by Todd, E. L.
“Hey,” he said, smiling at her. His grin was so wide he couldn’t control it. He didn’t realize how happy he was until he saw her face, the most beautiful face he’d ever seen.
“Congratulations.” She smiled.
“Thank you,” he said. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly, letting himself drown in his own happiness. “I’m so glad that worked out.” His hands glided over her back, feeling the contours of her curved frame, and he felt elated at the feel of her in his arms. He never wanted to let her go—she was his.
“I am too,” she said. “I wasn’t sure how that trial was going to go. And thank you for not mentioning my prior knowledge—I appreciate it.”
“Of course,” he said. “I’ll always protect you.” He broke their touch then cupped her cheek, sliding his fingers into her hair, which was as soft as silk. Then he rested his hand on her neck. Weston flinched at his touch and Calloway noticed the slight movement. “I need to tell you something and I feel stupid for waiting so long.”
She averted her gaze. “No.”
Calloway stared at her, completely confused by her response. “Excuse me?”
“No,” she repeated. Her eyes were directed to his chest, avoiding the glaze of tears in his eyes. She didn’t pull his hand away but she didn’t reciprocate his touch. “I still can’t forgive you for what you did. I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I can’t—be that way with you.”
“What?” Calloway whispered. The sound of her words broke his heart. He thought everything was perfect between them. If the White Wing could accept him into their society, then so could she. Calloway didn’t understand what was happening—he didn’t want to believe it. “I proved I was trustworthy. I don’t understand.”
“But you clearly didn’t trust me,” she said. “You kept all of this hidden from me. How I can trust someone who would do that?” The tears were coating in her eyes even though she tried to hide it. She crossed her arms over her chest, avoiding contact with him. The sight broke his heart—shattering it into more pieces. “How do I know you won’t do it again? Our whole world hangs in the balance and I can’t waste my time with someone that I can’t trust implicitly.”
Calloway grabbed her hands and held them to his chest. “You can trust me,” he said desperately. “I promise I will tell you everything.” He would even tell her about his true lineage if she gave him her heart. There would be no secrets between them. “Please give me another chance.”
“I care about you very much,” she said quietly. The tears started to brim over her eyes. “But you risked my sister’s life—the only family I have left—and that is just unforgivable. I can’t believe you would do that.”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “It won’t happen again.”
She shook her head. “No.”
Calloway took a deep breath and controlled his tears. “Please don’t do this. We belong together.”
Weston took her hand away. “We are friends—nothing more.”
Calloway took a deep breath. “Give us some time. I’ll win back your trust—I promise.”
“I’m sorry, Calloway.”
Calloway ran his hands through his hair. “What do I have to do, Weston? I’ve done everything you wanted. Yes, I made some mistakes but I accept the responsibility and learned from those errors. I will do anything you ask of me—I’ve proven it. Why are you stalling? I feel like you’re teasing me—making excuses. Do you just want to avoid a commitment with me? If that’s the truth, then just tell me. I know of your reputation—that you’re a heartbreaker. Don’t break my heart over and over—I don’t deserve it. I’m different than those other guys that you’ve dated—nothing like them. You either want me or you don’t. Now make your decision.”
She stared at him for a moment, saying nothing. The tears were falling from her eyes and Calloway knew the emotion was a beacon of her love for him. He wasn’t sure why she was making this so complicated—why couldn’t they just be together? Even though Weston was reputed for flirting with guys, making them believe that she wanted them, and then turning away a moment later like she had no interest in them, Calloway knew she would never do that to him. Her love for him was genuine. He waited for her to confess her feelings for him—that she loved him.
“I’m sorry, Calloway,” she said. She turned away and left the building, leaving Calloway standing alone with his agonizing heartbreak. His friends came up to him and patted him on the shoulder, trying to comfort him silently. For the first time, Calloway was angry. He wanted to punch something. “Why is she doing this to me? Why can’t I have the one thing I want? I don’t get it. There’s no winning with her!”
Easton patted him on the shoulder. “You know how my sister is; just give her some time.”
“Or move on from her,” Breccan said. “She obviously has commitment issues. She might just be saying that to avoid a relationship. She likes being single but enjoys having a guy chase her constantly.”
“I can never move on from her,” Calloway said sadly.
“Then you’re just going to torture yourself,” Breccan said sadly.
“Just give her some time,” Easton repeated.
“It doesn’t look like I have a choice.” Calloway sighed. He couldn’t move on from Weston but he couldn’t chase her anymore either. He was done with this game. “Besides, we have more important things to worry about.”
“Yes, you’re right,” Easton agreed. “Now Weston will tell us how we can help.”
“Well, technically you aren’t in the society,” Calloway said. “And she’ll kill me if I take you into danger again.”
“It’s my decision, Calloway,” she snapped. “You better respect it. If Weston can risk her life on a daily basis, so can I.”
Calloway nodded. “I agree.”
Mr. Avey walked out of the room, smiling at Calloway, and approached him. “Welcome,” he said. “I’m sorry my quorum gave you so such a difficult time.”
Calloway smiled. “They were just being careful,” he said. “You don’t want scum in your organization, right?”
“You’re right,” Mr. Avey said. “Perhaps we should do a re-trial.”
Calloway shook his head vigorously. “No, thank you.”
Mr. Avey laughed. “I thought not.” He laid his hand on his shoulder. “Come with me, Calloway.” He steered him away from his friends and they left the building, walking toward the dormitory building across the way. “I’m sure you have many questions.”
“Why do you teach high school?”
Mr. Avey raised an eyebrow. “That’s your first question?”
“I’m curious.”
“I love it—that’s why.”
Calloway nodded. “And you’re the president of the university?”
“Yes.” Mr. Avey nodded. “And I have been for a very long time.”
“So you organized the White Wing?”
He nodded. “I needed help,” he said. “I can’t possibly fight the forces of evil on my own. I’m unnaturally gifted but there is only so much I can do.”
Calloway nodded. “So, why do you trust me? You heard everything that was said against me.”
Mr. Avey opened the dormitory door, allowing Calloway to enter first, and they walked down the hallway toward the rooms. “You don’t have a mean bone in your body, Calloway. It sounds like you’re just in an unfortunate situation.”
Calloway sighed. “It’s a relief to hear someone say that.”
“People have a hard time trusting you?”
He immediately thought of Weston. “Some people do.”
Mr. Avey stopped in front of a dorm room and opened the door. There were two beds on the opposite walls along with a small kitchen and a few bookshelves. “This is where you and Breccan will be staying. I assumed he would be your roommate of choice.”
Calloway walked into the room and sat on the bed. “I can’t think of anyone better.”
Mr. Avey sat on the bed across from him. “Did you receive your
scholarship letter?”
“Yes,” Calloway said. “Thank you. If I just read the signature I would have known it was you.”
“It’s always better to have it as a surprise.” He smiled. “But I want you to know that you would have received that money either way. You earned it, Calloway. This wasn’t an act of favoritism.”
“Thank you,” he said. “It means a lot to me, as well as my aunt and uncle.”
“I know,” he said. “It was the reason why I admitted Breccan to the university and gave him the same scholarship.”
Calloway raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
Mr. Avey sighed. “Your cousin’s grades were poor and his tests scores were even lower. If I didn’t admit him into this college, he wouldn’t have been accepted anywhere else. I also gave him the scholarship because I knew he would never afford the tuition. He was admitted solely based on his connection with you.”
“Does he know that?” Calloway asked.
“No,” he said. “I hope if he thinks he’s smart enough to attend this college it will empower him to learn and grow. You can tell him if you wish, but I suggest you don’t. It will definitely wound his pride.”
“I won’t say anything,” Calloway said. “I have no interest in doing so.”
Mr. Avey nodded. “Good choice.” He stared at Calloway for a moment then rubbed his hands together. “I know what you are, Calloway.”
Calloway’s heart froze as he listened to those words. They were so unexpected and random that Calloway felt afraid. He was cornered in a vacant building, unable to call for help if he needed it. Mr. Avey continued to stare at him, waiting for him to respond.
“What do you mean?” Calloway said, swallowing the lump in his throat.
Mr. Avey stared into Calloway’s eyes, looking directly into his empty soul. “I know you don’t have an essence.”
Calloway’s hands started tp shake. Now his secret was revealed to the Chief of the White Wing. He would be killed immediately and Weston would know the truth—that he was tainted with evil.
Mr. Avey continued to stare at Calloway, watching the sweat drip down his forehead. “I know you lack an essence—just like a Hara-Kir.”
This was the end. There no way to refute this allegation when his teacher seemed so convinced of its truth. “How did you know?” he whispered.
Mr. Avey pressed his hands together and was silent for a long moment. He averted his gaze from Calloway and stared at the contours of his hands, organizing his thoughts. He finally looked up and met Calloway’s gaze. “I’m a Hara-Kir.”
Calloway felt the shock spread through his body in waves, overcome with the unbelievable revelation that his teacher, mentor, father away from home, was the enemy, and had been the enemy the entire time. He wanted to reach for his knife but knew there was no way to grab it without being seen.
“Please don’t be afraid of me,” he said gently. “I mean you no harm.”
Calloway relaxed, but only slightly. “Then why are you leader the White Wing? Are you a spy?”
“No.” He laughed. “Actually, my goal is to save the Life, even if I don’t have one. I may be a Hara-Kir and come from the Anti-Life, but I don’t agree with anything they stand for. There is a purpose in life: love, friendship, passion, so many things that make life worth living. They just lost their way.”
“So, you are good?”
“I try to be,” he answered.
“Does anyone know?”
Mr. Avey shook his head. “You are the only one.”
“Are you going to tell them?”
“No,” Mr. Avey said. “They’ll kill me.”
“Even if you are good—not working with the Anti-Life?” Calloway asked. “You’ve done so much for their cause.”
Mr. Avey shrugged. “It’s understandable. Who knows if or when I’ll turn back to the forces of evil? I suggest you keep your situation a secret as well.”
“So, I am a Hara-Kir?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “According to your DNA, it’s impossible.”
“Then why don’t I have an essence?”
Mr. Avey shrugged. “It must have been taken.”
“But how am I alive, then?” Calloway asked. “I thought humans perished after their essence was taken, claiming their own lives or dying prematurely.”
“I don’t know that answer either,” Mr. Avey said. “But it must have been taken when you were a small child since you have no recollection of it. Since you were born of a natural birth by a human mother, I don’t see how you can be a Hara-Kir.”
“Perhaps they were both Hara-Kirs,” Calloway whispered.
“No,” Mr. Avey said. “One of them had to be human if you had a live birth.”
Calloway immediately thought of his father, knowing he would be the Hara-Kir, not his mother. “Was my father one?”
“I didn’t know him,” he said. “I came from the Anti-Life before your father was even born. We wouldn’t have crossed paths.”
Calloway sighed, frustrated that he still didn’t know anything about his own father. It was irritating living in the dark the entire time, not knowing the truth about his origins. “So, what am I?”
“I really don’t know, Calloway.”
“Is that why you had such an invested interest in me?”
Mr. Avey nodded. “When I realized you didn’t have an essence, I wanted to study you and determine if you were good or evil. When I knew how exceptional you were and how good you were, I knew you were someone that could be trusted. You definitely weren’t a Hara-Kir or something that would aid them. But I only assisted you academically because of your talents—no other reason.”
Calloway pulled the gifts from his pocket and handed them to his teacher. “My father left me these but there was no note,” he said. “I don’t understand the significance.”
Mr. Avey held up the orb and looked at it. “This is a Soul-Trapper,” he said. “The Hara-Kirs use it to capture the essence of humans, storing it until they release it inside of the supernova.”
“Can the souls be released?” Calloway asked.
“If there is, I don’t know of it,” he said. “But we should find out.”
Calloway grabbed the orb from his hand and squeezed it, showing the light inside. Then he squeezed it again, dousing the glow. “And what is this?”
Mr. Avey stared at it. “I don’t know,” he said. He grabbed the orb and repeated the gesture, but it didn’t respond to him at all. “But it only responds to you so it must be yours.”
“What do you mean?”
“All Hara-Kirs are given an orb that specifically belongs to them. It can’t be used by other Hara-Kirs because it is unique to every user.”
“So this is unique to me?” Calloway asked.
Mr. Avey nodded.
“But I’m not a Hara-Kir.”
“I know,” he said. “Then it must be your father’s and it mistakes you for the same person.”
“So, my father was a Hara-Kir?” he asked.
“It’s possible,” he said. “But it’s also possible that there is a completely different explanation. You father could have been fighting for the Life or he could have been fighting against it. Humans turn to the Anti-Life, giving up their essence willingly, and join forces with them. Your father could have done this as well.”
Calloway shook his head. “My father wouldn’t do that.”
Mr. Avey stared at him. “Time will tell. The more we investigate the Anti-Life and their plans, the more we will learn about them. Also, we will research your father and find the truth, Calloway.”
“We will?” he asked. “I’ve always wanted to know the truth. I’m tired of defending my father when I don’t even know if I should.”
Mr. Avey nodded. “We’ll figure it out, Calloway. I suspect these upcoming times will be dark and difficult, but if we persevere we’ll be successful—we can’t lose hope.” He rose from his seat on the bed and approached the door. “Good luck in the fa
ll. I’m sure you will do well, Calloway.” He closed the door behind him, leaving Calloway alone with his thoughts.
Sitting in his new dorm room made him realize his life was forever changed. His high school career was over and now he was an adult, starting college as a freshman. He had traveled to the Anti-Life and seen the forces of evil at work and heard them proclaim their sinister attacks. He knew life would never be the same, but he would keep fighting until the war was over—until they won or lost.
The story continues….
Darkness in Light
(Book Three of the Essence Series)
Available Soon
About the Author
E. L. Todd was raised in California where she attended California State University, Stanislaus and received her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, then continued onto her master’s degree in education. While she considers science to be interesting, her true passion is writing. She is also the author of the Soul Saga Trilogy, The Alpha Series, and her bestselling novel, Only For You, the first installment of the Forever and Always Series. She is also an assistant editor at Final-Edits.com.
By E. L. Todd
Soul Catcher
(Book One of the Soul Saga)
Soul Binder
(Book Two of the Soul Saga)
Soul Relenter
(Book Three of the Soul Saga)
Only For You
(Book One of the Forever and Always Series)
Forever and Always
(Book Two of the Forever and Always Series)
Edge of Love
(Book Three of the Forever and Always Series)
Force of Love
(Book Four in the Forever and Always Series)
Fight for Love
(Book Five in the Forever and Always Series)
Lover’s Roulette
(Book Six in the Forever and Always Series)
Happily Ever After
(Book Seven of the Forever and Always Series)
Sadie
(Book One of the Alpha Series
Elisa
(Book Two of the Alpha Series)
Connected by the Sea