Shadow Soul (Narun Book 1)

by M. J. Bavis

  “Anytime, partner.” He unleashed his signature smile.

  “Don’t ruin the one day I haven’t felt an urge to chop your head off.”

  “So, you compensated by trying to chop your own instead?”

  “I wasn’t trying to…” The sentence wilted into a sigh as I realised it was pointless.

  Leo backed up to the door, tipping an imaginary cap, and picked up the bag of his clothes and left.

  Slight remorse for treating him unkindly gripped me until I turned to the chest of drawers.

  He’d taken my daggers.

  Chapter 25

  “This looks amazing.” I could nearly taste the main course—steak and roasted vegetables presented in a tower arrangement—based on the scent.

  The restaurant for Tony and Jill’s family engagement dinner was the real deal, chandeliers and lines of cutlery surrounding each plate. I’d been introduced to both sets of parents, grandparents and a bunch of relatives I’d soon forget, and sampled a starter that could only be described as a fishy mousse.

  I was eager for the main course.

  “Lana, you’re missing out.” Annie tutted next to me as she swallowed her first mouthful, disapproving of Lana’s plate of vegetables and tofu steak. “You’re not even a vegetarian.”

  Defensive, and obviously coveting Leo’s steak by her plate, Lana patted her flat stomach and pouted her mulberry-painted lips. “This dress wasn’t made to fit a steak.”

  It was questionable whether it was made to fit a person.

  “So, Camilla” —I clenched my teeth as if on cue at the sound of Leo’s voice— “what happened to your arm?”

  Oh, no you didn’t…

  Leo’s knife pointed to my upper arm, to the healing scar no one had noticed or cared to mention for the past hour, even though my gown was a halter-neck.

  “What’d you do, Milla? Walked into a knife?” Tony chewed with his usual gusto, eyeing me from under his brow.

  “Let me see.” Jill reached over Annie to touch my arm. Her face said it all: on me, a cut was never just a cut. She assumed the worst and Leo knew she would. Traitor.

  “It’s nothing.” I shot a warning to Leo. “I bumped into a shelf in a shop.”

  “I don’t know.” Leo sucked in a breath. I wished it’d been his last. “It sure doesn’t look like a cut you’d get from a shelf. It’s too neat.”

  What is he doing now? Payback? He was the one who stole my daggers. I was angry at him.

  I kicked at his foot under the table—and made Lana yelp in pain.

  “Sorry, Lana, foot cramp….” I rubbed my shin for even a pinch of validity.

  “Leo’s right, it looks more like you’ve been knifed.” Jill leaned forward, pressing her elbows on the table, sounding concerned—and a little disappointed?

  “Well, detective”— I pulled a face at Leo— “if you’re that interested, it wasn’t so much the shelf but a nail that stuck out of the shelf that cut me. At the supermarket.” I flicked my hair back. “Really, it’s not a big deal.” I popped a carrot in my mouth in a hurry, accidentally biting my inner cheek in the process. I soothed the sting with my tongue, wishing for the conversation to die down.

  I almost had my wish.

  “Hmm, prone to accidents, then? Bit of a klutz…?” The man cannot take a hint, can he? “You know, bad balance is often the cause of clumsiness. I could teach you some exercises that would help,” Leo said, perfectly composed with a twinkle in his eye he hid nearly too well.

  Tony choked out a laugh, curiosity and amusement playing for prime position on his face.

  “Thanks, Leo. How…considerate. But I’ll be okay.” I plastered on a smile.

  “Maybe you could teach me, Leo. My balance is shocking!” Lana ran her fingers along Leo’s forearm. If steak wasn’t such a rare luxury I would’ve puked.

  Leo recovered from his coughing fit.

  “Speaking of balance, Lana. You sure you should be drinking all that if you’re driving?” Annie—who I was beginning to like for her call-it-as-you-see-it honesty—pointed at the empty wine glasses in front of Lana, taking the heat off me.

  I downed a glass of water and poured more. I wasn’t sure what Leo was trying to achieve with the little episode but keeping our truce must not be on top of his list.

  I dug my head down and tackled the main course. Gladly, I was left to it until everyone had finished and Tony announced a little break before the dessert.

  I excused myself.

  “Milla, wait up.” Jill’s high heels clicked against the stone floor as she grabbed me by the elbow on my way to the bathroom. Annie bypassed us with an acknowledging smile.

  “What’s up?”

  “That’s what I wanted to ask you.” Jill lowered her voice, ushering me next to the large plant that brightened up the otherwise plain hallway. “What’s going on with you and Leo?”

  I’m going to break his neck, that’s what.

  “Uh, I don’t follow.”

  “Come on.” The end of Jill’s earring folded on her collarbone as she tilted her head. “I’m not stupid. There’s something going on, I can see the looks. Besides, he can barely take his eyes off you, even with Lana jabbering in his ear all night.” Jill straightened the white ribbon interrupting her deep-red dress at the waist. “Have you guys come to an agreement of some sort?”

  “We’ve” —I wished the gown gave a little more breathing space— “had a chat.”

  Jill’s eyes lit up like a sparkler on bonfire night. “Really? You guys are friends now? We can stop walking on eggshells?”

  I traced the wall with my fingers to busy my hands. “We can co-exist. No big deal.”

  Jill beamed, clearly dying to tell Tony and ask more questions, when her mum interrupted us by wrapping her arms around Jill’s teeny waist. She needed Jill for something and ushered her back to the dining room.

  “It’s amazing how much they look alike, isn’t it?” Annie whispered into my ear, making me jump. Can everyone sneak up on me these days?

  I followed her gaze to Jill and her mum walking along the corridor.

  “You’d never guess she was adopted,” Annie thought out loud.

  My jaw dropped. “Jill’s adopted?”

  “You didn’t know?” She took my blank face as a no. “Oh—she was adopted when she was four. Sorry, I thought you knew. She’s pretty open about it.” Annie swayed her head as if dancing to a tune.

  “I guess it never came up.” What did I expect? I hadn’t exactly been an ambassador for all things open and honest.

  I smiled at Annie and excused myself for some fresh air.

  The restaurant’s decked patio was lit by large, metal pillars shaped like a candlestick. There was a circle of granite benches, periodically interrupted by flower arrangements, in the middle of the space.

  I wasn’t the first to arrive.

  Leo greeted me with a nod as he perched on one of the benches, his legs straight in front of him.

  “Where’s your groupie?” I claimed a seat on the bench next to him.

  “I’m assuming you’re referring to Lana?” He quirked his lips. “She’s… somewhere.”

  I reached forward enough to slap the back of Leo’s head. “Thanks a lot for the scar. I thought we’d agreed on a low profile.”

  Leo revealed his pearly whites again. “You had it coming.”

  “Says you, thief. I want my Sais back.” When his only reply was a half-hearted eye-roll, I let it go and turned my focus to the surrounding windows. The rest of the restaurant was quiet, with only a few people dining in the main room. I ignored the nagging feeling that I was actually glad to talk to Leo alone.

  The steak must’ve been more wine-infused than I thought.

  “Will you stop that?”

  “Stop what?” Leo’s voice was velvet.

  “Staring at me like I’m a traffic light. It’s weird.”

  Leo chuckled to himself and retracted whatever he was about to say. “You look happy,” he
said after a moment.

  I lowered my chin, choosing to ignore his comment.

  Leo’s gaze still burned my face. Hadn’t anyone ever taught him it was rude to stare?

  “Did you know Jill was adopted?” I asked, shifting his attention.

  “Yes, of course. Why?”

  “No reason.” I balanced my feet on the heels, staring at the faint scuff marks on the tips of the shoes.

  “You only just found out?” Leo cottoned on.

  I lifted one of my bare shoulders. “Annie mentioned it in passing.” I wasn’t sure why it bugged me. “Guess I’m no good at this friendship thing.” I made a face to deflect the topic and again we fell quiet, bar from Leo tapping his shoes against the tarmac.

  “If I asked you something would you promise to say yes?” he said, serious this time.

  I declined, obviously, but eased my expression when I saw Leo looking foreign in his own skin.

  “Kalika, I need to tell you something.”

  Air filled my lungs. It wasn’t news Leo was hiding things from me. Was I ready to know what it was?

  A shiver crept up my spine and suddenly, I was brutally aware of how little protection the silky dress offered in the light breeze. Or was there a breeze?

  “This is not the place, though,” Leo added after a while, and I felt like I’d dodged a bullet. “I wanna take you somewhere. For a day. Away from here where we can talk without distractions.”

  “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

  “Please. I need to tell you something. Something I should’ve told you a long time ago, but—” Leo buried his head into his hands.

  I was sure my heart was going to thump its way out of my chest. Leo, still hunching, looked as if he was weighed down by a physical burden that was getting too heavy to carry.

  “Le—”

  “Leo!” Lana shrieked as the door to the patio burst open. “There you are! I was beginning to think you were hiding from me on purpose!” Lana’s tipsy brawl felt out of place in the cocoon I had thought we were in. Tony’s cousin, whatever his name was, stumbled in, hanging onto Lana’s hooked arm. Within a nano-second, Leo’s face airbrushed back into party mood.

  “Just getting some fresh air; trying to make room for dessert.” Leo slid sideways on the bench and Lana sat next to him. “You alright, Dave?” He knuckle-punched Tony’s cousin, who took a seat by me.

  “Camilla, is it?” Dave slurred so close to my cheek the alcohol on his breath made me a little drunk.

  I shuffled further from him, trying to keep it inconspicuous.

  “Now, how Tony manages to befriend such fine-looking people is beyond me.” Dave’s eyes lingered a little too long, a little too low. “Your boyfriend’s a lucky guy.”

  “Don’t have one.” I rose from the bench; the fresh air had turned sour.

  Lana giggled for no obvious reason. Yes, bringing her car tonight was plain idiotic.

  “Aw, where you going, love? I only just got here.”

  I smiled politely, reminding myself Jill wouldn’t appreciate her dinner guests leaving with a broken nose.

  “I think it’s time for dessert.” I brushed the creases from my dress.

  Dave got up to follow me and took support from my shoulder as he lost his balance. I staggered in my high heels as his weight pressed down on me.

  In a flash, Leo appeared next to Dave, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. “Alright, bro, time to switch for coffee.”

  Dave said something incomprehensible but didn’t seem to mind Leo’s subtle direction. Lana, still tittering, followed us indoors.

  “Oh, Leo,” I called behind him. “I hear the forecast is looking bright for next weekend.”

  Chapter 26

  Palpitations. Sweaty hands. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say I was nervous.

  As the boxing gloves hit the corner, several gulps of water were already down my throat. The punching bag swung from side to side, easing itself into a gentle rhythm.

  “Stressful morning?” a man on a cross-trainer panted.

  “Sorry?” I tossed the paper cup in the bin.

  “Just saying,” —he gestured towards the punching bag— “I’d hate to be on the receiving end.”

  I smiled, threw in a lame joke and headed for the dressing rooms. Leo was to pick me up soon.

  My pulse refused to settle. I’d have to hear Leo out. I had to know what he was hiding, but at the same time, could I handle what he had to say?

  I angled my face up to the showerhead, the water cooling my cheeks. I had a feeling I’d soon be facing past demons.

  There weren’t many I could handle.

  *

  The knock on the door came. Though expected, it still startled me, accelerating my heart to heavy, short thuds. I took a moment to prepare myself before unlocking the door.

  An expressionless Leo stood on the doorstep and we stared at each other for several seconds, passively mimicking each other’s body language.

  “Come on, then. Let’s get this over with,” I finally caved, breaking the spell, and followed Leo to the car a pace behind. “Where are you taking me, anyway?”

  Leo opened the car door for me. “I rented a cottage in the woods about an hour away.”

  “Please tell me you’re joking.”

  “Why would I be joking?” he returned.

  “Seriously? A cottage in the woods?” I was sure I looked as unimpressed as I sounded.

  “What’s wrong with that?”

  “Nothing.” I laughed dryly. “If this is a romantic mini-break or the site for my brutal murder.”

  He locked the doors for effect as he slid me a lazy look. “You’ll just have to wait and see then, won’t you?”

  After fifty minutes of driving, Leo turned onto a path barely wide enough for a car. We slowed down to a snail’s pace, jolting in our seats thanks to the bumps on the road. One pothole away from my limit, a small, wooden cottage revealed itself behind a bend. Past the run-down exterior, I suspected the cottage had heart.

  We stopped on the unruly bed of grass, a few metres from the porch, for a moment listening to birdsong. I admired the large, rounded logs weathered by time. There were two small windows facing the front. Three slightly slanted steps led to the porch, which was a square decking decorated by a dead potted plant.

  How Leo had found out about the place was, well, not something I really cared about.

  “Is this when the murdering takes place?” I muttered.

  “If you keep up the sarcasm, it might.” Leo got out and pulled out a bag from the back seat. “Come on. I’ll fix us up some lunch.”

  Of course. The guy was obsessed with me eating.

  The last bite of the sandwich yelled at me from the plate. One bite, one tiny bite that could’ve easily been consumed with the last one.

  But it wasn’t just a bite of a sandwich. It was the only thing standing in the way of knowing and not knowing. It was the excuse to postpone the inevitable. It would take less than ten seconds to chew it, swallow it and wash any remains of it down with a drink. Then there’d be nothing to do with my hands, nothing to occupy my mouth, nothing to…distract.

  Leo pretended to busy himself behind me. The charge in the air was different from usual. The smell of stale peat and varnish would now forever be associated with this moment: the moment when one last bite of a sandwich screamed at me on my plate.

  “Are you going to eat that?” Leo’s hand hovered over the plate.

  I narrowed my eyes at the offending piece and popped it in my mouth. Stop being a chicken, Kalika.

  I pushed my chair back and walked from the kitchen area to the open-planned lounge. Two armchairs faced each other by the fire, separated by an Ikea coffee table. A neon green vase on the table added a stroke of colour to the otherwise brown-dominant room.

  “How much longer are we going to drag this out?” I swiped a finger along the mantle; someone had been to dust.

  Leo took position by the kitchen tab
le. “You should sit down.”

  “I’d rather stand.” My gaze flirted with the woodwork on the doorframe, and the freedom it led to.

  “Kalika, this isn’t going to be easy to explain, so I need you to listen until I’m finished. I need to tell you the whole truth before you go AWOL on me.”

  “Who says I’m gonna leg it?”

  Leo grimaced half-heartedly. “Your track record.”

  “Just say what you have to say.”

  “You need to promise to hear me out fully,” Leo insisted.

  “Fine.” The irritation stemmed from my nerves. I perched on an armrest. “What’s this about?”

  Leo leaned against the table, palms gripping the edge. “I lied to you before.” He slid his thumb along his eyebrow. “I never wanted to, but I thought it’d be best. Otherwise, you’d never have listened to anything I had to say.”

  “The truth hasn’t exactly been the cornerstone of our oddball relationship, so if you think telling me whatever is bugging you is going to make me roll over and come back, you’re wrong.” My jaw jutted forward as I watched Leo sigh. His shoulders were sunken with the weight of the world; his eyes reminded me of someone else’s…his eyes. Near the end, his pupils had been as Leo’s now were: oceans of unexplained mysteries I wasn’t allowed to dive into.

  My shields shot up as if from a press of a button. I wasn’t ready to venture down this road.

  “Why are you really here?” I asked regardless.

  “That much I never lied about. The purpose was always to bring you back to re-join the Guard as my partner.”

  “Why?”

  “To fight the Gorahites,” he stated. “There’s a force stronger than before rising in Gorah. They have slowly infiltrated our lines, and now many live among us, spreading their evil from within.”

  Narun under threat didn’t sit well with me.

  “I meant, why you and I? What could possibly make us so special?”

  “There was a prophecy.”

  Oh.

  The tension started easing on my shoulders. “You should never build your life on prophecy, you know that. They change with…choices. What the Council foresaw must’ve been before I left. The Council must’ve been mistaken.”