My Soul Keeper (25 page)

“I can’t manipulate your emotions, but I can show you what’s truly in your heart. Help you realise that Shamar is still your heart.” She smiles, but I can’t reciprocate.

I already feel him there; he’s in my heart, beating for me. He consumes my soul. I can close my eyes and feel his touch on my skin, his breath on my neck, and the touch of his lips on mine; that’s what makes his betrayal so much worse. My whole family is gone. The one I grew up with, the only parents I knew up until a few weeks ago. Perished in the shit storm that is my life. It was by
his
hand, one way or another. He took my brother; my mother killed herself
because
he took my brother, and his father killed mine because he tried to kill Shamar.

“When you’re ready, Simone, you will forgive. It’s in our nature.” She reaches out and strokes my cheek. The burning of my tears stains my cheeks. I lean forward and embrace her, breathing in her floral scent. She smells of a meadow; her hair feels like silk against my hand and her body gives off a peaceful aura. I feel like I need to sleep. I gently pull away and thank her before going back into the house. I pass the audience in the kitchen and tread the stairs to my room.

The familiarity offers little comfort as I lie on my bed and squeeze my pillow. I hear my phone. It’s charging on my bedside table, but the screen lights up with Jacob’s name. I fumble with the buttons and eventually hit the green one.

“Hello?”

“Simone, hey it’s so good to finally reach you. How are you?”

I sniffle before I can answer, my voice sounds strained

“I’m sorry. Things have been difficult.”

“Oh, do you want to talk about it?”

“No, thank you. How’s the leg?”

“It sucks. I don’t think I’ll ever play again. It’s still healing, but it doesn’t look good. Dad is freaking out, you know what he’s like.”

I nod, even though he can’t see me. I realise now that Lucas is more than likely responsible for Jacob’s injury, therefore, so am I. Guilt tugs at my already damaged heart.

“I’m so sorry, Jacob.”

He sighs. “It’s not your fault, Simone. I miss you. I’ve been thinking about prom, if I could take you? I know they put prom off for a few weeks due Amanda and Mia but I will be back home visiting some family when the prom is happening, so I just wondered if I could take you, like we planned.”

I hear him breathing heavy, awaiting my answer. If I’m honest, just speaking to him feels nice. He reminds me of my less complicated life.

“I lost Junior and my parents, Jake.”

I don’t know why I tell him, but I feel the need to speak the words aloud. He’s silent for a few minutes.

“Simone, I don’t know what to say. God, I’m so sorry. What happened?”

I find myself stuttering, trying to think of an answer, but he spares me from trying to get the words out.

“Don’t answer; it's okay. That was insensitive. I shouldn’t have asked. Listen, why don’t you come here? Spend some time away?”

I find myself nodding. Getting away from here sounds like perfection right now, but I know things are still unsettled.

“I can’t right now, but soon. I promise.”

He sighs down the line. “Okay, well, call me whenever you want. Anytime. And know that I still love you, okay?”

“Okay,” I whisper and end the call.

“I want to heal Jacob,” Simone says, entering the kitchen. I’m a little thrown by this.

“I want to heal his leg. It was because of me he was hurt,” she continues.

“Simone, his injury happened a while back. People won’t understand if, all of a sudden, his leg has healed itself. It’s quite a bad injury.”

“I know it’s bad. He won’t be able to play football again. It’s going to ruin his scholarship. I’m going to heal him, Shamar, I’m not asking for your permission. I’m just letting you know.”

She’s running on angry, I need to tread carefully.

“I understand how you feel Simone.”

“Do you? Because I think you don’t like him, so you’re being difficult,” she spits. I shake my head in disbelief.

“That’s not true, Simone. If you want to heal him, then I think you should do it in segments, so it’s not so obvious. Do it over time, maybe?” She looks at me like she’s trying to figure me out, as if she’s not sure if I’m trying to manipulate her with my answer. It hurts me that there’s such a gap between us, that I am the cause of her grief and mistrust. I want to hold her so badly. I have to concentrate just to keep my body from going to her.

“Gabriel is summoning me.”

I hear my father speak and I turn to him.

“What? Why?”

“I had to let the soul go in Purgatory. I couldn’t risk taking Lucas’ in while I had hers. He could have corrupted her soul and I couldn’t risk it. I’m thinking the Transporter has informed him of this.” He seems to be straining, like he’s concentrating really hard. “We need to cloak Simone and Muriel now. You’ll have to do it, Shamar. I can’t hold on. Shit, I’m been pulled to Gabriel. I can’t stop it,” he shouts, then vanishes. Panic sets in and Liam rushes to Simone.

“You ready to do this, Simone?”

She nods. I’m so nervous I can feel my body shake.

“I love you,” I tell her as I place my hand on her chest. Her soul is bright when I reach for it. She releases herself to me and it’s euphoric when her soul soaks into me. My skin hums and vibrates; I feel whole for the first time in my life, complete.

Liam catches her body as it falls backwards; the vessel still breathes, still lives. It’s like a running car with no one driving. I look to her beautiful body as she lies limp in his arms.

He lays her flat but holds her head in his lap. I take a few deep breaths, and then I place my hand on her chest and let her soul flow from me back into her. I feel the loss straight away, but I can’t explain the relief I feel when her eyes flutter open. I see a trickle of blood run from her nose. I swipe it clear.

“Are you okay? Did I hurt you, baby?”

I feel weakened by distracting such a powerful soul.

Her eyes reach mine. She shakes her head before answering.

“Do I really need to answer that? Because the answer is yes, Shamar. I loved you more than anything and then you hurt me so bad I don’t think I’ll ever recover.”

All I hear is
loved
, not
love
.
Loved
is past tense. The agony is unbearable; I have to look away from her. I feel my stomach stir and nausea threatens. If I didn’t have an empty stomach, I would be throwing up where I stand.

“Did it work?” Leah asks, bringing me from my painful haze. I look to Simone. I don’t see her bright light.

“Yes, it worked. I can’t see her light.”

“Do her then, Shamar,” Leah tells me, pointing at Muriel. I repeat the process on Muriel. Her light warms my skin and makes me feel peaceful, but her soul has nothing like the effect Simone’s had on me. Accept the toll it takes on my body; I feel exhausted. Once I place her soul back in her vessel, her light is cloaked, like Simone’s.

“So can I go back to being normal now? Is Lucas definitely gone? Can I be normal again?”

I look over at Simone as she speaks and I can’t help but walk to her. I look into her amazing eyes and my heart beats wildly in my chest. I reach to cup her face and she hesitates a fraction before turning her cheek into my palm. I still feel her sorrow and anguish, but most of all I feel her conflicted emotions. She feels guilty about her brother and parents and for still loving me after everything that’s happened because of me.

“You’ve never been normal. You’re extraordinary. The light in the darkness, the smell of a meadow, the rain in a desert, the sun in the summer… You’re fresh water in the clearest lake. You’re the soul of life, Heaven on Earth, the beat in my heart.”

I swipe the tear that’s moistened her cheek. “You’re safe now. I promise.” I hear a sniffle and I turn to see Leah wiping away tears.

“You’re too much,” she tells me, then points to Liam. “You better up your game, mister,” she huffs. I get the evil eye from Liam.

I turn back to Simone. She removes my hand from her cheek and places it by my side. Stepping back, she looks to the floor.

“I love you, Shamar, but I can’t forgive you right now. I need time. I need to bury my family.” She swipes at her tears. “Then I need to get away from this place. I’m going to stay at the lake with Jacob.”

She doesn’t look up and my stomach bucks when she tells me she’s going to stay with Jacob.

“Then I’m going to start college. I need normal right now.”

I bring my fingers to her chin and tip her head up. “Never show them your beauty, Simone. Only ever look up,” I whisper, then bring my lips to hers. We both know this is my goodbye.

Her lips are warm and plump. I taste the salty wetness from her tears as I pour every ounce of love I feel for her into the kiss. My hands cup her cheeks and I feel her silky hair fall over them as I crush deeper into her mouth. I never knew what people meant when they spoke of heartbreak, but I feel like my heart is bleeding into her; she owns me and I don’t know how to cope without her.

I pull away and turn from her, my breathing coming in short gasps. She leaves.

“I will go to her,” Muriel offers and I nod.

“She’ll come around Shamar.” Leah rubs my arm and smiles. A white flash illuminates the room with a boom and the ground shakes. As the light fades, Michael stands in its wake. My stomach rolls. I hope Simone doesn’t come back to see what the noise was. Her light is cloaked but I still don’t want to take any chances.

“Shamar, it seems I’m seeing you quite a lot lately.” His voice is commanding. His blonde hair, blue eyes, and smooth skin convey a softness, but Michael is the sword of God. To mistake him for anything else would be a stupidity.

“It’s been brought to our attention that you travelled to Purgatory. You have always followed the rules and have done your job with great care, so I’m left to wonder why you would break such a forbidden rule?”

He looks over at Leah and Liam. Leah can’t keep her eyes from Michael; her body tells me why. Humans have such weakness for a pretty face. Liam notices her practically drooling and pins her with an accusatory stare.

“Liam, what is your role in all this? I was told you gave up your duties to live amongst the humans. The Grigori always did have a weakness for human women,” Michael says, looking at Leah, then back to Liam. “Do you hold such little regard for your mother that you would allow them to leave her in Purgatory?”

My eyes flash to Liam’s as his flash to mine.

“What does he mean?” He walks toward me and I put my hands up.

“I’m sorry, Liam. We were forced out of there without her.”

He pulls back and his fist connects with my jaw. I stagger back and flex my jaw, moving it side to side to evaluate the damage.

“She’s our mother, Shamar! How could you leave her there and not tell me?”

He called her
our
mother. I look to him, then Leah. She shrugs.

“Sorry. I had to tell him. He was asking questions. Your dad told her to heal her son when you were injured.”

“As entertaining as this is, I’ve come for a reason. Grayer, transporter of light, told us what your father did with Lucifer’s soul. He also told us that Muriel was being held in Purgatory by Lucifer, but she was sent back with you. So where is she? I still cannot sense her presence.”

Another flash of light fills the room. When it subsides, Gabriel is standing next to Michael. I hear Leah gasp. “Bloody hell.”

Michael and Gabriel look to her like she’s the worst sinner in the world. She cowers behind Liam.

“Shit, sorry. It’s just, shit... are you all super-hot?”

I shouldn’t be shocked by Leah after being around her these last few weeks. I’ve heard a lot of stupid things come from her mouth. But I am shocked; she has no control of what comes from her mouth. Liam nudges her and shakes his head; he’s pissed at both of us. Gabriel ignores Leah and speaks directly to Michael.

“He will not disclose the location of the box.”

Michael looks to me. “Do you know where he is keeping the box that holds Lucifer?”

“No,” I answer honestly.

“Shamar.” Gabriel nods a hello at me. “Grayer said you left with another woman. Is this the one of whom he speaks?” He points at Leah.

As he finishes his sentence, Simone’s elegant frame comes into view from the doorway. I exhale hard, my eyes squeezing tight. When I open them, she has silently entered the room.

“Exquisite,” Gabriel murmurs and walks toward her. She automatically steps back and behind me.

“Do not fear me.” He speaks around me to Simone. “Listen to your intuition,” he whispers.

What he doesn’t realise is that his ability is already in effect; her intuition tells her that she needs to be protected from them. If they knew who she really was, they would take her. He grasps her hand and inhales her scent.

“Mmm, you smell of honeysuckle and peace lilies.” His lips graze her skin and I see a flick of his tongue. “Mmm, caramel and peaches,” he murmurs, not taking his gaze from a stunned Simone.

“Holy shit,” Leah gasps.

“Gabriel, your love for the beautiful is what has us in this situation,” Michael interrupts. He looks to me again. My body is strung as tight as a bow with Gabriel so close to Simone.