Page 89 of A Soul to Guide

Jabez pampered Raewyn even more than their parents. Even when she kicked him in the shin or pulled on his long hair, he’d never once hurt her. He’d never shoved her or ever said a mean word towards her until he was locked away for nearly six years.

Her brother was in there, somewhere.

“Am I being heartless, or am I beinghonest, Raewyn?”

She hated how much that stung because he was likely right. She didn’t want to believe Jabez might be lost forever, but the last time she’d seen him still gave her nightmares. The way he’d roared at her, and his hateful glare of red eyes even after he’d saved her; it was burned into her memory.

It had been a little over twenty-two Nyl’therian years since Jabez created his portal, which was three hundred and forty Earth years. She couldn’t imagine how much the time dilation difference could possibly be weighing on him. Did time feel like it was moving too fast here? Was he suffering as he watched every day pass by?

She didn’t want Jabez to die just because she desperately wanted to go home.

She’s Jabez’s sister, huh?Merikh thought, his sight yellow as he twisted his head to her for the umpteenth time.He never mentioned he had a sister.

Actually, he hadn’t mentioned he had a family, one that, supposedly, cared for him.

Merikh figured it was either because Jabez was ashamed, or his time in his ‘cage’ or ‘prison’ had twisted his memories. Maybe he hated them so much because he felt as though they’d turned their backs on him, and he refused to accept them as his family.

Whatever the case may be, what were the chances it washissister who found her way to Earth?

What Merikhdidknow was that Jabez was known for going back to the Elven realm. Merikh had no idea what he truly did there, whether it be to stare at the city in resentment or figure out a way inside it, but he did hunt for Elves to eat to increase his magical power.

Full-blooded Demons couldn’t cross through. Merikh never ventured through it because Jabez refused to allow him to. Perhaps he’d worried that his ‘friend’ would leave him permanently.

Maybe he worried Merikh would gain too much magic by eating an Elf and become stronger than him. Jabez didn’t like anyone to be more powerful than him.

He was trapped for so long, he wants to feel like he’s the one in control.Hell, neither one of them were really in control of their lives, both somewhat stuck here, never moving forward.

Raewyn’s tears eventually eased. The rain had stopped, but she hadn’t asked to be moved yet from the cradle he held her in.

Her face was swollen, her nose shinier than normal. It was a testament to how much she truly cared for Jabez, even after everything she’d explained. In its own way, it made him envious; he wished he had someone who would spill tears on his behalf.

The issue was, Merikh could relate to Jabez’s hate.

Had Merikh been in Jabez’s position, he would have done the same thing. He would have raged upon the city once he was freed from his imprisonment and destroyed everyone he could. He probably would have also saved his siblings while simultaneously turning his back, and heart, on them.

He would have tried to forget their existence, his parents’ existence.

He’d technically already done it.

Merikh wanted absolutely nothing to do with his parents nor his brothers. If the situation ever came to it, if it was them or him, Merikh would always choose himself.

He’d been alive the longest.

He’d suffered the longest.

Much of his own suffering had become their knowledge.Hehad been the experimental child. He had been the one his parents stumbled through learning how to be a mother and father with – while failing horribly for so many reasons.

So much of his pain could be blamed on them.

No number of apologies could erase what he’d been through. NothingLindiwe, the Witch Owl, or Weldir, the spirt of the void, did could ever make Merikh forgive them.

He was sure it was the same for Jabez.

So, even if she and their parents had done everything with the best intentions, whether or not her version of the story was closer to the truth than what Jabez had told him, Merikh could only side with Jabez – while at the same time wanting to snap his neck and rip his head from his shoulders.

Maybe that would change if Jabez stopped trying to kill him.

That was doubtful.

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