by TJ Adams
The ground beneath me rumbled. I stumbled a little before finding my balance. Now what. Something darted close to my face, the wind of its passing dusting my cheek. I stared in the direction it came, but there was no indication to what it was. A sharp pain pierced my upper arm close to my shoulder. Then another in my upper thigh. I felt for blood, but my hand came away clean, which had to mean I wasn’t being attached physically, just mentally. And if that were true I could overcome it in the same way as I did the fictitious bugs.
Another sharp pain pierced my right cheek. Jesus, it sure didn’t feel like nothing but a mental attack. I search for blood again, but found none. Then an orb winked out. I was hit in the back of the thigh and at the same time another orb winked out. Was this a two-pronged attack? Surely the soul snatcher would not destroy the energy that created it. Maybe it was trying to find mom’s orb and destroy her soul before I could rescue her.
Something large plunged through my stomach. My body concaved with the immensity of the pain that hollowed me out. I couldn’t breathe such was the agony that radiated throughout. I staggered forward barely on my feet. Was this death coming to get me?
I fell to my knees, then my forehead hit the ground. One cough and I spat fluid, too much to be merely spit. The pain held me in check, still without a breathe; lungs screaming for mercy.
Finally, somehow, one gulp and the air rushed in. I heaved in great gulps and coughed again. Now a little more coherent and capable I wiped my mouth and the back came away red. Blood. The pain was still great, but I’d found a thimble of strength. I knelt and pulled up my shirt to look at my stomach. Smooth skin, no mark. I spat a glob of red spittle onto the ground. Overhead another orb winked out.
I pushed to my feet, driven by an inner burning. No more. The soul snatcher had snuffed his last. It was there, within me, an understanding, a long held knowing of what to do. Unlike any other time when I released that which was hidden deep within me, this time I would do it with intent.
When I turned my attention within I felt the ripple of power running just below the surface. It felt so immediate and familiar, surprising I never noticed it before. I focused on the energy, amazed at how easy it felt to manipulate. I stretched my hand out and felt it dance the length of my arm, right to the tips of my fingers. My body pulsed with raw energy. Never had I felt so good. But riding below the surface of this maelstrom of power was a dark essence hungry for released.
I had a choice, allow myself to be continually attacked while watching the orbs wink out, or release the power within. There really seemed no choice, but I hesitated because of what I felt deep within. The darkness was me, the other side of me, and nothing but evil. It spoke to me, lured like a drug to an addict. What would I become once I unleashed that sort of power? What would happen to my mom if I didn’t. There really was no choice.
With a deep inhale I pulled back the veil that kept the power in.
Everything surrounding me exploded.
25
I grabbed hold of Akako’s foot and dragged him back. When he turned to me, anger bubbling in his beady eyes, I shook my head, keeping mute. I wasn’t sure if creeping was strictly necessary, but no way would I end up in the graveyard again.
I walked the hall while Akako hovered alongside me.
“My lady, your proximity is enough to alert the soul snatcher to your presence. Talking will make no difference.”
“Great, now you tell me.”
Next thing Akako was flung back into me and I was catapulted through the void, thrown by a shockwave of energy that blasted us away like grains of sand. Finally we came to rest out in the ether of gray away from the hall.
Akako lay on top of me, a smelly toe up my nostril. I shoved him away. “Jesus, what happened?”
“A shift in the fabric of the void.”
“You mean a supernova. I think my arm’s broken.” I tried shifting it out from behind my back.
I rolled over and gingerly pulled it forward. Akako lifted it and I screeched obscenities at him and batted his hand away. “Do not do that. You’ve probably moved the broken bone out of alignment.”
“Everything looks fine, my lady.”
“And you see x-ray, huh?”
Akako yanked my arm over my head in one swift move. I howled and punched him in the face, which sent him rolling away.
When he came crawling back, mumbling under his breath, I had to admit my arm felt a little better. I did have full movement in it, which Akako had cruelly demonstrated. Nothing sounded or felt like it was grinding away, broken bone on broken bone, when I moved it about.
I smiled sheepishly. “You may be right.”
He sat heavy beside me and folded his arms across his chest without looking at me.
“Next time give me some warning and I won’t react so negatively.”
He continued to stare ahead.
“Sorry, about punching you…do you care to enlighten me some more on what kicked our asses to the other side of the void?”
“A great release in energy of seismic proportions.” He said.
“Here, in the void. How is that possible?”
“Gods fighting?” he shrugged. “It’s the only thing I can think that would compare.”
“Does that happen often?”
“Not since I’ve been a resident.”
“Besides I thought each was locked in their own domain to keep everything running smoothly.”
“That is the way of it, yes.”
Flashes of light turned the dull of the gray into an ethereal light show. The only thing comparable would be standing in the middle of a meteor shower. I sat in silence awed by what I saw. But the more I watched the more I felt a pulsing through my veins and a tingling alone my skin.
A kaleidoscope of imagery swamped my brain. What I saw were snippets of lives lived. I knew the call. It was the same feeling I experienced every time I stood in front of the Book of Deeds.
“They’re souls. Millions upon millions of them and they’re heading to the Halls of Judgement. Oh my god. That’s going to weigh me under for a decade.”
“This is an experience I have never had.”
“How could’ve it happened?”
I could tell by the look he gave me, Akako had no answer.
“The only explanation I can come up with is world war three.”
I groaned to my feet and in apology held my hand out to Akako who, after his eyebrows shot northward, placed his hand in mind and allowed me to lift him to hovering.
“Let’s get this done. I better head to the Halls of Judgement ASAP.”
All it took was one thought and we were once again in the corridor of, what I presumed, was Dot’s house. Before we made it three feet a tiny, shriveled creature came shuffling through the wall and into the corridor. When it saw us it changed direction and shuffled through the wall on the other side.
“Did you see that?” I said.
Akako nodded.
“Got any ideas.”
He shrugged. I took off through the wall in pursuit and soon caught the miniature creature up because its legs were so small and it moved awkwardly. Before the little thing could do anything magical, like disappear to another part of the void, I scooped it up by pinching its neck between thumb and forefinger. The little thing reacted by waving its short stumpy legs and arms about. I lifted it to my face and peered in close.
“What are you?”
“Is it not enough that I am reduced to this. Do not torture me any longer. Let me be.”
“I’m more than willing to set you on your way, just answer the question.”
“You know what I am.”
I looked closer. “Sorry, but I don’t think we’ve met.”
It tried its best to swing for me, mouth snapping. I saw gums in a saggy wrinkled mouth.
“You’re the soul snatcher?”
It turned its head away, the revelation too humiliating to face.
“Jesus Christ, what happened to you?”
&
nbsp; The soul snatcher started flailing again, pudgy arms and legs making no impact on its attempt to escape.
“I will rise again, for I cannot be destroyed. Even as I speak I feel the desires of the millions call to me.”
“All those souls, they were yours.”
“Let me go, witch.”
At the mention of that word I dropped him. He rolled a couple of times across the gray until he found his feet, then hurried off on his tiny feet.
I read the same expression on Akako’s face as I’m sure was on mine. Both of us were lost for words.
“I guess that means no graveyard visits.” Akako said, raising his eyebrows in suggestive humor.
“That is so strange. What could do that?”
“My lady, perhaps we don’t want to know that answer. Let’s us be grateful for this outcome.”
“But what would it take to diminish the soul snatcher like that, to free all those souls when Death could not?”
“Something of immense power I would say. Like I said we should not question, just accept.”
“No. This is exactly what we need to question. What if this mysterious force is something we have to face. What if it is a new threat to the mortal realm, and the void.”
“My lady, you worry too much and you ask too many questions. I have been alive”⸺he smiled sheepishly at the loose use of the term alive⸺“long enough to know when it is best to turn your back and get on with your own personal doings. Don’t you have to be somewhere?”
I groaned. Did he have to bring that up? “First I’ve got to check on Dot. Make sure she wasn’t one of those souls we just saw.”
Before I could enter through the wall in the direction that gave me the greatest tug, Matteo exited the bedroom door, his mother on his arm. My heart stopped beating for the seconds I stared at his gorgeous face. I drank it in like we’d not seen each other in years. The smile on his face made my throat constrict and tears pooled in my eyes such that my vision blurred.
Akako tugged my hand. “Let us go. We’re not needed here.”
What he said pained my heart. We’re not needed here. More accurately I shouldn’t be here. Matteo had his mother back. He had his life full again.
“Perhaps your right.”
I kept looking over my shoulder as I walked away, even though he’d moved out of sight.
26
“Honestly guys, I’m really happy for you and all, but you’ve got to stop snogging. It’s turning people off their ice cream.”
Robert unfurled Maisy from his embrace and her face flushed up a pretty pink. Now those two were an item Maisy and I were on good terms. She shrugged and smiled a girlie smile as if to say what can I say, the guy won’t leave me alone?
I loved that they were happy, but their happiness only rubbed my face in my own miserable existence.
Robert disappeared into his office and Maisy came over to stand behind the counter with me, even though there were no customers. Things were quieting down given the season was fast turning cold.
“What about you. How’s that hunky guy that’s come in here a few times. You two an item yet?”
“I wish, but no. You know how they say timing is everything. Well that’s doubly true in our case. If we’d met…say one year ago perhaps we would’ve had a chance at something.” Or maybe not given I was queen bitch of evil back then, apparently.
“That’s too bad. You need to find someone. Honestly, being in love is the best feeling.”
“In love.” I raised my eyebrows and playfully nudged her. “Quick going.”
“It’s no secret I’ve been sweet on Robert for a long time.”
“I do remember you giving me the evil eye more than a few times when Robert spoke to me.”
She half laughed, perhaps a little embarrassed. “I can’t describe what it feels like to finally have your dream come true. I think the prize is sweeter this way.”
I was truly happy for her, but it hurt like hell. In a spontaneous display of affection she pulled me forward and hugged me. I fell into her with the heavy onslaught of her emotions. Having spent a good while effectively dodging any form of human contact, this felt like a huge whammy. At least the residing emotion was all love and mush, which melted my insides and made me feel all gooey and loving myself.
When she peeled me off her and set me back to standing on my own two feet, I smiled at her like I’d been drugged.
“Are you all right?”
“Sure. I feel good. Much better than I did seconds ago. Thanks for the hug. You shared some of your feel good vibes. I’m on cloud nine at the moment and I don’t think I want to come down.”
She flicked a glance over my shoulder then back at me. “Good. Perhaps it’s time to go spread some of those vibes.” She spun me around so I faced Matteo walking toward the counter.
My heart did a spastic leap and the feel good vibes morphed into naughty yearning vibes as I watched him saunter toward me.
“That’s a good look you have on your face.” He said. “I hope it’s for me.”
“This is the look I give all my customers.”
“It is. I bet you get a lot of repeat visitors, especially of the male kind.” He leaned on the counter, wafting his cologne my way. My eyes trailed his arm along the bicep peeking from under his shirt to his big hand.
No, no, no, not allowed. No, exciting tingles pooling from below, thankyou. Keep to the brain.
“It pays to be friendly with the customers. Thanks to the internet reviews are all the rage, so you don’t get away with being surly anymore.”
He quirked an eyebrow and I inhaled deep, hoping to keep the shot of lust from dropping further than my belly button. Distract. It was my only hope.
“How is your mother?”
“She’s doing great. Better and better by the day.”
“And her mental…you know. You mentioned before…”
“She’s rediscovering the joy of being alive. It’s a slow process, there’s still a lot of pain to overcome, but she’ll make it.”
“That’s wonderful.” And a miracle I would uncover. My number one priority, next to sorting souls of course.
“Everything with mom has made me rethink a few things in my life.”
“It has?” Not sure where this was going. Did I want to hear more?
“How about I take you to dinner and we can chat some more? I feel like I’ve only seen glimpses of you lately.”
That was definitely something I wanted to hear.
“Sure,” I squeaked.
Jesus, no I shouldn’t. Oh bloody hell, how was it going to hurt? I was sick of the push and pull of my heart vs my brain. Who wanted to be logical all the time? But considering the outcome of any interlude between the two of us, namely me going psycho obsessive⸺oh, shut up.
She wore the sexiest look while she warred with her choices.
I placed a hand on the counter and leaned closer, watching her eyes flare as she stared at my hand, then arm, then face. She flushed when she met my eyes and her breath hitched. Perhaps it had something to do with how intently I pinned her with my stare. She backed up a smidgeon, then straighten perceptibly as if mentally pulling herself to her senses.
“Good, how about tonight. I’ll cook.” I said.
“At your place?”
“Unless you’re offering your kitchen.”
“I thought we would eat out.”
“It’s better for intimate conversation, amongst other things.” I winked and her face flushed.
She swallowed, looking stymied for words.
“Tonight sound good?” There was no way I would give her room to squirm.
“Oh, umm…I think I have something on.”
If my gaze were a hammer she’d been nailed to the back wall by now. “Tomorrow then.” In fact, I wanted to hurtle the counter top and do just that, with my body; nail her against the back wall that is. I smiled, watching her try and wriggle her way out of my invitation.
“I’m on the spot her
e. I’ll need to consult my diary.”
“The day after will work. As will any other day of the week.”
“Maybe tomorrow. Maisy is always talking about this Japanese place a couple blocks from here. Perhaps we could try it out.” She looked hopeful.
I shook my head; no getting away that easily. In fact, she wasn’t getting away at all. “My place, tomorrow night, eight o’clock.”
“I suppose…that’s okay.”
I tried for a warm smile, but I think it was closer to a smirk. I’d set the trap and she was about to get caught. I’d puzzled for long enough over her aversion to touch, even thought she’d suffered some form of abuse. But it turned out the truth wasn’t so mundane. Bounty was not the innocent mortal she pretended to be.
I’d busted out of the soul snatcher’s hold, united, whole. The feeling was indescribable. It was like I’d expanded, like I’d become a giant. The power that coursed through my body electrified me, made me feel alive like I’d never been before.
And then I’d felt it. The yearning to have and consume was too great. For the briefest moment it weakened me. That’s when I felt her, smelt her, saw her. She was there in the void. How could that be? How could an innocent be somewhere mortals could not? Bounty had lied. And now I knew, I was going to pull that lie apart, one piece at a time. She was going to learn what it meant to hide things from me. I was going to make sure she would never, could never, do it again.
Author’s note
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