Page 54 of A Soul to Guide

“Leave?” Merikh bit. “Just like that? Neither one of you are going to think about a possible alternative? We’ve been here all of ten minutes – there must be another way.”

“I have already informed you we have already tried,” Maia answered coldly. “There is no alternative.”

Raewyn reached forward and patted his side until she found the rope. She tugged on it.

“Please, Merikh,” she whispered with a shaken voice as she gave her back to Maia. “I wish to leave.”

“Raewyn,” Maia beseeched as she reached for her shoulder. “You are welcome to stay here. I know you’ll outlive all of us, but we can try to make your life comfortable here on Earth.”

“S-sorry, but I must find out if there is another way.”

The woman’s hand tightened. “Please. I ask that you stay. We could really use your help in protecting the humans. The other factions of Anzúli would appreciate your guidance just as much as us. We are failing, and we are dying here.”

Her white braids fell forward over her shoulders as her shoulders turned inward. “Please, let go of me.”

When the woman didn’t, Merikh grabbed her wrist and squeezed as he snarled. She winced, then glared up at his orbs darkening their red hue.

“Your companion is a monster, and part of the reason the Anzúli’s numbers are dwindling rapidly. I fear if you go with him, you’ll discover just howevilhis kind can be.”

Priests and Priestesses alike ushered forward before dropping back when he raised his skull in their direction and parted his fangs.

“Come closer, and–”

“Merikh, stop,” Raewyn demanded quietly, and yet it was stern and unwavering. He snapped his head in her direction. “Please. Just take me from here.”

With a grunt, he shoved Maia’s hand, and she almost fell back.

The only reasons he led them towards the exit was because he could see she was trembling and her dark complexion appeared ashen, like she was tired or sick.

Fine. Screw it. We’ll leave.Merikh bashed the heavy black iron door open.What am I supposed to do now?

He’d been searching for hundreds of years for a way to leave Earth, and he’d never found a single answer. If he couldn’t find one, how was she going to?

And what was he supposed to do with the Elf he now had?

The one he weirdly felt compelled to... keep. She could still help him find a way. It would be better than foolishly walking across the continent he’d already circled multiple times.

He was sure that was why he wouldn’t let her escape him, or why he wouldn’t kill her just yet.

When the metal door to the temple shut behind them with a definitive slam, Raewyn tugged on the rope again so she could stop Merikh. He’d been walking a little faster than normal, likely due to agitation, but that wasn’t why she stopped them.

There was someone following quietly behind them. She wondered if it was to make sure they actually left – or rather, that Merikh did.

“A-are we going to a place where I can rest?” she asked in a small voice, trying to control herself while her eyes and nose tingled. “If not, I’ll need to put my hair wrappings on.”

“I’ll take us to an inn,” he answered back in a dry, curt tone. “I’ll think of something else while I’m there.”

With a nod, she propped her hood over her hair and dug her blindfold out of her bag, since her face might be seen.

Still, she only gripped it, held it in her hand as each footfall down the temple’s steps boomed within her.Boom. Boom. Boom. Each one resonated straight to her heart, clutching at it so tightly, she worried the tendons holding it in place would snap under the pressure.

However, it was when the doors of the temple’s outer gate closed behind them that Raewyn choked back a sob, and tears she was unable to hold back a second longer filled her eyes. Every step they took down the stairs seemed to go on forever. Every step they took away from what was supposed to be her only way home made her feel hollow.

Raewyn let go of Merikh when heavy tears began to spill. She stopped walking, unable to bear taking another step, and covered her eyes.

She’d managed to fight her sadness, loss, and disappointment while facing strange Anzúli. Now that she was alone with Merikh, she couldn’t hold it all back anymore.

She didn’t care if it made her appear weak or pathetic. Raewyn’s hurt was far too gut wrenching to ignore.

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