My Soul Keeper (17 page)

“Liam, it’s over. Lucas was right about you,” she spits as she walks back to her car. Lucas? If she’s been around Lucas he could be influencing her, making her aggressive.

“What do you mean ‘Lucas was right’?” I ask.

“He told me Liam was using me to get to Simone. Like everyone else, he’s in love with her.”

“I’m not in love with her,” Liam protests.

I see Leah’s aura changing and her soul tinting darker like a shadow casting over it. “Lucas won’t let you have her anyway. She belongs to him. Why would she want you over him?”

Liam rushes her and grips her shoulders. “What has he done to you?”

She laughs and it’s hollow, void of emotion. “Nothing yet, but that will change. He can touch me anywhere he wants.”

“Her soul’s been tainted,” I tell Simone and Liam.

“No,” Simone shouts and runs for Leah, embracing her before Leah can pull away. I see Simone’s bright light engulf Leah. Wrapping around her soul. Leah gasps and crumples to the floor, gasping for air. It’s mesmerizing.

“What happened? Oh my God, I’m sorry,” Leah stutters shaking her head.

“Her darkness has lifted. Simone, you removed it,” I tell them. They all look at me puzzled. “Simone’s light cleansed her.”

“Why would she be tainted?” Liam asks me, like I have all the answers.

“I think Lucas is making a point.”

“Why does Lucas want me and why do I feel things for him?” Simone asks. It feels like a knife to my chest to hear her say she feels things for him.

Liam moves to Leah and Simone comes to me. She looks to the ground. I reach for her chin and tip her beautiful face to look up at me.

“Never show them your beauty below. Only ever look up.”

A tear spills to her cheek and it takes my breath away. She’s so pure.

“It’s not like what I feel for you. It’s only…” She stops speaking and looks away before she whispers, “Lust.”

“You don’t feel lust for me?” I ask, cocking my eyebrow and trying to ease her embarrassment. I don’t succeed because her pretty face flushes pink.

“I do but I feel more than that with you. Lust is all I feel for him. It’s like a spell or something.”

My heart warms at her confession of her feelings for me.

“That’s how I felt when I saw him today. Like I wanted to rip his clothes off and mount him,” Leah pipes up, making Liam seethe with anger. I watch him clench and unclench his fist. His jaw ticks.

“Nice, Leah,” he growls.

“I’m sorry. It’s just weird. I know he’s hot, I’ve noticed that. But today was different, like a drug. I soaked everything in he told me and when he kissed me, I felt-”

“He kissed you?”

“Yes, he kissed me, and I felt like… God, this will sound stupid and freaky, but it was like evil invading me. I know I sound crazy.”

“So what is he?” Simone asks me. I debate not telling them what my father told me, but I’m so worried he might try to get to her again. I need to warn her of just how dangerous he is.

“Let’s go inside.”

Once inside, I tell them all I know. Leah calls me a variety of names, including deluded and crazy, while staring at me in disbelief. I vanish in front of her and reappear again. She runs out of the house and is half a mile down the street before Liam catches up to her; me and Simone follow behind him.

“So where’s my real mom?” Simone asks when we finally calm Leah and get her back in the house. She directs her question at Liam.

“I don’t know. My mother brought me to you. You were already with your human parents by then.”

She turns her attention to me, the same question in her eyes.

“I have no idea but I can try and find out for you.”

A light appears behind me, making Leah screech and bolt for the door again. Liam grabs her arm before she can leave. Charmeine appears beside me.

“Mother,” Liam breathes and embraces her.

She looks between me and him nervously, which confuses me, she must have information.

“I can’t stay long, but Chamuel asked me to come.”

She looks to Simone and smiles, which Simone returns. Charmeine’s calming abilities flood the room, making Leah relax back into the sofa. I had been too pent up, my mind racing too fast to think to calm the room.

“Liam, your mom is a hottie,” Leah observes.

“Chamuel, my father? Do you know where my mom is?” Simone asks Charmeine.

“Simone. I am a friend of both your parents. Your mother and father’s love is strictly forbidden. When your mother conceived, it was something unheard of. Your father panicked. Michael had already told him that if he continued to spend time with your mother, they both would be punished. This was before anyone even knew they were actually together. So he brought her here to ask his only other brother, one who wouldn’t judge him, for help.”

“Lucifer
,”
Liam mutters.

“Lucas,
”
Simone replies. “Your father left her with him, so he could go speak with Michael. He was kept in Heaven and couldn’t get back to you both. We don’t know what happened with your mother. When he came to me for help, time had passed and you were already born and placed here.”

“We need to speak to my father and see what he got from Gabrielle,” I speak up.

Charmeine tenses when I mention my father.

“He’s not here,” I tell her. She shakes her head as if I hadn’t just caught her nervousness.

“He once had a thing for Muriel is all,” she says unconvincingly.

“I know but that’s irrelevant.”

“I need to get back, but please… be careful.”

“I need to speak to Lucas; he knows where my mother is.” Simone gets to her feet, determined.

“Simone, no. I can’t let you do that. Lucas is pure evil. He corrupts, and he wants you,” I tell her, like she’s a child being irrational. I regret my tone when I see the way she looks at me. She’s hurt.

“I can’t just do nothing. I need to find out who I am.”

“You know who you are.”

“No, I need to see them. I want to see my parents.”

“Please, Simone. Let me go see my father. Let’s see what Gabrielle said before we do anything dangerous.”

I bring my hand to her cheek and plead with her with my eyes. She nuzzles into my touch; relief floods me again. I lean in to brush my lips with hers. She grips my back, pulling me into a deeper kiss which shocks me, but God, it pleases me so much. Her soft plump lips make mine tingle; the pulse of electricity sparks in my body as I feel her body relax into mine. I want to pick her up and devour her, feel the heat of her naked body all over mine. I need to sink inside her perfection.

Liam and Leah clear their throats and Simone pulls away. “I’m sorry,” she mutters. “I just needed-”

I put my finger to her lips. “Don’t explain.” I try to control my body’s reaction to her closeness.

Leah’s voice talking into her cell brings our attention to her

“What? Who? No way.” She ends the call her wide eyes turn to us, “Mia is freaking out on the football field with a knife.”

“Why?” Simone asks

“Apparently Lucas won’t take her to prom or some crazy shit, but she’s screaming that she’s going to kill Simone and herself.”

“We need to stop her, she’s under his influence. Amanda was saying things about me and Lucas before she killed herself.” Simone heads for the door again.

“No, it’s too dangerous,” I tell her forcefully.

“I won’t stand around and let more people get hurt. I couldn’t help Amanda. I can’t let this happen again because of me. It’s because of me.” She chokes on the last words.

“Okay, let’s go.”

We pull up at the school, which is abuzz with people.

“Has no one called the police?” I ask Leah, who shrugs.

“Please stay by me, Simone,” Shamar says as we exit the car and approach the chaos on the field. I take his hand and squeeze. Mia’s screaming voice curdles the air. She’s standing near the bleachers, holding a kitchen carving knife. She looks crazed like Amanda did; they would never act this way. What is he doing to them to make them act this way? How much influence can someone have that actually makes you take your own life?

“There she is. I hate you!” she shouts in my direction.

I feel Lucas. I don’t need to see him to know he’s here. “You cause a lot of trouble, sweet Simone.”

“Back off, Lucas,” Shamar warns, his tone dripping with violence.

Lucas laughs. “You have become quite the problem, trying to take things that don’t belong to you,” Lucas answers him with just as much violence.

“She doesn’t belong to you either.”

“You’re sick anyway. Isn’t she, like, your niece? Incest, anyone?” Leah asks Lucas.

“Leah…” Liam tries pulling her away but Leah fights him.

“I like you, Leah. So feisty. I’ll enjoy breaking you.”

He looks to someone and nods. Two guys reach forward and pull Leah into the crowd.

Liam reaches for her, making Lucas laugh. He flicks his finger toward Liam. There’s a loud crack and Liam screams out and falls to the ground. I rush to him.

“I thought you wanted Simone, Liam, until I saw the way you looked at Leah. You can watch me break her down and then see if you can love what’s left.” Lucas laughs deep.

“You won’t touch her,” I tell him.

“Then let me have you, sweet Simone. You will come to me eventually, anyway.”

“I’ll never come to you willingly.”

“We will have to see about that.”

He eyes Mia, who stares at me as she brings the knife across her neck. Red oozes from the open wound the blade leaves in its wake. Screams fill the air as I dart forward, but I’m stopped by heat burning my arm.

“I will have you, Simone. The only question is how many people have to die first.”

Shamar pulls me from him. “Stay away from her,” he threatens. Lucas tenses.

“You still let him touch you, after you know he’s only here to bring you sorrow?” Lucas asks me.

“What are
you
bringing me?” I snap

He disappears through the crowds of people; I hear sirens and whimpering. I look to Liam clutching his leg.

“It’s broken. Where is Leah?”

“We will find her,” I reassure him. “He needs a hospital,” I tell Shamar.

“You can fix him. We just need to get somewhere private,” Shamar informs me. Liam nods, confirming what he’s saying.

Shamar puts Liam’s arm over his shoulder and lifts him.

“I need to check on Mia.” I push through the crowds.

Girls are crying when I reach Mia. She’s lying still as a statue, blood forming a puddle around her body from that gaping wound on her throat. I see Shamar's father appear. I look around to see if anyone else sees him, but no one’s looking at him. He reaches into Mia and pulls a light from her; it looks like a dim lit orb. He absorbs it into his body. “I’m sorry you had to witness her death, Simone. Tell my son I need to speak with him. I’ll bring Gabrielle to your house. Meet me there.”

Cold and sorrow grasp the air around me. All I can do is nod in acknowledgement.

Shamar’s face tells me he’s mad that I ran off. Gesturing to the car, he follows me. Opening the door for him, he puts Liam in the back seat and I climb behind him.

“How do I fix him?” I ask Shamar.

“Just put your hand over his injury and
want
to heal him.”

“Wait! Is that what I did to Jacob?”

Liam and Shamar look at me.

“What do you mean?” Liam grumbles, sweat glistening his brow.

“I healed a cut on his head. I thought I was hallucinating, but now I think maybe I wasn’t.”

“You’re an Angel, so you have healing abilities,” Shamar answers, looking back at me.

“Which I’d really appreciate you using, because I’m in a lot of pain,” Liam groans.

“Erm, yeah, okay. I’m sorry. Here goes.” I place my hand over his injury. “Heal,” I say, gaining myself a snigger from Shamar.

“You’re not a wizard, Simone. Clear your mind and
think
- in your mind, not aloud - that you want to heal him.”

I can tell he’s making fun of me, so I give him my best evil eye in the rear-view mirror; he just sniggers again.

I picture Liam’s injury and picture it healing as I lay my hand over him. Light emanates from my palm and spreads over his leg. There’s a small crunch; Liam relaxes and exhales.

“You did it, baby. You’re amazing.” Shamar beams at me.

“Wow, thank you, Simone.” Liam flexes his leg then embraces me. “Right. We need to find Leah,” he reminds me.

I feel a small ache in my chest. “How will we find her?” I ask, my eyes finding Shamar’s in the mirror.

“First, we need to get you somewhere safe because we don’t know what he plans next. I should see if my father has found out anything from Gabrielle.”

“Oh, he has, I think. He said he needed to talk to you. He’ll meet us at my house.”

“When did you see him?” Liam and Shamar ask in unison.

“Mia,” is all I need to say. Understanding spreads silence in the car.