Soul Catcher

by E. L. Todd

  “I think I got everything I need,” she announced.

  Aleco was astounded by her appearance. He could finally see the features of her face, and she was gorgeous, to say the least. Her hair was clean and wavy, falling perfectly around her face. Her trousers and camisole were tight fitting, framing her hourglass shape. She began to put on her cloak, which Aleco was thankful for, because he didn’t need to draw any more attention to himself—and she was definitely eye-catching.

  “Is there anything you need to get?” she said, interrupting his thoughts.

  “No, and even if I did, I have no money to buy it with,” he teased.

  “So, what is the name of my lover who has bought me so many nice things?”

  “Aleco.” He laughed. His chuckles felt strange—it had been so long since he’d last had them. A clean bath and a fresh pair of clothes had lifted her spirits substantially; sometimes that was all someone needed. She was completely different from when they first met. Aleco knew she hated him, probably wanted to kill him, and was certainly frightened of him, but now she spoke to him like an acquaintance, or even a friend. Her sudden change in attitude made him suspicious, especially since he had found her in a prison, but he didn’t dwell on it. There was no point in asking her directly. He knew she would never answer him. Aleco was a complete stranger to her. He drained the rest of his ale. “Let’s get going.”

  Before they exited the city, Aleco instructed Accacia to raise her hood, which she did without argument, much to his surprise, and they slipped out the gate unnoticed.

  Roslyn Thoroughfare

  7

  They traveled towards Father Giloth’s forest until the night had deepened into blackness and Aleco decided they both needed to rest. He hadn’t slept in four days so he was in need of repose for a few hours.

  They prepared a campsite in the midst of the thick woods, where they lit a fire for warmth and leaned comfortably against large tree logs. They sat facing each other across the fire in silence. Accacia took out a pack of dried fruit and chewed the pieces. She offered the bag to Aleco but he declined.

  “So, what did you buy today?” he asked. “Or to make things simpler, what didn’t you buy?”

  Accacia rummaged through her pack and displayed a few blades and knives, a long sword, an elegant bow with a quiver of arrows, and lastly, a book.

  “What book is that?”

  “Mine,” she answered.

  Aleco raised his eyebrow and waited for her to elaborate.

  “It’s my journal,” she continued. “I have always kept a journal, a habit Father Giloth instilled in me a long time ago. He said it would help me reflect on my past experiences, and more importantly, how I felt about them. I lost my last diary when I was sent to the Circle—so now I have to start a new one.”

  “Why were you captured?”

  “Why do you always hide your face?” she countered.

  Aleco remained silent. He wanted to know more about her but didn’t want to reveal anything about himself in the process—it was far too risky. They sat in awkward silence.

  “Are you proficient in the sword?” he asked. He was surprised by the variety of weapons she purchased and felt wary of her and her abilities.

  Her face turned red. “No,” she admitted. “I was hoping to learn.”

  Aleco sighed with relief. “I’ll take the first watch,” Aleco offered. “I’ll wake you in a few hours.”

  “Okay,” she agreed. “Just give me a moment.”

  Accacia opened her journal and began to scribble away. Aleco wished he knew the contents of that journal—he was obviously in it.

  “Thank you for loaning me the money today,” she said. “I promise I will pay you back.”

  “I know you will,” Aleco said simply. He was surprised how friendly she was being towards him. Even when she was playing nice, he continued to insult her or mock her. It seemed that she could hold onto her happy spirit despite her imprisonment. Aleco could never do that. Perhaps, she didn’t see him as threatening. Logically, he would have killed her already if he wanted to.

  Accacia crawled into her bedroll and fell asleep. Aleco watched her chest rise and fall as she slept, watching over her as the night passed, until he was so fatigued he couldn’t keep his eyes open. He woke Accacia from her long, uninterrupted slumber, and crawled into his own bedroll. Aleco found sleep immediately—but it wasn’t long until the night terrors followed.

  His savage screams shattered her thoughts and she ran to his side. She jerked his shoulders and called to him. “Aleco,” she yelled. “Come on, wake up.” She continued to shake his robust frame until he stopped screaming and his eyes began to open.

  Aleco turned over on his side and tried to slow his heavy breathing as the remnants of the vision floated past his eyes and gave him chills. He felt his body flush with anger at the memory, and he wanted to stab someone through the heart, just to vent his suffering. Accacia was sitting next to him, rubbing his back as she attempted to calm him. Aleco was angered by her touch. He had never asked her to comfort him nor did he want it. “Don’t touch me,” he snapped. He pulled away from her soothing ministrations and stomped away into the forest.

  He leaned against a tree and covered his face with his palms, cursing himself for sleeping for so long. The longer he slept, the more intense the nightmares became. He was foolish to risk it around Accacia, a complete stranger, but he had been too exhausted to fight it. He returned to the campsite with his shoulders tense and his back rigid, praying she wouldn’t address the event. “We should get going,” he said as he gathered his supplies.

  Accacia watched him grab his belongings with a frown on her face. She didn’t know Aleco, but she knew he was a good man if Father Giloth had sent him, and for that reason alone, she cared for him, despite his vulgar attitude. It was obvious that he was haunted by his past, and even in the depths of his dreams he could find no respite. At least Accacia could get a good night’s rest despite the horrific memories of her past. She pitied him. “Is everything alright, Aleco?”

  “Yes.”

  Accacia packed her items into her bag and was ready to set off. It was evident that his nightmares were recurrent and, obviously, painful. It broke her heart to see him this way. Accacia wished she could do something for him, but she knew he would decline any help she offered.

  They traveled in silence, by Aleco’s request, through the trees the entire length of the day and approached the outside of Orgoom Forest as the sun set over the horizon. Aleco estimated it was only a few miles away, but insisted they stay outside the borders until morning, cautioning that it was unwise to advance into its jurisdiction after dark. Accacia didn’t mind because the injuries she received during her captivity caused her enormous pain, but she would never admit her weakness—to him, at least. He probably didn’t care, anyway. Although she cared for him, she suspected he wasn’t concerned for her.

  Wordlessly, they set up their campsite and resumed their usual positions around the fire. Aleco hadn’t spoken a word to her since the incident the night before, which was unusual since he often had something, usually rude, to say. Accacia honored his silence and offered to take the first watch.

  “Catch some sleep, Aleco. I’ll wake you in a few hours.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Well, I’m not tired,” she challenged.

  “Liar,” he said.

  Accacia held her ground by remaining silent with her eyes locked upon the dark shadow where his face would be within his hood. In her mind’s eye, she pictured him to be hideous. Why else conceal his countenance?

  “Fine,” he said. “Wake me in an hour.”

  “I’ll stir you when I’m tired.”

  “No,” he snapped. “You will do as I say. Wake me in an hour.”

  Aleco lay on his bedroll and quickly found sleep. Accacia waited until she was certain his breathing patterns were steady and he would not be roused before she pulled out a plant from her bag, caught it aflame, and let the sm
oke surround Aleco. Accacia suspected the cause of his insomnia and she hoped this solution would help. As he breathed in the smoke, she saw his body relax. She pulled out her journal and began to write.

  Aleco rolled over and opened his eyes. For the first time in many years, he felt rested and refreshed and he relished the sensation. He looked to the blue sky and realized it was early morning.

  Alarm flooded his body as he saw the sun crest the horizon—why is the sun rising? Aleco climbed out of his bedroll and looked for Accacia, praying nothing harmful had happened to her. He saw her leaning against the tree log, exactly where he last saw her the night before. She had a smirk on her face. “Sleep well, Aleco?” she asked.

  “You disobeyed my command.”

  Aleco saw an inferno flash in her green eyes. His words had struck a nerve. She wanted to be forgiving of his attitude but sometimes his words stabbed at old wounds. She tried to be friendly, even when he didn’t deserve the affection, but he never appreciated it. Accacia felt the anger seep out. “Well, I’m not under your command,” she said. “Thank the gods for that.” She saw his body tense under his cloak and knew how angry he was. His hostility dimmed her anger, and Accacia calmed the fury burning in her eyes, returning to a state of calm. This man clearly had no one he could trust. At least she had Father Giloth. “I wanted to let you sleep. It’s obvious you don’t get much of it.”

  “What did you do?”

  “Nothing.”

  “I know when you are lying so stop the charade,” he said. “Why didn’t I have any nightmares?”

  “Do you normally have nightmares?”

  Aleco tightened his lips. This conversation was heading in the wrong direction. Aleco acknowledged she was an excellent manipulator, and knew she could be a serious danger if she were an enemy. He didn’t see her as threatening but he had been wrong before. Accacia was probably trustworthy but she wasn’t worth the risk; nothing was. “Let’s get moving,” he said. “We are nearly there.”

  They hid the remains of their campsite and advanced toward the border of the forest. Aleco’s anger was palpable, even in his silence. He hated asking or accepting help from others, so it made him more upset to feel gratitude towards her—for whatever it was that she did. Aleco hadn’t slept more than three hours at one time since childhood, so the seven hours he had slept was a very much appreciated gift.

  They reached the border of the forest. “This is where I stop,” Aleco announced. “You can make it the rest of the way.” Without another word, Aleco turned around and walked into the forest, leaving Accacia alone in the clearing. Aleco turned around when he was just a few feet away but hidden in the brush. He could see her standing alone, nervously looking for him. Aleco didn’t want to speak to Father Giloth. He just wanted to return to his cave, alone, so he decided to wait out of sight.

  Accacia felt bothered by his sudden disappearance, but she didn’t know why. Aleco hadn’t even said goodbye or let her thank him for rescuing her. She wished she hadn’t pushed him away, making him hate her even more than he already did. “Aleco,” she called into the trees, hoping he would return. She didn’t expect him to, not after how angry she made him.

  He suddenly reappeared before her. His quick arrival made Accacia wonder if he had ever left. He sighed deeply from within his hood, clearly annoyed that she called for him. Aleco didn’t know why he bothered returning to her.

  “I have a gift for you,” she said as she dug through her bag.

  “I don’t want it,” he hissed.

  “Too bad,” she said simply.

  “What is it?” Aleco laughed. She had a quick wit and a carefree attitude that he responded to innately. Accacia made him laugh again; he couldn’t believe it. Just a moment before, he wanted to tear out her throat.

  “I want you to have this.” She dropped a bag of plant leaves into his outstretched palm.

  Aleco examined the light green leaves and recognized the plant immediately. “Roslyn’s blade,” Aleco identified.

  “You are skilled in botany,” she observed. Accacia wondered if he had been a Naturalist in the woods or if he had been instructed by the Chief Nature Priest.

  “I have no use for this.” He handed it back to her. In an attempt to be nice, for once, he added, “But—thanks.”

  “Yes, you do,” she insisted. She stared at him, waiting for him to take the sack. She didn’t understand why he was being so stubborn. He could take the bag and leave, avoiding the conversation altogether, but he chose to argue with her.

  Aleco’s politeness was running out. “You may have noticed I don’t have Nocturne’s Eye since I can see where I am headed,” he said. “So no, I do not need this.”

  “Traditionally, the ingestion of the plant is used for alexipharmic purposes, such as the eradication of Nocturne’s Eye; however, the inhaled smoke of the leaves can rid the body of hallucinations—and vivid dreams.”

  “You sound like Father Giloth,” he teased. Aleco realized she was skilled in botany as well if she knew that information. Aleco had an extensive knowledge of herbal remedies himself, but even that was novel to him. He stared at her for a moment then understanding dawned on him. “This is how you helped me.”

  “Yes,” she confirmed.

  Aleco took the leaves and placed it within his pack. They continued to stand there in silence. Accacia looked at him, waiting for him to say something. He didn’t know what she wanted to hear.

  “When will I see you again?” she asked.

  “Never, I hope.”

  She ignored the insult. “Then how will I repay you?”

  “You won’t,” Aleco snapped. He had no interest in seeing this woman again. He spared her from her imprisonment and brought her to the forest as instructed. Now he had no use for her. Aleco wanted to be away from her, away from everyone. He watched her beautiful and expectant expression turn into one of pain and hurt at his words. He saw her lips fall to a frown and the fire dim in her eyes. Why did he have to be such an asshole all the time? He knew she was just trying to help, but Aleco didn’t understand what he had done to warrant her friendliness. She had obviously been mistreated for a long time, by the old bruises and the layers of filth that had covered her body when he found her.

  “Well, goodbye, then,” she said. “Thank you for rescuing me.” Aleco sighed at her words. She was being nicer to him than he deserved. He wished he could be different, not so intolerable. She began to step away when Aleco forced himself to speak, trying to make amends for his unacceptable behavior.

  “Thank you—Accacia,” he said through gritted teeth. “For giving me a chance to sleep—it’s—it’s been the greatest gift anyone has ever given me.” His eyes fell to the forest floor, embarrassed, as he tried to avoid her gaze. It was the first time he’d ever tried to be nice to another human being. It was also the first time he met someone who was willing to put up with him. He had been continually rude to her but she continued to forgive. The next thing she did surprised Aleco more than his own words of gratitude—she hugged him.

  Aleco stood there, stunned, as she wrapped her arms around him and laid her head against his shoulder. His arms remained at his sides, bewildered by her gesture. He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do. He hadn’t hugged anyone in so long that he forgot what it felt like. The act was foreign to him. He didn’t know what he had done to deserve such kindness from her. The contact was brief, but it was enough time for him to feel her body against his own and smell the fragrance of her hair. He began to feel uncomfortable—very uncomfortable.

  “You’re welcome,” she said as she released him. She smiled at him for a moment, understanding how hard it was for him to express such gratitude. She didn’t know anything about this stranger, but she knew the life he lived was far worse than the one she had. At least she could walk the world with her face to the sky, unashamed of her features. Accacia could tell by the flinch of his body that he hadn’t had human contact in a very long time.

  “How nice,” a voice
observed from the tree line. The thick glade they stood in allowed adequate coverage from sight. Accacia was startled by the sudden announcement. She stepped back and looked for the source of the words. Aleco immediately knew to whom they belonged, and clenched his jaw. The Nature Priest was aware of everything in his forest, including the identities of people who crossed into his lands. The ability came with the powers of his office. Father Giloth revealed himself from the thick copse of trees.

  “It’s heartwarming to see the two of you getting along so well,” he said. “I know how difficult it is for Aleco to make friends.” The old man smiled. Aleco concealed his scowl within the depth of his hood.

  Father Giloth outstretched his arms towards Accacia and she moved into his embrace. With tears in her eyes, she fell into his arms and sobbed quietly into his shoulder, unable to control her emotions. Father Giloth dropped his smile, overcome with the feeling of sadness as he held her in his arms. She was obviously broken and emotionally scarred. The Nature Priest hid his own tears as he ran his hands through her hair until she stopped crying. Aleco watched the scene without moving, unsure of what to do. He didn’t realize how upset Accacia was. She never revealed her wounded emotions to him. Father Giloth hugged his student for a long time before he turned to Aleco. “Thank you for returning Accacia to these woods,” he said. “You went unseen, I hope?”

  “Of course,” Aleco said. “I wasn’t followed.”

  “Excellent,” Father Giloth continued. “It will give Accacia and me some time.”

  Father Giloth ushered them through the forest. “I have clean clothes, warm food, and a roaring fire waiting for you,” he said as he and Accacia walked into the trees with their hands joined together. Aleco turned the opposite way and moved towards the border. “And for you as well, Aleco,” he added. Aleco rolled his eyes; he just wanted to leave.