Page 106 of Woven Souls

“Fulton assured us it was possible to reach into the Realm of the Dead. Together we worked for years to open it. But then Fulton disappeared, and we’ve been left on our own to figure out how to get over there. We’ve tried everything to get our hands into that realm.”

Elder Luthasi pauses to scowl, his fists tightening at his sides. Elder Marigold pats his shoulder and gives him a tight smile. He returns it after a moment, before looking down at the three of us.

“But then our warriors returned to Everlast in a yellow VW bus that belongs to a peculiar young woman who’d been hiding at the safehouse you were residing in. After just a little bit of digging we learned about how disruptive her presence is wherever she goes, her power destabilizing the natural order of things here… Can you imagine our excitement when we learned Willow possesses Death Magic? It wasn’t until we spoke to Rowan and his men’s spirits that our suspicions were confirmed. Now, instead of opening up a portal to the Realm of the Dead, we’ll have a living, breathing source of power to suck dry. With magic from the Third Realm, we’ll be able to keep Willow alive forcenturies.”

The horror that courses through my veins makes me nauseous.

They’re going to try to use Willow like a battery, supplying the energy they need to survive. I picture Willow tied up somewhere underground, being forced to do only God knows what to keep Everlast and the people in it afloat. Oh no… no, no, no. This can’t be happening. My stomach drops as I look away from Elder Luthasi.

Panicking, I try to tug my hands free of the shackles again. I yank and struggle, trying to pull my wrists free, but nothing happens. Fucking hell… There’s no way they miss the sound of my heart rate increasing, or Theo’s and even Jonah’s. We can keep our expressions clear, but there is no hiding how we feel about the woman they’re searching for.

“Which brings us to why you’re still alive,” Elder Marigold continues as Elder Luthasi chuckles with amusement as he watches me struggle. “For whatever reason, Miss Harvest has been with you for weeks. I’m sure you’ve learned a lot about her in that time. For your final tasks as Ghosts, we’d like for you to tell us everything you know about her. We have mages preparing powerful binding spells right now that will counteract anything she can throw at us once she gets here to save you. Once they’re secured, we’ll have time to study her, but it would be appreciated if you can give us any and all details about the young woman, so we have a good place to start in our research. If you cooperate, you have our word your deaths will be merciful.”

My wrists burn as I try to pull myself free. My heart and head are screaming in denial about what could occur if we don’t get out of here. We can’t let Willow get captured.

“I’m not telling you shit,” Jonah snaps.

“Well, we have no use for you anyway, so your death can come now and quite painfully for all I care,” Elder Luthasi says in an eerily soft voice.

The Ghost standing beside Elder Marigold moves around her to approach Jonah. Panic explodes in my chest.

“No, wait! If you kill him, you’ll lose your chance with Willow.” I can’t believe the words are coming out of my mouth. “We’re a packaged deal.”

“What did I say about lying?” Elder Marigold snaps, her beady eyes falling onto me.

“Shut up, Viktor!” Jonah yells, his voice echoing around us. I can hear him struggling in his shackles as he tries to move. “The guy’s blind and dumb. He has no idea what he’s talking about.”

“He’s not lying,” Theodon says through clenched teeth. “We’re stuck with Willow the same way Willow is stuck with the four of us.”

There’s a short pause. Theodon looks over at me, and I see him weighing the decision to give up our secret. His jaw ticks before he looks up at Elder Marigold.

“In an attempt to save us from an unfortunate situation, she fused our souls together with hers. It’s why we’ve been traveling together,” Theodon explains slowly. “We can’t be separated by too great a distance, and if one of us dies, all of us die. That’s how permanently we’re intertwined.”

Elder Marigold’s eyes fly up to look at Elder Luthasi who chuckles. “I think that’s something desperate people would say.”

Elder Marigold grins.

“I agree.” She tilts her head as she looks over at the Ghost by the door. “Kill them, then bring me their heads. We’ll show Willow what will happen to Kwil if she doesn’t stand down.”

“Wait, no, no!” Jonah shouts.

I’m on my feet in the next second. The room becomes unfocused before I close my eyes and let my other senses take over. The Ghosts hanging along the wall nearest to me lunge with their swords raised. The sound of the blade flying through the air tips me off to its whereabouts. I duck and kick my leg out to connect with a firm gut. I twist out of the way as another sword comes towards me on my left.

I move with ease, entrusting all my training and my senses to keep me out of danger.

Around me, I can hear Jonah grunt and cheer as he takes someone out. Theodon snarls, and the sound of his body hitting another is followed by both bodies landing on the floor. I duck and lunge, sidestep and slide out of the way as their efforts double.

“Kill them already!” The frustration in Elder Luthasi’s voice has me smiling.

But the distraction costs me.

I don’t move quick enough, and the sting of a blade cutting across my arm has me redoubling my efforts to keep moving. Thankfully, it’s not a fatal wound, but it hurts all the same. Shoving the pain away, I kick and twirl, connecting with someone’s ribs before my elbow hits someone’s jaw.

As I turn to face another Ghost, the floor trembles. The faint sounds of screams make their way through the walls of the room. They’re coming from directly above us. The floor rumbles again. It’s a constant shake, pause, shake. The screaming grows just a touch louder. We’re far enough underground that even with multiple people screaming, the sound is hardly more than a whisper in the air.

When the ground shakes again, it’s harder than before, and I lose my footing.

The Ghosts around me take advantage of the situation. One hits me in the face with a fist while the other kicks my legs out from under me. My eyes fly open as my back hits the floor. I watch in horror as a blade comes down, aiming right for my neck.

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