Chapter 12

The Soulkeeper

Pestering Prisoners

“Okay, Bells. Truth or Dare.” Melinda said, wiping the rock fungus off of her mouth.

“Dare, of course.” She smiled menacingly.

“Dangerous.” Melinda smiled approvingly. “I want you to suck that slug.”

“You mean Marcus? Sorry, I don’t eat vermin.” Belle glared at her captor. Laila and Marcus had imprisoned them in their own safe house, binding them with vampire-suppressing chains.

The three beings had none of their strength, and a pair of chains around their ankles prevented running. Laila had left almost immediately, presumably to get her father. Marcus, on the other hand, had remained behind to keep an eye on them.

Melinda, Cory, and Sin just laughed. Marcus, on the other hand, walked over to her and slapped her across the face. “Be grateful I haven’t killed you already.” His unwanted gaze raked her body, and she felt dirty, as though touched. “You are a pretty thing, though. If you weren’t a vampire, I’d enjoy parting your legs before staking you.”

She spit in his face. “If I weren’t a vampire, what would be the point of staking me, stupid? And do you always rape your women? Is that the only way you can get any with that obnoxious attitude?”

‘Belle, it may not be the best idea to bait the hunter. ‘ Sin whispered through their mind connection. Since they were the first known bound ShadowWalker and SoulKeeper, Belle presumed the sorcerers who had made the chains had not taken so intimate a connection into consideration. What really puzzled her, however, was that Cory and Melinda’s minds were blank.

‘Fine, I’ll calm down. But he deserved it.’

‘That he did. I’m proud of you.’

‘Thanks.’ She smiled and took his hand.

“Is Laila coming back?” She asked.

“What does it matter to you? You’ll be dead before she does.” Marcus replied.

“Does she know that?” Sin asked.

“No, she didn’t.” Laila’s voice echoed from the front of a cave. A dark, man-shaped silhouette stood beside her, arms raised and blue light shining from his hands, moving over the rocks and seeming to lift them out of the way. “But I do now.”

She walked up to Marcus and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Honey.” Her voice was sickeningly sweet. “When were you planning on telling me that you were going to kill the prisoners?”

“Sweetie,” He said it with a crackling voice as though frightened. “They’re vampires.”

She twirled a lock of his hair around her finger. “Yes, but they’re my vampires. You knew I wanted them.” She pouted.

“Oh, gag me with a spoon.” Came a voice from the silhouette. The sorcerer walked into the light and smiled.

Cory’s jaw dropped. “Zeke?”

“Did someone call for a rescue mission?” The sorcerer, Zeke, smirked and clapped his hands.

The chains around the prisoners unclasped and flew to the two hunters. Be4lle stared at her now free wrists and sat stunned on the ground.

Sin lifted her up and placed her on her feet as Cory did the same for Melinda. “Remind me to thank you later.” Melinda stated as she walked over and hugged the sorcerer.

“No problem. You could introduce me to that hot cousin you’ve been talking about. “ He clasped hands with Cory before spotting Belle. “Hello, beautiful. You’re very interesting.” Sin wrapped an arm around her waist possessively.

Belle really looked at the newcomer then. He was devilishly handsome, but still boyish. He was in the awkward stage of adolescence where fat begins to turn to lean muscle and cheekbones begin to become revealed. His dark black hair hung over one eye and the remaining eye was as blue as his magic. He was dressed in a tight black shirt and a pair of pants with a studded belt. The checkered Converse’s that were so popular with mortal teenagers recently were poking out, revealed by his pair of jeans. T he roguish smile was still in place. He would be a heartbreaker, she realized. It would be a little while, but women would fall at his feet.

Sin squeezed her waist. ‘Stop staring.’

‘Jealous of the baby?’ She teased.

‘No.’ he responded, but his tone said “Yes.”

‘Don’t worry. He’s not my type.’

‘What is your type?’ He quirked an eyebrow.

‘Hmmm..Tall, dark, soulless, and needs to be committed to a nudist colony.’ She smiled at him and kissed his cheek. ‘I still need to take care of that.’

‘As soon as we find out what the sorcerer wants.’

‘I’ll hold you to that.’ She looked down at Marcus. “Now who’s at whose mercy? I bet this smarts, doesn’t it? A vampire hunter imprisoned by a vampire. Ha!”

“Guys, let’s get out of here.” Cory said as he walked to the front of the cave.

“Cory, stay behind me.” Melinda said. “We don’t know how many were people are out there, biding their time until they have the opportunity to infect you.”

“He’s a Leader?” Zeke asked. “That explains the strange aura around him.”

“Yeah, and we need to keep him safe.” Melinda pressed on Laila’s temples lightly, but enough pressure to knock her out before throwing her over her shoulder. She went to do the same to Marcus.

“No! Wait! This one’s mine.” Belle sauntered up and pulled back a fist.

“Belle! I don’t think that’s the best idea.” Melinda stopped her, grabbing her raised arm.

“You’re right. Too little pain.” She kicked him between the legs, causing him to hunch forward on a groan. She knocked him on his back. “That was for the ‘spread your legs’ comment.” She kicked him across the face, knocking him out. “And that merciful strike was for making my best friend happy.”

“Aww….under all that aggression there’s a compassionate person.” Sin hugged her from behind with a wry smile on his face.

“How can you stand to be so close to her after that? My balls still hurt.” Zeke said from the corner. “She went from hot to scary to sexy all in that little interlude. I love a woman who kicks ass.”

Melinda turned to Cory. “I can see why you wanted to set them up.”

Sin’s lips thinned. “I’ll carry the slug.” He hoisted Marcus over his shoulder and walked to the front of the cave, smacking Marcus’ head on the walls as he passed them with a chuckle and an “Oops,” after every time.

“Your ShadowWalker’s funny.” Zeke said, chuckling.

“Yeah, I know.” Belle said with a smile. “But he’s a pain in the ass.” She added quickly.

“Okay, then. Let’s get out of this hellhole.” Zeke stated, taking Laila from Melinda.

“Hey! I happen to like this hellhole.” Melinda interjected, taking Cory’s hand. Belle nodded her agreement before running to meet Sin.

“Cory! Man, what’s up with not telling me your girlfriend was a vampire?” Zeke clapped him on the back.

“I didn’t even know until recently.” Cory admitted. “what’s up with you not telling me you were a sorcerer?”

“Duh. Ever hear of something called the Salem Witch Trials? They got sloppy and look what happened to them! Since then, we Otherworld creatures have gone into hiding to protect ourselves.”

“Belle said something about that.” Cory pondered as they walked.

“Uh, Zeke? Wanna give us a hand?” Belle called from the front of the cave.

They walked more quickly to reach the entrance, where a group of large boulders stood waiting. The three vampires and a couple of blue blasts of magic got to work immediately, and the entrance was clear in under five minutes.

Sin grabbed Belle’s hand and portalled out. “House.” He called out behind them.

Zeke and Laila disappeared with a wave of blue light.

“Thanks, guys. L eave me at the mercy of a herd of were beasts.” Melinda said drolly. “We’ll have to run.”

“There’s no way I’d be able to keep up with you.”Cory stated honestly.

“Who said you were running?” She smiled and pulled him onto her back, taking off at vampire speed.

Belle and Sin arrived at the manor incredibly quickly and were soon followed by Zeke. Marcus, still unconscious, was quickly gagged and thrown inside the closet under the stairs. “He’ll be less annoying here, where we don’t have to look at him.” Belle closed the door on him, and grabbed a chair to place under the door knob.

“I’m hungry. “ Zeke rubbed his stomach, putting Laila in the closet with her boyfriend before vanishing, reappearing a moment later in a flash of blue light. He tossed an unmarked bag to the two teenage vampires seated on the living room couch.

Belle was the first to grab it, ripping it open and pulling out a red gummy bat. “Very funny.” She said, pelting it at the boy sorcerer.

A gust of wind passed by them, grabbing the gummy bat in mid-air. Melinda’s voice erupted from the blur. “Barricade the doors! Quickly!”

The gummy bat poking out between her lips, she slid the couch, with Belle and Sin still sitting on it, out of the way with one hand, opening the door it revealed with the other. “Stay still, love. It will be over soon.” She kissed him quickly before closing the door and shifting the couch back to its original position. “We were attacked right after you left. Two wolves, one lion.”

“Dibs on the lion.” Belle licked her lips and ran a tongue down a fang.

“Aw, I was going to call the lion.” Melinda whined.

“Too bad, so sad.” Belle arched an eyebrow at the sorcerer. “Won’t you be a little afraid? Being near all us while fighting?”

Zeke laughed. “Yeah right. Don’t worry. I’ll clean up the mess when one of you lets them past you.”

“Doubtful.” Belle retorted.

“Not gonna happen.” Melinda growled simultaneously.

There was the sound of breaking glass. “Here they come.” Zeke stated.

“Thank you, Captain Obvious.” Belle rolled her eyes. She crouched in a blatant attack position, focused on the door. Sin mimicked her position, his lips curling back in a snarl. Everyone in the room scented the air, tasting their approach. None of them had fed in a long time, and their appetites were screaming at them.

The weres stalked into the room, growing as the smell of the vampires hit them. Strangely, a black cat rode astride the mountain lion in the middle. As soon as Belle noticed it, it was gone, leaping onto the floor and out of the fight.

Neither side moved, the wolves eyeing Sin and Melinda while the mountain lion watched Belle. They all growled low in their throats, issuing challenges. Zeke, bored, twitched, and the weres sprang, seeing an attack in his motion. The vampires went for their throats in the same instant. They collided in midair with a scream of pain from two of the fighters. Belle had gotten her fangs into the mountain lion’s throat, but not before his claws grazed her legs. However, with a mouthful of lion, she couldn’t scream the way she wanted to. Melinda’s wolf had gotten his teeth into her right wrist. She punched him in the nose with her left hand, trying to dislodge his teeth.

Belle finished with the mountain lion quickly, leaving the limp and bloodless body on the floor. She sprang off the floor into the wolf, pouncing on him in a lithe motion, knocking his teeth out of Melinda’s wrist and tangling with him on the floor. The werewolf scratched and Belle sank her teeth in and kicked wherever she could. Sin was handling his wolf just fine. They seemed to be equally matched, neither of them taking any critical hits. Belle switched sides, leaving Melinda to the bloody wolf and springing to Sin’s side. ‘Need any help?’

‘Not really, but I can always take your assistance.’ He answered.

‘Remember that the next time you need directions.’ She kicked the wolf in the face with top of her foot as she spun.

‘I don’t need directions. I portal everywhere.’ He punched the wolf as it charged at him, then placed both hands on the side of his neck and twisted, effectively snapping its neck.

“I think I’m going to be sick.” Zeke stated, turning green.

“Oh, is the big, bad sorcerer afraid of three dead bodies?” Belle taunted.

“No, but you guys just killed three people.” He answered.

“Three weres.” Sin corrected.

“Do they look like weres now? No, the look like two men and a woman with bloody throats and snapped necks.” He pointed at the bodies. They were indeed a gruesome sight. The woman, Belle’s mountain lion, was the least damaged. She would look like she were sleeping if not for the awkward angle of her neck and the pool of blood that was gathering underneath her. The two men were severely bruised, and Melinda’s had a broken nose. The larger wolf had fang marks all over his throat but was otherwise intact, if his head weren’t lying on his shoulder from when Sin had snapped it. Melinda’s wolf, however, had his throat entirely ripped out and a horrified look on his face. Melinda was nowhere to be found.

“Melinda!” Belle cried, running through the house. “MELINDA!” She screamed and collapsed. Had there been a fourth intruder?

Sin and Cory walked out and helped her to her feet. “Where is she? Where did she go?” Cory babbled at Sin, trying to hold Belle on her feet.

“I don’t know. It’s like she disappeared into thin air.” Sin stated.

“What happened to the cat?” Belle asked, half delirious.

“What cat, love?” Sin asked, picking her up to cradle her in his arms like a child.

“The one who rode on the werewolf. The cat who was riding sidesaddle.” She wrapped her arms around his neck limply. “I miss Melinda.”

“What’s wrong with her?” Cory asked.

“She lost a lot of blood on her leg. That, and I suspect she and Melinda are connected by the amount of time they’ve spent together. Two hundred years is a long time to live together and not expect them to develop a connection, not to mention they were friends three hundred years before that. It’s kinda like a parasitic relationship, except neither one of them is harmed unless the other dies. You see it a lot in older mated pairs. If one is killed, the other will follow shortly after.” Sin explained.

“So, if we don’t find Melinda soon, Belle will die? We’ll lose them both?”

“Yes, but you don’t get it. Belle being like this means that Melinda is already gone.”

“Gone? As in dead?” Cory choked.

“Oh, she’s not dead. Just in another plane.” A black cat intertwined itself in Sin’s legs. It looked up at him and smiled as much as a cat could. “Circenn MacKelan. Oh, how I’ve missed you.” The cat’s back arched as though in ecstasy, and she began to grow until a woman stood before them in a little black dress with her hair rolling down her back. She placed one dainty hand on her hip. “Did you miss me?”

“Cassidy. Even after all this time, the sight of you still makes me nauseous.” Sin clutched Belle tighter to himself.

“Oh, don’t be like that. You’re not still mad, are you? She pouted.

“Ummm, yeah.” He glared at the witch. “You ruined my life.”

“But I gave you immortality in return.”

“You, Bitch. Do you think that really matters? You tore his soul away.” Belle spoke clearly from the protective cradle of Sin’s arms. “Honey, pass the cinnamon rolls.” Her eyes rolled back in her head and she passed out. Sin looked at her, amused and perplexed. Zeke tapped him on the shoulder and handed him a blood bag to feed her.

“Well now, she’s a box of chocolates, isn’t she?” Cassidy rolled her eyes. “Now, about the vampiress.”

“What about her? She has nothing to do with this!” Cory yelled.

“Silence, human.” She waved a hand to smack him away, but a pale hand with a checkered armband stopped her.

“I think you need to stop. Creating ShadowWalkers and sending vampires to purgatory? Naughty, naughty. You know that’s against the rules.” Zeke clicked his tongue. “What would the Council think?”

“The Council are a bunch of ancient wannabes who are jealous of anyone who has any kind of real power. They can’t do anything to me.”

“You think so?” Zeke grinned. “In the name of the Council for the Protection of Non-Magic Peoples, I declare you in contempt of laws. You are hereby arrested on the charge of soul-ripping and Otherworlder Banishment to the Dark Realms.” He grabbed hold of her other wrist and forced it behind her back.

“You have no authority over me, youngling. I’m centuries older.” Cassidy snarled as she struggled.

“You think so? My name is Zeke Lasarus.” Cassidy’s eyes bugged out. “I see you now remember your prince. You should have thought of that earlier.” He grinned at her maliciously. “Begone!

She disappeared before she could open her mouth to beg for forgiveness.

“Sorceror prince, huh?” Sin asked. Cory was kneeling on the ground, staring into nowhere.

“Yeah. Just wish she would have tried to attack me so I could get her on attempted royal assassination too. Noone messes with my friends.” He walked over to Cory. “You okay, man?”

“My best friend’s dying, my other best friend is royalty, and my girlfriend is stuck in limbo. What in the hell makes you think I would be okay?” His voice was monotone.

“Well, once she’s convicted of the charges I set against her, all her magic will be reversed.” Zeke clasped his shoulder and looked at Sin, who was still cradling Belle in his arms.

“All of it?” His eyes bugged out as he spoke in a shaky whisper.

“Yeah. Isn’t that a good thing?” Zeke asked.

“I’ll get my soul back. I won’t be a ShadowWalker anymore. I’ll go back to my own time.” Sin fell to the ground, still holding Belle in his arms without dislodging the blood bag in her teeth.

“That’s kinda the point.”

“I’m from the fourteenth century. I’ll die in the fourteenth century. My soul mate as born in the sixteenth.”

“Oh.” Zeke sat down. “That sucks, man. But if it makes you feel any better, I’ll take good care of her.” Sin snarled at him, showing fang. “Sorry, not funny.” He turned his head and muttered. “Testy.”

“I can’t lose her, Zeke. I just can’t But I don’t want Cory to go through that either.” Sin Sighed. “I’d be without a soul for eternity if it meant having her in my arms.”

“What’s it like? Not having a soul?” Zeke stretched his legs out in front of him.

Sin shifted, setting Belle so that she leaned against his chest and with a new bag in her mouth. “Empty. Utterly empty. Like being at the edge of a void, looking out across and knowing that you’ll fall if you don’t find an anchor soon. Nothing and noone matters except for that anchor. You’re emotionally detached from the rest of the world, but have to pretend that you care so that you aren’t discovered. She’s my anchor, Zeke. If I have to go back to being human, my life won’t be worth living.”

“Little dramatic, don’t you think?” Zeke quirked an eyebrow.

“Have you ever loved someone so much that gravity no longer holds you to the earth, but they do? That their slightest whim is your greatest desire? You obviously haven’t, or you wouldn’t be asking that question. It was easy for me to find her. I just looked for the other part of myself. Keeping her will be the hard part, but I intend to do just that. Until she tells me she no longer wants me and means it, I’ll be right by her side, annoying her and loving her more than anyone else ever could. She’s my sun, my moon, and my soul. I couldn’t live without her.”

“I’m dying inside right now.” Cory said, speaking for the first time, sounding as though he were about to cry. “Like my heart’s being ripped out of my chest and viciously torn into a million pieces. I can’t wrap my mind around the fact that she’s gone. She means more to me than my own life, and I didn’t protect her.”

“You couldn’t, man. She’s stronger than you.” Zeke protested.

“That’s my point. She shouldn’t have to be! We should be equal! But when she needed me most, I was hiding in a closet.” Tears of self-pity rolled down his cheeks.

“Yeah, but you came out of the closet.” Zeke snickered and Sin glared at him before continuing. “You sacrificed your own life when you heard Belle scream her name. You didn’t know what was going on. We could have been surrounded, but you didn’t care. You came running. You did all you could, man.”

Belle rose off of her post on Sin’s lap and smacked Cory across the face. “Sorry, but you needed it. Snap out of it, you guys! You sound like stereotypical women. If we want Melinda back, we’ll have to fight for her!”

“And how do you propose we do that, Miss Psychic Connection?” Zeke sneered.

“Don’t doubt her, man. I’ve seen some scary shit come out of this little one.” Cory warned, life and anger finally sparking in his eyes. “And she’s right.”

“Of course I am.” She punched a fist into her hand. “Melinda isn’t dead. There’s hope yet. We’ve just got to get to your father, Zeke. He’ll fix it.”

“How much of that conversation did you hear?” Sin asked her in a whisper.

“All of it.” She kissed him soundly. “You are the most adorable man on the face of the planet, and don’t think for a moment that I’m going to let you get away from me that easily.”

He pulled her into his embrace. “Does that mean what I think it means?”

She smiled and nodded.

“Say the words, lass. I don’t think I can take much more.”

She grinned up at him, a lock of hair falling again in her eyes. “I love you Circenn MacKelan.”

He brushed the hair aside with a gentle fingertip. “I love you too, Isabel Montigo. And we will beat this.” He kissed her, claiming possession with his lips.

Zeke waited a few minutes before clearing his throat. “Much as I love watching you guys clean each others tonsils, we have a problem.”

The two broke their kiss. “What kind of problem?”

“I’m not exactly on the best terms with my father. He might not care about our problem.”

“He cares about you, right? So he’ll listen to what you have to say, even if you don’t see eye to eye sometimes.” Belle answered.

“We’ll have to see, but I don’t think so.” Zeke waved a hand over the ground, and a blue ripple appeared before him. “Follow me.” He stepped into the hole, disappearing as though he had fallen.

The three looked at each other skeptically. Then, Cory nodded and stepped into the ripple. The two vampires stepped in after him, holding hands. There was a blue flash, and they were falling seemingly out of reality itself.