My Soul Keeper (33 page)

“What? Why would she do that? And how can you tell me I’m destined for Lana when her name is not written?” My anxiety takes flight.

“The giver of life, Shamar. Lana is the giver of life and you know it.”

“I know that I love Simone and I won’t let you have her, just because you have a thing for human women,” I shout. “They’re not here for your pleasure, Gabriel.”

I shove him backwards, my anger driving me.

“I want her for myself. I can protect her, love her. We can be powerful together.”

“Oh my God. You know what she is.”

“I took her memories. They played out before me as I did. I need to see what I take to make sure I take enough and not too much.”

“But why haven’t you taken her to Michael or your father?”

“I am loyal, Shamar, but I’m also growing tired of the restrictions and… let’s say, upper management.”

He smiles and takes a seat on the bed.

“It was foreseen and written centuries ago that a great power will be born, a bright soul. One so pure and beautiful that when she comes together with her mate, she will bring into the world a son with the power to rival God himself.” He shifts and leans forward.

“I want that to come to pass. I also believe Simone and I make for a perfect fit.”

I look into his eyes and see that he really believes that. “You can’t be her soul mate just because you want to be.”

He laughs. “Neither can you. Out of the two of us, I’m not destined for another and I don’t need to be her soul mate, just her mate.” Anger rises up from inside me. “I won’t let you do this, Gabriel.”

“What choice do you have? At least I will keep her safe. I will love and adore her, Shamar.”

“I love her,” I whisper into the air, my heart breaking. I am destined for another and Gabriel is pursuing my Simone. I de-materialize from the room. I go to collect souls before I go back to watch Simone sleep.

“She’s not up for auction to the best candidate, Shamar. He can’t just have her because of what she is,” Liam shouts at me, his temper flaring hot. He paces the dorm room; the girls left to buy books.

“Don’t you think I know this? I feel myself dying a little more every day that I can’t be with her. Why? Why do I feel like this about her if I’m meant for another? Why does the thought of her being with anyone that’s not me make me want to destroy and tear souls from everything in range?”

“I’m really not on board with Gabriel’s motives, but maybe having someone powerful like Gabriel also looking out for Simone could benefit us.”

I scrub my hands down my face and shoot Liam a glare. He holds his hands up in surrender.

“Hear me out. He could find out what happened to Simone’s mom. He also could help us get ours back.”

I breathe deep and close my eyes, trying to focus on the bigger picture. I need to keep Simone safe from Lucas, I need to keep her under Michael’s radar and I also need to rescue both our parents.

“Fine. I’ll speak to Gabriel about finding out what happened to Muriel and see if there’s anything he can do to help with Charmeine.”

“What about Lucas? We can’t stall him forever.”

“I know. I haven’t figured that out yet. I need to go collect souls. Keep your eye on Simone. It’s not fair that Gabriel is trying to seduce her after taking her memories of who she is.”

“And of who you are,” Liam adds. I look to him and see his compassion for me and the situation.

“Okay, don’t look now, but that guy is totally checking you out,” I whisper to Leah as I slide her cup of coffee to her and take the seat opposite her.

“What guy?” she asks coyly, looking around the other tables.

“Erm, that one not two feet away, staring at you.”

She looks around again and raises her eyebrows at me, confused. I point to the guy sitting at the table opposite us. His dark hair and intense eyes hold mine for a few seconds before he vanishes, causing me to startle and spill my drink. I hear a light chuckle.

“You and coffee, Simone. You can’t seem to keep it in the cup.” Gabriel’s soothing voice pulls me from staring at the now empty table.

“I’m sorry,” I mutter to Leah as she tries to mop up the mess with paper towels.

“Who were you looking at?” she asks. I shake my head.

“No one. He must have left. Sorry.”

She shrugs her shoulders. “Not like I’m single anyway.” She looks up at Gabriel. “Shame,” she whispers, bringing her cup to her lips. He smiles down on her.

I turn my attention to Gabriel. “Hey,” I greet him, lacking enthusiasm.

The bell rings over the door and I feel frightened for no reason. An older man enters. He has dark, almost black eyes trained on me; the man from before who disappeared right in front of me walks in behind him. They seem to have a dark mist surrounding them, it’s the weirdest thing.

“Simone, stop staring. They’re looking back at you,” Leah hisses.

I turn my face to look at her. Her eyes are bulging.

“You are being really weird and rude, Simone,” she urges.

“I’m sorry… it’s just… that’s the guy that was staring at you earlier.” I turn back to them and notice Jacob’s sister is with them.

“Holy shit, that’s Jess.” Leah waves. Jess, Jacob’s sister notices us and returns it with a huge smile. They all move toward us; the older one still has his eyes trained on me. It’s unnerving. As he approaches the empty seat next to me, I feel warmth flood my body. It creeps up my neck and down my cheeks.

“Mmm, you're blushing, Simone.” His dark tone draws my name out. I shift in my seat, feeling uncomfortable at the intense look in his eyes.

“How do you know my name?” I ask. He chuckles but it’s without humour. He turns his gaze to Gabriel, his top lip lifting into a snarl.

“Brother,” he breathes. Me and Leah dart our eyes between them, the other guy slipping into the seat next to Leah, leaning into her body and inhaling her scent causing a deep crimson blush to creep up her face

“Did you just sniff me?” she asks incredulously, her eyes narrowing on him. The air around us changes and my heartbeat begins to drum faster. I feel my skin prickle and come alive. I look around at the men and I feel like I want to ravish them.

Gabriel’s eyes zero in on me, his brow furrowing. Jess leans into the guy who’s now whispering into Leah’s ear.

“Let’s go back to your dorm now, Jeremiah,” she grumbles to him, but he ignores her and gives Leah all his attention.

I feel uneasy; something is not quite right, but at the same time, my mind is fighting with my body. I feel the panic rise in my stomach as the older guy’s eyes bore into me. I feel like he’s trying to reach into my soul.

Calm floods my system and relief follows. I close my eyes and when I open them, I’m looking into the eyes of Liam’s friend, Shamar. His eyes hold mine and I see so much emotion in them that I hold my breath from his intensity.

“Breathe, Simone.” He reaches his hand to me, but as I go to grasp it, the older guy sitting next to me stops us.

“Join us, son. Let’s talk,” he snarls at Shamar.

I look between them and see the hostility. Gabriel leans towards him, insisting he moves so I can slide out. Eventually the guy moves and lets me free. Gabriel whispers something to Shamar and hurries me out of the shop. The fresh air hits my skin.

“Who are they?” I ask, confused by the whole scene. Gabriel takes my hand in his and leads me away from them, toward my dorm. I pull on his hand, trying to hinder his movements, but I fail miserably. His strength doesn’t falter.

“Gabe, we left Leah. I didn’t like the way that guy was looking at her. We have to go back and get her,” I plead.

“Liam and Shamar are with her, she will be fine. Don’t worry. Now, come on, Simone. I have somewhere I want to show you.”

I follow him to a silver sports car and slide into the passenger side, thanking him for opening the door. I look around behind us to see if anyone else left the coffee shop yet, but the street is empty.

“Where are we going?” I ask as Gabriel folds himself into the driver’s seat. He reaches out for my hand, covering it with his own, his thumb stroking the skin on the back of my hand, which was resting on my thigh. I slip my hand from his and try to smile, but he senses my unease. He turns his body to face mine and slips his hand into my hair, his thumb now stroking my cheek.

“You should never fear me, Simone. I would die before I hurt you.”

I’m stunned silent by this. I tilt my head to acknowledge his words. He turns back to face the road and starts the engine. The car roars to life and takes us forward with a jolt.

“Move away from her now,” Liam growls to Jeremiah.

“But she’s so responsive when it comes to the dark allure, Liam. I think she likes me being this close.” He breathes in Leah’s scent and smirks. “Tell him, Leah,” he commands.

“Yes,” Leah whimpers, leaning in to him. Her lips descend onto his. Liam reaches for Jeremiah, dragging him backwards and away from Leah.

“Enough!” Lucas shouts, slamming his fist down on the table. The air around us stills.

“I want my body back, Shamar. I’m getting tired of waiting.”

He turns to Jeremiah and nods. Jeremiah grabs the girl I believe to be Jacobs’s sister by the hair.

“You get your wish after all. Let’s go back to the dorms,” he snarls at her with a smirk in my direction.

Liam lunges forward, pushing Jeremiah and pulling Jacob’s sister behind him.

“She’s not going with you,” he growls to Lucas.

“We can always take Leah instead. In fact, I think Jeremiah would prefer her. He has taken quite a liking to her.” He grins sending a chill up my spine.

“Over my dead body,” Liam spits, blocking Leah from view.

“That I also would prefer,” Jeremiah bites back, taking a step towards Liam.

“Stop,” I shout, turning my glare on Lucas. “This isn’t necessary. I have a week, I get it.”

He smirks at me. “So you don’t want me to take the girl to give you a little incentive?”

“It’s not necessary,” I state.

He looks to Jeremiah and nods with a smirk.

Before I can react, Jeremiah rushes forward, grabbing Liam in a headlock and pulling his right arm out to the side, gripping it by the wrist. He brings it down hard against his rising knee. The sound of the snapping of the bone followed by Liam’s screams fill the air, shocking everyone. I hurry to his side pushing Jeremiah away from Liam, and catching Liam as he falls forward.

“You asshole,” I growl at Lucas, who holds his hands up as he saunters backwards.

“A week, Shamar, or I will take the women, including sweet Simone.”

My blood feels like it’s turning to ice in my veins as anger storms my body like a hurricane. My hands shake and I see rather than feel the air around me change. Our breaths come out as condensation. Leah begins to shiver and gently sob.

“I feel so sad,” she mumbles. Sorrow seeps from me as I struggle to maintain my temper. I reach forward, grabbing Jacob’s sister’s arm in a tight grip while keeping my eyes on Lucas.

“Don’t play cards you don’t hold, Lucas. I will only take so much before I start playing right back.”

I reach for Jeremiah’s soul and pull it from him. Lucas holds up his hands. “You’ve made your point.”

I force the soul back into its vessel. Blood pours from his nose and his eyes bulge as he realises what’s just happened.