Soul's Mark 02 - Hunted

by Ashley Stoyanoff

  When he finished his monologue, he glanced at Amelia just as she tried to smooth out her face which was screwed up in confusion. She wiggled her nose and rubbed at her indented forehead. “Mitch, I forgave you. You need to stop beating yourself up about it. We’ve both done things to hurt each other. It wasn’t just you.”

  He put up his hand to stop her, not wanting to hear her justification. “That’s just it. I know you’ll forgive me. You always do. You forgave me so many times and gave me more chances than I can count, and I keep screwing up. And honestly, I’ve expected it, and taken it for granted. I don’t deserve your forgiveness, not yet at least. And last night…”

  “Don’t!” Amelia shouted. She clenched her fists into white knuckled balls and narrowed her eyes at him.

  “I need to say this, Amelia. It may be the last time I have a chance to.” He sat up and took her hands, lacing their fingers together. “It was the best night of my life, but it shouldn’t have happened. I was scared. I needed you. Needed to be close to you and feel something other than the pain.” He began tracing small circles on her palm with his thumb, as he fought against his jumping heart that threatened to leap from his chest. “And again, you forgave me for all my lies. You opened your arms to me without hesitation. You never think about yourself, blindly giving me everything I need, everything I want, and I repay you by being a jerk.”

  “You’re not a…” Amelia started, but she let the words fall short, unable to deny what he knew was true. Even though he knew it was true, it still wrenched at his heart.

  He locked eyes with her and tried to smile. “I promise you, one day you’ll be able to say that and mean it. I will earn your forgiveness. I swear I’ll prove to you that I’m worthy of it.” For the first time since he had met her, Amelia was speechless. He held on to the silence for a moment, stunned and feeling strangely content, until he remembered the last thing he had to tell her and sighed. “I hate to admit it, but you’re right. We need the blood and you are the best one to go.”

  She smirked, and her eyes glittered with a plan he was sure he wouldn’t like. “I’m glad you think so, because I have an idea,” she said, rolling to her feet and padding out of the room.

  CHAPTER 17

  With Mitchell’s help and a lot of putty, Amelia managed to zap Eric’s wall back together. According to the journals she had been studying, all it needed was a simple binding spell which had been used to bind unsettled spirits to the afterworld. With a few tweaks, she was able to transform the spell to something useful. However, cleaning was a whole different ball game, and it seemed as if her ancestors never bothered to use magic, or at least document the use, for the simple things in life like cooking or cleaning. So for now, the only way to get rid of the powdery dry wall dust and to paint the repaired wall was by doing it the good old human way—using a broom, dustpan, and a paintbrush.

  Shortly after the repairs were done, Mitchell had gone to find some cleaning supplies. He returned promptly with a broom, dustpan, garbage can, and a seriously lame excuse about needing to make some phone calls. Within seconds of dropping off the supplies, he had taken off again, but by the grin he had flashed on his way out, Amelia was certain that he didn’t have any calls to make. He was just weaseling his way out of cleaning.

  “I’m glad the wall got knocked out,” Megan blurted, as she ventured into the room with her minimal belongs. “The color sucks, and now I totally have a reason to convince him to redecorate. Seriously, how old is he?” She giggled as she pulled down a tattered Spiderman poster.

  “Good luck with that,” Amelia said, as she scanned over the armload of personal effects Megan was placing on the dresser. “You sure you’re ready to move in here already?” she asked, glad she sounded nonchalant, because really, she was nervous, still waiting for Megan to jump off the deep end like she had in the beginning.

  “Actually, it’s my idea,” Megan said, her cheeks flushing ruby red as her eyes fluttered across the large bed and then quickly to the floor. She cleared her throat loudly and said, “So, Mitch thinks we should test out our connection while he’s planning your adventure.” Megan strolled across the powder white hardwood floor, leaving shoe prints on her way, and retrieved the other broom, which was leaning against the wall by the door. “By the way, I went through Eric’s memories when you guys left, and he actually tried the whole drinking animal blood thing.” The words were just barely a whisper, and Amelia watched in awe as she began to sweep haphazardly. “It was crazy. He looked like an unwrapped mummy. Mitchell was right, though. He’s killed someone.”

  “I’m sorry, Meg,” Amelia said, not really sure what else to say.

  “I think the worse part about it is that I’m okay with it.” Megan bent down to fill the dustpan and dumped the debris into the big garbage can that Mitchell had brought up, and when she looked back up at Amelia, she was smiling. “I’ve been working through the memories I have of Mitchell, and I realized that they are just pictures and feelings. I tried to literally dive into your thoughts like I can do with Eric, but all I see is a blank wall. I was thinking, well, I’m only a half blood, so I thought maybe you could give it a try.”

  Megan’s smile widened, but Amelia noticed how fragile it looked, as if it could shatter at any second. A big part of her wanted to comfort Megan, tell her everything would be fine. Not only had the girl been thrown into a world of vampire soulmates, but she had also been plopped down right in the middle of death and war. The only thing that stopped her from rushing to Megan’s side and wrapping her arms around her was the resemblance between them. Amelia knew that if their likeness ran more than skin deep, which from the little she had learned about her cousin, it did, then the last thing she would want is comfort. There would be time for comfort when the problems were solved and they all made it out alive.

  So, instead of trying to think of something inspirational and encouraging to say, Amelia closed her eyes and put every ounce of focus she had into entering Megan’s thoughts. She tried from every angle, envisioning herself even flying up Megan’s nose or into her ear, but nothing worked. Each time she thought she had found a way in, she was mentally flung back, as if she had hit an invisible trampoline.

  After what felt like forever, Amelia finally opened her eyes. “Nothing. I can’t get in. But it doesn’t make sense,” she said, furrowing her brow in concentration. “We’ve been seeing each other’s thoughts for months. That’s the only way to explain my infatuation with Eric.” She began pacing the room, five steps forwards, swiveling around and then five steps back.

  “Seriously creepy,” Angelle said, bringing Amelia out of her thoughts. She stepped inside the room with a big glossy smile. She snagged the broom from Amelia, and with vampire speed, she set out about ridding the room of the leftover debris.

  “What?” Amelia asked, trying to focus on Angelle, but she was moving too fast for her eyes to follow.

  “You two are kind of creepy. If it wasn’t for Meg’s red hair, I would have sworn you learned how to clone yourself, Millie. The way you guys were pacing, wearing the same serious contemplation expressions.” She stopped moving, and a visible chill ran through her. “It’s just creepy.” She dumped the last dustpan full of dirt into the garbage, leaned the broom against the wall, and plopped down on Eric’s green and blue striped bed.

  Amelia sighed and then dropped down beside her friend. “I can’t get inside her mind. But it doesn’t make sense.”

  “Actually it does,” Lola said, appearing in the doorway. “I’ve been doing some research. It’s not as strong as you guys thought. The connection is solely for safety features. It uses your emotions to project images and thoughts.”

  “How do you know all this?” Angelle asked, before Amelia could blurt out the same question.

  Lola’s scowl was remarkably beautiful, and she waved one of Amelia’s journals in front of them. “For someone who is so smart, you’re really quite dumb, Millie. The journal is actually labeled ‘A Coven’s Safety Net.’” A
long the edge of the journal, Amelia spotted an assortment of colored tabs, and Lola flipped to the first one, her eyes scanning the page quickly. “Try thinking of something and sending the picture.”

  Amelia was still gawking and chewing on a bunch of nasty things to spit at Lola when suddenly, an image of Eric was forced into her line of vision. She gasped as Eric started to change. His skin began to wither, and his hair started to fall out. Within seconds, the only recognizable thing about him was his vibrant green eyes. He looked as if he had aged thousands of years in just seconds. The image evaporated, and Amelia locked eyes with Megan. “Holy shit,” she breathed.

  “Told you it was crazy,” Megan murmured, her eyes glistening as tears rimmed her lids. She blinked a few times, and the tears were gone, replaced by a look of determination. “What else does it say?” she asked.

  For the next few hours, the four of them sat cross-legged on Eric’s bed, flipping through the journal, studying the pages, and testing what they could find. What they had originally thought was just like the soulmate bond, was, in fact, very different. While the soulmate bond gave an open link to each other’s minds, emotions, and thoughts, the connection Amelia and Megan shared seemed to be based solely on projection. They could fling images and words to each other but could only see what the other wanted to be seen.

  Intense emotion came into play with the images. They were able to send anything, even a snapshot of breakfast, for example, but something that triggered a strong emotion was easier to propel at one another. They could only guess this was the reason they had been attracted to each other's soulmates, figuring they must have been projecting the overwhelming emotions connected with their other halves.

  “Did you know that with a little magic help and the bond, I can tap into Eric’s enhanced hearing?” Megan asked, as she scanned the pages for something else they could try.

  Angelle snickered and giggled before she could choke out, “Did you hear the show last night?” she asked to Megan, playfully elbowing her in the ribs.

  “Sure did,” Megan replied with a wink.

  Amelia sat there bewildered, glancing between the girls and then noticed that Lola was brandishing a grin as well. What were they talking about? She didn’t have a clue. They were smirking at her, and squirming around excitedly on the bed, tossing back and forth little jabs and innuendos that Amelia was certain had something to do with her.

  And then it hit her. Enhanced hearing. Amelia felt her cheeks flare, and she knew her complexion had changed tone to a brilliant ruby red. They had heard her and Mitchell last night.

  “Finally,” Angelle chirped and clapped her hands together, seemingly thrilled at Amelia’s embarrassment. “I thought I was going to have to spell it out for you. Spill already! We want the details.”

  “There’s nothing to tell,” Amelia said, glad she had pulled off a clueless tone. She uncrossed her legs and flipped onto her stomach, burying her nose in one of the books.

  Megan raised a disbelieving eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest. “From what I saw of Eric’s memories, there’s a lot to tell. You guys have been fighting since you met.” Her eyes sparkled with the gossip, and she gushed out the questions in a way only a girl could when juicy information was dangling in front of her. “How did it happen? Who made the first move?”

  “I bet she took my advice and jumped him,” Angelle said. “I told you he wouldn’t be able to resist.”

  Amelia groaned. Embarrassment wasn’t a strong enough word for what she was feeling; it was more like mortification. She knew she had used their hearing as a lame cop-out last night, but she never really imagined that they would know.

  “Are you guys really having the talk without me?” Erin asked, skidding into the room. “You suck.” She tried to sound left out, but she was grinning like a fool as she plopped down on the bed with the rest of them.

  “How does the bond feel?” Lola asked Amelia cautiously. “After our first time together, it really changed things for Luke and I, and with your powers, well, are you okay? Stable, I mean?”

  “Lola,” Angelle snapped, and shook her head in disappointment, although Amelia wasn’t sure if it was at Lola’s comment or the new path the conversation was taking.

  Lola threw up her arms and huffed. “Someone has to be sensible here. We all know she’s emotional, and we are kind of at war here. None of us can deal with her accidentally locking herself away again.” She looked at Amelia sternly. “We need you strong if we have a chance of making it out of this alive.”

  A thick and incredibly sad silence settled over them. Reality came crashing back, and the images of their fallen loved ones flooded in. They were all staring at Amelia, even Lola, waiting as if they truly believed she would fix everything.

  When had this happened? she wondered. When had they started thinking of her in this way, as Mitchell’s partner and not just his responsibility? It was odd and a bit unsettling, but Amelia pushed those feelings aside, determined to step up to the plate. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m fine,” she said, reassuringly. “Better than fine, actually. We’re really connecting and he even apologized…”

  “Yeah, we know,” Erin said with a quivering lip. “We heard the whole thing.”

  “I didn’t,” Megan said, attempting to pout, but her heart just wasn’t in it. “He apologized?”

  “Yeah, he promised her that one day he would earn her forgiveness,” Angelle said. She pulled herself off the bed and headed for the door. “We should probably go and help with the planning and let you guys practice some more.”

  Lola and Erin stood up and started to follow Angelle. The light, happy mood was clearly over, and the girls trudged towards the door with slumped shoulders and dragging feet. As she watched them leave, her gut twisted, and an overpowering feeling that something was missing settled onto her shoulders, weighing them down. Her brain worked through the last forty-eight hours since Megan had arrived in a blur of calculations, and she felt the blood drain from her cheeks. Lola, Angelle, and Erin must have noticed the change in her heartbeat, because they spun around, locking identical looks of concern on her.

  The only word Amelia could push from her lips was, “Fiona.”

  CHAPTER 18

  He needed a better view. Weeping Willows were definitely not meant to be lookout trees. The branches were too flimsy and draping, instead of strong and long like an oak or maple tree. It was way too much work to find a spot where he was high enough to see anything. He glanced up, looking for a branch that looked somewhat sturdy. The one just above him looked iffy, but he needed to see what the witches were doing. So, against his better judgment, he swung himself up to the next branch, held his breath, and prayed that it wouldn’t give way under him. Once he was sure it was stable, he parted the flowing branches and pulled the binoculars back up to his eyes.

  He scanned the house for any signs of movement and held still when the branches creaked below him. Why couldn’t the boss have listened to him? he wondered as he waited, not moving, to see if the branch would give out. He had warned Cole that going after the housekeeper was a bad idea. If the boss man had listened to him, just this once, he wouldn’t have to be stuck in a tree. He would have still been able to sneak onto the property and watch comfortably from the ground. But no. That couldn’t happen now that the spell had been cast around the complex.

  What he really didn’t get was why the Caldwell girls were so important. Why did they need another witch on the team? Weren’t Cole and Josh enough? He wondered if maybe Cole wasn’t as powerful as he claimed to be and that’s why they needed the girls, but something about that didn’t seem right. He had seen with his own eyes what the boss could do, and these girls seemed like nothing compared to him.

  But why hadn’t they attacked yet and just taken them? He had been on a few missions now and they were always the same. Hit the town, kill the vamps, and leave by morning. Never before had they killed the human soulmates. Without the vamps, they really weren’t a threat; no one else
would turn them and their marks would vanish once the vamps were dead and never coming back. The whole thing just seemed…wrong.

  “There they are,” he said to himself, adjusting the lenses to get a better view. He carefully dug in his pocket, trying not to move too much and pulled out the hearing device that the boss had made. He stuffed it into his ear, pointing the small antenna in the direction of the girls. Right away, the world inside the house came alive.

  He focused on the brown haired one, who was looking pretty pale, and he heard her say, “Fiona.”

  “Took you long enough,” he said with a snicker. He had been wondering when they would notice one of their friends was missing. It had been two days since they snagged the vamp, waiting for them to clue in.

  He waited to hear more, honestly hoping for mayhem and tears, but what happened next almost made him tumble from the tree. Before his eyes, the Caldwell girls began to glow. It was a soft, pale yellow light, just barely visible, but it grew, and grew, until it formed a ball around them. It was as if the two witches were becoming one, and the light became blinding, brighter than the sun.

  He could just make out their faces through the brilliant light and noticed their lips were moving as one, saying the same words, the same… His heart rate picked up, hammering in his chest. The first thing he thought was they had seen him. They were casting a spell. They knew he was watching. His instincts were screaming at him to drop from the branches and seek cover from their view, but he couldn’t move a muscle. It was as if he was being forced to watch the beginning of his own slow and painful death.

  But then the light vanished, the girls pivoted to face each other, and in unison they said, “I could hear him.”