The Hunted Soul

by Miranda Brock

  “Do you?” Bibi’s tone was quiet, and her gaze bore into mine. “Do you really know who you are, Olivia Perez?”

  A tingle scattered across my neck and played down my spine. Something about her question made me nervous, because perhaps I didn’t truly know who I was anymore. I didn’t know myself, or what I was capable of doing.

  The woman broke her stare and tilted her head toward Kael. “I do hope you will take better care of her this time around.”

  Kael sat up straighter under her glare. “What do you mean?”

  “Why do you think you feel so drawn to protect this girl? Just as she is the descendant of the sorceress, you are the descendant of the fierce warrior who protected her.”

  I had known this for a while. Vehrin had hinted as much, and besides, something within my soul just knew what Kael truly was, and had been.

  But instead of being relieved at the confirmation, my stomach twisted bitterly. Was that why we worked so well together? Were my growing feelings for him some sort of twisted bond we already possessed, and not of my own heart’s making?

  “Of course I would never let anything happen to her. That has nothing to do with the past. I will protect her with my life.”

  I turned so sharply toward Kael, I winced at the pain that shot along my wound. “No, you will not protect me with your life. I don’t want your sacrifices, Kael. I don’t need a knight in shining armor.”

  Kael’s eyes widened at my sharp words. “I only meant—”

  “I don’t care. I don’t want you getting yourself killed trying to protect me, Kael!” Couldn’t he see how much that would hurt me?

  “I was unaware I had invited quarreling lovers into my home.” Bibi unfolded and rose from the floor.

  “We’re not lovers,” Kael and I insisted simultaneously.

  A gleam of amusement sparked in the old woman’s eyes.

  The whole situation was ridiculous. We weren’t here to fight about our relationship, or whatever strange thing was going on between us.

  “Where do we find the third key?” I asked.

  Bibi headed for the curtained doorway, bowl of herbs in hand, then paused to peer at us over her shoulder. “Long ago, I entrusted the relic to a pack of lion shifters.”

  My heart raced. So, next we had to find those shifters and get to the key before Vehrin?

  “But they will not give up the key without the spear,” she added.

  “Spear?” Kael shot to his feet. “What spear?”

  “I told them if someone made it through a trial to obtain the spear, and presented it to them, they were trustworthy enough to take possession of the key. Tomorrow, you will attempt to claim the spear, so you may trade it for the key.”

  I stood beside Kael. “Why tomorrow? Why not now? We don’t have much time.”

  As if in answer, a terrible shrieking echoed from outside.

  “The demons wait for your return in the night. It will be safer to go in the morning.”

  I frowned. The last thing I wanted to do was wait, but I also wasn’t keen on becoming demon fodder. I nodded.

  “Good. Now, come and eat.” Bibi strode out with a no-nonsense attitude that had me and Kael following. “Tomorrow, we will see if you are worthy.”

  Chapter 17

  “Wake up!”

  My eyelids fluttered as I tried to drag myself to consciousness. I stared up at the low ceiling, and it took a few blinks for me to remember where we were. Beside me, Kael climbed up from the floor with a groan. I sat up, and my bones ached from sleeping on the stiff cot. My gaze found Bibi, the beaded curtain spilling over her shoulders as she stood in the doorway.

  She cast a glance behind her, and I craned my neck to see what she was looking at. “Hurry,” she said. “The birds and the beasts are restless. Something is stirring in the wilderness.” Her gaze locked on me. “You must complete your task, and quickly.”

  Without another word, she strode away.

  Kael set my bag beside me as I wiggled my feet into my boots and bent over to lace them.

  “Did you sleep okay?” he asked.

  Shrugging one shoulder, I mumbled, “As well as I could on this ironing board.”

  He gave me a half-smile, and I remembered he’d spent the night on the floor.

  “Sorry,” I said. “I’m just feeling…”

  I couldn’t put a word to the tightness in my heart. Bibi had said something was stirring in the wilderness, and I had to agree. I was restless, and uneasy.

  I rose to my feet and slung my bag over my shoulder. With a relieved breath, I realized my magic was swirling inside of me once more. The demon’s poison had worn off.

  Kael gathered his own things. He checked his pistol with a frown. He was running low on ammo, and he wouldn’t likely find anymore until we left the country. He’d have to rely on the strength of his arm, or his teeth and claws.

  Kael led the way out of Bibi’s home and into the patchy, pale sunlight of early morning. The cries of birds pierced the air, and I caught the fluttering of wings from nearby trees. The entire atmosphere seemed sharp and alive, like electricity was crackling through the air. It was hard not to bounce on my toes with eagerness.

  Bibi was waiting for us. She smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. She pointed deeper into the forest. “That is the path. Once you get farther in the trees, Olivia will know which way to go.”

  How was I supposed to know which way to go? “What kind of obstacles are we going to meet out there?”

  Bibi shook her head. “I cannot say.”

  “Will I be able to use my magic?” I asked.

  The prophetess narrowed her sharp gaze at me. “If you need magic to prove yourself, young mage, perhaps you are not worthy, after all.”

  Ouch. That was an ego-bruiser. She was right, though. If I had to rely on my magic every time things got difficult, what kind of person would I be in the end?

  I nodded and gripped the strap of my bag. “Will we see you again?”

  “That remains to be seen.” Bibi gestured toward the forest once again, an obvious invitation to embark on this test of hers.

  Kael and I headed into the forest. I peered at the foliage as the birds continued their calling. “You don’t think there are animals in here that will attack us, do you?”

  My partner gave me a crooked grin. “Why? Scared of monkeys?”

  I scowled at him. “Monkeys have teeth, you know.”

  “So do I.” He grinned widely, as if to prove his point.

  I rolled my eyes. “Fine. You keep your mighty teeth at the ready, then.” I peered up at the branches above, then glanced back to Kael. “What about the demons?”

  He shrugged. “I haven’t heard or smelled anything. Maybe they gave up and left.”

  “Maybe.”

  The pair of us fell silent as we trekked through the forest. As Bibi had said, I could sense where we were supposed to go, as if I was following some sort of invisible tether. We seemed to walk for hours, and I was thankful for the canopy as the day grew hotter.

  Kael insisted we stop a couple of times to rest and drink some water. I relented, though I was eager to continue on our way as quickly as possible. The restless aura around us only seemed to be growing more intense, and I didn’t know what it meant. Hopefully, it wasn’t because the dark mage was near, though my gut told me that was likely the case.

  The forest finally opened up to reveal a trio of flat-topped, gray, squatty buildings. They were old, judging by the vines creeping through the cracks on the walls and the stone crumbling at the edges. We walked up to the building in the center.

  “Look,” I said.

  There was an open doorway. Scrawled in the stone along the top and sides were runes, so weathered with age they were difficult to make out. I ran my fingers over the curving lines, and as I did, their meaning bloomed to life in my mind.

  “Only one may enter,” I said.

  Kael grunted in disapproval beside me.

  I turned to him.
“That’s what it says. I’m not sure why, but I think we should follow the directions, don’t you?”

  He didn’t answer me, but he had a growing frown on his face.

  “I’ll go in,” I said.

  A heavy sigh blew from Kael’s lips. “I knew you were going to say that. Livvie, you just survived demon poison. You nearly died.” He paused, and something like pain passed over his face. “Are you sure you can handle this?”

  “Have some faith in me, shifter.” I smiled to take any sting from my words. “Besides, I can read the runes. What if there are more scrawled down there?” I jerked my head toward the open doorway. I winked at Kael. “Don’t worry. I got this.”

  I squared my shoulders and stepped into the doorway.

  “Olivia.”

  I glanced over my shoulder at Kael as the shadow of the building fell over me. He opened his mouth, hesitated, and then said, “Be careful.”

  I smiled and then walked farther into the shadow. Thankfully, the cracked stone in the building allowed for slivers of light to pierce into the darkness. The air was stale and touched with the slightest scent of mildew where the cracks in the surface allowed rain inside. For the most part, puffs of dust billowed up with each step I took on the dirt floor.

  A big grin pulled at my lips, and my heart swelled unexpectedly. It felt great to be inside ruins again, and a part of me wished I wasn’t on a mission so I could explore the history this place had left behind. I missed that part of my life spent in ancient and forgotten places, uncovering relics that weren’t magical and unearthing long-forgotten histories.

  It would be fun to take Kael on a dig sometime. He’d probably enjoy the adventure of it, if he could get over his dislike of small spaces. I cut the image short as reality seeped in.

  Would Kael even still be around when all of this was said and done? What would it mean for us once Vehrin was stopped for good? Kael would likely return to his duties at PITO, and I would have to get back to work for the university.

  My heart clenched at the thought of not being around him anymore. I would miss him terribly. It made my throat tighten to think of just how much of a hole there would be once he was no longer an everyday part of my life.

  My eyes widened as I continued through the low, dark building. Since when had I started caring for him so much? He was my friend, and maybe starting to be a bit more, but to think I would have a hard time living without him… Was it because we were tied together through some ancient threads of duty and companionship, or was it my own true feelings? Not knowing for certain made me feel even worse, and more uncertain.

  A part of me wondered if our connection would remain intact after Vehrin’s destruction, and if it didn’t, how would I handle it?

  I kicked up a puff of dust. Now was a stupid time to think about such things. I was supposed to be taking part in some important test.

  So far, I hadn’t seen anything of significance—no runes, no paths leading elsewhere. What kind of test was this, anyway? All I’d been doing was walking, and worrying over my relationship with a grumpy shifter.

  I passed through another pale slant of sunlight filtering in through a crack in the ceiling, and then halted. There was another doorway in front of me, and I could make out the gray outline of something inside. For a moment, I wondered if I should bring out my sword, but I kept the braided bracelet hugging my wrist. I’d wait until I investigated further.

  The room I entered was so cold it nearly sucked the breath from my lungs. Goosebumps rose on my arms as I stepped toward a low dais in the middle of the room, and it wasn’t completely because of the temperature.

  A spear sat on the dais. Instead of a spearhead being attached to a shaft, it was one solid piece. It was a polished white, and appeared to have been carved from ivory. Stepping closer, I could pick out details carved into the spear, little whorls and patterns entwined together in a maze of perfection and beauty.

  My hand hesitated over the spear. Surely, picking up the spear and leaving with it couldn’t be so easy. How was all of this tied together? What did this spear have to do with the keys? Was it simply a bargaining chip, or something more? How many other relics were a part of the pattern I’d tangled myself in?

  I shook my head, and my cheeks puffed out with a sigh. “Only one way to find out,” I muttered.

  Slowly, I closed my hand around the smooth spear. It was cool to the touch and nearly seemed to hum beneath my fingers. I lifted it from the dais.

  The frenzied cry of birds broke the silence and was joined by the screeching chatter of monkeys. My heart jumped. I tightened my grip on the spear and whirled to the doorway. A gasp filled my throat. The way out was blocked, as if the very stone walls had grown together. I ground my teeth.

  I had a feeling my test was just beginning.

  I swiveled around. The only way out was a small window. I wasn’t certain I would fit, but I hurried toward it. Outside, I could see what appeared to be a courtyard surrounded by buildings. Above the roofs, branches of the forest shivered as birds and beasts scurried about.

  I shoved my pack through the window, followed by the spear. I took a steadying breath, then stuck my arms through the window. It took a lot of wiggling, and the sides of the window scraped at the wound on my side, but I made it through. As I got to my feet, I noticed a trickle of warmth at my side. A quick peek under my shirt showed my wound had broken open and was leaking blood through my bandage.

  “Great,” I said. “Can’t wait for something like a hyena or a jackal to catch wind of that and―”

  I paused. Amidst the chirping of birds and monkeys, a new screeching shattered the air.

  Demons.

  Bits of debris rained down beside me, and I pivoted. Demons were scrambling over the flat roofs of the buildings. My magic writhed inside of me, begging for release as the wicked beings drawn to my soul-bound key surged forward. I started to reach for the power that would destroy them, then hesitated. Bibi had warned against using my magic to complete this task.

  I scooped up my bag and the spear, and I ran. A glance over my shoulder revealed hundreds of demons pouring over the buildings, like ants from a disturbed nest. My pulse raced. I had to find a way out. Quickly.

  My searching eyes landed on a narrow path between buildings. It was the safest bet. Perhaps it would help slow the onslaught of demons on my heels.

  Relief billowed in me as I saw the open forest on the other side of the path. I peeked over my shoulder to find demons fighting their way into the narrow passage. Then, a shadow fell over my way out. My gaze widened.

  A massive elephant stepped into the end of the path. Its ears fanned out, and it let out a deep, rumbling sound that vibrated through my chest. Large, white dots ran from the top of the elephant’s head, and down its trunk. The animal stared at me with familiar eyes.

  Bibi.

  The prophetess was an elephant shifter. Why would she be blocking my path? The demons were coming. Any second and they would be upon me. How was I supposed to get out of here if Bibi was blocking my path?

  As if in answer, the spear in my grasp tingled against my palm.

  Blood pounded in my ears as I was faced with three decisions. One, I could use my magic to take down the demons, though I knew by doing so, I would fail the test. Two, I could throw the spear at the demons. It wouldn’t do any good. I would only kill one, at best, and lose the spear in the process. Or three, I could use the spear to take down the elephant.

  The logical part of me said the spear would do no good against the elephant, but in my heart, I knew this was no ordinary spear. If I threw it at Bibi, it would kill her.

  My throat burned. What kind of sick test was this? I had to kill an innocent person, someone wise and ancient, just to get this spear?

  Bibi rumbled again, urging me to make a decision. A glance back showed the demons closing the distance. I could pick out the details of scales, and sharp claws, and eager, gnashing teeth.

  I turned my attention back to the prop
hetess, and I lowered my eyebrows. Kael and I would just have to find some other way to convince the lion pride shifters to relinquish the third key. I refused to kill an innocent being.

  With a yell, I drove the spear into the side of the building. To my surprise, it sank in like a knife to butter. Not wasting a breath, I used the spear to brace against as I climbed up onto the roof. I hurried across the cracked stone, stumbling a couple of times as my footing nearly gave way. I didn’t turn to see if demons followed. I only focused on getting away from the buildings, back into the waiting arms of the forest, and Kael.

  Finally, I reached the edge and jumped down. My teeth clacked together as I rolled through the impact. Pain splintered across my side, and I grabbed it with a slight grimace.

  “Olivia!” Footsteps pounded, and then Kael was there, hauling me up. He steadied me, and his hand replaced my own along my ribs. “What happened?”

  I stared at the ground. “I failed, Kael. I couldn’t pass the test.”

  “To the contrary…”

  Our heads whipped toward Bibi. She was walking from around the buildings, the spear in her hands. A wide smile split her face as she stepped up to us. She held the spear out to me, and I took it slowly.

  “I don’t understand,” I said. “I didn’t use the spear on you.”

  “Exactly.” Bibi put her hands on my shoulder. “You chose to give up the one thing that could help you get the key. By doing so, you passed the test.”

  I glanced behind her. “What about the demons? Where are they?”

  Kael stiffened beside me at the mention of demons, and drifted a few feet away, sharp gaze peering into the forest.

  “An illusion. You had to have something driving you forward, something that would allow no way of escape.”

  My mind was reeling. We’d obtained the spear. We could get the third key. I smiled at Bibi. “Where do we find the lion shifters?”

  The prophetess gave us directions. She equipped me with fresh bandages for my side and more of that foul-tasting tea to drink when we rested. Then Bibi took off the earrings in the shape of tiny elephant tusks.