Soul Catcher (15 page)

Aleco heard the sound of the door behind him. A guard entered the Vast and approached the Chief, whispering intangible words into his ear. The Chief nodded his understanding as the guard continued to whisper. “Thank you,” the Chief said. “You may go.”

The guard exited through the doorway.

Aleco was the target of his signature black gaze and he wondered what the guard had said. Aleco wanted to carve his dark eyes out with the hilt of his dagger. Someday, he hoped he would get the chance. When Aleco fled from Letumian, he had stumbled into the hands of the guildsmen within Aequor Forest, and they escorted him to the hideaway with the intention of keeping him as a slave. The Chief made different plans for him. Aleco respected the Chief and even admired him through the years. He exhibited such strength and masculinity, the depiction of the ideal man that Aleco wanted to become. The Chief recognized within Aleco the same ferocity he possessed and chose to train Aleco himself. It was a decision the others were unhappy with, particularly Pons. Aleco rose to prominence and quickly escalated to an Elite Ranger, a rank only a handful ever reached.

The Chief sheltered Aleco’s identity from the other guildsmen
at Aleco’s insistence. He told the Chief he had valuable information about Drake that the guild could use to their advantage. The Chief agreed to keep his identity a secret in exchange for this information and allowed him to remain hooded and cloaked at all times so he wouldn’t be recognized. The guildsmen were suspicious of this behavior, but after a few years, no one deemed it unusual. The Chief protected him and continued to do so.

As the Chief reflected on Aleco’s atrocious behavior, in addition to new the information he received, his calm front disappeared and his anger shined through. His face contorted in a scowl as he squeezed his fingers into clenched fists. He stared at Aleco. “You murdered two of my men,” he hissed. “Decapitated one and split the skull of the other, both treasonous
acts.”

Aleco met his fury. “Your men sliced her throat and
forced her to the ground with her legs spread! They gave me no choice.” Aleco advanced to the Chief. Pons pulled his sword from the scabbard, preparing for an attack. “The duke specified she was to remain unpillaged, and your men broke that rule. Drake would have your head for that,” he said. “I did you a favor.”

“The punishment of the men is
my
responsibility,” he responded. “Not
yours
, Aleco.” He grabbed Aleco by the throat and pushed him back.

“As if you didn’t already tamper with the goods, Aleco,” Pons said from the corner. He sheathed his blade when he saw Aleco step back. “What were you doing with her anyway? Other than lying about what she was to you.”

The Chief looked at him quizzically.

“Aleco claimed she was his sister,” Pons explained.

“And what is she really?” the Chief asked.

Aleco met his gaze. “Nothing,” he said.

The Chief appraised the features he had known for years. Aleco was a man who never lied and told the brutal truth fearlessly, but the lines around his face and the look in his eyes were novel to him—he was lying. “If you planned to return her alone and hoard the coin, why would you risk traveling through our woods?” The Chief stroked his chin with his fingertips. “Those are slim odds for a man who never gambles.” The Chief returned to circling him like a shark, searching for the best cut of muscle before the deadly bite. “What say you, Aleco?”

Aleco said nothing. He could think of no possible answer but the truth.

“She wanted to be found, didn’t she, Aleco?” the Chief asked.

Aleco raised his eyebrow. How did he know that?

“She wanted to find us, didn’t she?” he continued.

“No.”

“Do
not
lie to me, Aleco.” The Chief dropped his hands to his sides but the fire still blazed in his eyes. “She came here to spare you from execution. By handing herself over, she thought she could ensure your safety, a wasted effort. What a touching gesture.” The Chief looped around him once more before stopping in front of him. “But you wanted to stop her, rescue her from her fate, didn’t you?”

“How do you know this?” He suspected it had something to do with the guard who whispered in his ear moments ago. Accacia must have been interrogated in his absence.

The Chief smiled into his face. “Is this love, Aleco?” he said with a smile. “So you did tamper with the goods.”

Aleco said nothing.

“Every crime you have committed is punishable by death, Aleco.”

“So be it, Nolan,” he said.

The Chief blinked at the sound of his name. Aleco had addressed him by his true name on a regular basis before he had abandoned the guild. He had always done so in private, and the Chief allowed the exchange because he considered Aleco a friend and an equal. The sound brought back the sense of camaraderie and trust he had not felt since Aleco’s departure.

The Chief studied his face. He was impressed by his resilience in the face of impending death. His expression was calm even though he was about to enter the v
oid, ceasing to exist forever. It was a fate that kept the Chief up late into the night, pondering the inevitable death of his soul for eternity. That Aleco could be unafraid surprised him. He couldn’t help but respect Aleco, in spite of his defiance. Any other man would beg for pardon on his knees. Or, he was just a better liar than the Chief gave him credit for. Either way, the death of Aleco would be a waste. The Chief made his decision. “You stand before me as two possible men. One that will die or one that will be reborn. I suggest you choose the latter,” he said. “I cannot deny the usefulness of your abilities and intelligence. I’ve had no better ranger than you. Because of this fact, I have something to offer you.”

Aleco already knew his response to the proposition. Pons shifted his weight in the corner and his eyes widened at the
Chief’s words. He prayed forgiveness was not on its way because it would complicate his plans.

“Rejoin the guild and your sins will be vindicated, forgotten. You will resume your responsibili
ties and be reestablished as a Brother,” he said. “We have discovered something astounding. Even you, Aleco, would appreciate its worth, and you can become part of this amazing find. I suggest you accept my generous offer.”

Pons’s mouth gaped open. Not only did the Chief pardon his crimes,
but now he was revealing their most guarded secret to this
outlaw
. That secret was limited to a small circle of Brothers. Why did his leader hold such misplaced affection for this man? Pons shook with anger at this favoritism. No other man, in the history of their past, had been given such mercy.

“What discovery?” Aleco asked.

“That is privileged information. Only guild members are allowed to know it.” He smiled. “But let’s just say death is now a mere obstacle that can be overcome.”

Aleco’s eyes widened at his revelation. The impact of his words washed over him like crashing waves to the shore. The Chief had found immortality. Nolan had obsessively searched for a possible alternative to his demise, a compulsion Aleco never understood since there was no way to cheat death. He was amazed such a solution existed and completely astonished that Nolan had found it.

“If I agree, will you release Accacia?”

“Did you not hear what I said?” He laughed. “I just revealed you could live forever and your thoughts are stuck on a whore?”

Aleco squared his shoulders at the insult. He swallowed his anger and steadied his hand. “Answer my question.”

“No,” the Chief said. “She will be returned to the duke as planned.”

“What is my other option? What if I don’t want to return?”

“Then I’ll push you in the chasm myself,” he threatened.

“Break my neck before I go over, if you can.”

The Chief was astounded. “You choose death?”

“Yes,” he said.

The Chief shook his head in confusion. “Why?”

“I would rather die as an honorable man than a thief who returns slaves to their masters. I’ve murdered countless innocents, stole from those who possess less than I, and yet I didn’t fulfill my purpose.” Aleco reflected on his past and realized he had accomplished nothing. Instead of avenging the death of his parents, he killed naïve innocents just to reach the duke, joined an organization that prided themselves on their ability to steal, and stripped away the freedom of hundreds. He was more evil than the man he sought to kill. Anger flooded his body as he remembered his horrific past. He wondered if Accacia would still love him if she knew how deep his soul was tainted with evil. Aleco spoke his thoughts. “I’ve failed in all my endeavors. I will gladly atone for my heinous deeds with my spilt blood in the chasm,” he said. “I was too much of a coward to end my own life, so this is a blessing. You are doing me a favor, Nolan—you are doing everyone a favor.”

Despite his good sense, the Chief had extended a hand of forgiveness, allowing Aleco to return to the safety of the guild, and the idiot didn’t want it. He had just revealed the chance of immortality, to never die by normal means, and Aleco not only rejected this offer,
but chose to die prematurely. The man was insane. He nodded to Pons, who walked over and bound his wrists once more. Aleco stared at the Chief as he was restrained. He held the gaze of his previous leader.

“Take him away,” the Chief dismissed. “The ceremony will commence at nightfall, the first of its kind, where a man will voluntarily fall into the abyss.”

Pons dragged him away.

Vast Prison

19

“Stand back,” the guard said to Accacia.

She rose to her feet at the urgency of his voice. They carried Aleco down the hall and she was shocked by his reappearance. They cut his bonds and shoved him into the cage, locking the door behind them.

“See you tonight.” The guard winked. He laughed and exited the hallway.

Accacia stared at Aleco in disbelief. She sat in the cage with her knees to her chin, overcome with waves of sobbing at his execution. She had prayed the ending would come quick for him, that he wouldn’t suffer. The fact that he stood before her caused her to question her sanity.

She rubbed her hands across his chest then cupped his face, feeling the skin of his flesh with her fingertips, ensuring he was physically real. Aleco smiled down at her and noticed her soaked cheeks. She mourned for him. His smile widened at the sight.

He kissed the tears around her eyes. “Yes, I’m real,” he whispered.

“How?” she asked. “I don’t understand.”

“My execution will be tonight,” he explained. “They just wanted to formally pronounce the punishment of my crimes. Big waste of my time.” He smiled. Now he was where he wanted to be, with the person he wanted to be with.

Her body began to tremble. “No,” she whispered.

“Shhh, Accacia,” he hushed her, hugging her to his chest.

“I’m so sorry.” She sobbed.

He held her closer. “I’m not.”

“This is entirely my fault,” she said. “If I hadn’t gone there, you wouldn’t have followed me, and this wouldn’t be happening.” She sniffed and wiped her tears on his shirt.

“Shut up,” he snapped. His words came out harsher than
he meant. “If I hadn’t been an asshole and thrown you out, we wouldn’t be here. It is entirely
my
fault.” He kissed her on the forehead. “You are not to blame for any of this.”

Aleco carried her to the cot and lay down beside her as they wrapped their arms around one another. Aleco stared into her exquisite face and lost himself in the beauty of her emerald eyes, which were streaming with tears. He never felt this way about anyone before, and it was hard luck he found it so late in life, just hours before his death. He was an experienced man, having been with many women, mostly whores, but never formed a meaningful relationship with them—with anyone, for that matter. The intensity of his feelings surprised him most of all. She brought out a new side of him that Aleco never knew he had. He didn’t know how tender he could be until that day. His life was consumed by anger and revenge, but now happiness and love existed within his black heart. He knew she was responsible for the change. He cupped her face with his hands and brushed a tear away with his thumb. The intensity of her emotions was a beacon of her love for him, he was certain of it. For the first time, he truly feared death. He did not want to part with her and decided he wasn’t going to.

“The jailer, Robinson, owes you, Accacia.”

The sudden reference surprised her. “What do you mean?”

“You saved his life and he will return the favor. I need you to do something.”

“Anything,” she said. She was alarmed by the desperation in his voice. “What do you want me to do?”

“Ask him to send Devry to our cell,” he said. “Tell him we wish to say farewell to him.”

“Who’s Devry?”

“Possibly our savior,” he said.

Accacia rose from the bed and shouted down the hallway. Robinson came to the cell with a new cloth across his mouth. It wasn’t nearly as bloody as the last one. The wrinkles around his eyes softened as he looked at her.

He mumbled through the cloth. “Do you need something?”

“Yes,” she said with a smile. “Could you please bring Devry to us?” His eyes sagged in suspicion. She assuaged his skepticism. “We just want to say farewell,” she said. “He is a friend of ours.”

The jailer remained muted where he stood. The dazed look in his eyes told Accacia he was having an internal debate.

She reached her hand through the bar and grabbed his. “Please?”

He glanced at their touching fingers and nodded. “I’ll try.”

He left their cell and exited through the door. She turned to Aleco. “Do you think Devry will help us?” she asked.

“For the right price.” He smiled and opened his arms to her. She eagerly walked into them and he cradled her to his chest. “I can’t believe you are the one who might get us out of here.”

“Or might get us both killed.”

“Well, I’m dead either way.” He laughed. “But they will never kill you, Accacia. All they care about his collecting that reward, and they can’t get it if you’re dead.”

“Well, if we can’t escape, I hope they kill me,” she said. “I would be happier in death than with him.”

He knew she was referring to Drake. The thought of her in his arms made his stomach churn. Not just because of his atrocious nature, but because she belonged to Aleco now. He couldn’t let that happen. He carried her back to the cot and laid her down. He leaned over her small frame and looked at her. Her eyes brightened under his gaze.

Accacia pulled back his hood and looked into his face, seeing his desire for her in his eyes. She didn’t realize how attracted he was to her or how much he cared for her until that moment. Accacia struggled with Aleco’s appearance, especially since his features were identical to Drake’s, and she found herself in a tough predicament. She feared Aleco just as she
feared his brother, understanding his rage could take control of his mind and he could hurt her again. She couldn’t shake the comparison she had for the two men. But she still felt her heart race when she looked at Aleco. She knew he wasn’t like his brother, a psychotic rapist, but she couldn’t completely trust him either. Accacia decided to disregard the warning she felt towards him because it wasn’t going to matter soon.

“How do they not understand the connection between you and Drake?” she asked. “They know your name.”

“But they haven’t seen my face.” His eyes stared at her lips and Accacia knew what he was thinking. He kissed her and massaged her mouth with his own, feeling the warmth of her lips. Despite the pain of his broken body, he held his weight over her and enjoyed every moment of his bliss. Suddenly, she rolled on top of him and leaned over him, kissing him the entire way. Accacia knew he was hurting and wanted to spare him any further agony. The gesture deepened his feelings for her, and he kissed her passionately. The sweet taste of her lips sent shivers down his spine, and the curves of her body quickened his breath. He had never been more aroused, more attracted to a woman than he was at that moment. His feelings surpassed the physical lures of lust. He wanted to make love to her, but knew he was inhibited by their predicament. She caressed his tongue with her own, and in that moment, he didn’t care where he was or who was watching. He reached his hand up her shirt and was about to remove it when they heard footsteps approach.

She pulled away from him and got to her feet. Aleco moaned to himself as if he had been stabbed. Did they have to come back
now?
He rose from the cot and approached the bars. Accacia was already standing beside the door. Devry stood outside the prison and stared at the pair of them. His gaze honed in on Aleco. “What did I tell you?” he said as he pointed at the cage. “I told you they would get you eventually and so they have.”

Aleco rolled his eyes. “Get us out of here, Devry.”

“What?” he asked incredulously. “Are you insane? How am I supposed to do that?”

“You can figure out a way,” he said. “I know you can.”

Devry looked down the hall towards Robinson then lowered his voice to a whisper.

“I can’t, even if I wanted to,” he said. He nodded at Accacia. “I need the money.”

“I will give you the
money
,” Aleco growled. “Just get us out of here!”

Sarcasm filled his voice. “You have sixty lunas lying around, Aleco?”

“Split among the guild, you would only be getting a fraction of that,” he said. “I can double your profits if you release us.”

“You have that kind of money?”

“What do you think I’ve been doing the past two years? I work better alone.” Accacia’s glance shifted between the two of them. She patiently waited for them to come to an agreement. Devry stared at him. He didn’t know if he could trust Aleco’s word. Aleco read his thoughts. “I promise I will pay you,” he said. “I will leave it hidden in a location, and you can access it when you have the time. Agreed?”

“If you burn me, I will kill you, Aleco,” he threatened. “If I’m found, they will execute me along with you. Do you understand what I’m risking?”

“I know,” he said. “And I won’t burn you. If we are captured, we promise to never expose you, even under pain of torture.”

Accacia finally spoke. “Please, Devry?”

Devry looked at her and saw the desperation in her eyes. Her beauty was hypnotizing and the sound of her voice flowed like poured honey. He stared at her for a moment. “I’ll do it,” he said to her. She smiled and his knees felt weak. Aleco was glad Accacia was able to convince him with her charms.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Devry pulled his gaze from her beautiful face and cleared his throat. “I will bring you the tools and leave guild garments outside the building,” he said. “After that, you guys are on your own.”

“Thank you,” Aleco said.

“I want my payment brought to Morkarh and given to a woman named Lydia. She lives in the mineral district in the corner of the city,” he said. “Aleco, I will know if you have done what I asked.”

“You have my word,” he assured him.

Devry turned and walked away.

Aleco and Accacia waited for Devry to return. Aleco had his arms wrapped around her as she leaned against his chest. He could feel her frantic heartbeat thud in her petite frame, and knew how frightened she was. “We are going to make it,” he said as he kissed her on the head. She squeezed his arm in reply, too anxious to speak.

Devry returned an hour later and approached their cell. He looked down the hallway behind him before he pulled two sawing knives from his robe. He handed them through the bars.

“Good luck,” he whispered.

Aleco nodded.

After Devry left, Aleco and Accacia began sawing through the metal bars of the cell. They had to carve through the steel slowly because of the noise it made when the blade cut the metal. Twice they had to stop and stow the tools out of sight when Robinson walked down the hallway. After he disappeared around the corner, they continued to hack through the cage until the doorway was completely severed from the bars. Aleco returned the door back to its frame and it deceptively appeared intact.

“After we take Robinson out, we’ll hide his body and leave the building.”

“His
body
?”

“Yes,” he said. “We have to kill him.”

“No.” The flames in her green eyes roared into an inferno. “I refuse to do that.”

“You won’t have to,” he growled. “I’ll do it.”

“No,” she repeated as she grabbed his arm. “If you kill him, I’m not going with you.”

“Accacia, he might mention Devry. It has to be done.”

She walked back to the cage and opened the door.

“Damn you, Accacia,” he snarled. “Fine, I’ll knock him out.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

The pair crept down the hallway and rounded the corner. Robinson was seated at his desk, smoking a new pipe when he spotted Aleco enter the room. His eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected entrance, and then he saw Accacia trail behind him. “We are so sorry about this,” she apologized in advance.

Aleco ran to him and punched him in the side of his head. He immediately dropped to the floor and his eyelids fell shut. Aleco carried him down the hall and deposited his body in their unoccupied cell.

Aleco withdrew one of the sawing blades and handed it to Accacia. “Don’t be afraid to use this,” he commanded. “Aim for the vein in the neck.” He pointed to the artery on his own throat for demonstration.

Her face contorted in disgust. “Only if I have no choice,” she said.

Aleco rolled his eyes. “Let’s go.”

They found the black capes hidden in the back of the building and adorned themselves with the attire. Aleco fitted Accacia’s mask over her face and tucked the silky strands of her brunette locks beneath the fabric. They walked through the Vast together, crossed the bridge, and entered the tunnel they arrived through. Aleco knew it wouldn’t be long before someone discovered what happened. The watch was changing soon.

Accacia followed Aleco as they traveled through the various underground tunnels until they approached an opening.
The hallways were dimly lit by flickering torches along the wall. The flames were weak, but the light flashed across the walls. The minuscule minerals and elements glittered in the light, like flashing diamonds in the sun. The air smelled wet and damp and Accacia wondered if the water from the surface trickled down through the soil and caused the clammy air. She also wondered how they channeled enough drinking water into the city for so many inhabitants. Aleco halted at the door and signaled for Accacia to remain outside the doorway. After he entered the room, she discerned the quiet sounds of a man being choked and the audible snap of a neck. He returned with their packs and two black swords identical to the blades the guildsmen carried.