Page 22 of Claim My Soul

She produced the blue light in her palm and held it high, illuminating the space.A rocky floor lay beneath their feet and stone walls dripping with brown sludge rose on both sides, creating a corridor as wide as a city street.

“The wolf I thought I knocked out apparently died.Only his soul that rose from the body wasn’t a light, it was more like ...like that.”He pointed to the wall.“Some gray glob of muck.”He looked at Alexia.“But it targeted you.”

“What?Me?Why?”

Herleif shook his head.“I don’t know, but it shot straight for you with surprising speed.I only meant to shield you.It must have propelled us, here.”He waved his hand about.“Wherever here is.”

“We’re in a realm in the Underworld, and you had nothing to do with getting us here.It was the demented soul of the wolf you killed.I feel it.”The blue light changed to a fireball just as whispers were heard echoing throughout the cavern.Soft at first, they grew louder until Herleif thought it almost unbearable.

“Souls?”he questioned in a raised voice.

“Yes.Many belong here.Others do not.”Nonia suddenly appeared at Alexia’s side, growling low, and the voices began to quiet.Herleif watched Alexia place her hand on the wolf-dog’s head, massaging through the fur, comforting her.

“And what of the other soul, did it ascend?”

“It did not.It’s trapped among those here that do not belong.”

“Who is doing this?”he practically shouted.Nonia’s growling grew louder just before a voice crackled around them.

“I’m so glad you asked.”

A giant wolf stepped out of the darkness, walking upright like a human.Ghostly apparitions trailed closely behind as torches suddenly came to life along the rocky walls.Alexia extinguished her fireball, but Herleif sensed she remained poised for anything.The figure was as tall as Herleif with the mangiest coating he’d ever seen.Black eyes gleamed with dark delight and jowls dripped with thick saliva while smiling with what could only be described as an evil grin.

“Fenrir?”Alexia said in shock.Nonia barked, causing the apparitions to cower, while the wolf merely laughed, instantly grating on Herleif’s nerves.

“None other, my dear.Welcome to my realm.”He raised his arms in a flourish.“I hope you’re prepared to stay a while.”

Chapter Ten

Like hell, Alexia thought but surely wasn’t going to voice that.The beast would never let her live that little pun down.

“Are you fucking kidding me?”Herleif said.

“She is not, my handsome troll,” Fenrir said.

Herleif practically growled.“I am not youranything.”

---