My Soul to Take (Soul Keepers (Young Adult paranormal romance))

by Melissa Solis

  I see her out a while later, and thank her for coming all the way over. She gives me a couple of pills for the flight there and back to help me get through it. I hate flying.

  Sam's on his way over to bring me to the airport. I double check all the locks and windows and plop on the sofa to wait, still muttering to myself at Dr. Kennedy's inane suggestions. “I give full permission to enter my dreams, often and repeatedly.” I throw my legs over the arm of the sofa and wiggle my Keds in the air as the fog encompasses my world again.

  I'm in a hot tub? No, more nature, less concrete. I'm warm, tiny bubbles run along my skin. It feels like I'm being touched all over at once. I feel like melted butter in a hot pan, sizzling with delicious vibrations. I see the dark haired man and my body seizes with anticipation. The scene that plays before me has me twisted with good feelings. My stomach is tied in knots. I don't know who this guy is, but he sure can kiss. This water is so warm and I feel like a pot set to a boil on the stove, getting hotter and hotter. Why was I trying to get these visions to stop?

  The doorbell rings nearly sending me flying to the floor in shock. Sam. I answer the door sounding a little breathless and I turn from him in a hurry.

  “You okay babe? You're all red faced.”

  “Yeah, I'm fine I just kept forgetting things upstairs.” Sam doesn't ask any more questions, he just takes my bags to his truck. Suddenly I feel guilty about the fantasy world I've been escaping too. He would be so hurt if he knew. In the cab of his truck, Sam pulls me closer to him. I kiss his cheek and he turns his head and kisses me with a long drawn out escapade. The feeling lingers ineffably, long after his lips leave mine. I gather it's something to remember him by.

  “Mm, that makes me want to sneak you to New York.”

  “I'm a licensed pilot, I could just meet you up there.”

  “You know I worry when you fly.”

  “I know you worry, and that's why I love you.” I hope he's not really thinking about going. I would love to have him all to myself for a week, but the thought of him in a tiny, twin engine plane is enough to give me nightmares tonight. I think the threat of us being separated in a few short months has us both desperate for more alone time. I swallow the pill Dr. Kennedy gave me when we pull up to the unloading zone.

  Sam's playful expression turns to one of concern, always the caretaker. “Will you be okay?”

  “Only if you promise to keep both feet on the ground. I don't need anything else to worry about.”

  “I'll miss you. I love you.”

  “Me too and I love you.” Caitlyn and Natasha are just inside the doors waiting for me. I give Sam a chaste kiss and he hugs me like he may not let me go, ever. It feels good to be this loved.

  There are eight girls in our league and Mr. Potter is chaperoning us with two other mothers. The girls I'm rooming with are very quiet and shy. I assigned all of the bitchy girls in the other room. They can have a ball making snarky comments about our competitors all week long.

  Natasha, Taylor and Caitlyn are all in my room. Upon our plane touching down, I finally release the arm rests from my grip. The vision of my childhood plane crash has been on repeat since we hit turbulence an hour ago. I even chanted Dr. Kennedy's mantra to no avail. Bouncing around the restroom with my dark haired stranger for the past sixty minutes has been fun. Something in my brain clicks to that last thought. It couldn't possibly be the same faceless person in my lust filled fantasies. That makes no sense.

  “Brennen, come on what are you waiting on.” Taylor's voice registers in my brain and I finally connect it to her face. She stands at the end of our row looking bewildered at me. I swallow hard and follow her out to the jet way.

  Natasha is a petite Asian girl with long dark hair straight as a satin ribbon. Her wire rimmed glasses make her look much more intelligent than she actually is, but God bless her, she tries really hard. Taylor is short and spunky but has only just begun to come out of her shell, she's a senior but is often mistaken for someone still in junior high. Caitlyn has long ringlets of dark hair that shows off her caramel skin. She's my go to person when we need a brilliant strategy organized to the point of OCD. I fit in just right in this band of misfits with my sporadic new lapses into worlds that are neither here nor there. Alright so maybe it doesn't even come close.

  Mr. Potter checks us into a very nice sleek and modern hotel. The bake sale had been very profitable this year, affording us a posh stay with views of central park. I only had to bake four hundred batches of baklava to get us here. But soaking up the ambience of New York in the middle of one of its finest hotels, makes it worth every bit of it.

  The thought of baking induces another vision. I find a seat in one of the nearest chairs in the lobby just before the white mist clouds over my view of this room and all of its people. The soft murmur of voices is gone and I'm back in my house watching the dark haired man eating a slice of strawberry cheesecake. I rub my temples, why does this keep happening? I'm transported to another kitchen different baked good. My heart is racing and I don't know why.

  The vision is short and Mr. Potter hands me a room key and he and the moms recite the rules while we pretend to listen. In my room I fish a spiral from my suitcase and tell the girls I'm going to go work out. Instead I find a quiet bench in Central park. I recall all of the details from every vision I've been having no matter how small. All of these words are small pieces of some thousand piece puzzle. If I can just find the edges, the corners maybe I can fill in the bigger picture.

  The strange sounds of this city are like white noise to my thoughts, and I can actually think clearly right now. It's actually kind of pretty here. Nonetheless, I don't think I could ever replace the sound of my waves with the horns of taxi cabs and sirens wailing in the distance.

  Journal of EM May 5th 2013

  I can't believe Brennen would venture out alone in this city and so close to night time. She wouldn't have been so fearless if she still had all of her memories. I read every word she writes with a smile that never leaves my face. It's all coming back to her but she has no idea what to make of the memories. Elena could have told her the truth instead of letting her rack her brain over this. She chastised me like I was the one responsible for her visions.

  I wish I could take such credit. But no, Brennen is getting her memory back all on her own. She's been spotted by an evil one, a man that looks as brawny as Will and I'm itching for a good fight but he's in her realm and I can't be. I'll have to find another way to get rid of him. He's moving through the park at a good pace for his size. I try and whisper in her ear to leave, it's not safe here. She doesn't hear me as easily as she used to anymore.

  He's getting closer, zeroed in on her, paying no mind that I'm here guarding her. He's careless. I spot a very large Rottweiler, a stray wandering the park, which may do the trick. I produce a very tasty cut of beef and toss it to him, instantly becoming his best friend. I tell him exactly what I need. His eyes shift to the demon and fill with rage. He takes off like a freight train, unstoppable, a solid mass of quivering muscle. He lunges while snarling and growling, landing with instinctive accuracy and sinking his jaw down into the demon's throat.

  Brennen is only twenty yards away or so. She looks up to see what the commotion was just as the demon disintegrates into thin air. The Rotti licks his chops like he enjoyed that even more than the beef. I think I'll keep him around for the duration of this trip. He seems to have an affinity for this. He comes trotting back up to me as if to ask, “What next boss?” I toss him another bite. He's loyal. He has no collar and he's a little thin. I place my hands on him and check his health. I destroy the heartworms that have infested his heart and heal the damage they’ve caused. He must be a stray. He’s a clever fellow, to be able to avoid being snatched up by animal control all this time.

  “You’re going to need a name if you want to stick around.” He lets out a woof of approval. “How about Bear?” He snorts out his nose and shakes his head. “I take that as a no. Well if you ca
n help me keep her safe you can earn the name Brutus.” He licks the back of my hand like he promises to do anything I ask of him. “Do you see the girl? We have to keep her safe Brutus. Got it?” He lets out a deep woof. ~

  The streetlamps come on in the park and I take up my spiral and walk back to my hotel. I've heard this park gets dangerous at night. I call Sam on my way and let him know I'm safe and sound. Just hearing his voice makes me feel better. The street is crowded. I've never seen anything like it. Buildings rise out of the concrete, glass and steel mountains, dwarfing the people to mere ants on the street.

  Something warm and wet licks my head. I jump when I see a large black and tan dog pacing by my side like I'm its long lost owner. “Shoo dog.” But it follows me all the way to the hotel. Great I've picked up a stray. The doorman opens the lobby door and the dog follows me inside. “Hey, no! Bad dog go home.” He sits down and whimpers.

  “Miss is this your dog?”

  “No.” The doorman makes a step toward the dog to grab its collar and the dog lets out a ferocious growl and nearly takes the man’s hand off. The big bear of a dog then sits by my side again looking up at me with the saddest brown eyes that would even put Sam's to shame. I let out a sigh.

  “Well I can't have a dog, I'm sorry but you'll have to go find another gullible girl to befriend.” I lead the dog outside and buy it a hotdog from the vendor nearby. “Okay, sorry pup. You're really cute but I live far away or I'd take you home.” I stroke his soft head, Give him the hotdog, and sneak inside while he devours it.

  My three roommates are all sitting on one bed apparently playing truth or dare. They try and get me to join in. Normally I would enjoy a friendly game of embarrassment but my mind is still on my notebook filled with scenes from a harlequin romance novel. I tuck it deep inside my suitcase and change my clothes for our welcome dinner.

  I hand each of them an itinerary and head next door to give the rest of the team the information. They’re already dressed to the nines and ready for dinner.

  I slip back into my room. “We have to leave in ten minutes for dinner will ya'll be ready in time?” They all scramble. I hope my whole trip isn't spent keeping them on point. I call a couple of taxis while I wait. Our dinner party is our regional members. I booked us a private room at a Tapas restaurant that's only a few miles from our hotel.

  Our group moves outside to the curb to wait for the cab. I feel the lick on my hand again. “You again.”

  “Brennen you didn't say we could bring dates,” Hannah, bitchy girl number, one chides. The dog sits beside me trying awfully hard to look well behaved and respectable.

  “Dog, go bother someone else,” I whisper. He lets out a whining sound that almost sounds like he's talking. The cabs pull up and we climb inside. I get in last and watch the dog's worried look as I pull away. I tug down my pencil skirt to cover more of my legs as the cab driver's eyes keep drifting to the back seat. My crisp white shirt is slim fitting. All business attire this week except for the awards ceremony on the last day, then it's dressier, I brought a bronze cocktail dress that made Sam drool when he helped me pick it out.

  Traffic is horrendous in this city and when we finally make it to the restaurant we are about thirty minutes late. The familiar black and tan dog eagerly waits for me on the sidewalk. What in the world? We drove at least three miles. How did he keep up? I feel bad for him. I wonder why he keeps following me. Maybe I look like his previous owner or smell like her.

  “Stay.” I tell him as I go inside. He's still waiting when I leave and then again back at the hotel. “Guys, I don't know why this dog keeps following me.” Maybe because I fed him earlier, I shouldn’t have done that. If he's still here tomorrow I'll take him to the shelter before we have to go to the convention.

  The next morning after breakfast. I walk out to the street and I don't see him, thank goodness. After my speech I slip outside for some fresh air. This trip will be long and tedious and I wish I was back home snuggled up with Sam watching a good movie. I’ve at least an hour before I’m missed, so I take my spiral back to the park to see if I can come up with anything. This city is so big I feel like I could disappear in it no one would ever find me.

  I spot a Starbucks down the way and decide I need some caffeine to make it through the rest of this day. While waiting at the crosswalk the dog happily rubs up against my pants suit. Smattering my white pants with black tufts of hair. “Hey dog, that’s not cool. Go away.” He’s panting hard like he’s been running the streets all morning. I get him a cup of water inside the coffee shop and I take a seat in their patio area. He laps up the cup of water eagerly and lies down at my feet. His eyes take a look at each and every person that passes by as if he’s on high alert.

  I’ve grouped the visions by locations to try and figure out what they have in common. Maybe I gained some weird telepathic ability like on that show I watched last week. It could be a vision of my future. Obviously I've failed to meet Mr. Tall Dark Handsome-Blur yet. What if Sam is not the man of my real dreams? The idea that Sam and I will most likely part ways eventually, sends me into panic mode. I take my phone out and dial him, but I only get his voicemail.

  The dog at my feet, emits a low growl. I look under the table at him and the hair on his neck is sticking straight up. I turn to see what his amber eyes are fixed on. A very well dressed man with dark hair and expensive shoes walks toward me stopping just before he gets to my table. The dog's growl gets fiercer and I'm scared he's about to snap at this guy. “Sorry, it's not my dog.” I glance down at his shoes again and my stomach takes an ugly turn all of a sudden. A cold chill runs down my arms giving me goose bumps. My mouth has gone dry and I look up at the stranger feeling unexpectedly uneasy about him despite his kind smile and overall gentle approach.

  The man simply smiles and points a finger at the dog. As if he had commanded it, the pooch goes silent, but crouches down as if it's scared.

  “May I? There aren't any more seats left.”

  “Sure, I was just leaving anyway.”

  “Were you Brennen? Pity, I thought we could catch up.”

  “How do you know my name?” He sits in the opposite chair and studies me, tapping his jaw with a long slender finger.

  “Interesting.” This guy is giving me the creeps. I spot a uniformed police officer nearby and gather my things to get the heck away from this weirdo. “Sit,” he says and my legs give way and I end up falling into the chair. “Stay and chat with me.” I swallow hard.

  “Who are you?” Could it be the man from my dreams? I think he looks much too pale to be him. Plus he’s alarmingly odd.

  “They've completely wiped your memories. Fascinating. Well allow me to introduce myself again, Malphas.” He holds out his hand for me to shake, his smile growing as I do.

  “We've never met. And what are you talking about?” He glances around nervously like he were about to reveal classified information.

  “Do you remember Elijah?”

  “Who?” Maybe he is a friend of a friend? Maybe he has me confused with someone else. This is a big city after all. The dog writhes under the table, pawing at its mouth like it's trying to rub its face off, but still being quiet.

  “I can give you your memories back if you like.”

  “Look Mister, I think you have the wrong person. I've got to go back to my friends. They'll be worried.”

  “Ta-ta Brennen, but know this. Your life used to be completely different. If you ever want to learn the truth just say my name and I'll be there.”

  Okaaay, like you can just pop up like a genie from the lamp. New York is full of crazy people, I guess I was bound to run into one sooner or later. I walk away leaving the man sipping on his coffee cup. The dog cries out like the man just sliced off its toe or something and hightails it out from under the table at full speed. He whimpers and whines all the way back to me. The man just shrugs his shoulders like he doesn't know what the dog’s deal is.

  When I get back to the hotel, I stop in the lobby
and write down all of the weird things the guy was talking about. The stray sits outside the window watching me like he was a stalker. Even the dogs in New York are insane.

  Back at the conference, all I keep wondering is how the man knew my name. I paid cash for my drink and they didn't take my name for the cup. I'm not wearing a name tag. I try and focus on the meet and listen but my thoughts keep drifting off. Malfas, is that what he said his name was. What an odd name. I Google it, and it corrects my spelling to: did you mean Malphas? So I click on the Wiki link and read about a mythological creature of hell. My day just keeps getting stranger. I stare at my notes until the words just look like spider webs stringing together. Memories, future, the words keep blinking back and forth like a railroad crossing. I miss the comforts of home and Sam. God do I miss Sam. He’s at school now, probably about to join Emily for lunch under our tree. I wish I’d never come to this God forsaken place.

  What if this guy wasn't crazy? He really looked like he knew me, and knew me well. What if these are my own memories. He said they've wiped my memories. Who is the “they” he is referring to? He said we'd met before. He mentioned Elijah, what if that's the name of the DHS (dark haired stranger)? I cross out DHS in my notes and replace it with the name Elijah and read through it again.

  It doesn't jog any memories, if that's what these even are. I feel antsy. I check my watch for the tenth time in fifteen minutes. The key note speaker is hard to follow this year and has a droning voice that I try and tune out every chance I get. Our team sits at a large round banquet table nibbling on light refreshments of punch and fruit, cheese and crackers. Two of the girls keep whispering back and forth and it’s grating on my nerves.

  Finally we get to break into our councils and begin. I can’t focus like this. I excuse myself and go to the restroom to splash some water on my face. When I return I’m still a jumbled up mess. As I start on the first of my three key points I keep having to go back and correct myself. These mistakes will lose our school any chance of an award this year. I’m angry by the time I finish, though I try and remain professional.