clothes that had been brought to her from the enclave. Another gift.

  Once she was dressed and had pulled on her boots, Ezekiel stirred and sat up on the bed. The blanket fell to his waistline, exposing his muscles. He smiled impishly at her and she blushed with the rush of naughty thoughts that ran through her mind.

  “How are you feeling?” she asked, even though she could tell how he much he had improved.

  “Better,” he said and stretched his arms over his head. He curled a finger at her, beckoning for her to join him. “How about another round of that healing of yours?” His voice was thick with desire.

  She smiled and shook her head. “You’re incorrigible.”

  He shrugged and stood from the bed, unabashed, and made his way toward her, pulling her in close, pressing his mouth to hers and making her head spin with heated passion.

  A knock rapped at the door. Ezekiel pulled away and went to grab his pants while Sophia answered the door. Edric stood on the other side, flashing a knowing grin.

  “Having fun in here?” he asked.

  Sophia took in a shuddering sigh and tried not to let her cheeks burn as much as she thought they did. “Fun enough.”

  “The elder arbors have requested our presence.”

  Sophia nodded. “We’ll be out in just a moment.”

  She waited until Edric turned and left, then stood before she closed the door and ran her fingers through her hair to comb out the tangles. While Ezekiel dressed, she pulled her hair back into a braid and tied it off with a leather hair lace.

  Ezekiel joined her and asked, “Ready?”

  She nodded and turned for the door.

  They met the elder arbors near an embankment with crisp, clean, blue water not too far from the enclave. The older male stopped them as they approached and said, “Our… friend has arrived, bringing some of the information you seek.”

  “Excellent,” Sophia said with a smile. She went to step past him and was stopped as he held out a branchy arm.

  “I highly advise that you check your pockets before and after you speak with him.”

  She stiffened and looked to her men who appeared just as uncomfortable with that statement. Ezekiel fumbled with his bag and Andreas shoved his hands into his pockets. Sophia wasn’t sur
e what to expect now that the elders seemed inclined to warn them before meeting this friend, and she wasn’t so sure the information given would be of use. Still, she ensured everything was in its rightful place before nodding to the elder arbor.

  He nodded once in return before turning and walking down a narrow path to where the other two elder arbors were. A strange creature that was hunched over and covered by a hood and cloak stood with them. His back faced them, so she wasn’t entirely sure what he looked like beyond that.

  Upon their approach, the friend seemed to be discussing something at length with the female elder arbor, while the younger male elder arbor stood by seemingly waiting for the conversation to end. He shifted his gaze to them and he stood straighter, eyes brightening with joy.

  “Ah, friends, you have arrived well, I hope?” he asked.

  Sophia assumed he referred to Edric and Ezekiel and gestured for them to answer.

  Edric said, “Thanks to you, we are well.”

  The younger male elder arbor nodded and clasped his twiggy fingers together. “Wonderful news.”

  The friend of the elder arbors turned toward them, and Sophia’s mouth parted. Things in Ripthorn continued to mystify and amaze her. This creature possessed the features of a weasel but stood on two legs. He looked at the group as they stood in front of him, and he seemed awfully curious about Ezekiel as he approached him and walked around him as though he was a prized trophy.

  “Mmm, yes, yes,” he said, his voice was tenor but really guttural as well. He then stopped and stuck his nose in the air and sniffed. He turned his head toward Sophia and he smiled, all toothy. “Oh, dear. Even better! I’ll take her!” He let out an excited ooh-hoo-hoo!

  Sophia stood back and gripped the hilt of her sword.