Page 6 of Claim My Soul

Uncle Nic replied, wishing her a good night and that he’d contact her tomorrow.

Alexia dropped the phone beside her and closed her eyes as she leaned back against the cushions.She’d see what information, if any, her uncle could provide regarding the Lycan and Herleif before she considered telling him about tonight.She wouldn’t have minded a civil conversation with the troll.Too bad he wasn’t having it.

Her thoughts turned to their interaction mere moments ago and how quickly it’d escalated from almost polite to downright rude.The nerve of him, trying to intimidate her.And not believing her words.It’s not like she could pull answers out of her ass hoping he’d be satisfied with them.She’d told the truth.She couldn’t help it if he didn’t like it any more than she didn’t like what he’d had to say.

Alexia felt herself smile as she again thought of Herleif’s surprise at her power and that she’d dared to use it on him.But once her own shock had worn off, she’d been adamant about him backing away.She would not allow him to assert any kind of authority over her.

“Ha, take that, you big oaf,” she mumbled.“Like women should just roll over and be complacent to men.I don’t think so,” she said through a yawn.

Before she grew too tired to move, she forced herself to get up.Removing her coat, she hung it on a peg then walked to the kitchen.Her stomach made it known it wasn’t pleased to have been neglected, so she ate enough to satisfy it before heading to her room.She tried to put thoughts of Herleif and the evening out of her mind, knowing she wouldn’t get any more answers right now.

“A good night’s rest is what’s needed, then I’ll regroup tomorrow.”

She didn’t bother with her nighttime routine as she stripped off her clothes and crawled into bed.Burrowing under the covers, all thoughts of the evening vanished as sleep overtook her.

Chapter Four

“They need you, Alexia.You must save them.”

One moment Alexia was sound asleep, and the next, she was surrounded by a faint light, listening to the echo of a voice in distress.She knew she wasn’t here in physical form, more like her subconscious was here in a dreamlike state.But how?And where washere?

And who needed her?

“The souls need your guidance.”

Humans thought in simplistic terms.Heaven or Hell.That is, if they believed in an afterlife for their soul.But it wasn’t as simple as that.Oh, she wished it was, though.A soul’s journey didn’t end upon death.There were realms to negotiate based on an individual’s behavior in life.Her purpose was to guide souls on their destined path in the afterlife.More often than not, she hoped it was to Heaven, but that was up to Fate to decide.When guiding, she could feel their essence and knew where they were headed.Like the Lycan last night.Although his spirit felt disturbed at first, she knew he had gone to Heaven.

And it wasn’t often she’d been called upon to redirect a soul.

When first made aware of the powers she’d come into and her role in the cosmos, she had asked why it was even necessary.

“Souls are like wayward children,” her mother had said.“When not anchored in a body, they know not of their purpose and therefore need instruction.It is as if their memories are wiped, not remembering their life in the physical world.It is your duty and others like you to move them in the direction Fate ordains.”

“Was that your role also?”she’d asked her mother.

“It was, but now it is time to pass that role onto you.Just as you will do with your daughter.Just as all the women in our line have done.”

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