Soulless

by Garr, Amber

  At the mention of my name, Dahlia glared across the lawn at me. Her nostrils flared and crimson heat flushed her porcelain cheeks. There was no denying the thoughts going through her mind. I’d have to watch my back from here on out.

  “I’ll partner with you,” another guy said to the distracted Dahlia. He must have been waiting for the perfect opportunity because his voice shook with nervousness.

  “Fine,” she snapped, without ever taking her eyes off me. “Come on.” Grabbing his hand, she pulled him far enough away to have their own space but close enough that she could keep an eye on me.

  Unbelievable.

  “You ready?” Jason’s voice startled me and I jumped. “I’m not that scary, am I?” His hand grazed my lower back as he directed me to the area that had just been the scene of Dahlia’s attempted seduction.

  Being this close to his bare skin did funny things to my nerves. An hour ago I was in the middle of kissing my tormented ex-boyfriend, and now, here I was, standing in front of Jason wondering how I could get him on the ground like Dahlia had.

  “Focus,” Charles said against my ear.

  “Ah!” I turned and swung a fist, making contact with the hand that blocked me.

  “Nice reflexes,” he joked. “I suggest you use them to your advantage.”

  “What?”

  He chuckled and dropped my hand. Walking past Jason, Charles slapped him on his shoulder. “She’s all yours.”

  “What?” I asked again, watching Jason smile.

  Annoyed, I waved my hand in front of me. “Feeling comfortable without the tunic, are we?”

  Jason puffed out his chest and flexed his arms. A little piece of me wilted in shame for how much I couldn’t tear my eyes away. “I figured since you always wear whatever you want, so could I.”

  “And you chose nakedness?”

  “Yep.”

  “Nice.” I rolled my eyes.

  “Really?”

  “Did you not see the eye roll? It’s called sarcasm.”

  “Huh,” he said. “Must have missed that.” He winked and I couldn’t help but grin. “What’s going on here, anyway?” He pointed to my boots and I groaned. Once again, I’d forgotten to change. Good thing none of the Elders were around.

  “It was cold.”

  “Well, it’s warm here,” he teased.

  I flashed a quick glance at Dahlia, thinking I could learn a thing or two from her. Evil eyes met mine and I got an idea. Turning back to Jason, I said, “It is warm out here, isn’t it?” My turtleneck, jeans, and boots disappeared, replaced with a tight little battle outfit in a matter of seconds. My light blue sports bra and close fitting Capri pants left nothing to the imagination. I caught another evil glare from Dahlia out of the corner of my eye. It looked like she wouldn’t defy the dress code as willingly as I.

  Being sure to expose as much skin as possible, I reached behind me and pulled my long hair back into a high ponytail. Jason’s expression never changed, but his gaze bore into me with every move I made.

  “There. How’s that?”

  “Perfect,” he said without hesitation.

  Someone cleared their throat, probably Charles, and Jason visibly shook himself to snap out of his trance. Score one for Nora.

  “Okay, were you watching before?” I nodded. “Good,” he said. “Now show me the defensive stance.”

  I spread my legs, one foot in front of the other, and held up my arms like a boxer. Jason shuffled closer, preparing to fight. “Okay, now stop me from attacking you.”

  He dodged to the side then snaked back in front of me, arm swinging. I lifted my forearm and prepared for the hit. It worked, and I blocked two more punches before Jason backed off. “Now what happens if I come at you from behind?”

  “What?”

  Too late. He’d moved so fast I couldn’t keep track. A second later his body slammed into my back, knocking my breath away and trapping my arms. Bare skin pressed against bare skin, and the electricity I’d started to feel earlier came back with a vengeance. My skin tingled with pins and needles where each warm piece of his flesh met mine. The lustful thoughts filling my head before almost disappeared before I realized he was using his healing abilities.

  “Jason, stop.” I whispered, but he didn’t let go. “They can’t know about you.”

  “What?” he asked, sounding confused, lost deep in thought.

  I looked down to see his hands giving off a faint light blue radiance. “You’re glowing.”

  He jumped back from me, and the peace of mind I felt was torn away. “Shit,” he mumbled. “I don’t know why I can’t control it around you.”

  A few of the Wardens had stopped fighting and were now paying attention to us. One angry, red headed female Warden in particular.

  “Let’s keep going,” I said. “Besides, we need to go see Sani when we’re finished.”

  He looked surprised. “I get to go with you?”

  I shrugged. “I think you should. We have a lot to talk about.”

  His eyes narrowed on me, brow creasing and jaw clenching. “Where did you go before?”

  “It’s not important now.” I lifted my hands in preparation. “Come on. Attack before Dahlia thinks you’re finished with me.”

  Jason started forward then stopped. Mischief glinted in his eyes and the dimples came out of their hiding place. “Do I sense a bit of jealously?”

  “No.”

  “I think I do.”

  He stalked around me, reminding me of the way Theron would pursue my souls in the shadows. At that memory, my stomach twisted with regret. Why had I kissed him? Why couldn’t I move forward with my life? This hold he had on me had to break at some point. And what better way to force that along than with a new focus.

  I looked at Jason and bit my bottom lip. Just like Dahlia had. “I’m not worried about her.”

  “Really?” he grinned.

  I nodded. “Let’s go.”

  With enough charm to flatter the best of them, Jason lunged forward. I dodged his first hit and took a swing of my own.

  He laughed. “You’re a dirty little street fighter, aren’t you?” Walking around me some more, I shuffled my feet to keep him in sight. “Where’d you learn that little trick?”

  “The streets.”

  “Seriously, where?”

  Ignoring his question, I beckoned him forward. “Come on. I’ll show you what else I learned.”

  “Game on,” he laughed and dodged to the side again. Only this time I didn’t move with him because the moment he ducked, I swear I caught a flash of something dark rushing behind the place he’d just stood. I dropped my arms at the same time his fist smacked into the side of my face.

  “Nora!”

  I heard him cry out as I fell to the ground. White hot pain rushed to my cheek, and for a moment I was stunned. Had a Soul Hunter just passed through our realm? Or was I seeing things?

  Did Jason just punch me in the face?

  “Oh my god, Nora. Are you okay? Why didn’t you move?”

  Jason tucked his arm underneath my waist and helped me up to a sitting position. With my legs lying out to the side, he squeezed in between them and sat on his knees. Everyone nearby had stopped fighting and now seemed to be enjoying my complete embarrassment.

  “Why didn’t you block me?” Jason’s hand rested against my cheek and I could already feel the healing. I caught his eyes and shook my head. But he didn’t stop. “What happened?”

  “I…I thought I saw something.” I noticed that I had the attention of everyone now. “But, it must have been a shadow.”

  Charles knelt down beside me and gave me a look that said he’d question me later. Turning to Jason, he added, “Take her home. I can finish up here.”

  “You sure?” Jason asked, but he was already helping me to my feet.

  “Yes.”

  “Thanks, man.”

  He slid his hand around my waist and started pushing me away from the crowd. I heard Charles clap loudly to ref
ocus the attention on him, discussing a new move he wanted everyone to learn. Once we made it out of hearing distance, Jason stopped and stepped in front of me.

  “Are you really okay?”

  I rubbed my cheek, surprised by how good it felt already. “Yeah, I’m all right.” Then I gave him a fake glare. “You punched me.”

  Chucking, he brushed a stray hair out of my face. “Well, we were in training.”

  “Yeah, but you didn’t have to hit so hard.”

  Leaning down, he kissed my injured cheek. “Stop being such a baby.” Hot breath scorched my skin and for a second I thought he was going to kiss me again. But he pulled away and clenched his jaw, as if fighting his own desperate needs. “Maybe we should go see Sani now.”

  I nodded and started walking back inside. Yes, seeing Sani would be great. As long as I left out the part about me kissing Theron.

  By the time we reached the old wooden doors leading to Sani’s room, my cheek felt completely healed. Jason certainly had an amazing touch.

  “You know,” he started, “we really need to learn how to fight in human form. A fist to the face hurts much more when we’re solid in that realm. And since the Hunters can’t come here, that’s where they’ll most likely attack.”

  He was right. Even though I feared I’d witnessed something dark trailing behind him earlier. But considering who I’d been with before that happened, I suppose it could have been a product of my imagination and the inner turmoil weaving through my mind, like a tapestry of guilt, confusion and desire.

  “It would be pretty dangerous having that many of us in one place. If the Hunters found out…”

  “But how would they?” He paused, rubbing his chin in thought. “We could do it at my family’s ranch.”

  “No, Jason—”

  “Not where they could see us,” he cut me off. “I know that wouldn’t be possible. But we have almost a thousand acres. And if we did it at night, no one should be out patrolling.”

  I sighed, not really liking the idea but not finding any fault with it either. “You’d have to get permission from the Elders.”

  He shrugged. “No problem. I’ll just ask Judith.”

  Sighing, I snickered to myself. “You think you can charm everyone into doing whatever you want, don’t you?”

  His arm tightened around my waist. “I know I can.”

  Turning my head away from the handsome man, I attempted to ignore the nagging feeling that he would look at me in a different light once he learned the truth about what I’d been doing. I had to tell Sani what Theron and I discussed. And Jason was a part of that conversation, whether I wanted him to be or not. I paused at the doors, wondering if I was ready to do this.

  “What’s wrong?” Jason asked.

  “Nothing,” I mumbled, then something caught my eye. “Your scar. It’s gone.” Running my fingers over his chest, I felt the slightly raised skin where his dark blue knife wound had been. But to someone who didn’t see the attack, they wouldn’t even know he’d ever been injured. The electricity pulsing between us intensified, so I dropped my hand. “Did you do that?”

  “Huh. I don’t know.” Looking at his chest, he shrugged. “I guess it’s a good thing though. Wouldn’t want people knowing our secret.” He winked as I turned away.

  Some of us have too many secrets right now, I thought, when I pushed through the doors.

  As expected, Sani stood in the middle of the room with all of his furniture still shoved against the walls. I wondered if he even slept, since the bed was covered with papers, clay pots, and lots of plant material. The familiar haze hung in the air and the sweet smell of incense comforted me.

  Jason’s eyes widened as he took in the room, his hand still pressing lightly against my back. “Cool,” he whispered.

  Sani cleared his throat. “Did I miss gym class?”

  Shocked by the fact that Sani had just made a joke, I didn’t even feel embarrassed about my clothes. …until I remembered Jason’s naked torso. “We were…we were just—”

  “Training, sir,” Jason finished. With no hesitation, he crossed the small space in three steps and extended his hand. “You must be Sani. I’m Jason.”

  Sani smiled and accepted his handshake. “Yes, I am aware of you.” His eyes hovered on the place where Jason’s scar once marked his body.

  Without missing a beat, Jason continued, “Are you living in here? Why didn’t you get one of those little cottages like we have?”

  I didn’t miss the ‘we’ in that statement. A little more than a week together and the two of us had already become ‘we’ in his mind.

  I think I liked that.

  Sani laughed, pulling me back from those thoughts, and lifted his arms. “This is good enough for me.” He bent forward and picked up his trademark pipe. After inhaling a long, slow breath, he blew the smoke into the air, his eyes still riveted on Jason. Why did Sani give him that courtesy when he usually blew it directly in my face? Maybe Jason really could charm everyone.

  “Did they forget to give you a full set of clothes?”

  Again, Sani joked, sounding almost…normal. It made me wonder exactly what was in that pipe. Jason laughed—a noise that filled the room and tickled my soul. “Good one,” he said.

  “I assume you are here for a reason?” Sani stated, focusing on me.

  I stepped closer and swallowed my nerves. “I was told that you could help me.” Silence filled the air, so eventually I continued. Sucking in a deep breath, I let the words rush out in a hot mess. “Theron said you’d have the answers I need.”

  “Theron?” Jason shouted. “What? When did you see him?”

  Sani didn’t move, but I caught the surprised look on his face.

  “A little while ago,” I said as nonchalantly as I could. Jason’s brown eyes flickered with concern and something else far more volatile. “When I went to the living realm to think—”

  “You what?” Jason grabbed my shoulders and forced me to face him. “Are you crazy? Rollin told us not to go out alone. He could have killed you!”

  I shook my head. “He wouldn’t—”

  “Yes, he would, Nora. Jesus!” He stepped away from me, flexing his fists and clenching his jaw. “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have gone with you.”

  “I needed some time alone.”

  “Alone with him?”

  My heart dropped to the floor as the heavy weight of guilt pressed down on my shoulders. “No,” I whispered.

  “No?” Jason scoffed.

  “No! It wasn’t planned. I didn’t expect him to be there, but I’m glad he was!”

  The look on Jason’s face crushed me. Pain clung to his pinched forehead, and his lips parted with unspoken thoughts. I bit my lip and faced Sani.

  “I’m glad I talked to him because he told me that you could explain some of this.”

  Sani still hadn’t moved, despite Jason’s pacing that practically carved out a trench directly in front of him. That repetitive movement annoyed me just as much as Theron’s had, and I almost yelled at him to stop. But Sani spoke first.

  “I see.”

  “What?” Jason jerked around to look at him. “You’re not going to yell at her? She’s your ward and she could have been killed!”

  “Theron would not harm her,” Sani said, his eyes never leaving mine. Jason groaned at that response.

  “See. I told you,” I said softly, although I probably should have bit my tongue.

  “Really, Nora?” Jason stepped in front of me, blocking my view of Sani. Anger vibrated from his core. “That’s what you have to say for yourself?”

  I looked up at his furious eyes. “It wasn’t planned. I swear.”

  His face softened, but his muscles still tensed with emotions that seemed a little extreme. Stiffening his back, he shook his head.

  “You think I’m overreacting?” he asked, angry again.

  “No, I didn’t say—”

  He pointed to his head. “I heard that, Nora. And after what
we just went through, I certainly do not believe I am overreacting!”

  Confused, I played back his words. “You heard my thoughts just now?”

  “Guess it works both ways,” he snapped.

  Sani finally moved, placing his hand on Jason’s shoulder. I was thankful for his distraction because I didn’t want Jason to see the tears about to break free. “I think it is time for me to tell you a story.”

  “A story?” I asked, quickly wiping my face.

  “I’m not in the mood for stories,” Jason mumbled.

  “Come,” Sani commanded. He pointed to a spot on the floor and walked to the edge of the room. “Sit.”

  We obeyed. Jason chose a place far enough away so we didn’t touch. I hated that, and had to squeeze my eyes shut a few times so I wouldn’t cry.

  Sani sorted through the objects on his bed for several minutes, coming back to the floor with a handful of red feathers and several sticks bound together in a bunch. I watched him intently, partly out of curiosity and partly so I wouldn’t be tempted to look at Jason.

  After settling on the floor, Sani lit the sticks with a match. He blew on the small blaze, enticing the flames to grow. Using a feather to fan the smoke, he began chanting in a low monotone note. While watching him rock back and forth, I marveled at how beautiful the song sounded to my ears. Familiarity mixed with a sense of belonging fluttered through my being, like butterflies dancing across my flesh. I closed my eyes and imagined my ancestors moving to the beat and welcoming me to their side. Without looking, I knew they were there, drifting in the background and waiting to be called forward.

  “Nora?” Sani asked. I hadn’t noticed he’d stopped chanting. “Do you remember the day you died?”

  “No. Not really.” I spared a quick glance at Jason. His pain was evident in the tight line of his mouth, as he looked at me with pity. I swallowed a lump and turned back to Sani. “I don’t remember seeing my light,” I whispered.

  Sani nodded and stood. “That is what I thought,” he said, bending down low enough to grab one of the smoldering sticks. He moved toward me, slowly and methodically swinging the smoke in all different directions. “We shall start there.”