Lost Soul

by Theresa Van Spankeren

  “I will,” I whispered, knowing in my heart that I never would. I laid my head on his shoulder and began to cry softly. Adam tightened his hold on me protectively. I felt wonder at the touch, realizing that I had waited four years just to have him simply hold me. Now that seemed ludicrous. I couldn’t believe how long I had waited . . . just for this!

  The day I had been married was so long ago, yet it seemed like yesterday. I could clearly remember stepping out of the church, scanning the crowd, and seeing Adam in the back scowling.

  I reopened my eyes, startled. Power swept through me almost like a tingling sensation. It was extremely potent. Adam felt it as well and we jumped apart. I could still feel the power coursing through me. The idea that I could use it suddenly entered my mind. I turned towards a glass on a shelf and focused on it. Adam did the same without a word. The glass began to tremble and then shattered into a million pieces. We looked at each other wide–eyed.

  “What just happened?” Adam asked in a whisper, staring at the broken glass.

  I shook my head. “I do not know,” I answered in awe. I turned and handed him a broom. “Sweep this up while I get into fresh clothes. We do not want to get cut.”

  “All right,” he said quietly. I turned away and opened a drawer. I rummaged around and pulled out a plain dress. I got dressed and rejoined Adam. He looked at me and smiled. “Nice,” he said admiringly.

  I smiled shyly. “Thank you,” I replied, then immediately glanced to where the glass used to stand. I frowned, puzzled.

  Adam also frowned. “You have no idea what happened?”

  I shrugged. “We did something. As to what that something was I do not know,” I answered, looking back at him.

  “Is there anyone who may know?”

  “Aye, in the other room. Samuel or one of the others may know.”

  Adam paused thoughtfully. “Then let’s go ask Samuel.”

  I looked at him in surprise. He flashed a small smile. “Adam?” I asked, not sure if I heard him correctly.

  Adam shrugged. “You said Samuel would probably know. I’m curious, how about you? In any case, we have to start learning to get along.”

  I smiled. “Aye, I do want to know.” I hesitantly took his hand and started for the main room.

  When we entered, the others were in the room talking. The talking stopped when they saw us.

  “Samuel?” I asked.

  “Aye, Sunshine?”

  “First of all, stop calling me that!” I scolded.

  “As you wish … Sunshine.” Samuel replied amused.

  I threw up my hands in defeat. “Talking to you is like talking to a wall sometimes,” I said exasperated. His smile only widened.

  “Samuel, we have a question,” Adam interrupted civilly.

  Samuel looked at him for a minute, then at me. “All right,” he said mildly.

  “Well … something strange just happened.”

  “Something very strange,” I added with a helpless shake of my head.

  Samuel’s expression became startlingly blank. “Go on,” he said tonelessly. The other vampires were silent.

  Adam and I looked at each other. “Well …we …uh….” I stopped in mid–sentence and tried again. “We suddenly felt this surge of power. We both turned towards a glass and stared at it….”

  “And it broke into pieces,” Adam finished for me.

  Samuel and the others looked at each other for a long minute. “Like this?” Samuel asked as power suddenly flooded through the room. It was the same thing I had felt before, except it was twice as powerful. The other vampires, except Richard, turned to gaze at a fine vase on the cabinet. As Richard, Adam, and I watched, it shook slightly and then shattered.

  I jumped, Adam looked startled, and Richard just looked stunned. “You have a full ka-tet, don’t you?” he asked, sounding amazed.

  “A ka-tet?” Adam and I echoed looking at each other again. “What on earth is a ka-tet?”

  Samuel leaned back and put his feet up. “It appears so. And a powerful one at that,” he answered Richard lazily. He looked back at us. “Sit down Adam, Julia.”

  Adam glanced at me with a puzzled expression. I shook my head and we sat down close by. “What is going on, Samuel?” I asked bewildered. “What haven’t you told me?”

  Samuel smiled, but there was no humor to it. “Lots.” He looked at Mary Anne and Matthew who nodded. He spoke again. “Ka-tets are like triumvirates,” he started.

  “Or sort of like witch covens,” Matthew added helpfully.

  Samuel nodded. “But there are differences. A triumvirate is made up of three people. Ka-tets are usually larger . . . but there is no set number of people in a ka-tet. A ka-tet consists of different souls who unite for one purpose or life. It’s all determined by ka, fate, destiny– whichever you prefer to call it.”

  “All right,” I said slowly.

  “Ka-tets do not have to consist of just one kind; for example members do not have to be all vampires or humans. There could be a mixed group.”

  “There has been some strange ka-tets in the past,” Mary Anne said quietly. “Sometimes witches and vampires are a part of one, or vampires and humans.”

  Richard laughed. “There’s been one odder than that. A Hunter and three vampires have shared one.”

  “That is . . .unusual to say the least,” Samuel admitted. “But I almost think vampires and shape shifters sharing one would be worse.”

  Matthew laughed. “Shape shifters are almost worse than non–Resistance vampires.”

  “That’s because they never want to share their hunting grounds with a completely different kind who are also blood drinkers. Can we get back to the subject please?” Christy said.

  “Aye,” Samuel replied. “Anyway, ka-tet members are linked to each other by powerful telepathic links. An unfinished ka-tet, one without all its members, is great really. But it does not have its full strength unless it’s complete.”

  “We’ve known for a while that we are ka-tet,” Jeffrey said quietly. “A ka-tet shares power between members.”

  Mary Anne finished the explanation. “But we were never at ‘full strength’. There was something missing.” She paused a second. “Two members.”

  I looked sideways at Adam. “Us,” I whispered. “But why did I not sense this months ago?”

  Mary Anne shrugged. “Ka-tets can be unpredictable. Sometimes the connections between members form very fast. Sometimes, it takes longer.”

  Samuel began to throw a book lightly into the air and catch it. “That’s right,” he said softly. “The last telepathic connections have finished forming.”

  “We’re at full strength.” Christy said. She smiled. “For the first time ever.”

  “And you two are quite a twosome. There’s something between you two. I can sense it,” Matthew said. “It’s why you were able to shatter the glass without the rest of us. You’re two halves of a whole.”

  “Soul mates,” Christy supplied. She smiled at Matthew. “Only Matthew and I could do it before. But it took us months of practice.”

  Samuel opened the book and ignored their conversation. I glanced at him, wondering why. A minute later, he suddenly spoke again. “I was told by someone that soul mates add a distinct advantage to a ka-tet. I guess both couples have proven it.” His voice was carefully pitched to hide the bitterness in it. I heard it anyway, though I wasn’t sure why it was there. I decided to ignore it. I’ve given up trying to figure out what went on in Samuel’s mind sometimes.

  “So what does this all mean? That we can fight real well using it?”

  Samuel laid aside the book. He seemed happy to get away from the soul mates subject. “Julia, it means we train carefully, learn to use these powers, and then make our enemies wish they were never born,” he answered.

  I smiled in response. “Fun.”

  Samuel stood. “Let’s go outside so we don’t wreck the house.”

  I rose to my feet and caught his arm. “Samuel, wait.
I have another question.”

  “Aye, Julia?”

  “Could I go see my sister? Before anything happens I want to see her. She was not doing well last I saw her.”

  Samuel looked down at me in sudden concern. “Do you think that’s wise, Julia?” he asked quietly.

  I looked at him, then at the wall. “I do not have to tell her anything. I can make up something to tell her.”

  Samuel glanced at me again guardedly. “If you think you can pull it off, Sunshine, I won’t stop you. It’s your sister, if you want to see her ….” He shrugged.

  “We’ll be fine.”

  “We?”

  “Adam and I,”I answered and turned towards Adam. “Adam, come here a minute,” I called and looked back at Samuel.

  Adam walked over. “Aye?”

  “We’re going to see Crystal,” I said and whirled towards the closet. I grabbed my cloak and then started for the door. “Will you be able to act human enough around her?”

  “I’ll be fine,” he assured me gently.

  “Good. Samuel, we’ll be back in about an hour,” I called and left. Adam followed me out. We walked very close together, alert for any trouble. Luckily, we reached Crystal and Damien’s without incident. Adam and I looked at each other and then mounted the stairs. I knocked on the door.

  A long minute later Crystal herself answered the door. She stared at us for a minute and then cried out in shocked delight. “Juliana! I thought you were dead!”

  Seeing her so happy made me know I had made the right decision. I shrugged at her statement. “You know me. I cannot die. May we come in? I do not think it’s a good idea for people to see us.”

  Crystal nodded and beckoned us into the sitting room. I looked around as we sat down on sturdy wooden chairs. The chairs matched the elaborately carved table, but there were only a couple tapestries on the walls. The style showed a hint of the wealth they had, but the house did not flaunt it as my home had.

  “Damien’s not here right now. What is Adam doing with you? He was supposed to have been married to Ruth Galloway!”

  “We decided to elope,” Adam answered her with a straight face.

  Crystal shook her head and laughed. “Julia, you have niece or nephew on the way!” she announced, taking my hand. “Just wait until he or she arrives! They’ll be a darling!” she said in excitement. “I just know it!”

  I shrieked in joy although I knew I probably wouldn’t be around to actually see the child. We would probably have to move locations soon. We’ve been in this area for far too long. Some of the other vampires were already discussing it. However, I pushed the thoughts from my mind and hugged my sister warmly.

  “That’s wonderful Crystal. Is Damien treating you all right?” I remembered just in time that I “haven’t seen Damien” in over a year.

  Crystal smiled. “Oh, yes. He’s wonderful, Julia.”

  I nodded, deeply subdued suddenly. “Good.”

  Crystal looked at me in sudden concern. “Have you been away from Gregory all this time? He didn’t beat–?”

  I shook my head fiercely, silencing my sister. “I’ve been away from him for at least a year. And now he’s dead.”

  “Well . . .What in heaven’s name happened to Mari–?”

  I interrupted quickly. “Mary, the girl next door was killed. It was an accident,” I said sharply. I decided it was best to leave and stood. I didn’t want my sister asking questions about my daughter. Especially, not with Adam right here.

  “Good luck with the baby, Crystal. I’ll try to stop in again,” I said, lying through my fangs. Adam also stood, obviously confused. I think Crystal sensed that I wasn’t going to be back, despite what I said. She was always the intuitive one of the two of us.

  “Julia –” she said, standing.

  I hugged her tightly. “We must go, Crystal. Do not tell anyone except Damien that we were here.”

  Crystal nodded. “Come back soon.”

  I nodded but knew with terrible certainty that this would be the last time I saw my baby sister. “Take care Crystal,” I said and practically shoved Adam out the door. I waved and stepped out the door.

  “Goodbye Juliana,” Crystal said, tears blurring her eyes. I really think she knew; in the same way she knew that Gregory had been bad, that this would be the last time we saw each other. And indeed it was. I never saw my sister or Damien again.

  I glanced back at the house and shook my head sadly. Adam gently touched my shoulder. “At least she is happy, Julia.” He looked at me with puzzled brown eyes. “Why did you interrupt so quickly when she was asking about that girl?”

  “It was a terrible accident. I do not like speaking about it much. The child was very young,” I replied quietly. He nodded silently.

  I turned for home and froze. A familiar figure was heading in our direction. My brother, Peter. Adam turned and looked at me. “Shall we go before he gets here?”

  I slowly shook my head. “He’s already seen us,” I murmured. “Just wait.”

  A minute later, Peter faced us. “You are supposed to be dead, Juliana!” he hissed in anger and surprise. He looked behind me and saw Adam. His anger grew. “I will kill you both!” he snarled and swung at me.

  Calmly, I reached out and caught his fist. “I do not think so.”

  I began to crush his hand. Anger suddenly filled me like a raging forest fire. “You are not going to harm me ever again. And you are not going anywhere near Crystal again.”

  Peter cried out in pain. He stared at me with wide frightened eyes. “What are you?”

  “Your worst nightmare,” I answered flashing fangs. Peter screamed.

  “Vampire!” he shrieked. I tightened my hold, relieved that there was no one else around, and succeeded in crushing his hand. I spun him around. Digging my fangs into his neck, I began to drink greedily. This would make up for the meal I didn’t get last night.

  When I finally stopped, Peter was dead. Despite the fact that I had killed a human, family even, I felt no remorse. As far as I was concerned, the brute deserved it– just as much as Gregory, maybe more. I had always thought brothers were supposed to protect their sisters – not willingly give them to a sadistic controlling monster.

  I looked at Adam, afraid of his reaction. Afraid that he would really think we were monsters. Afraid that he’s regretting his decision to join me.

  His brown eyes were wide with shock. “After everything he did to keep us apart, do not start feeling sorry for him!” I snapped.

  Adam shook his head. “I’m not feeling sorry for him. I just didn’t think you would have actually killed him.”

  I looked at Peter’s lifeless body, then back at him. “You would be surprised what I’m willing to do now that I can. He would have said something to someone. I couldn’t let him live!”

  Well, I could have just hypnotized him into forgetting, but I decided not to tell Adam that. The truth was I had wanted to kill Peter. I wanted to punish him for allowing me to be hurt, for allowing my daughter to die.

  “I don’t understand why you had to kill him.”

  I stared at Adam. “Because he had to be punished for everything he’s done to us; all he had done to keep us apart. Besides, I was hungry.”

  Adam shook his head in silent disbelief.

  “Come on, help me dump his body farther from here. I don’t want Crystal to come out of the house and find her brother’s body, whether he was a fiend or not.”

  Adam slowly nodded. There was one human around. He gave us an odd look as we propped Peter up between us to avoid suspicion. We dumped the body a few streets away and started home. I was numb, I couldn’t feel anything about what I did. Adam seemed to echo my thoughts. “That really did not bother you at all?”

  I shrugged. “There’s worse things. But let’s not tell Samuel or the others about this, all right?”

  As I spoke, the numbness faded slightly and I felt a twinge of sadness. Not for the person my brother had become, but for the person he had o
nce been. At one time, we had been friends.

  Adam sighed and agreed as we walked the rest of the way home in silence. Everyone was outside already training. Even Christy was, it amazed me how quickly she had recovered suddenly. For a minute we watched in silence, unnoticed it seemed.

  Samuel and Mary Anne were combining parts of the ka-tet’s power with conventional fighting. It was interesting to watch, the telepathic energy would crash against the opponent’s mind, disorientating them and leaving them vulnerable to actual physical attacks. As they explored the new abilities, they yelled out instructions to the others. I knew they were the most experienced.

  “Come on, Adam. We better start learning too,” I said, jumping over the lowest part of the fence to join the others.

  “Good idea,” he said and vaulted after me. We joined in and for the next hour or so Richard watched us practice with different partners.

  Samuel was my last partner. He smiled at me as I squared off. “You look well–fed, Sunshine.”

  I smiled back. “I had supper.”

  After a couple of minutes I felt the power of the ka-tet crash against my mind. It was weird, the world seemed to tilt all by itself. The next thing I knew, I was flat on my back with Samuel’s leg behind mine. “You swept me,” I complained in bewilderment. “I never even saw you move. I’ll get you back for this.”

  Samuel laughed as I got back to my feet. We resumed sparring. As I fought I could sense the other members of the ka-tet, their power waiting to be used. Yet, Adam seemed the closest – strange thing to say I know. It was like we had our own separate link, different from the telepathy all vampires had, and different from the closer–knit ka-tet, filled with its own secret power.

  I patiently bid my time until suddenly that separate link flared to life. Using its power along with the ka-tet’s, I hurled it at Samuel – just to see what happened. I was surprised how natural it seemed to use the power.

  The effect was amazing. It might have been because I had just fed but I doubted it. Samuel was knocked flat on his back without me having to raise so much as a hand to help do it. He sat up slowly, stunned. He rubbed the back of his head gingerly. “Sweet Jesu, Julia. Well…you told me you were going to get back at me.”