My Soul to Keep

CHAPTER 27



“No! He can’t be dead! He can’t be!”

My mom’s voice woke me from a horrible nightmare. I'd been killed and Jessie…I sat up screaming at the pain in my chest. I saw the blade still sticking out over twelve inches from my torn skin. I looked up at my mom standing in the doorway only to see her faint dead away in my father’s arms. He turned white as a ghost, and my sister started puking on the tacky carpeting in our family room.

“Is this some sort of joke, Connor?”

“Um…” A million things passed through my mind at once. About half of those were excuses. The other half were ways for me to break the truth to my parents, coming clean about everything. I opened my mouth to laugh it off. It didn’t work. “I’ll explain everything later. Dad, I need you to pull the sword out. Please.”

“Th…tha…that’s real?”

“Yes, Dad. And it hurts. Please.”

“What the hell is going on, Connor?”

I didn’t have time for this. I looked my father straight in the eyes and said, “Pull the sword out of my back, Dad.”

His face went blank and he nodded. He gently set my mother down on the floor and took one step. I turned. One hand pushed against my shoulder and I looked down to see the sword tip go back into my chest as he pulled it free with the other. The noise made me gag.

“There you go, son. Anything else I can do for you?”

“Take care of Mom. I’m going after Jessica.”

“Will do. Come on, honey. Let’s get you upstairs,” he said and bent down to pick her up.

I took off running, wincing at the pain in my chest. I chose to focus on that pain, to drive me, and to help me ignore Caelyn’s voice shouting after me.

Before I even hit the street, I called my wings. I leapt into the cold night and beat them furiously. I held my hand over my chest and thought of Clarisse. She was at the mall. Working. Didn’t she ever sleep?

I realized I didn’t even know where she lived. Some friend I was. If she helped me get Jessie back, I’d buy her something nice.

I sped toward the mall and landed in the parking lot in the darkest area I could find. Banishing my wings, I strode through the front door. As soon as I got inside, the people around me all started looking at me either with horror in their eyes, or concern. I’d forgotten the ripped, blood soaked shirt I had on. I concentrated very hard on looking normal. People shook their heads, resumed their conversations, or stopped looking at me altogether.

I practically ran to the lingerie store.

Clarisse looked at me through the front window. I let my façade drop, for just a moment. Long enough for her to see my blood soaked shirt. She yelled something at the other girl working and ran out of the store.

“What happened?”

“He’s got Jessica,” I said and tried not to start crying.

“Who? Her father?”

“No, the thing that’s been killing people. He shoved a sword through my chest and took her. Clarisse, you have to help me find her.”

“Come on!”

She grabbed my hand and led me out the back door of the mall. I'd only ever been down the corridor once when I had to use the bathroom. It was completely empty and Clarisse burst through a set of double doors that led straight to a small employee parking lot. I saw her pink bug, but she started running in the other direction.

“Where are we going?”

“If he didn’t take your head he wants you to find him. We’re going to the one place where he’d expect you to look.”

“The school?”

“Ding, ding, ding. Give the boy a prize. How much you want to bet that’s where he has her. I just don’t understand why he didn’t finish you before. I can’t believe he got the sword through you.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re damn near immortal. Whatever he is, he’s strong.”

“Great. Clarisse, we need to hurry.”

She jumped in the air and I watched her wings as they burst from her back. Without blinking, she started heading toward the school. I did the same. My chest hurt a little less and I looked at it while we flew. The wound had mostly closed and stopped bleeding completely. At least it was healing. Quickly.

It took us only a few minutes to get to our high school. It looked completely deserted. Clarisse flew around three times before landing right in the middle of the parking lot where I had been attacked at the dance. I landed right behind her.

She spun in tight circles, sniffed the air, and listened intently. I did the same. I could smell blood from the night before, but nothing else out of the ordinary.

“He’s not here, Clarisse.”

“I know. Damn it! I had a gut feeling he would be. Maybe he’s inside the school?”

I turned and listened. Maybe the gym?

I moved as fast and quietly as I could. I got to the entrance to the gym and lightly opened the door. It surprised me it wasn't locked. The gym was creepy on a good day. With all of the Halloween decorations still hanging and no lights on, even I was scared.

“Hello?” I figured it was worth a shot. Nobody replied. I still walked through the gym and found nothing.

“Nothing?” I turned and saw Clarisse standing in the doorway.

“Not a damn thing. Where could they have gone?”

“I don’t know. I don’t even know how to find her.”

“Too bad her dad didn’t buy her a cell phone. She might not be able to pick up, but at least the cops could track it by GPS.”

“Her father!”

“What about him?”

“Just like you can feel me, he should be able to feel her! Let’s get to her house. You’re talking to him though.”

“I’ll mow his grass for a year if he helps.”

“You know he will. It’s his daughter. He might not include you in her rescue, but he’ll save her.”

“That’s good enough for me,” I said and meant it.

* * *

I reached up and lightly rapped on the door. I looked back at Clarisse and she looked almost as uncomfortable as I felt. Please don’t be a prick. Please don’t be a prick. Please…

The door opened.

Mr. James gave me a distasteful look. He glanced behind me and saw Clarisse. At least he looked at her worse. Then he noticed the blood on my shirt and that Jessie wasn’t with me. He grabbed me by the throat and had me pinned to the ground in less than a second.

“What did you do to her?” He spit with every word.

“She…was…taken,” I managed to croak out through my crushed windpipe. “Please…need…your…help.”

“If anything happened to her…”

“I’d kill myself,” I said. He must have loosened his grip.

I looked into his glowing blue eyes. He stared at me for a moment with his emotions clearly fighting each other.

“We’re wasting time,” he finally said and stood up. He didn’t offer me a hand either.

I turned to Clarisse. She shrugged her shoulders. “Thanks for your help,” I said sarcastically.

“Hey, he didn’t kill you. You did better than I expected.”

Mr. James stepped out onto the porch. With a rush of wind his wings expanded in all their glory. I’ll admit it. My bat-like wings were cool, but his were awesome. I caught myself before I reached out to touch them. He closed his eyes. I assumed he was thinking about Jess. He took off flying back toward my house. Clarisse and I exploded into the air after him.

“She’s alive, but in pain and afraid. Very afraid. We need to hurry,” Mr. James called back to us.

I gave everything I had into flying. I caught him easily and kept next to him. I kept looking back to see a struggling Clarisse.

We flew past my house and further into town. The village square was north of us. At least we weren’t headed into a populated area. This was going to get ugly. Without warning, Mr. James plummeted from the sky and landed in the middle of the street. A familiar street. A very familiar street…

“No. Please, God, no.”

“You know this place?” I turned and looked at a confused Mr. James.

Clarisse landed right behind us. “Hey isn’t that–

“Brett’s house,” I finished for her.

“Who’s Brett?”

I looked at Jess’ father. How do I tell him this is all my fault?

“He was a human who became more. He was Connor’s first Called.”

“I see. You and I will have a score to settle after this is over,” he said to me. I didn’t blame him. I wanted to kick my own ass.

“We have to call the Reapers.”

“There’s no time,” Mr. James and I said at the same time.

“You two, find him. I’ll call for backup.”

Mr. James nodded as I started for the house. If the Reapers were lucky, there would be pieces left for them to clean up. I walked to the front door and kicked it open. The odor made me gag. It smelled like somebody had stuffed a dead raccoon with shrimp and cottage cheese. It smelled like…Brett’s dead parents.

His father had his head torn off still sitting on the couch holding the television remote. His mother was dead on the floor holding a plate of cookies. And her heart. I tossed my cookies on the floor inside the door. Real smooth, Connor. At least you didn’t get any on Mr. James’ shoes.

“He killed his own parents. He must be destroyed.”

“You’re not going to get any argument from me. The dude is a serious prick.”

“Do you know the house?”

“No, I’ve only ever been in his garage. That’s where he was when I turned him.”

Mr. James nodded and walked through the empty house to the door at the back of the kitchen. He glanced around the empty room and turned to leave.

The vampire dropped from the ceiling to attack him.

I ran to help. The vampire on his back had long blonde hair. It wasn’t Brett attacking Mr. James. It looked like…

“Kelly Richards?”

The vampire turned and grinned at me. Sure enough. It was Jeremy’s date to the dance. Brett had turned her into a vampire.

Mr. James spun and delivered a bone crunching elbow to her face sending her to the tile at his feet. I let out a little cheer and then covered my mouth.

“Sorry,” I mumbled.

Mr. James nodded at me. “No harm. She’s this way.”

I followed him to the half open garage side door. I hoped it would just be Brett and Jess. I hoped he wouldn’t do anything stupid. Like kill her.

Mr. James called his celestial sword. It came to his hands and looked like one of those giant Scottish swords you needed two hands to hold. Its handle and hilt were pure silver and the blade flamed with eerie green light. He nodded at my empty hand.

I closed my eyes and called my blades. They sprang forth in a puff of black smoke. The blades gleamed dully and seemed to darken the room. I saw Mr. James’ eyebrows meet above his nose as he saw my swords.

“They’re not what you think. The runes are different.”

“Perhaps, but that is a matter for another time. Follow me, young man.”

“Yes, sir.”

He did a double-take at that. Maybe I was being too polite. It didn’t matter. All I could think of was Jessie. For once, my thoughts of her weren’t pleasant. She sat in my mind, broken and bleeding. I let out a growl and followed her father into the dimly lit garage.

Jessie sat unconscious in a leather chair in the center of the garage. Nobody else was there. I smiled and ran to her, or I tried. Her father’s hand on my shoulder stopped me.

“If something appears too easy or too good to be true. It usually is.”

I looked around. We were in a garage. Nobody else was there. Jessie sat alone in the middle of the room. I couldn’t see any danger anywhere. I took one small step forward.

Mr. James was right.

“Stupid,” he yelped.

Through my jeans I couldn’t feel the thin fishing wire he had strung six inches above the ground. It pulled through a series of eyehooks and knocked a multitude of sealed glass jars from the rafters in the roof. They fell eight feet to the ground and shattered all around Jess in a rough circle. The smell of gasoline and other highly flammable liquids filled our nostrils. Breathing hurt.

The metal storage locker burst open and Brett stepped out. An evil smile darkened his face as he pointed an orange flare gun at the floor by Jessie's feet. I couldn't believe I hadn't heard him in there. Then I realized the back wall of the cabinet was gone. So was the garage wall behind it. He had made himself a secret entrance. More importantly, he had made himself a fireproof exit.

“Hiya, Connor. I’ll be honest. I didn’t think it would take you that long to find me. Shame on you.”

“You never let me see who you were, Brett. You kept clawing my eyes out like a little girl. Can’t blame me for that one.”

“Like a little girl? I was bored! You move too slow! I can’t believe you gave me this much power! You’re pathetic. So now, I get to take everything from you, kill you, and then I’m going to eat your family.”

“Put down the flare gun and I’ll let you have me.”

I don’t know who looked more shocked, Brett or Mr. James.

“You would sacrifice yourself for my daughter? Even knowing her father is one of the Chosen?”

“In a heartbeat, Mr. James. I love her. With all of my heart."

He frowned, but it softened into something more thoughtful. Then I swear I saw the corners of his mouth lift just a little. It was almost smile-like.

“You make me sick. Know what? Screw you. And your family. Maybe I’ll make your sister a vampire,” he said.

Time slowed as he lowered the flare gun just a hair more. I could hear the tendons in his finger as he pulled the trigger. I watched helplessly as the glowing ball of fire flew from the tip of his gun and strike the chemical soaked floor. The whole world exploded, or at least mine did.

Jessie started screaming. Mr. James stepped toward the flames and shielded his eyes. His clothes caught fire and he swatted at them but kept trying to get closer to Jessie.

“Screw this,” I said and ran. Not for the door, but for Jessie. I almost knocked her father over as I felt the first of the flames. Jessie's screams urged me on. I picked up her and the chair and ran for the wooden garage door. Just before we hit it full force, I turned. I shielded us with my wings as my back rammed the door, splintering it into a hundred pieces. We flew through the air and I landed on my back with Jessie and a chair on top of me. I hurt everywhere.

I thought demons liked fire.

I looked up and saw the Reaper Darius and Clarisse looking down at me.

“Are you okay?” Clarisse knelt down and started unfastening Jessie's bindings. She didn't take her eyes off of me the whole time.

“Yeah. Just ducky. Thanks.”

A smoldering Mr. James flew through the hole I had created a moment before. He swatted at the remaining fire on his clothes as he bent down and scooped the newly freed Jessie into his arms.

“She is safe,” he said and took a deep breath.

“For now, Maclyn. For now.”

He looked up from his sleeping daughter and frowned at Darius. “Hello, Daren.”

“Maclyn, you know it’s Darius. Show some respect,” Darius said angrily.

“He does it to everyone. He even calls me Conrad,” I said, trying to ease the tension in the air.

“Silence, young one,” Darius said.

I shut up and moved over by Clarisse who was also unusually silent.

“I have my daughter back. I shall leave you three to clean up your mess.”

“Is it okay if I see her tomorrow, sir?”

He paused. I could see the wheels turning in his head.

“I should say no. You are a Fallen. I shouldn’t let you within a mile of her.” My heart sank. “However, you helped me save her. You love her. She obviously loves you, too. I do not know how much time she has left and I would never deny her what little joy she has in her life. Yes. Come by tomorrow, Conr…Connor.”

“Thank you, sir,” I said and meant it.

He smiled at me, frowned at Darius, and ignored Clarisse. I felt very happy as he jumped and pumped his powerful wings.

I watched them disappear into the night sky. I took a deep breath and let it out. Jessie was safe.