My Soul to Save (Soul Keeper)

by Melissa Solis

  The rain starts, coming down in sheets as if nature were trying to flush me out of this tree too. I hear a cacophonous screech below that sounds like an ambulance siren being pulverized into oblivion. I can't see much with the storm and the dark. I only know that there is only one pair of glowing eyes now and they're much closer than they were before.

  My eyes widen and I grab the trunk for dear life. It’s hard to tell through the downpour but I think I see Elijah spring up. His figure becomes clear as he moves closer. He’s soaring into the tree with his splendid glossy black wings, carrying a very large sword. My relief quickly bottoms out into fear once again. What if he's not here to save me? What if he’s here to finish me off?

  Elijah slices through the air, decapitating the mutt in one swift blow with his sword. He kicks the carcass down from the limb and both the head and the body hit the ground with a separate thud, sounding eerily final. His fully expand wings move back and forth, keeping him suspended in the air as his eyes move to me. I swallow hard.

  He's a beautiful sight to behold. Rain beats down over his perfect body and ebony wings creating a halo of mist around him. He's like a dream. The sword disappears from his hand and he swoops down to me.

  "Brennen, let me help you down love,” he offers as he stands on a lower branch. Rain pours over my face, still trying to drown me. I want to let him help me but he told me not to trust him. I shake my head and attempt to move further away. My tight skirt has become a body cast around my legs and I know I won't get far. "I won't harm you Brennen. I know I said not to trust me, but you have to." He holds his hand out to me. I'm reminded of the Michelangelo painting of Adam’s outstretched hand reaching out for his creator.

  My cold fingers find his, and the warmth of his skin draws me closer. Soon I'm in his arms. His bare chest rises and falls with a breath of relief. He carries me down to the ground, noticing that I'm barefoot, he hesitates to put me down.

  "Let her go Elijah," I hear Elena bark out. It's as if her words shot him in the back and he winces in pain. He lowers me to the ground and slides his heated arms free from my body. He mouths the words, I love you, and then with the next crack of lightening he's gone. My hand is outstretched, reaching for someone who is no longer there. I slowly put my arm back down.

  "Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"

  "No, he saved me." I glare at her as if she sliced my head off with the sword. "He killed those things and then he helped get me out of the tree I had climbed a hundred feet up in. Where were you?"

  "I'm here now. Where's Inara?" I try and remember which way I came, but nothing looks the same in the dark. The rain is relentless, the wind kicks up furiously and tangles my sopping wet hair around my face.

  "I don't know which way I came. We've got to help her; she passed out when we got here." Elena nods and scoops me up off the ground in a moment with fully expanded wings she lifts me to the sky. She doesn't look like she would be strong enough to lift me. She probably weighs about as much as I do. But there's not an ounce of struggle written on her face.

  Rain pelts me like needles as we speed through the air. I cringe from the sting. "Inara said backup would come but no one did."

  "They couldn't track you fast enough. I'm the one with that skill set."

  "That seems like poor planning to only have one Keeper who can track." Elena shakes her head.

  "Oh there's two of us who can track, and track you he did." Elijah? So that's how he found me. "There, there she is." Elena points to her left and all I see are dense tree tops. She speeds down to the ground and I feel like I'm on the fiercest roller coaster in all of Six Flags.

  Inara is right where I left her, still unconscious and flickering in and out of being visible. Elena scoops her up.

  "Is she going to be alright?"

  "Yes, let's get her home. Grab my shoulder." I squeeze Elena's shoulder to offer moral support. Elena closes her eyes understanding my gesture and takes the three of us back to the hotel room.

  She lies Inara on the bed and makes her comfortable. I grab a towel and dry her off a little before covering her. "I'd take her to Amorous, but I don't have enough energy either.

  "Is there anything I can do to help?"

  "Thank you, but no. We should both be fine by morning."

  I watch as she lies down beside Inara and closes her eyes. I finally glance down at my soaked body. My clothes are ripped and filthy. I'm full of scratches and bruises from the climb. I peel the wet clothes off in the bathroom and ease into the hot shower. My muscles are sore and I'm weak from the slow drain of adrenaline leaving my body. My hands begin to shake and my knees give out. I believe this is what’s known as shock.

  I sit on the floor of the bathtub and let my body relax. I'm still visibly trembling minutes after, but I stand up and finish my shower. I'm careful getting out. That would be awesome if I have survived all that I have, only to slip and crack my head open while my two guards were out cold for the night.

  I emerge from the bathroom feeling better but ready for bed. I leap out of my skin when I see a man in my room. Elena jolts her head up, looks at the man and plops her head back down. Oh, that's freaking great Elena.

  "Whoa, easy I'm a Keeper. I'm taking the night shift while they recover. Names Mac."

  "Mac?"

  "Short for Macmillan, sorry to scare you." I observe him for a moment not sure I completely trust his story. He looks to be about six foot with a slight build. His brown eyes smile without his lips following making him appear more trustworthy. His hair is long and shaggy sort of like how Sam wears it.

  "It's okay, you wouldn't be the first to scare me and I'm sure you won't be the last."

  His shoulders move like he's just laughed, but he didn't make a sound. "I know you need to get some rest. Would you prefer it if I was out of sight?"

  I nod and he smiles warmly before letting himself into the bathroom. What a bad day. I hope things can only get better from now on. Sam sends me a text as soon as I'm under the covers. It's a picture of the, "Hang in there" kitten. If he only knew I could have played the role of that kitten today.

  I text back, Thanks, I'll try, but I had such a hard day. My phone rings two seconds later, he's calling.

  "Hey, what happened?"

  His voice is full of concern. Which doesn't help me feel any better. I hate that he’s such a great boyfriend, because I hate that I was stupid enough to let him go, knowing full well we'd be happy together. The pain I've inflicted rips through my gut every time I hear his voice.

  "I had a co-worker try and get me in trouble today. I had no choice but to turn the tables." I glance over to the bed with my two weak and wounded Keepers. Vindictive co-works are the least of my problems, but I had to tell him something.

  "I bet there's a lot of that that goes on in that world. Are you sure that's the right line of work for you?"

  "Why, because I'm so sweet and innocent?" I ask and he laughs out.

  "You, sweet and innocent? Hell no. I meant because of how low some people will sink to get what they want."

  "Yes, people don't care how they take you down as long as they get a leg up. This girl stole my flash drive. I got it back without her knowing, but then I pretended I had lost it and that I was likely to get fired. I even cried. She quit after lunch."

  "Dam, remind me never to get on your bad side, babe."

  "I will, except now I'm stuck with half of her work load. So I think she got the better deal in the long run."

  "I'm sorry your day sucked. On a brighter note. Clancy just produced a foal that is going to put the ranch back on the map. Dad wants me to train him to be Olympic worthy for dressage. He'll be worth a pretty penny by the time I'm through.

  "Aw how cute you have to send me a picture. What's his name?"

  "He doesn't have one yet, any suggestions are welcome." My phone buzzes and I see he's sent a picture of the baby horse. He's jet black just like his father with a white blaze running down his face. Perfect markings for a high end dress
age Friesian. I don't really know how I know this but I do.

  "How about, Amorous Night Fury?"

  "You know what? I think that fits him because he is a hellion on wheels."

  "Maybe you should name him Brennen then."

  "I think you may be right on that account too," he chuckles.

  "I"m going to hit the pillow babe, but thanks for talking to me tonight. It helped just to hear your voice."

  "Anytime. Glad I could help. Goodnight Amorous Night Fury. I love you."

  "Bite me, I love you too." I retort and he laughs before hanging up. I try and block out the crappy day from my mind and focus on Sam's goodnight so I can get some sleep, but every time my eyes drift shut, piercing blue eyes stab me with their love. It's starting to get irritating, it's almost three in the morning and I have to be focused and alert at work in four hours.

  "Um, Mac?" I call out and he emerges from the bathroom looking totally refreshed and alert. How do they do that? If I had been holed up in a hotel bathroom for hours I would come out looking like yesterday’s newspaper.

  "Need some help getting to sleep?" I nod wearily wondering how he knew. Of course I probably look like I feel, and worse.

  "What is it you would tell Elijah he smelled of?"

  "I don't know. That's an odd question."

  "Never mind I apologize for bringing it up."

  "No I want to know. You must know they altered my memories."

  He shifts on his legs and hesitates before sitting on the end of my bed.

  "Elijah used to talk about you all the time. So I suppose I feel like I already know you. Pancakes dripping with syrup, bacon and sea air. That's what he said. I always thought that was an odd combination. One girl I used to guard needed Old Spice, coffee and dog. That was the strangest and most pungent fragrance yet, but it would relax her every time."

  “My dad would make homemade pancakes from scratch and maple cured bacon. That is what our house in San Diego would smell like every Sunday. We lived on the beach so the air always had a briny scent."

  "Alright then, close your eyes, and think of home," he says calming his voice so it’s soft and velvety. The sound of waves brushing over the shore emerges into the room. The waves sound far away. The gentle hiss of the ocean releasing its breath onto the sand makes me feel right at home.

  Mac starts pumping in the scent and it triggers a memory of the last time I must have smelled it. I was in Elijah's arms but I can't place the time or setting. A radiant warmth begins to flood my body from the inside out, like I can feel his love even when he's not here. Rather than dismiss the feeling, I harness it, and let it trickle down deep inside my veins.

  "Mac, what did you do to her, induce a coma?" I hear Elena's voice as I begin to stir early the next morning.

  "Go away. I need more sleep."

  "You've been asleep for twelve hours. Time to get up," Elena is quick to retort.

  What the heck? My eyes jolt open upon hearing this. I grab my phone and confirm it’s three in the afternoon.

  "How could you let me sleep this late? I'll be fired."

  "I already called the office as you. I explained you had to do research for the education project outside of the office today and you'd be in later this afternoon. Linda was more than okay with it. Apparently Burkes was thrilled with the work you turned in yesterday."

  "He should be, I've already shaved a grand off the per student allocation by going paperless and bookless."

  "A bookless school?"

  "E-books. Each student has their own tablet assigned to them at the beginning of the school year. They take tests on it, study, etcetera and email homework in. And it's all still cheaper than paper and books. Plus kids love electronic devices." I bought Sam's sisters both tablets for their birthday and I haven't seen their faces since.

  "Well at least Virginia will save a few trees."

  "Try a lot of trees, pollutants and oil."

  "Yep you're a democrat." Mac throws in. I roll my eyes and get out of bed. Inara throws back the curtains, flooding the room with bright afternoon sun.

  Chapter 13 ~ Fresh Fish

  "Do I really have to drive around in this car at school? I don't want to look like a rich, word that rhymes with witch."

  "You don't seem to realize that you are, rich now, quite, actually. As for the later adjective, no one could ever classify you under that category." No Elena, that’s more your middle name.

  "Elena, are the Keeper's responsible for my abundant wealth?"

  "Solely."

  "How far back does all of this go?"

  "Nine months before your birth, your Grandfather invested in a small fruit company, apples I think. His stock broker was a Keeper. It made a fortune and we made sure we managed it carefully so that you would always be well taken care of." Inara says. Her voice is always calm and cool.

  "Um a fruit company, do you think maybe it was Apple?" I ask teetering my iPhone between my fingers.

  "Oh, could be, I'm no good and remembering the little details."

  I shake my head at how crazy this life of mine is.

  "Inara what are your special gifts exactly?" She shifts uncomfortably in her seat. Her beautiful cotton dress billows all around her as we exit the car and walk up to the freshman house known as Grays Hall.

  "I am an excellent healer and my specialty is my ability to calm people or take away their pain. I guess I can influence feelings a bit."

  "I knew it, that's how you keeping me from killing Elena." I say laughing out loud. Elena cuts me a go to hell look. I grin at her, telling her I still love her with my eyes.

  "And it's how I keep Elena from ripping your head off."

  "Okay this is us," I say dropping my bag on the floor and unlocking the door. I let them go first. Elena immediately casts some sort of magical spell over the place. Warding off demon's or dust bunnies, I don't know which. I vote for both.

  "Alright you two get to share that bedroom as long as my roommate is not a weirdo."

  "I am a total weirdo!" A perky blonde pipes up from behind us. She rolls up on her tippy toes and extends her hand. "Hi I'm Lexi."

  She has former cheerleader written all over her, from her well-muscled legs to the red ribbon tied in her hair. I shake her hand and introduce myself, and Elena and Inara who are both over joyed to finally rejoin the land of the visible.

  "Come on we have to get out to the yard, they're starting the mixer." Lexi says, dropping her bag in our room, and grabbing my hand. Um, whoa okay.

  "Are you single, or in a monogamous relationship?"

  She drills me with questions until we reach the front door, hardly letting me answer.

  "You really are a weirdo, I thought you were only being facetious."

  I am only half joking. She tightens her ponytail and smiles coyly. "I know, but really everyone here is a weirdo or we wouldn't be paying forty grand a year for an education right? My parents thought Harvard would refine me. But I digress, I am what I am. People either love me or hate me. Which one are you?"

  "Um, I don't hate you. I think you’re out there in left field somewhere waiting for the ball, but it'll come one day."

  "Ha ha, see I like you too. You tell it like it is. God's honest truth, you can't find that in L.A."

  "Is that where you're from?"

  "Bren that planet is in a whole other galaxy."

  "Oh I'm well aware, I lived in San Diego for many years."

  "No way, wait let me guess. Navy?"

  "Yes, my dad was a Navy Seal."

  "Was?" she says with caution.

  The yard is filled with freshman, many are mingling, some still moving their belongings into the dorm. We walk around looking at the different clubs and organizations. There are so many. If I needed an alpaca addicts anonymous I could probably find a booth for it here somewhere. I hadn't given much thought to what I would do for an extracurricular, but I'm sure Elena has it all mapped out. She and Inara, trail not far behind pretending to look at the clubs as well.
<
br />   I explain to Lexi about my father and she tells me her brother was killed over there three years ago. Her parents still haven't recovered. He was in the Marines. She seems very down to earth and not at all like the stereo typical girls from L.A.

  "So how do you know our roommates?"

  "Oh well we sort of met a few months ago. There was a Facebook page for future Harvard freshmen that lived in the Virginia Beach area, so we started meeting up." This is the story we're going with anyway.

  "Cool, so what classes are you taking?" We compare schedules and I'm thankful we don't have any of the same classes. Not that I don't like her, I just have a feeling I may need a little anonymity this year. I don't know what it is about all of the premonitions I've been having, maybe it's a new gift that is trying to emerge. But I'm learning to go with it.

  My eyes scan all of my new classmates and a twinge of guilt hits me knowing that I'm viewing them as a single available girl. Lexi and I are getting plenty of looks and glances. Each one makes me miss Sam even more. The uneasiness inside of me is growing by the minute.

  "Hey I think I’m ready to go back and unpack, it's been a long drive for me."

  "Okay. Hey do you want to go to a flea market tomorrow and see what we can find for our place?"

  "Sure that sounds like fun."

  "It does doesn't it."

  "I'm thinking shabby chic or crimson glam. We'll just have to see what we dig up. "

  "Ladies welcome to Grays. I am your Proctor, Asher Kennedy. I am here to offer guidance in all things Harvard, from your course selections to Grays House Frisbee matches, I’m your guy. Saturday night, our house is having a mixer in the basement. There will be food and non-alcoholic beverages provided. You both should come and get to know your neighbors." Asher holds out his hand and pauses for our names, like the true douche he seems to be.

  "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Lexi and this is Brennen." She eyes him like a six foot tall lollipop and leans into him giving a very sweet smile. I like that's she's not overly flirty. I hate it when girls throw themselves at a guy. You mean like you did to Elijah in the stairwell the first day of school, my subconscious blasts. Well, at least I learned from my mistakes.