Page 165 of To Trap a Soul

Hooking her thumbs underneath their gooey armpits, she lifted them into the air. They gave a feeble mewl of protest, their tiny hands closing and opening in her direction, as their long feline tail curled in agitation.

“I wonder what colour your eyes will be,” she asked them with a laugh, unafraid that she was dangling them dangerously close to the Veil’s deathly fall.

She’d never drop them. They were utterly safe in her hands and embrace at all times.

They eventually gave up protesting and just hung there. Their lower end sagged as their middle stretched, but she knew they wouldn’t tear in half. It would eventually stop, and it did when their back paws just brushed against her knee.

“What horns or antlers should I give you? I want you to be different to your brothers.”

They gave a yawning yip before reaching out a back paw towards her – desiring to kick and move now that they were awake.

“Maybe goat horns?” She tilted her head, eyeing their features with a thoughtful inspection. “No. That might make you look too much like Ari. What about a ram’s? They could curl down the sides of your head.”

A bright grin spread her lips apart, revealing her teeth as she decided.

She dropped her gaze to the lizard spikes going down their forearms and calves – the result of their curious explorations. She still remembered finding a tail hanging from their mouth when she was unaware, and how they slurped it down like a noodle. Thankfully, they’d already consumed the mountain cougar she’d stumbled upon, a creature she hadn’t known Weldir had brought to Austrális.

I guess he isn’t all that bad.

He obviously cared enough about Earth and the occupants on it to move creatures around to stave off the impending doom of Demons. It’d been short-lived, as those nightmarish creatures preferred the taste of human blood, but his efforts did allow Austrális more time to prepare.

More than other countries she’d visited.

She laid Leonidas in her lap once more, and they sat with their back to her front. She grabbed their little hands and waved them up and down, playing with them, as they were so free-spirited that they let her. They never nipped, never growled, and so far, had been one of the easiest of her children to keep young.

So much so that she was extending it for as long as possible.

Lindiwe had all the time in the world to help them obtain their horns. She could spend just that little bit more time with them, especially as she knew both Orson and Fenrir were doing well.

They were safely apart from each other, Orson traversing the Veil while Fenrir explored the northlands. She’d like it to stay that way for a little while longer.

Should I wait until Weldir wakes up?He did like to witness the whole process of their children’s evolutions, even if he couldn’t actively participate.

He’d missed the birth of Leonidas, as well as them gaining their skull. Would he be annoyed if he missed their final growth too?

Probably not.He didn’t seem to feel much emotionally.

It was another reason she didn’t open her heart to him.

Apparently there was no pain greater than unrequited love, other than losing a child, and she’d already done one of those things. She’d lost much and gained very little. She had a closed and tightly locked cage around her heart.

She only ever shared a piece with her children, including Orson and Ari, who were the most harmful.

Giving away any more, especially to a shadowy being who struggled to understand basic social etiquette, might just be too much. Forever was too long, and she didn’t want to suffer for all of it.

Just when her heart began to sink, and she stopped playing with Leonidas’ hands, a familiar, deep, and tantalising voice reaching into the recesses of her mind.

“Hello, Lindiwe,” Weldir rumbled, louder than usual, as if he was right there next to her. It didn’t even have the aura of an echo to it like usual.

With her sitting among his mist, he very well could be there – just like when she’d first met him... and gave him her soul.

“Hello, Weldir,” she answered, feeling her tribulation melt at finally hearing his voice. She let a weak smile curl her lips and resumed playing with her feline-skulled child’s hands.

“A long time has passed.”

Lindiwe paused as her brows furrowed. “How do you know that?”

Weldir didn’t ever notice the length of time that passed. To him, his little nap could have been a few days or years.

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