Immortal Essence Box Set: Aligned, Exiled, Beguiled (45 page)

Once she was finished, she said, “I died more than a hundred years ago.”

It occurred to me then she might not be working on all cylinders. I spun with the chair to face her. “You look . . . young for someone over a hundred.”

Angela blanched, and looked in the mirror. I rose and watched her take in her reflection, as though for the first time. She wiped fresh tears. “This is what I looked like when I died. I drown in the Alayeahean Sea after being swept away by a wave. My parents, my little brother, and I went to the beach for the day. A last hurrah before classes were to begin again. My brother and I jumped in the waves. We were laughing, having fun . . .”

I grasped one of her hands in mine. “Angela, if you died your soul would return to the Creator. You wouldn’t be here. Helker is for criminals.
For those awaiting trial.
You’ve done nothing wrong. Have you?”

She shook her head.

A fearful knot twisted in my belly. “You can’t be dead. Otherwise you wouldn’t still be on Kelari.”

She pulled out of my grasp and turned away. “I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, but that isn’t true. It hasn’t been true for a thousand years. Not all of it. Sure the first and second degrees of Helker are for those who’ve committed a crime, but there’s a third degree. Ra—” She stopped talking. Her face turned a terrible shade of maroon. Her lips turned blue. Gagging sounds escaped her throat.

“Angela?” I grabbed her arms. “What’s wrong?”

Tears leaked onto her cheeks. She tried to smile. Then her eyes changed from silver to black. What looked like oil began leaking from the sockets. One by one her teeth fell from her mouth. When her nose fell off, I darted back.

“Angela!”

Her body disappeared.

The door flew open and Ramien entered. He looked me over and frowned. “I’d hoped you’d wear the dress.”

“I have no desire to wear it. I’m not here for a party.” My words sounded fiercer than I felt. I was still frightened by what happened to Angela.

“We’ll see,” he returned.

Clenching my hands into fists, hoping he wouldn’t notice they shook, I continued, “What happened to Angela? She said she died a hundred years ago. And, where are my parents?” I came to stand directly in front of him. He was as tall as Michael. His eyes were black, and a strange, sweet smell surrounded him.

He doesn’t possess a soul
, a voice snarled.

It was Tortevia. I had no reason to identify the voice inside my mind as hers, but I knew it. So, she
could
do more than lick my fingers.

“I’ll have to punish Angela for speaking out of turn. It wasn’t her place to tell you anything.” He grabbed my arm.

“Don’t you dare put your hands on me.” I kneed him in the groin. He didn’t even blink.

Malice tensed his face. Forcing me through the doorway, and in the dining hall, he pushed me into one of the chairs. “Michael told me you were arrogant. I like fire in my companions.”

“Where is Michael?”

He gasped in mock distain. “Your concern for my
son
is touching.”

5. Are You
Gonna
Go My Way

“Your son?” The air retreated from my lungs.

“Oh, didn’t Michael tell you?” A sly grin relaxed his face. “Yes, I am Michael’s father.”

“Are you a kelvieri?” I peeked at his feet, to see if he wore a pair of the kelvieri’s boots. At first glance I noticed glossy brown loafers, but they immediately changed into a pair of kelvieri’s boots. It was difficult to make out the symbols in the heels because of the way Ramien stood, but the latches, the sleek black material—they looked exactly like mine. “How did you . . .?” I realized I didn’t care how, and changed directions. “You
are
a kelvieri.” I don’t know why it was important. Maybe so I would know what Michael was. 

“It’s hard to believe you’ve been to another planet. Your view of the Universe is still so small.” As he spoke his body changed. The once striking man was gone. In his place stood a creature. With the head of a lion, the wings of an irrihunter, the body of an elephant, and legs and feet like mine.

“What? How did you—” I stopped, stumped. I’d never seen a creature like him before, one who was able to alter his appearance. “And you’re Michael’s father?” I knew I repeated myself. He already said as much, but I didn’t quite believe it.

“Your preoccupation with the parental dynamic is very . . . mortal.” He morphed back.

I leaned forward curious about his species. Could Michael shift forms the way Ramien did? “Where are you from?”

He laughed, a hollow, joyless laugh. “Such a curious little thing.” He sat on the end of my chaise and tucked his legs beneath him, reminding me of a young schoolboy. “I am a ferether. I come from the planet Stiel.”

“Oh,” I uttered. I’d never heard of Stiel. “So, why are you on Kelari, and . . .” As with Michael on the beach, I unexpectedly felt a strong energy beat from Ramien and push through me. The pulse tugged at my core, drawing
something
out of me. “
Wh
-what are you doing?” I scooted away, but the feeling persisted.

Euphoria spread over his features followed by a questioning gaze. “You are divine. Michael has once again spoken the truth.” The tugging stopped as suddenly as it started. “You felt that?” Ramien asked.

“Yes. It felt as though I was being turned inside out.”

He laughed. “An excellent way to describe it, though usually a great deal of pain is involved. I wondered with you.” He leaned closer, lowered his voice, and patted my hand. “The sensation you so aptly described was me taking your essence inside me, tasting it, rolling it around on my tongue as I savored you.”

The innuendo laced within each word filled me with loathing. “You’re disgusting,” I hissed, lifting my chin, praying my lower lip didn’t quake.

“Perhaps, my dear. But this is why I’m on your planet. For the essence of Kelari’s higher souls.”

“I don’t get it. You taste a higher souls essence for what purpose?” I pushed my spine further into the chair. The longer I spent in Ramien’s presence, the more uncomfortable I became.

“I do it because the essence of a soul feeds me, makes me feel alive.” Ramien stood and walked over to a fireplace that appeared out of thin air. A roaring fire sprung to life, and its heat warmed my skin. Then he turned, and his vacant eyes bore into mine. “Most importantly, I do it because I like it.”

If I could’ve run, I would have. I was taught Helker was an unpleasant place, but I’d believed it was a prison meant for guilty kelarians. But this . . . Helker where Ramien dwelt . . . My mind flashed to poor Angela. Her body fell apart like hardened clay and vanished. I shuddered. My parents were here, somewhere. I had to get them out.

“Unbelievable! Do the gods know you’re here? Do they know what you’re doing?”

“Your innocence amuses me.” Ramien sat on my chaise again. Then he waved a hand and the floor disappeared from beneath our feet. A small scream escaped my throat before I could stop it. I covered my mouth with my hands, wishing to take it back. I needed to remain strong.

Beneath was a rocky cavern with row after row—hundreds of thousands of jars. An intensely strong, sweet smell, like dead flowers, immediately filled my nose. I resisted the urge to gag. Little spider-like creatures crawled all over the jars, their hairy legs clicking against the glass. Every so often one would stop and put something in its mouth. 

“What’s in the jars?” I had to ask, though I was terrified of the answer.

“I’m sure you can guess.” He smiled though it was more of a smirk.

Souls
, Tortevia whispered into my mind. And I knew she was right.

“No. No. No. No. No. The gods can’t know you’re doing this.”

He patted my knee. “Of course they know, Venus. The gods know everything.”

Sickness filled my stomach. “Impossible. They would never allow you to keep souls from returning to the Creator. Never.” Tears filled my eyes. How long had they been down there? “I can’t believe it.” My teeth chattered, and I bit my tongue. “Why did you show me this?” I sniffled, wiping at the tears falling onto my cheeks. “Why? I just want my parents. Can’t I have my parents?” Even as I spoke I knew rescuing my parents wouldn’t be enough anymore. I couldn’t leave those souls in such an awful room indefinitely. No way. Something needed to be done. I had to help them. And Michael. Did he know what his father did? 

“I showed you my Room of Souls because your parents aren’t in the first or second degree of Helker as you may have been led to believe. You’re parents were murdered, and their souls dwell in the cavern with the rest.” He motioned to the cavity below.

“You’re lying. Surely.” I choked on the words; unable to believe he spoke the truth. The banquet room began to spin. And pain—an agony like I’ never experienced—filled every crevice of my being. My parents were dead. Their souls trapped deep within Helker, prisoners of this-this monster. “That can’t be.” 

“I have no reason to lie,” he said softly, but without compassion.

“Who . . . killed them?” I asked.

“The murderer is of no consequence. When a body dies, I collect the soul and bring it here.”

I looked up then, searching his empty face for some semblance of empathy. There was none. How ironic, I thought. A few weeks ago I despised all emotion, and now I yearned to find some within the creature before me. More than ever, I knew I would not leave without freeing their souls. Dead or not, I wouldn’t let them suffer at Ramien’s hands. Finding at a tiny piece of anger within my heart, I grabbed onto it, and held fast. “You will give me my parents.”

“I rather hoped you’d say that.”

My eyebrows rose in question. I hadn’t planned on such a response. I was prepared for a battle.

Ramien shrugged. “I’ll free your parents’ souls, allow them to return to the Creator. For a price.”

I groaned. If it was money he was after, I could manage a large payment. Easily. Alayeah was a wealthy country. “How much?” I asked, grinding my teeth to keep the sorrow from my voice. I’d mourn my parents later.
First things first.

He snorted in disgust and popped a green grape, from one of the bounteous tables, into his mouth. “The price of your parents’ freedom can’t be compensated with money, dear Venus. There is only one thing in all of Kelari I desire. And I will take nothing else. But, upon payment, your parents will be released. Agreed?” He tensed up, like a coiled spring.

“What is it?” I asked, hesitant.

Do not agree, Venus. There is another way to free your parents.
Tortevia’s voice rumbled in my head. I had my doubts. She’d been with me more than six weeks, but her voice roaring into my mind had only just begun. How could I trust her words?
Please, believe me.

My gaze went to the Room of Souls. The endless rows of jars filled with tortured souls.
The creepy spiders crawling all over them.
I had to agree to his terms, whatever they were. It was the least I could do.

Ramien read my hesitation. “I promise. This is the only way. Even your gods, Ith and Aetha, would concur that the only way to release a soul is through me.” He stepped closer, and I smelled the syrupy stench of his breath.

What other choice did I have? If only Zaren were here. He would know what course to take.

“This is a limited time offer.”

I nodded. “Fine. Yes. Agreed.” My heart sank into my throat.

A radiant grin broke across his face, and he cheered like a jovial boy.

6. One

“What is it you want?” A menacing anxiety filled in whatever cracks hadn’t already solidified with pain. A part of me felt separate from what happened. The idea that I was in Helker, making deals, seeing tortured souls, and Angela’s face fall off—it all seemed unreal. My insides churned as I debated how I got myself into this mess. I should’ve been in bed, thinking of Zaren, and finding out how to help my sister, and my parents. Not wherever I was, making deals with a demon.

It is real. Believe it. Ramien is deadly serious.
Tortevia seemed disappointed. She told me not to agree to whatever Ramien wanted, but I didn’t see another way to save my parents. Whatever it was he wanted, I’d give it. Do it. My parents needed me, and I was their only salvation.
 

“First things first. We need a toast.” Ramien took two gemstone goblets from a nearby table. They filled of their own volition with a clear, sparkling liquid. He handed one to me. “Here’s to a new age. One where you and I rule the Universe—together.” He winked.

“You seem pretty sure of yourself. What makes you think I’d do anything
with
you?” I took a sip of the bubbly liquid, hoping to rid my mouth of its ashy taste. The drink was actually quite refreshing. I drained the glass.

“Because you said ‘yes,’ dear Venus.”

I swallowed and it felt like sand going down my throat. “To what?”

He sauntered over and pulled me by the shoulders to my feet “I’ll free your parents when you become my wife.”

“Your wife?” Michael burst into the room and pushed Ramien away from me. “I never agreed to such BS! She’s . . . she’s . . .”