Soul Mate (The Mating Series)

by S. Swan

  Trisha walked in. She looked disheveled. Her beautiful Blond hair tangled in knots. Her clothes were wrinkled, and she was not as perky. “I’m cleaning up dinner,” she said.

  “Trisha?” I asked with sweetness in my voice.

  “Hmm?”

  “Where am I?” I asked.

  “You’re here with us.”

  “No I mean what country?”

  “Since you’ve agreed to stay, I guess I can tell you,” Trisha said. “We’re in the US.”

  “Where?” I asked.

  “Indiana.”

  “Are we still in Indy?” I asked.

  “No,” she said. “Indy is too populated.” Trisha faced me and smiled. “We are in the most magical place on earth.”

  “Disney World isn’t in the Midwest,” I said. Cho’s sarcasm wore off on me.

  “Not Disney World.” Trisha laughed. “French Lick Springs.”

  “How appropriate.” French Lick Springs was a natural hot spring. The water came up rich in minerals, and heated from a crack in the earth’s core. Minerals were said to work like a conductor for the supernatural, along with the heat, and molten lava it was a perfect breeding ground for demons. No wonder Z’s breath tasted like brimstone. The water was full of it. “Can you get me some of that spring water stuff?” I asked.

  “Sure we have tons of it.” Trisha left and came back immediately with a cold bottle of mineral water. “This will be good for you and the baby,” she said. When she handed me the bottle, I noticed what looked like burned hand prints on each wrist.

  “What are those?” I asked, pointing to her wrists.

  Trisha looked at me sheepishly. “I know he’s yours, but when Z left you he was kind of horny. I was honored to be your surrogate.” Disgusting!

  “Trisha, you let Z screw you?” What an idiot. “Did he hurt you?” I asked.

  “No it was wonderful.” She gloated. “The best. I promise it didn’t hurt, the burns showed up after, but they don’t hurt. I hope you don’t mind.”

  I held up my hands in indifference. “Whatever he needs to do.” I’m glad it’s her and not me.

  “I know you want it to be special so you’re waiting. It will be worth it. What a man!”

  “He’s not a man,” I said. “He’s a demon.” Z is an unholy beast… a terrible thing. Trisha made me sick. How could she enjoy that monster’s touch?

  “He’s an incredible demon,” Trisha said. “He’s like nothing you know.” I hoped I would never find out. It grossed me out thinking about that nasty thing with the steaming sperm. I choked back the bile rising in my throat.

  I chugged the bottle of mineral water to get the acid taste out of my mouth. “How many people are here besides us?” I asked.

  “I’m in charge of the security team. There are four of us.” She tapped her mouth thinking. “The there are five on the medical team, three in the kitchen, and one shaman. That makes thirteen.”

  “Fifteen people including me and Z,” I said.

  “You don’t count. It takes thirteen members to perform The Great Rite,” Trisha said.

  “The Great Rite?”

  “The Great Rite between man and woman?”

  “You mean conception?”

  “Yes, but more. It’s like a wedding ceremony that binds you to Z forever.” Z failed to mention that I would be bound to him forever. “Even in the afterlife, you two will be together. Isn’t it great?”

  Really? When Jimmy told me about a soul mate, he never mentioned my soul mate was a power hungry demon! It would be a cold day in hell before I allowed myself to be bound to Z.

  I contemplated suicide, but I wasn’t sure that would protect me from Z. The best chance I had would be to stay living. I didn’t know enough about the afterlife. If Z could claim Mom’s soul, it was a possibility that he could claim mine too. I had to be cunning when dealing with Z and his staff, and get the most out of them.

  Now that I knew where I was located, I began visualizing the lighthouse again. This time I pictured the light sweeping Indianapolis from the south. I pictured the state map and placed a pin in French Lick Springs. I started to give up hope when I felt something. It was a barely noticeable tingling in my head. I connected with Jimmy. The sensation grew as I focused on it. I hoped Jimmy was honing in on me. I began to cry. The cry grew to hysteria. I finally cried myself out and feel asleep.

  When I awoke the sensation was still there. It made me happy, and gave me something to think about. Trisha came into administer my meds and give me food. I was starved, and knowing that I had Jimmy’s attention made my mood better. I ate a little. I spent most of the day lying in bed.

  Z and two doctors, were a man and woman, came in. “You need to take this test,” Z said.

  “What’s it for?” I asked.

  “It’s to test your fertility.” The female doctor explained. She was a mousy looking woman. She had a small nose that made the big glasses she wore sit low. She kind of looked like the Pat character from Saturday Night Live.

  The female accompanied me into the bathroom to assist. “I can’t pee in front of you.” I told the woman.

  “I need to make sure you don’t try to fake the test.”

  “How do you fake a fertility test?” I asked.

  The woman shrugged. “I’m following orders.”

  It took a long time for me to muster enough urine to take the test. I took the test holding the stick into my stream of urine. I never needed to take a pregnancy test, but I knew how to do it.

  “She’s not ready.”

  Z growled in frustration. “It’s only been fifteen hours since she began the meds.” The other doctor said. “We told you it usually works within forty-eight to seventy-two hours.”

  Z stroked my face. “I’m sorry for my anger, but I can’t wait for us to be together.” I pulled away from the heat. “Don’t be that way.” Z warned. “You made the choice. I can have these doctors sedate you at any time.” I didn’t respond to him, not even when he kissed my cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” Z said. “Make sure you’re taking all of the dosages.”

  “I am.” I said, but I was only taking half of the pills that Trisha brought in. I decided to start taking all of the drugs. I hoped someone was working to find me. Each hour, the feeling in my head got stronger.

  When I started taking the drugs properly, it took no time for me to start ovulation. I’m not sure how long I had been in the room. I had no concept of day or night. I assumed that I was taking the tests in the mornings. On the third test the mousy woman announced that we were ready to proceed with the ritual. Elated, Z danced around. He kissed me over and over again. “I wish I didn’t have to go through with this ritual, but it’s the only way,” Z said. “I could I take you now, but I made a promise.” He laughed. I stayed quiet. “Fuck it,” Z said and forced me to the bed. Z held my arms over my head with one hand. His body held me to the bed.

  “Quit!” I screamed. “We had a deal.”

  “You can’t trust demons.” Z laughed. “Didn’t your boyfriend teach you anything?” I fought against him.

  “Stop.” I tried to break free. “If you don’t stop, I’ll kill myself.” Z only laughed.

  “Excuse me, master.” A man interrupted. Z looked over his shoulder at the man. I seized the opportunity to break my arms free of his grip. “You can’t impregnate this woman now.”

  “I’m not trying to get her pregnant.” Z argued. “I’m going to enjoy her.”

  “Yes, but if she would happen to conceived from your pleasure, it wouldn’t work,” the man said. “The child would be no more than a human child.”

  “What?”

  “The Great Rite ritual is what will give this child your true essence.”

  Z hopped off the bed. “That is why I have you as my shaman, Felipe,” Z said. I took a mental note, this man was the shaman. I sent a mental picture to Jimmy. “Get her ready.” I want to do this as soon as possible.”

  “You have to wait until the prop
er hour,” Felipe said. “We’ve been over this several times.”

  “Get Trisha to prepare her,” Z said.

  I waited around for about an hour before Trisha came in to prepare me. I noticed Trisha had several new burn marks on her. I assumed that Z took his frustration out on her. I thought about how Jimmy and I made love. I couldn’t imagine how Trisha could give her body to an animal for him to use and abuse.

  Trisha spent several hours preparing me for the ritual. She bathed me, combed my hair and put make up on. “You look beautiful.” She announced when I was finished. Trisha opened a red satin robe. “You’ll wear this until it’s time.” She helped me into the robe. “I’m so jealous,” she said. “You’re such a lucky woman.” I wanted to punch Trisha in the face. How could she be led so far astray?

  “How did you meet Z?” I asked.

  “I’ve known him all of my life,” Trisha said. “He began coming to me when I was a child.”

  “Didn’t he scare you?”

  “No, I had a really tough childhood,” Trisha said. “Z came to me when I was afraid and alone. He guided me and comforted me. I don’t know what would have happened to me if Z hadn’t have found me.”

  That was what most cult members said. It’s just like a demon to move into someone’s life when they were vulnerable. Jimmy was five when his father took ill. Mom said Jimmy was five when he brought the demon through for the first time. Z tried to take advantage of Jimmy in a low point in his life. I thought of Jimmy as a child in a new home, with a sick father. It was a perfect storm for a child with his abilities. I found a new respect for Park Min for immediately trying to banish Z from her child’s life. I understood her concern for her son. He walked a fine line between our world and Z’s world, and it wouldn’t take much for Z to take over.

  Trisha finally left me alone. Realization of my predicament dawned on me. I couldn’t stop the ritual. My head tingled so bad that I barely focused, but I had no clue if someone tried to find me or how close they were. I paced with anticipation and fear.

  CHAPTER 22

  “It’s time!” Trisha bopped in my room.

  “Where’s Z?” I asked.

  “It’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding,” Trisha said. “He’s in the grand hall waiting for you.”

  “Trisha, wait,” I said.

  “Why?”

  “I’m afraid.”

  “Don’t be afraid,” Trisha soothed. “Z is the most amazing the creature you will ever meet.” She patted my head as I began to sob. “He’ll take care of you and his child. You can’t say that about most men.”

  “I don’t love him.”

  “You’ll grow to love him, in time. Z will stay with you for the rest of your life,” Trisha said. “Come on.” She took my hand and led me out of the room. We walked along a lengthy corridor to another door. When Trisha opened the second door, we were joined by three other people in red robes like mine. “I have to get my robe on,” Trisha said, giddy. She acted like we were friends and she was my maid of honor. It made me sick.

  The five of us walked down another long hallway until we entered another room. This building was some kind of empty office building. The room, at one time a conference room, had been decorated ornately. It gave me a religious feel, but the act about to happen was evil. Nine other people occupied in the room. They formed a semicircle. Z stood in the middle of the room in only a pair of pants. His bare chest heaved as I entered.

  Z attempted to appear attractive to me. Give it up beast! Although, the man, whose body Z stole, was attractive, I could only see him as a revolting monster. A makeshift altar sat in the middle. It looked like a sacrificial altar, draped in red satin. It didn’t look comfortable to have sex on. I shivered. As Trisha presented me to Z, I noticed the shackles on each end of our makeshift bed. I hoped they didn’t intend to shackle me to it. “Are those for me?” I asked.

  “Do you think you’ll need them?” Z asked. He aimed to sound gentle, but I could hear the demon reverberate in his voice. It scared me.

  “No,” I said. “I keep my promises, no matter how much I hate them.”

  “You’ll feel different after tonight,” Z said. “After the ritual I’ll be the only thing you care about.”

  “I’ll be brain washed,” I said.

  “It’s time to begin,” Felipe, the shaman, said.

  “Ready?” Z asked.

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “No, and you know the alternative.” I saw a gleam in Z’s eyes. He hoped I would bolt. He wanted to make it difficult on me.

  The vibration in my head became so strong I kept blinking. I prayed it was Jimmy with help. Felipe anointed my forehead, wrists and ankles with strong smelling oil. It smelled musky like sweat or urine. “What is that?” I asked

  “Pheromones,” Felipe answered. “You’ll see why.”

  Z began to smell me all over like an animal. The more he inhaled the more beastly he became. The group began to chant something. I didn’t know the language, but I thought it was Aramaic. The volume of the chant rose.

  The shaman removed my robe. I stood, naked and defenseless, in front of the cult of people. I watched Z. The more they chanted the more Z transformed. He snorted and howled as he convulsed and contorted in inhuman ways. I trembled with fear. When Z took me, he wouldn’t be a man. He would be the demon.

  The shaman pushed me down on the altar. He drew my arms above my head and began to bind me with the shackles. “I said I didn’t need the shackles!” I cried.

  “You’ll need them.” Felipe said, softly.

  “Please don’t.” I begged. “I can’t stand to be restrained like this.”

  “This is for you.” Felipe said. The Shaman ran his hands down my legs in a seductive way. He pulled my knees apart and anointed my nether region with the pheromones. Felipe locked my feet in shackles. This act sent Z into a frenzy. He stomped and paced around inside the circle. The group locked hands as a barrier to keep Z inside their sacred space. “Do you want me to blindfold you?” Felipe asked.

  “Please!” I couldn’t see any more of the ritual. Everything went black, but I could hear. Sedation would have been better.

  Z pounced on me. His body burned against mine. I screamed in fear. I fought against the restraints.

  “You have to wait,” Felipe said to Z. “Don’t enter her until I say.” Z only grunted in response. Z breathed hot and fowl in my face. I could feel his red hot poker of sex push against me in anticipation. Unbearable, the heat burned against my flesh. He hadn’t even entered and scorched me. I couldn’t imagine how painful the actual act would be.

  Felipe spoke in the unknown language. Z sunk his teeth into my shoulder. I let out a loud wail. Blood ran down my shoulder. He licked at the blood with a tongue that was not human. It felt rough like a cat’s tongue. How could these people watch this transformation and worship this beast? I couldn’t see him, but knew transformed.

  “Take her now.” Felipe announced. I felt Z’s hips pull back to force himself into me. I let out a scream.

  “Freeze!” A voice shouted. “You rape that girl and I’ll shoot you!” I knew the voice. I forced myself to recognize it. It’s Ben! Ben came to save me. I panicked. Z was close to pushing himself into me. I bucked against the shackles. Z drew up on me. He planned to rape me. My salvation came too late.

  Three shots rang out. Z’s body dropped on me. The body went cold in a second. Z left the pilfered body. The man was dead, but I heard Z close to my ear growling. I heard a scuffle of many people. Ben had backup. I couldn’t see what went on, but I could hear more gun fire and yelling. “Ben!” I screamed “help me!”

  The light blinded me when the blindfold came off. Then Ben came into focus. “Hold on, Cassie,” Ben said. “I’ve got you.” He yanked on the bindings. He freed my hands first and then my feet. I immediately pushed the lifeless man off of me. I sat up and saw my blood covered body. I began going into shock. I shook uncontrollably. “I need a medic over here!�
�� Ben shouted. “Are you hurt?”

  “I don’t know,” I sobbed. “There’s so much blood.” Ben picked me up and wrapped me in the satin altar.

  I heard a terrible noise in the corner of the room. I saw Z in his true demon form. He looked terrifying. I never saw a creature like it. He looked blackish-red in color. He had the legs of a beast, with claws for hands. His eyes were yellow cat’s eyes. I realized that only I could see Z.

  He began to charge Ben, but stopped short. A howl like a banshee came from the walls. I looked around. Shadows materialized. “Aziel” one of the shadows called. “You have betrayed your master.”

  Z backed away from the shadows. He hissed and growled at them. “Aziel, Lucifer has ordered your execution.” I alone saw the otherworld confrontation. The shadows seized Z. I watched as they ripped Z apart. I screamed and became inconsolable.

  “She’s in shock!” Ben called, as I watched my captor be torn to fleshy pieces. “Get the medics here, we’re losing her.”

  Emergency personnel surrounded me. Ben held me while they examined me. They poured ice cold alcohol all over my body. The cold caught my attention. I looked at Ben. “They have to pour alcohol on you to get the blood off. It kills any blood born pathogens.” Ben held me close to keep me warm. He vigorously rubbed my arms. I continued to shiver. “Did he…” Ben couldn’t say it. He wanted to know if Z raped me.

  “No,” I said.

  “Thank God.” Ben held me tight to him. I sobbed. “You’re going to be alright.”

  “How did you find me?” I asked

  “Jimmy,” Ben said. “He really is psychic, isn’t he?” I nodded. “He knew where they took you.”

  “Is Jimmy alright?” I asked. “I thought he was dead. Trisha Pennington stabbed him. I saw it.”

  “He got several stitches, but he’s alright.”

  “He’s here, waiting outside.”

  “I want to see him.”