True Connection (The Soul Mate Series)

by Walter, Rachel

  ‘Already on it,’ he answers.

  The two devuxen circle me. Not good, I don’t know which one to focus on. These two had training, they had to have. Their moves and the wickedness on their faces temporarily root me to the floor.

  The shorter one makes the first move, but luckily I thaw and deflect his hit, and throw a punch of my own. But he blocks me. Shuffling behind me pulls my attention away from the short one. I quickly duck and sidestep, sending the taller one into the shorter one. I release the breath I’ve been holding and hear a door busting, not the door to this room, unfortunately.

  The taller one notices my attention on something else and attacks me. In a moment of panic, I throw both my arms out and end up slashing the shorter one in the face.

  The man screams and swears at me. And agonizingly slower than Derik, he releases smoke and light before collapsing in the same lifeless fashion.

  I just watch it all in slow motion.

  Completely forgetting where I am, what I’m doing, and nearly forgetting who I am.

  All I see is this strange man falling to a lifeless heap. Does he have family? Children? Siblings? Who did I hurt by taking this life?

  Cold hands grab hold of me, smashing my back into a freezing wall of flesh, yanking my arm towards my throat. I scream at the top of my lungs, realizing that the enchanted blade of Avan’s dagger is descending towards my throat.

  Seth screams in my mind as my vision becomes spotty.

  Glass breaks, among the debris flying around, two giant birds burst into the room, commanding attention, respect, and authority.

  I don’t think I’ve ever been happier to see birds in my whole life.

  In mid-flight, the bird’s forms begin to shimmer, shift, and change, until Kass and Chase are visible and completely pissed off. The devux shoves me aside and engages in a hand to hand with both the Aerials. I fix my grip on the dagger and crawl past them as quietly and quickly as I can. When I’m clear, I jump to my feet and run for the door.

  I pass through the door that the attackers came in through, and see Dax, the creepy voiced devux, in a fight with Barry’s wolf. I simultaneously panic and smile before slinking away to get to the main hall that I came in through. I twist the last doorknob blocking my path, and a cold hand grabs my arm, yanking me through a hidden door. I scream, and another hand covers my mouth. ‘Seth!’ I shout through our bond as I get slammed into a chair, knocking the wind right out of me.

  The devux moves so fast I can’t see his face as he ties me to the chair and slaps a piece of tape over my mouth. He grabs my dagger and lobs it over his shoulder, where it lands in the wall, down to the hilt. As he walks behind the chair, I notice he left my legs untied. I’ll kick him when he’s close enough.

  But then what’ll I do?

  I’ve got no weapon and I’m stuck to this damn chair!

  Idiot! You’re screwed! I think to myself. A kick isn’t going to hurt a devux for long, if at all.

  He finally stands in front of me. He’s an older man, graying hair, black eyes, and wide beak-like nose. “You’ll pay for what you took from me.” He sounds like a chain smoker, without a cough. “Don’t worry. I’ll be quicker than Derik.”

  My scream comes out a muffled whimper as the man inches towards me. He leans in close to the side of my face and uses a hand to move my hair. I don’t want him to touch me. I thrash in the chair as much as I can. ‘Seth, help me!’

  “Don’t worry, you won’t feel a thing,” he mutters unconvincingly. I ignore him and continue to thrash.

  “I’m not turnin’ you, idiot girl!” He hollers in my ear and raises a hand as if to hit me. I squeeze my eyes shut and brace myself for the pain.

  “You killed my son,” he says, and my eyes pop open in surprise. “Now it’s your turn to die,” he says, spraying my face with spittle. His eyes are nearly glowing, rage marring his features. Twisting them and turning them into an evil mask of hate. Tears leak from my eyes and leave a hot trail down my cheeks. I have so much left to do, and so much unsaid. This can’t end now. But I deserve this fate.

  The door bursts open. Seth enters the room and for a moment, he looks like an angel, before the wings behind him shimmer and fade, and Caine emerges. Derik’s father swings at Seth, and my heart leaps into my throat. Caine snatches the dagger from the wall with ease. He cuts the ropes to free me and tosses Seth the knife. Then he peels the tape from my mouth, luckily it’s not duct tape or else it would’ve hurt as much as waxing.

  Caine pulls me out of the room. I want to go with him, I do. But something won’t let me leave, and that something is my soul mate, who is now six feet away fighting the man who just lost his son. Caine tugs me again. I stumble sideways but refuse to leave, watching a fight that’s moving too fast for my human eyes to catch every move.

  “He’ll be fine,” Caine says hoisting me on his shoulder, minding my injured ribs. We pass through another room, and I watch as wolves and amaranthine fight off members of the clan. It almost reminds me of a playground, jumping, ducking, running, rolling and laughing. But what reminds me that it’s not a playground, is that it’s a demon’s funhouse, the blood, swearing, and the putrid odor of the light and smoke as another devux falls.

  Movement on my left catches my attention, Cory and Steve sneak up behind one of the wolves, and I scream out in an effort to warn the protector. Caine shifts me into a cradling position and presses my face into his chest. When he releases me, we’re in the front room. He sits me on an overturned desk and begins to check me over.

  I brush his hands away and take as deep a breath I can. “I’m f-fine,” I stutter, and he raises a brow, giving him that intimidating look from earlier today. I look to my lap, hiding from his gaze.

  “This was too easy,” he says distractedly.

  My eyes snap to his as I worry a hole in my borrowed pants. “What do you mean?”

  “They seem to be going down like they haven’t fed properly in years. I don’t know what’s going on,” he frowns.

  “I wouldn’t know. I’m not experienced in this department,” I say and look away from him again.

  “You did fine,” he nudges my arm. “You should train more, but I’m hoping you won’t have use for it,” he says glaring towards the door we just exited. “This kind of stuff doesn’t always happen, but it’s good to be prepared.”

  “Thanks, I think,” I nod.

  His eyes come back to mine. “Your brother is a good fighter. He needs to bulk up a bit, but he’s good, nonetheless.”

  My eyes go wide. “How would you know?” My chest tightens as worry and fear constricts around my heart like a boa constrictor. Henry better not be here!

  “He’s in there,” he says and throws a thumb towards the door. “Don’t worry, he’s fine, he’s holding his own,” he shrugs.

  My stomach rolls and churns, stirring up unwanted acid. “Why isn’t he with our mom?” I whisper.

  “From what I understand, your mom sent him to find you,” he shrugs.

  I can’t. I just can’t deal with the thoughts. So I change gears, “Is the whole clan in there?”

  He shakes his head. “I don’t think so. And if it is, it’s a very small one.”

  I nod in response but before I can say anything else, a wolf comes straight over to us, and nuzzles my hair.

  Caine smiles, and I watch him watch the wolf. His expression changes to grimace before nodding. “Tony says Derik’s father escaped and that Seth is helping Barry finish off the ones that didn’t run. Athan is sending over a team for cleaning up. And Tony said to tell you…” he pauses and stares at Tony. “I will not say that,” he glares at Tony. The wolf’s chest rumbles against my hand and a strange bark came out of his muzzle.

  “Has anyone heard from Avan?” I ask.

  Tony shakes his head back and forth. I look over to Caine.

  He shakes his head slightly, too. “Not that I’ve heard.”

  I hope Avan is okay. Rhenata is his sister, but she’s evil.

/>   I feel Seth before I actually see him. I run over to him as he enters and throw my arms around his middle. I’m so thankful he’s okay, my eyes well up again.

  He chuckles lightly. “It’s time for us to go.”

  I put the brakes on and back away from him. “Are you okay? You’re not hurt at all, are you?” I tug his hands away from my sides and inspect the visible skin before looking up to his handsome face.

  “I’m fine,” he smiles. “Let’s get you home.” He leans down and kisses my forehead.

  Tony rubs against my side before heading back toward the carnage.

  “I’ll follow you,” Caine says and gets up from his crouch.

  “Thank you.” Seth tells him and shakes his hand.

  Caine nods and runs out the door.

  I smile to Seth, and let him tug me towards the exit. Part of me wants to stay to make sure Henry gets out of here okay, but I don’t think I’m allowed to.

  By the time Seth and I walk out the door, there’s a hawk waiting just ahead.

  I smile as I watch him take flight into the evening sky.

  Chapter 24

  Fight Night

  “How are we getting home?” I ask Seth, as we walk hand in hand down the sidewalk.

  “We’re walking to the lot and then waiting on your brother,” he tells me and looks up to the sky. I follow his line of sight and see Caine as a hawk above us. “I know you think you did something wrong back there.”

  I swallow the lump in my throat. “Seth, don’t,” I say and squeeze his hand. “Not yet.”

  He squeezes my fingers and lets me have the peace, even if it’s just for a moment. It’s nice to breathe and not have to think. When I’m with him, this is how it is. I don’t have to think of the shit that surrounds me. I just focus on the tingles he sparks on my skin and my mind clears. I know I should think about it, I just can’t.

  ‘I know,’ he whispers in my mind. ‘For what it’s worth, I’m proud of you.’

  “So, Derik’s dad,” I swallow the new lump forming in my throat. “He got away?”

  He nods once. “I’m not really sure how it happened,” he pauses and looks back up to Caine. “I don’t know. The fight was fast. I’m no expert fighter, but I should’ve been able to get him immobilized.” He shakes his head in confusion. “I can’t pinpoint what it was, but he’s different somehow.”

  “What do you mean different?” I frown.

  He shrugs a shoulder as we cross the street to the lot. “I don’t know. He was faster than I thought he’d be and that knife did nothing to him,” he explains.

  I raise a brow at his words. “How’s that even…”

  “We gotta go!” Caine yells, appearing in human form out of nowhere.

  “What?” I scream, startled, as Seth pulls me towards Fane’s Expedition.

  “Bo sent the distress. He and Avan need help, now!”

  “Oh, my god!” I release Seth’s hand and run for the back door. Caine starts the engine and no sooner does Seth close the passenger door, the Expedition is spitting gravel.

  “Jazzy, this is extremely important. You do not leave that seat for whatever reason,” Caine shouts to the review mirror, eyes turning into that icy steel again.

  I shiver. “Okay.”

  “That’s it?” He asks in disbelief. “You won’t fight me on this? You understand the importance of your safety and you’re not in fact working out some stupid plan to get yourself killed?”

  Seth snorts, and I shoot him a dirty look. “I promise Caine. Rhenata is out of my league. I don’t want to be near her, but I need to know Avan and Bo are okay. And I’ll be damned if you two leave my sight while she’s running rampant!”

  Caine rolls his eyes. It’s only a second, but it’s still a glimpse into who he is as a person. He might have all this intimidation going on, but he’s still a person. And he’s a person that I care about. I’m not sure why, considering he still scares the crap out of me.

  ‘He’s a good guy,’ Seth agrees.

  “Jasmine, I don’t think you understand. I’m not leaving this car anywhere near where they’re fighting. It’s too dangerous.”

  “Caine, I swear to everything you’ve taught me. If you leave me miles from where you’re going, I will catch you, pluck your pretty little feathers, and cook you like a Thanksgiving feast,” I threaten.

  He snorts. “I’d like to see you try. Don’t make me call Charlotte to seal the doors. Fane wouldn’t appreciate it,” he mutters as he speeds down the highway.

  “I’ll stay out of the way, I’ll stay hidden. I just want to see,” I beg.

  Caine looks to Seth for help, and they frown at each other. “Dammit,” Caine growls and slams his fist on the steering wheel.

  ***

  A fireball whizzes past the window.

  “How is all this going unnoticed?” I ask in complete shock. We’re in downtown Lupiterra and people are walking and driving by like nothing’s going on. I don’t see how it’s possible.

  “That’s what Charlotte’s taking care of,” Caine says and points to the left. I twist around to see Charlotte sitting Indian-Style on top of a tow truck along the street. “Magic.”

  “Weird,” I mutter. I can’t see Avan or Rhenata anywhere. I see the random fireball, light streak, and whatever else, but I don’t see them. Caine parks behind a Hummer and cuts the engine.

  “Seth, ready?”

  He nods. “Let’s do this,” he says, and turns around in the seat to face me. “If anything happens down here, just let me know.” He leans forward and kisses my forehead before jumping out and following Caine.

  I watch in amazement as Caine takes the form of his Firebird, a brilliant orange, gold, and completely huge bird. Seth hops on his back and then Caine flaps his large wings. They fly up, to the roof of the several story high buildings and vanish.

  “Well, this is just dandy,” I mutter to myself. “You’ll be able to see it, he said. Sure I will.”

  ‘It’s okay Goldilocks. You’ll have front row seats in a minute.’ Seth laughs in my head. What the hell does that mean?

  I look out the window and up as far as I can see. There’s nothing. Just the damn ledge of the roofs. I growl and look out the windshield. Why couldn’t I have gone up with them? Oh, right, Rhenata would likely kill me.

  Something red falls into the roof of the Hummer in front of me. It only takes a minute for me to see that it’s Rhenata. She slowly stands, rigidly. Her mouth opens and a loud screech blasts my ears.

  ‘Duck!’ Seth and Caine scream into my mind. I’m completely confused how I can hear Caine, but I do as I say and put my head between my legs. The windows of the Expedition shatter over me. I scream.

  “You can’t end me Avan!” Rhenata laughs maniacally. I crouch to the floor behind the driver’s seat. She can’t know I’m here. Caine will kick my ass.

  I hear a thump on top of the Expedition and clamp my teeth on my tongue to stop my scream.

  ‘It’s Avan,’ Seth informs me. It makes me feel somewhat better, but also panics me more knowing that I’m literally sitting in the middle of a magical demonic fight.

  “You need to be put to rest, and you belong sitting beside Hades,” Avan screams. Footsteps jostle the vehicle and suddenly it feels like an explosion.

  ‘Jazzy! Jazzy!’ Seth screams in my mind.

  ‘What?’

  ‘You’re okay!’ he shouts, panicked.

  ‘Why wouldn’t I be?’ I ask confused.

  ‘Because Rhenata just bombed the Expedition!’

  This has to be a joke. I lift my head and see that I’m sitting next to Charlotte on the roof of the tow truck. She’s got her eyes closed but she’s chanting something intelligible.

  ‘I’m with Charlotte on the tow truck,’ I tell him and look around to see Fane’s Expedition up-side-down in the middle of the road. I have no idea what the drivers see, but it’s obviously not the torched Expedition.

  I find the Hummer, completely unharmed, but Avan and
Rhenata are in a fist fight on top of it. I watch in horror as Rhenata forms a blade of some sort in her hand and it flies towards Avan’s head.

  My scream is paused by a hand. “Don’t, you’ll draw attention to yourself and Charlotte,” Bo says. I nod slowly and look at him. He immediately blushes and ducks his head.

  My eyes fly back to the fight and I see Seth jump off the roof of the Hummer. My heart stutters and my mouth goes dry. What is he doing so close to them?!

  Rhenata turns on her heel and points a finger at him. Seth freezes mid-step. I stand and prepare to lunge off the roof, but two hands grab me. Avan swings his arm and blood flies. Seth drops to the grassy patch below his feet. I scream at the top of my lungs and search our bond.

  “He’s fine,” a voice I can’t place says.

  ‘Seth!’ I shriek. I feel pain, his pain.

  ‘I’m okay, she didn’t do much,’ he heaves. His head lifts from the ground and my shoulders sag in relief.

  I glance back the Hummer and see Avan hunched over, holding his knees. Rhenata’s bloody body lying in front of him and a red trail leading to the street. My eyes follow the trail until I see her head.

  “Oh, my god,” I whisper, and turn my entire body towards Bo.

  “Are you okay?” He asks slowly.

  My head spins and my stomach churns for what feels like the hundredth time. I shake my head and cover my mouth with my hand. My eyes glance around wildly looking for an escape from this carnage and I choke on a sob.

  Bo pulls me into his side and shuffles us off the tow truck. He pushes me to sit on the bench and gently shoves my head forward to rest between my knees again.

  “Just breathe for a minute. It should help,” he says, and I faintly hear his footsteps walking away.

  ***

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask Seth, again.

  “I’m fine,” he whispers and kisses my head. I squeeze him tighter.

  “Good,” I whisper.

  We’re sitting in the lot waiting for everyone to show up so we can go home. Fane isn’t going to be too happy about his Expedition. I shiver.