Lonely Souls

by Karice Bolton

  “What do we do?” I mumbled.

  “I’ve got ’em right where I want them,” he replied with a wicked smile.

  I wanted to laugh, but I didn’t have the energy. I was assuming he was kidding, and the fatigue forced my eyes closed once more. I wanted sleep, and I wanted that dream to reappear.

  “You’ve got to stay up,” he whispered. “I’ve been waiting for you to wake up, and so have they. They’re going to call for the Lonely Souls again, and this time, they’re hoping everything goes according to plan and you get whisked away.”

  My eyes flew open, and he was staring at me. His gaze was full of rage, and I realized I had to use all of my strength to stay alert even though my head wanted to continually droop.

  “What do I need to do?” I murmured.

  “They are so giddy, celebrating a victory that isn’t theirs to claim. I’ve been waiting until they were completely distracted, and that time has come. Their egos have taken over,” he smirked.

  “So what do I need to do?” I repeated.

  “I need your permission, Triss,” his voice quiet and full of the pain that the statement brought. I knew what he was referring to and under the circumstances, I couldn’t see any other way.

  I nodded, blinking slowly.

  “I’ll be able to remove our restraints. After that, I’ll cause a distraction on the far side of the building. Once they investigate it, there’ll be no coming back for them.” His eyes held the coldness I’d encountered before.

  This wasn’t like one of those spells that was temporary like he taught me back on the mountain. What he was asking my permission for was permanent, and I fully understood that.

  “Is that the only way?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

  “Yes it’s permanent, and that’s what we need,” he replied, looking down at the ground. “These aren’t the only people after you, and we might as well stop the ones we can.”

  “If you can release us from the restraints, why can’t we just run?” I asked, trying again.

  “They’d catch us,” he replied flatly. “This isn’t something to play around with. That spell that makes witches motionless wouldn’t even do the trick. Otherwise I would’ve done it in the foyer earlier.”

  I nodded.

  “I’m going to release us both from the restraints at the same time, but you need to play like you’re still sleeping. I’m going to go cause a little event, and on my cue, you’ll need to muster all the strength you have and follow me quickly when I return. You think you’ll make it?” He smiled, trying to bring some of the softness back to the person I’d become so fond of.

  The worry began spreading through me even more at the thought of Logan leaving my side. He was putting himself in harm’s way because of me, and I didn’t know what I would do if anything happened to him.

  “Logan, I —” I stopped myself, “thank you.”

  He smiled and nodded, knowing what I wanted to say but couldn’t.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  “I don’t know that I’ll ever think of Bach the same,” I replied and nodded.

  “Dimittere,” he whispered and the ropes broke, sliding off my wrists and ankles as well as his.

  “Be on the lookout,” he replied, touching my cheek gently.

  I watched him dart toward the hall leading to the far end of the building. He’d have to pass where they were playing the piano, and the fear grew inside of me. I didn’t want him to be seen. I did as I was told and closed my eyes, wondering what kind of distraction he had planned for them. I didn’t want to think about anything beyond the distraction.

  And then I heard it.

  Screeching began rolling down the halls, bouncing off the walls, as the shrill screams got closer and closer. What had he done? Opening my eyes briefly, I saw tiny, black winged creatures flying through the hall and into the room I was in. A flock of bird-like creatures swirled around the ceiling before returning back into the hallway. I was not their target. Logan had summoned these creatures. The cries of the beasts had a purpose behind them that couldn’t be stopped until they did as they were instructed. The creatures were multiplying in number with every second that went by, and the foreboding deep inside of me couldn’t be squashed.

  The sound of wings flapping against one another mixed with the shrillness of their call was the most unearthly sound to hear. The hallway was close to capacity with these beasts, awaiting their next instruction, and I prayed to the heavens above that Logan was okay. The squeals from the otherworld bounced off the walls as my heart raced with uncertainty. I didn’t know what to expect.

  And then he appeared, dodging all of the flying beings in the hallway.

  “Triss, now!” Logan hollered, running toward me, scooping me up in his arms before I even had a chance to get up, my head pounding with every movement.

  “Don’t look behind us,” he whispered in my ear, and for once, I didn’t argue.

  The piano stopped, and the screams began tunneling down the hall. These were not the screams of the creatures any longer. I closed my eyes and buried my face into Logan’s chest as he ran out of the building, holding me tightly. And I never looked back.

  Part II

  Goddess of the hunt

  You are so free

  Your fullness shows

  What we should be

  Your light rains down

  Leading the way

  Protecting us all

  From evils each day

  Chapter 19

  “So I think you guys have everything,” my aunt said, peeking in the car that was packed as tight as it could go. I glanced at my list that I sketched quickly to make sure we hadn’t left anything out that was a biggie. I looked up at my beautiful brick home that my mom and I spent so much time in, and now I was leaving it in the hands of my aunt to watch over. I was doing a decent job of keeping in the tears, but that was probably because my fear was overpowering the sadness. The last twenty-four hours only secured the fact that we were making the right choice. My wrists were still sore from where the rope was tightened, and it felt like a nightmare that I had just woken up from.

  After we enjoyed a visit at our house from our overly aggressive coven members, we didn’t have to worry about how to tell Aunt Vieta or Ellsy anything. It was their idea to get us out of town until things settled down. They also knew better then to ask where we were headed. Between us four, it was no mystery, but it was best unsaid. We didn’t tell them about our experience at the covenstead. It wasn’t something easily explained and would only complicate things. Logan and I were safe now and that’s what I had to concentrate on.

  “How are you doing?” My aunt hugged me.

  “I’m going to be okay. I think this time away will be good,” I said, feeling a little blush creep up my face, as I glanced over at Logan, who was smiling at me.

  “You’ll be in good hands no doubt,” Aunt Vieta said, looking over at Logan. “He’s turned into a fine young man.”

  “He’s okay, I guess.” I flashed a smile over in his direction, forcing the thought of the kiss from the night before out of my mind. “I think I’ll be able to teach him a thing or two about healing to help pass the time.”

  Aunt Vieta stepped back, and she looked a little bit less stressed, for some reason. She was dressed in some dark jeans and a pink linen shirt. Maybe, it was the pink, or maybe, it was the fact I wasn’t going to be an obvious target for whoever had decided they didn’t want us around any longer. I shuddered at the thought, but didn’t let my mind settle on that idea.

  “Thank you for watching over the house for me,” I said.

  “Dear, that’s not even a consideration. Of course I would. Now, here are a couple things I got from my apothecary shop this morning.” Aunt Vieta handed me a few darkened bottles to stuff in my purse. “I doubt you had them in your pantry, but they might prove useful.”

  “Thanks, Auntie. I love you and I’ll see you soon.” I gave her a quick smooch and Logan did the same t
o Ellsy, and we all switched.

  “You’re going to be just fine,” Ellsy whispered. “Logan would never let anything happen to you.”

  “I get that feeling,” I replied and stepped back, starting to allow myself to enjoy that feeling. “Have a safe flight, Ellsy.”

  Logan opened the car door for me, and I put my purse down on the floor and crawled onto the front seat. I buckled myself in and waved at Ellsy and my aunt as Logan walked over to the driver’s side.

  I continued waving as we pulled out of the driveway and onto the street. I saw Ellsy and my aunt hug each other. This was tough on us all.

  “Why didn’t you stop them when they came at us in the foyer?” I asked the question I had been dreading—no point in prolonging it for the car ride.

  “I could have stopped them, but I couldn’t have ended them,” his eyes were burning with hatred. “I wanted to ensure that I ended them.”

  I wanted to be frightened by that statement, but I wasn’t. I understood, and I was grateful.

  “How are you feeling?” Logan asked, his voice warming once more.

  “I’m doing okay,” I replied solemnly.

  “I didn’t ask how you were doing. I asked how you were feeling?” his voice soft. He glanced quickly over at me, and the kindness in his eyes made me completely at ease.

  “I’m feeling more hope in this very moment than I have since my mom’s disappearance. I’m feeling sad because she’s gone. I’m feeling nervous because, even though I love our cottage, I’ve never been there alone. I’m feeling guilty because other feelings are trying to push away the sadness. I’m scared to find out who is behind the attacks.” I stopped to take a breath. “And I’m worried I can’t offer you what you need.”

  His breath caught and he glanced over at me, his eyes weary.

  “Triss, I never meant to complicate things for you. Please scratch me off your list of worries. I never meant to create another burden on your heart,” he replied. His hand rested on my knee, and his touch brought so many of the feelings from the night before flooding back.

  “I think I like the complication,” I whispered. “I’m just afraid on so many levels.”

  “I don’t mean to rush anything,” he replied. “And there doesn’t have to be anything to rush if you don’t want—remember that.”

  My heart fell at the thought of that. I looked over at him as he was turning onto the highway. He was still the same Logan I grew up with on so many levels. He had his boyish sense of humor, immense curiosity about the world around him, which apparently got him into some trouble, and a vibrancy that I always cherished. And here sitting next to me was that package wrapped in a man’s body, who’d seen things and experienced things that most wouldn’t understand. A darkness still stirred deep within him, and I didn’t know if that would present a problem someday, but I wanted him to be a part of my someday.

  “You scare me sometimes,” I blurted out, wondering how out of all the thoughts that were running wild in my head, I managed to announce that.

  A devilish smile spread across his lips, and he tightened his hand on my knee.

  “Do I,” he stated more than questioned.

  “I mean, not like you’re going to hurt me kind of scared, but—” I stopped. I couldn’t actually put my finger on it.

  “This is an absolutely fascinating topic,” he said. “You must go on.”

  Again, he seemed completely amused. I thought that statement was kind of a serious topic, not one to be taken lightly.

  “For starters, you alluded to the black magic you learned, making it sound oh so mysterious, and then you never elaborated on it,” I huffed. “Then if I’m not mistaken I got a glimpse of it yesterday.”

  “Sounds like your more nosey than scared,” he said, still grinning. “And if I remember correctly back to yesterday’s events, it’s a good thing someone in that place had the knowledge to deal with those monsters.”

  “Good point,” I muttered, shifting on the seat. I had to take another approach because I wasn’t even sure what I meant and where this conversation was going. He had such an incredible ability to turn all topics regarding him, away from him.

  “I will let you into the world I knew briefly when it’s relevant, but it’s not a place nor a time I’m proud of, and I don’t want to ruin your idea of me based on who I was, not who I am now,” he said, turning to briefly look at me. He looked a little less sure of himself with that statement.

  “It can’t be that bad,” I replied, placing my hand on his.

  “Listen, you weren’t even aware of a basic fire spell, so the things I dealt with would probably blow your world,” he said, shaking his head.

  “I hope not,” I muttered, but I couldn’t forget the images of the black winged creatures swooping in to save the day.

  “That’s exactly what I mean,” he said, sighing. “I know they would, and I don’t want to risk it. I don’t want to lose you before I even have you.”

  There was a silence between us. Only the slight sound of the radio commentator was audible, and it was becoming a little irritating. I looked out the window, watching the city slowly spread out as we got farther away with every mile traveled. I wasn’t in any shape to be in a relationship. The kiss last night was amazing, intense, and passionate; touching parts of my soul I never knew existed. I wanted more, but I couldn’t do that to him, and I couldn’t do that to myself. I wasn’t ready. Add to the fact that he won’t tell me everything about his past and that just about sealed the deal. I can’t enter into a relationship without honesty up front.

  “What if you lose me before you have me because you won’t tell me about your life?” I finally broke the silence.

  “Is that a threat?” his lips stretched slightly, his eyes full of intrigue.

  I turned my body toward his, tucking my leg under so I could turn safely in the seatbelt.

  “I didn’t think of it as one. More like a bargaining point,” I said, placing my hand on his knee this time, feeling the electricity that I didn’t want to give up yet.

  “We’ll get it figured out then. Sounds like I have no choice.” His eyes were dancing with a playfulness I wanted to tap into and absorb for myself.

  “It can’t be as bad as you’re making it. I bet my imagination not knowing the truth makes it far worse. It’s like in a movie when they build up some big part and then you get to it and it’s like, ‘What’s the big deal?’” I said grinning, not realizing my fingers were circling his knee until he stilled.

  “Let’s hope that’s exactly what it’s like,” he replied. “Now this road trip has gotten far too serious so put on your iPod. We’re probably about to get to a spot where the radio sucks anyway.”

  I plugged in my iPod, got the channel set up, and hit shuffle hoping that our music tastes were somewhat in line, or it could make for an extremely painful experience.

  The Shins came on, and I looked over to gauge his reaction and was relieved when he nodded in approval.

  “Perfect song,” he said in approval as his finger tapped on the wheel.

  “Scored a point in that department,” I said giggling, feeling a little bit like someone my age should be allowed to feel. “That could’ve been a deal breaker.”

  We turned off to follow the signs for State Route 20, and my nerves started to get the better of me again.

  “Do you really think being at the cottage will help get us closer to bringing my mom back?” I asked.

  He seemed a little surprised by my question but answered it immediately.

  “I think it will keep you safe, which is the first step to getting your mom back,” he replied.

  “I’ve been thinking about it, and I think she was planning on going somewhere, but whoever came and got her,” I said.

  “What do you mean?” He turned down the music.

  “I think she thought that she would derail whatever plan she found out about by going to them, but instead they got to her first. Now all we have to do is figure out
who it is,” I said, moving back in my seat.

  I glanced at him and noticed the darkness was back in his eyes.

  “That’s what I’m scared of—right there,” I whispered, tapping his leg.

  “What?” He glanced over at me confused.

  “That look. There’s something you’re hiding, and I never know what’s going to set it off, or what subject I touched on to make you barricade yourself from me,” I said, hoping I wasn’t going to shut him down completely.

  “The same could be said about you,” he replied coolly.

  “I’m sure my eyes don’t do that,” I disputed.

  “No, they don’t, but you have a keen method of being able to hold people back at an arm’s length. You give no warning signs at all, which could be even worse, or as you so succinctly put it, scary.” He smiled. “Take down your walls, and maybe, I’ll take down mine.”

  “Anyway, back to what I was saying.” I waved my hand at him. “If we can figure out what or who is in that area back east, we might have a much better shot at figuring out whose got my mom.”

  “I don’t disagree, Triss,” his voice curt. Now what I did say?

  I rolled my eyes, and somehow, even though he’s driving, he caught it and smiled.

  “I’m really proud of everything you said last night to those pariahs. It was so eloquent and beautiful. My mom and your aunt were finally rendered speechless,” he began. My stomach tensed up thinking back to the hatred I felt rolling off from my ex-coven members. It seemed so displaced yet so fitting.

  “You have some pretty amazing qualities, Triss,” he finished.

  “Thanks,” I mumbled. “My bossiness can have a purpose at times, I suppose, but I certainly jumped the gun with Brenda last night. I could have gotten us killed.”

  “No, Triss. That wouldn’t have happened. I wouldn’t have let it,” he smiled, his eyes softening once more as he turned the volume up on the radio.

  I sat back in my seat, enjoying the selection of music my iPod was picking out for us and realized I’d better text Jenny back before we reached where there might be sketchy cell service.