Page 70 of The Fifth Soul

“Gabriel.” Mel’s voice is a whisper. I open my eyes to find both brothers embracing each other. “How is this possible?”

“The little girl has a gift.” Gabriel is quick to explain.

Mel’s eyes turn back to me, and their slow perusal of me gives me goosebumps. “A gift indeed.” The slow way the words are said makes me nearly shiver.

In Mel’s eyes, I’ve become a tool. I fight the urge to cower and run. I know when a predator thinks I’m prey. My survival urge is screaming at me to seek refuge. I still my spine and square my shoulders. The last thing I need is to show any weakness.

Brandon takes a step in front of me, covering Mel from my sight. “Drop it.”

His command is so quiet I almost don’t hear it. I do it. To us, nothing changes, but Mel and Gabriel quickly notice they can no longer see their sibling in the room.

“Perhaps I should be the one to explain,” Gabriel offers.

Brandon shakes his head. “I don’t need anyone to speak for me or my people.”

Mel takes in Brandon like this is the first time he notices him in the room. The thought is absurd. Mel might be an incredibly powerful creature, but if he has a predator, it’s Brandon. This is probably a mental game for Mel. Someone as powerful and crazy as him lives to play games. Immortal creatures tend to be that way. Something about never running out of time.

“Brandon Oscuro. Royal-something to some forsaken realm on the other side of the world. What is this about?”

The question comes out with a tint of boredom. If I hadn’t seen how he embraced his brother, I would question if this deal would mean anything to him.

“As you can see, my partner, Bianca, has a very special gift. It allows you to see your brother. We would like to offer you a day in exchange for two souls.”

The sinister laughter coming from the demon is chilling to the bone. Mel moves to take the seat Gabriel once occupied. He leans back and crosses his arms behind his head. “You think a day with Gabriel is worth two souls?” His laughter is louder, yet hollow. “What do you even want two souls for?”

“I need you to agree before we go into more detail.”

“Ten visits. One per year. Six months after the winter solstice.”

“No.” The word is definite. It leaves no room for questions.

“What stops me from simply taking the little witch?”

Brandon takes a step closer to the demon. “I will hunt you to the ends of the underworld.”

“Is he baiting you?” Gabriel asks. “Do not let him get under your skin.”

“All this for a little witch?” Mel crocks his head to the side.

“Bianca isn’t only a little witch,” Brandon says between clenched teeth. His stand is relaxed, but his voice is anything but.

“Your partner, you said,” Mel repeats the word like it tastes sour in his mouth. His eyes finally turn to me. “Future queen of Puerto Quinn. Name your price.”

“I already told you the price.”

Mel raises a brow at Brandon but doesn’t address him. “I was talking to Bianca Blanco. A woman with her own mind and voice.” He gives me a once-over with his eyes. “Does this man own your powers and will?”

“No.” I stand tall. “I am my own master.”

“Since you are the only one who negotiates services provided by your gift. Name your price.” Each word drops like a stone.

I don’t ask how he knows my full name. Mel is powerful enough to know a lot of things. Finding out who I am is no hardship. I also don’t correct him when he calls me the future queen, because having Mel think I’m far more important than I am is smart.

I tell myself to take a deep breath and speak calmly. “One visit per soul. Let’s be honest. They don’t mean as much to you as your brother does. Any additional visits after the two will come at the price of a favor.”

Mel’s smile is slow to come. The sight is breathtakingly beautiful, yet scary. Unnatural to witness. He likes the fact that future visits are an option. It leaves room for hope.

In a blink of an eye, he closes the distance between us. His hand stretches toward me to shake. “Two visits for two souls and any future visits will come with a favor in return.”

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