Soul Catcher (29 page)

Aleco stood up and paced the room. He wanted to vomit. All of Accacia’s kin were stuck within these stone prisons, captive for uncounted years. Their immortal souls were merely
gas in another man’s engine, and then the used souls simply vanished. Accacia could never know the truth of the Soul Binders. A horrific thought flooded his mind as he thought of her. “Drake murdered Accacia’s parents,” he said more to himself than Father Giloth. “That would mean—”

“Yes,” he said. “Their souls are trapped as well.”

Asylinth House

33

Aleco poured himself a brandy from the decanter. He swallowed the liquid in one gulp. “When will she leave?” Aleco asked.

“A boat and crew will be waiting for her on the morning of the third day. They will carry her five miles from the coast of the island, and she will row a lifeboat the rest of the way.”

Aleco nodded. “Are they trustworthy?”

“The sailors or the Asquithians?” he asked.

“Both.”

“The sailors will not harm Accacia. They have my trust. I have no doubt the Asquithian society will accept Accacia. They will fear her initially, but I know she will ascend in their government and gain their trust,” Father Giloth said. “How could they not love her?” Father Giloth drained his own glass of whiskey.

Aleco nodded his agreement. “What of me?”

Father Giloth looked at him. “What of
you
?”

“How will I overthrow Drake?” he asked. “If I want your advice, I should ask now, right?”

“You intend to pursue this?” he asked with raised eyebrows.

“Until he is dead or I am,” he said. “Whichever comes first.
”

“It is hopeless, Aleco,” he whispered.

“No arguments there. But I have to figure out how to destroy the Soul Binders,” he said. “I care more about that than killing Drake.”
              “They can’t be destroyed,” he said.

“Are you certain?” Aleco asked.

“No,” Father Giloth admitted.

“Then I will try,” he said. “I owe Accacia that much.”

Father Giloth stared at Aleco. The light of hope flickered in his eyes like a candle running low on wick. He hated to be the one to douse the flame. “Aleco, even if you overthrow Drake, establish yourself as the rightful ruler, and free the souls of Accacia’s late parents, she will never return—ever.”

“She might,” he whispered.

“She won’t know the way, her people won’t release her, and she won’t have a ship,” he said. “And she will never know the events of the Continent, so she will have no reason to return.”

“I’ll find her,” Aleco said.

“How long will it take you to accomplish your wildest dreams, and then find her? She will have moved on by then, son,” he said. He looked at the stoic expression on Aleco’s face, and knew he was on the brink of rage. Father Giloth hated expressing these horrible thoughts, but Aleco needed to hear the voice of reality. “I’m sorry, Aleco, but it’s the truth. Enjoy your time with her and cherish the memory then move on—I know you will find happiness again someday.”

Aleco laughed. “I thought you weren’t allowed to lie.”

“I’m not,” he answered.

Aleco rose from his seat. “Your advice is no longer needed,” he said. “If I wanted to give up, I wouldn’t need to ask you how. I can just watch you do it.”

Aleco turned towards Father Giloth once more before he left the house. The command in his voice reverberated around the room. “Accacia is mine until she leaves,” he said. “You have no bidding rights when it comes to her time. Drake dragged her from the forest, and you did nothing to stop him. You knew what he planned to do, but you still failed to protect her. She claims to forgive you, but I never will.”

Father Giloth dropped his gaze at Aleco’s words.

“With those majestic powers you possess, you could have intervened, but you didn’t even
try
,” he yelled. “All those years you could have spent with her are gone. Now it is my turn to cherish them, the only one who is worthy to do so.

“I am the one who rescued her, saved her life so many times that I can’t recall the number, and you did nothing. She
was there for
three
years, and you did
nothing
.” Anger flooded his body at the travesty Father Giloth had committed—the man who claimed to be her
father
. He had been angry with the old man before, but never like this. The knowledge that she was leaving tore a hole in his chest. None of this would be happening if Father Giloth had protected her that afternoon. “You aren’t awakened every night by the screams of her nightmares, which are always about the same thing—Drake.”

“Enough.” He silenced him.

Aleco left the house, slamming the door behind him.

Aleco slid his body between the sheets. He buried his face within the crook of her neck and breathed in the scent of her hair, something he would treasure during his lonely nights without her—but he couldn’t think about that. Aleco withdrew his Soul Catcher from his necklace, where he now stored the stone, and inserted the memories of their winter within the gem. The intimate moments when they made passionate love, laughed together under the trees, and the serene moments when he watched her sleep—all worthy of being remembered.

The contents of his Soul Catcher had been altered. What was once
a storage of painful memories full of death, revenge, and bloody battles, was replaced with the memories he made with Accacia—the only happy memories he possessed. They were going to have to last him a lifetime. For Aleco, there was no moving on—this was it.

Aleco wanted the following days to be the best they ever had—but the gods always laugh at your plans. They made love often, more than usual, but their conversations were forced and difficult. They refrained from discussing upcoming events, Accacia’s departure, Drake’s coronation, the fate of the forest, and the freedom of the citizens of the Continent, which left few subjects to discuss. The only safe avenue was the past—which was a painful topic for both of them.

Accacia attempted to visit Father Giloth often, but Aleco always distracted her from her goal. He had no plans of sharing her. He found himself staring at Accacia almost every second, memorizing her face for the years to come. She knew why he did this, but never commented on it.

Their last evening together was the hardest night. They ate dinner in silence, as they both thought about what they didn’t want to discuss, and they looked at each other with saddened expressions. Aleco was enraged with the events of his life. He’d already lost his parents—did he have to lose her too?

That night, Accacia slid her bare body between the sheets and watched Aleco stir the embers of the fire. She watched his back muscles ripple in the light of the flames as he moved. He threw another log onto the fire and the flames rose. Aleco rose from the hearth and followed her under the covers. His warm embrace surrounded Accacia and made her sigh—she knew how much she would miss his touch. He caught her expression and kissed her lips, attempting to change the course of her thoughts, but it made her realize how much she would miss that, too.

Aleco leaned over and inserted himself within her, and she gasped at his entrance and pulled him deeper. He made love to her in a way he never had before. He focused his attention on the soft touch of her skin, the feel of her silky hair, and the beautiful green color of the eyes that always betrayed her hidden emotion. They were soaked with tears. The sight pulled at his heart, and his tears fell too, dripping on her chest as they made love in the throes of their pain. Neither of them enjoyed the interaction the way they had before, but they needed to be as close to each other as possible.

They didn’t sleep the entire night. They spent the evening discussing insignificant topics, and embracing each other as if it would be their last opportunity. Their limited time together made him realize just how special every moment was with her, and he wished fate had been more kind to both of them. Accacia’s eyes never left his as she ran her hands down his chest and along the curves of his torso, savoring the feel of his muscular physique. The fair color of his skin complemented his crystal blue eyes, which were so beautiful it was painful to look away. The image flooded her mind even when she closed her eyes. The stern cheekbones of his face and his large eyes made him the most attractive man she had ever seen. She ran her hands through the blond hair she adored, and felt the strands glide through the gaps in her fingers. He looked like a king. He had broad, muscular shoulders that always stood straight when he walked. His gaze was never unfriendly, but always kind, unless you gave him a reason to make a sour face, which was often, she learned. He was absolutely perfect. Aleco would never become the king he should be, and that tugged at her heart painfully. She had come to know Aleco for who he really was and not the sarcastic man he projected. He just had a broken heart like she did.

“I’m going to miss you,” she whispered.

“Stop,” he commanded her. He closed his eyes and held her hand to his heart. “Not yet.”

Roslyn Palace

34

The peasants gathered around the grounds of the beautiful keep, staring up to the platform where Lord Letumian stood. His crown glittered in the spring sun and shined brighter than the stars on a cloudless night. Father Hyphalia chanted his blessing through the Channel of Souls, the hollow spire that reached up to the sky. Drake kneeled before his feet while Father Hyphalia communicated with the gods of the universe, asking for wisdom and guidance for the new king, the first they’d had in many generations. Father Hyphalia ended his communication through the Channel and looked down at the Sole Sovereign of the Unified Continent. “Rise,” he commanded.

The king rose to his feet and smiled. The strong wind blew the strands of blond hair from his eyes and revealed the cerulean color of his irises, which glowed in the light of the sun. He fit the description of a kingly sovereign with his handsome features and strong frame. He supported the burden of his armor and gleaming sword, but the look was deceptive. His black heart was hidden from view.

Drake approached the end of the metallic platform and looked down at the peasants gathered in the streets. They cheered as they caught sight of the magnificent king, standing tall over the rail with the golden crown upon his head. He smiled down at his citizens and they cried again.

He walked back to the center of the dais and looked at the other dukes of the Continent. As the recognized leader of the surrounding realms, Drake had power that surpassed their own. His dominance was absolute. They were mere figureheads now.

“Congratulations, Your Highness,” Artremian said as he extended his hand.

Drake took it. “Thank you,
Artremian .”

The Steward of Morkarh approached him. His red cape billowed around him in the wind, and his metallic necklace
shined silver in the light. “To many fruitful years, Your Majesty,” he said as he grabbed his shoulder.

“Yes,
many
fruitful years,” he answered. He smiled at his ally and friend. His cooperation was essential to this undertaking. Drake would reward his allegiance handsomely during his reign.

“May the gods bless your role as the leader of this Continent,” Father Hyphalia spoke. “We are at your disposal during this time and will assist you in any way we can.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

Of course, my son,” he answered.

Drake looked at the congregation of officials surrounding him. Rancar nodded at him from his high seat alongside the other councilmen. Rancar had also been essential for this glorious day and Drake would remember his effort. He noticed Father Giloth’s absence. “Under my command, the unified armies of the Continent will guard and protect the innocent lives of those who cannot protect themselves. The possibility of war between nations will disappear and our commerce will blossom with fortune,” he said. “The horrific past of our nation is buried with those who lie in their crypts, and I will never repeat their mistakes. The Continent will always be at peace as long as I am here to protect it. Will you stand with me?”

“Yes.” They finished the pledge. “Always we will.”

The duke smiled. “Let’s begin this new age.”

Harbor of Orgoom Forest

35

Father Giloth, the Naturalists that Accacia knew well, and Aleco walked her to the harbor at the far end of Orgoom Forest. Every thud of his boots against the earth reminded Aleco of the second hand of a clock, ticking towards the hour of his doom. He held her hand as they walked. Before they even approached the harbor, tears were stinging behind his eyes. Aleco blinked them away. If Accacia saw his tears, she would cry too.

The massive ship came into view when they exited the trees. Its craftsmanship was evident in the dimensions, making the boat sturdy and formidable. White sails reached to the sky, and the wind danced along the seams. The sun splashed the fabric of the mast and highlighted the color, making it look as pure as bleach. The brightness of the sunstar reflected in the ocean water, and the waves sparkled under its rays. It couldn’t have been a more beautiful day. It was as if the elements themselves were wishing Accacia farewell. Aleco looked over at Father Giloth, and suspected he had intervened in the weather.

Men were hauling cargo onto the ship. Aleco assumed they were extra provisions for the lengthy trip. Their feet left the wild grass of the forest and thudded against the planks of the pier, which extended out to sea for one hundred feet. Accacia stopped in her tracks before she stepped onto the pier. Aleco nudged her forward.

The captain of the ship approached Father Giloth and they embraced. “Thank you for granting me this favor, Captain.”

“Of course, after all you have done for my family, it is the least I can do,” he said. “I am happy to do anything for you, Father.”

Father Giloth smiled.

“Now where is the stowaway?” he asked. His skin was brown and leathery from exposure to the sun. It contrasted against the whiteness of his teeth, making him appear darker in comparison. He smiled at the group of gatherers and looked into the faces of each person. His eyes landed on Accacia. “Hello, my dear.”

“Hello.” She smiled. The brightness of the sun caused her eyes to squint, so she shielded her face with her hand. “I’ve never sailed before,” she admitted.

“You are going to love it, dear.” He smiled. “I’ve been sailing for twenty years. Believe me when I say that I’ll get you wherever you need to go, safe and sound.”

“I look forward to it,” she said.

“Can I have your pack and belongings?” he asked.

“Thank you,” she said as she handed him her gear.

“Whenever you’re ready,” he said as he turned away.

Aleco let go of Accacia’s hand. She turned to the Naturalists she had known her entire life and said goodbye to each of them in turn. She smiled warmly as she said her farewells, and Aleco was surprised by her reserved emotions. They each kissed her on the brow and returned to the forest, giving her privacy with Father Giloth. Tears covered all their faces.

He smiled at her. “I am very happy for you, Accacia. I always hoped you would visit your people,” he said. “You will be welcomed, I am certain of it.”

“I hope you are right, Father.” She smiled in return, staring at the man she had known as a father her entire life, and the tears began to swim before her. She looked down and blinked them back. She silently berated herself for not lasting longer.

Father Giloth lifted her chin. “Accacia, I’m sorry I failed to protect you from the duke all those years ago. I want you to know that I have never forgiven myself for it.” His watered eyes mirrored her own.

“Please don’t say that,” she whispered through her tears. “It wasn’t your fault. I forgive you, so please forgive yourself, Father.”

“I can’t,” he whispered. “I’m going to miss you dearly.”

She hugged him. “I will miss you.” She sobbed.

They embraced on the deck of the harbor, holding each other for the last time in this life. The seagulls cried overhead, but Accacia did not hear them. All she could hear were her childhood memories echoing in her mind. She recalled the worry on her father’s face when she had lain in the meadow all day, arriving home after dark. He was so grateful she wasn’t hurt that they celebrated that night with wine and dessert. She couldn’t believe this was the end. “I love you.”

Father Giloth lost his bearings and gave into the sobs himself. He clutched her tighter. “And—I—you,” he managed to get out.

He pulled away and kissed her on the brow. “Goodbye, my daughter,” he whispered. He turned away before she repeated the words, too overcome to hear them.

Accacia looked around the deck and spotted Aleco off to the side. He stood alone with his gaze fixed on her. His face had a stoic expression, but she noticed the clear outline of red circling his eyes. He looked more handsome than she could ever remember seeing him. He was unveiled, outside in the rays of the sun, and his blue eyes matched the hue of the crashing waves. She stared at the outlines of his trim body through his light shirt and wished they could be together once more, but she knew that time had passed. The thought alone caused her tears to resurface.

He walked to her, and her heartbeat quickened in her chest. She didn’t want to say goodbye—she didn’t know if she could. He read her mind. “Don’t say it,” he whispered as he kissed her tears away. He cupped the side of her face and pressed his forehead against hers. She felt his hot breath fall on her face and wished she could have him on that very deck. He read her mind again. “I’m still tired from last night.” He smiled.

The gesture squeezed her heart painfully. He was trying to comfort her, make this as easy as possible for her, even though she was the one being spared the horrific crimes of the Continent. He would be stuck there, hunted for the rest of his life.

The tears came—she couldn’t stop them.

His own words were choked with tears. “Hush,” he whispered. “Please don’t cry.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I can’t help it.”

“I know,” he said through his own tears. Aleco felt the vulnerability of his soul leak through. He wanted to shed his tears after she left, wishing to spare her the sight. He decided to give her his final gift. “I have something for you.” He pulled away from her and opened the capsule around his neck; the one she knew was empty. His Soul Catcher fell into his palm and he handed it to her. “I regret not sharing everything with you,” he said, “and I hope this makes amends for what I did to you.”

She grabbed the Soul Catcher. The meaning of his actions flooded her body. He was so furious when she had pried into his past that they had almost parted forever. Now she was the closest person to him, and no one knew him better than she. “I can’t accept this, Aleco,” she said as she handed it back. “But I appreciate the gesture.”

“Please, Accacia,” he said. “I want you to have it. Now you will always know what our time together meant to me.” He handed it back.

Accacia wiped the tears from her face and looked at the gem. She withdrew her own soul gem and handed it to him. “Let’s exchange,” she reasoned. “You will know all my memories, and I will know all of yours.”

Aleco looked down at her gem and smiled. He took the stone and placed it within his necklace. She did the same.

“Thank you,” they said together. They both laughed with weak chuckles.

“You should get going,” he whispered. “Weather is always unpredictable. Take advantage of its blessing while you can.”

Accacia felt her heart pound while she stared at him. She didn’t want to be apart from him; she wouldn’t survive. Accacia wished she had appreciated him more when they were together. She regretted not accepting him into her heart long ago; he was already there anyway. Aleco was the only man she ever loved, and she couldn’t believe she was being forced away from him after she was finally happy.

Accacia ran her palm across his face and kissed him, oblivious to sailors whistling from the ship. Father Giloth and the Naturalists were standing close by, but she didn’t care what they saw. His tears splashed onto her face, and her own tears ran down his neck. He squeezed her body to his chest and cupped her face, feeling the softness of her cheek. When Aleco pulled away, he was heaving with sobs. “I’m going to miss you so much,” he whispered. “You changed my life, Accacia. This is the first time I have ever been happy, ever been whole. You are my family—you are everything to me.”

“I will miss you too,” she said through her own tears. She kissed his cheeks. “I’ve never been happier either, Aleco. You made me feel safe for the first time in my life, that nothing could ever hurt me. I am indebted to you for saving me—however many times it’s been.” They both laughed through their tears. “You saved my life,” she said. “How can I ever repay you?”

“You already did,” he smiled, “and quite handsomely, I might add.” She blushed at his reference. He noticed the color of her cheeks and smiled. “After everything we have done,
that
makes you blush.” He laughed.

The pain stabbed her
heart as she looked at him smile. She was going to miss him—more than she thought she would. She hugged him tightly and buried her face in his shoulder. He returned her embrace with equal force. She drank in his smell, memorized the feel of his skin on her fingers, and the taste of his lips. Her sobs returned. They held each other for several minutes, neither one saying a word, and savored their last embrace.

He pulled away and looked at her. “Accacia, I need to tell you something,” he said, locking his gaze onto hers. “It may seem redundant or obvious, after everything I’ve said to you, done for you, and done
to
you, but just in case it wasn’t clear—I love you.” Aleco searched her gaze for a reaction, but her face was already flooded with tears, and he couldn’t distinguish any new emotions. He noticed that even when she was drenched in tears, she was still absolutely gorgeous. Most people just look ugly when they cry, in his opinion, but not her. “And I will forever,” he added.

She hugged him, and he embraced her. She said nothing as they held each other, and Aleco felt worried. He
knew
she loved him. He couldn’t understand why she didn’t confess it, in their last moment together—ever. Pain flooded his heart at her rejection. He thought her feelings were as obvious as his—but clearly he had been wrong. “Aleco—”

“Shhh,” he hushed her. He didn’t want to hear her explanation.

“I love you, too,” she whispered into this ear.

Aleco shook as the words entered his head. He had suspected her feelings, but hadn’t always been certain of it. If he had known, he would have confessed his love for her months ago, without fear of chasing her away. He sighed in relief at the revelation, and happiness flooded his body—followed by a great depression at their current circumstance. But Aleco would never forget the words she spoke to him. She loved him.
She loved him
.

“Accacia, I love you,” he repeated as he held her tighter.

“And I love you, Aleco.”

“Thank the gods.” He sighed.

She laughed at his words. Accacia pulled away and looked at him one last time. She held back her next words since Aleco had instructed her not to say them. She was glad he did—they were too difficult to say anyway. She wanted her last words to be what they were—that they loved each other.

She kissed him once more, and without looking at him, walked towards the ship. She crossed the deck
and stood at the rail. The crew untied the ropes and tossed them into the boat then kicked off the wooden pier and sailed out to open sea.

The wind billowed through her hair and tapered the strands around her shoulders. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, on the inside as well as the outside. He couldn’t believe he was watching her leave his life—forever. The sun glinted off her tan skin, and made her eyes shine a brighter
shade of green, which he could distinguish even at that distance. She looked like the mermaids men depicted in statues at the keel of their ships. His heart tugged painfully as the ship sailed further out to sea. He watched her grow smaller and smaller as she left his sight. When he could no longer distinguish her form, or even the dimensions of the boat, he fell to the deck floor and gave in to soul-breaking sobs at the loss of his life’s love.