Page 2 of The Shadow's Soulmate

I entered the room and noted Cospire’s tense posture. Nothing new there.

“Ah, Ella. How can I help?”

She sounded irritated.

“I’ve had an idea that I think might help with workloads.”

Cospire stared at me, already looking disapproving. I carried on.

“I think some of the prisoners who’ve been in therapy a while and made good progress could be put together in group sessions. One therapist per 4 or 5 prisoners. I think it’s also important they learn how to get along with others in group situations, especially if they are facing release in the next couple of years”

“I don’t have time to organise that, Ella. Sorry.”

Cospire turned to her computer again. Clearly done with the conversation. I couldn’t let this go. I wouldn’t let her dismiss me, despite the tears pricking at my eyes. She wouldn’t take me seriously if I let my emotions get the better of me. I took a deep breath and continued.

“I’m willing to do the admin to set it up initially. I’m sure some of the others would help too. It will be better for everyone in the long run.”

“It isn’t in the program provided by the government.”

Yet again, her tone was bland, uninterested. I had to make it worth her while somehow.

“It can be a trial. We give it a go, then send the results back to the committee in charge. I really think this could be something that helps. And makes us all look good.”

At this, Cospire stopped and thought for the first time. She did like looking good.

“I’ll think about it and take it to the warden.”

That meant she would present it as her idea and take all the credit. But I could live with that. As long as we all got some respite from the constantly increasing schedules. I’d been in sessions until 9pm last night. Therapy was intense, and we needed far more down time to recover.

“Thank you.”

I left the office and let out a deep breath as I sagged against the wall. I hoped it would work. We needed this. And I hadn’t let my emotions get the better of me.

Chapter 2

Descaris

The pull of my heart felt like a lasso of elastic tied around my chest. My heart had been removed from me, and locked in a box here in the prison when I was arrested. As a demon, I could stay alive as long as I kept close to it. It was the only way they could keep me here and now I was straying too far from it. But my vision had shown me this corridor filled with light. I had nothing else to do in this godsforsaken place, so curiosity got the better of me.

I never came up here usually. The staff areas were boring. All the fun and fighting happened in the cell blocks. I pulled against the force trying to hold me back and rounded the corner. There was no light. Just a small woman. I faded back into the wall to watch.

She was leaning against the wall, eyes closed. Like she had just overcome some great hardship. Dark brown hair flopped over her tan face. A little button nose wrinkled as she took a deep breath. There was a glow of light around her. Something tugged deep inside me. A sense of familiarity, even though I’d never seen her before in my life.

I drifted closer. Now there was another pull. One towards her. For a moment, I felt like I was falling. Towards her. Into her. I tensed and tried to hold myself still. She must have sensed my presence, as her eyes flew open and she glanced at me. Deep brown eyes widened. I couldn’t look away from them. Heat flooded me. Nothing existed except her at that moment.

“Hi! I’m Ella.”

I’d pushed my feelings down and buried them years ago. Useless things that simply got in the way. But now it was like I was being attacked by them. Desire, affection, need. My throat tightened. Then I did something I’ve never done before. Not in hundreds of years of existence. I turned and fled.

My mind was screaming. Unacceptable. Pathetic. I’d fought to rule over my section of hell. I was brutal. The coldest demon in hell. So why was I falling apart at the sight of one small woman? I stood still for a moment, letting the pointless emotions drift away. Whoever this woman was, I wanted nothing to do with her. I vowed never to even think of her again. What could a small human possibly mean to me? A tingle ran through me, and images flashed through my mind.

The beautiful light, running, terrified. Brown eyes wide with fear and pain. Every monster in this prison, free and wild. A snake man with blood on his face and hands reaches into the light and rips it to pieces. The woman calls my name before her body becomes dark and empty. The light is gone from the world, and something inside me is tearing apart in response.

I blinked, and the vision faded. My chest ached, but it wasn’t with physical pain. It was some sort of feeling. Anguish. Anguish for the light I was going to lose.

“I’m not doing this!” I roared into the empty corridor. I would not chase around visions that lead to emotional entanglements.

A guard popped his head around the corner. The nasty little bald one.

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