Page 1 of A Soul to Steal

Curiously staring up at his kindred, who cast a shadow over him from the false sun, Aleron knew there was a distinct difference between them.

One that had not existed before Aleron died.

It wasn’t the fact that Ingram was now a purple spectre – a Ghost of himself that mirrored the colour of his orbs. It was that he now stood tall on two legs, rather than on all fours, like Aleron. His kindred also spoke...differently. Ingram sounded more human, like his thoughts were better collected than Aleron’s own.

Although Aleron had obtained a decent amount of humanity by eating souls here in Tenebris, the afterworld, even he could tell his level didn’t compare to Ingram’s.

They had once been two inseparable souls, their shadows constantly overlapping and entwining. One being split into two. A unit, defined not by their different exteriors, but by their collective desires. They had been able to read each other’s thoughts, as though they shared a single conscience. Their hopes, their dreams, their wants, and fears had been exactly the same.

The missing piece of himself, his other half, now stood before him, yet they felt miles and decades apart.

As he drifted his bat skull to the pretty female at his kindred’s side, he knew they were truly beginning to walk different paths.

Unlike Ingram, who appeared ghostly and intangible, Emerie looked normal. In this world, it was as if they were the ones who lived and could touch, and it’d been his kindred who had passed. They existed on this plane, and him on another: the living world.

She looked dirty, with spots all over her cheeks, nose, and forehead, but her features were... delicate. The scarring on the left side of her face was noticeable to a Mavka’s sensitive sight, but it meant little to him or Ingram. It was pale and red in places, whereas the rest of her skin was lightly tanned from the sun.

Although Ingram claimed that her hair was orange, in the current light, Aleron could only see it as red. Red like flames, like a rose, like the rage of their orbs. Her eyes were a cold, watery blue, but the warmth she shined through them in Aleron’s direction held unmistakable kindness.

He was put off by it, by her.

Why does she get to go back with Ingram, and I cannot?

Aleron’s sight changed from its usual pink to a bright green, as a terrible emotion rotated like a sharp rock within his chest. He wanted to be with Ingram, his kindred, his...twinbrother. Ingram had tried his hardest to explain the connection of this familial bond in the limited time they’d had here in Tenebris, but Aleron was still a little shaky on the details.

However, as he stared at the female, alongside that nasty little rock of loathing was a swell of tenderness that outshined it.

Despite Aleron’s disgruntled, envious feelings towards Emerie, and the fact she was allowed to be taken from the afterworld to be Ingram’s little bride, he was awash in happiness. Neither had sought a bride, but in his absence within the living world, Aleron was thankful Ingram had someone.

She was very kind to me.

In just a small amount of time, she had managed to win Aleron over. Her soft, understanding voice, her welcoming smiles in his direction, and the comfort of a hug, during which they shared many private words.

She said they will be waiting for me.Which meant Emerie had no intention of getting in the way of Ingram and himself reuniting. Actually, it sounded as though she intended to openly accept it.

Ingram was obviously obsessed with the little female, considering he constantly tried to touch her with his intangible form. He’d huff with annoyance, and just hover his palm around any part of her he could. His kindred had only craved a physical link like this with him. It brought Aleron great contentment to know he desired that touch from her, and that he had someone to dote on.

A quiet chuckle rumbled from him when Ingram tried putting his hand on her side, only for it to flow through her.

Weldir – the spirit of the void and their male creator – stood quietly beside Ingram. He had very little intention of interfering with their discussions, seemingly satisfied to be a spectator.

The ribbon-like visibility to his form was the smallest Aleron had ever seen of him.

He knew, after being here for so long, that Weldir’s magical essence was draining faster and faster by the second. Aleron was unsure what would happen when his power ran out and his form fully disappeared, but it couldn’t be a good thing.

Will he stop visiting me?

Weldir was the only one who was able to give Aleron attention, and he gave it as often as possible. He’d spent many hours, days, possibly weeks, venturing through Tenebris at Weldir’s side.

The serpent Mavka will not speak to me.

He didn’t know why, only that he often spent his time in the sun upon a certain rock, and stared out at the expanse of fields and nothingness beyond them. Was his mind lost? All attempts at conversing with him had fallen on unlistening ears.

If Weldir stopped visiting him, he would be...aloneagain. Truly alone in this world.

The human souls here, if disturbed by his touch, would scream in fright and flee. It’s why he’d eaten a few, having chased them for fun before, unfortunately, consuming them.

Despite his lack of insatiable hunger, it appeared his instincts to destroy weren’t settled simply because he died. As like with any living Mavka, he still needed to chase, play with, and hunt escaping prey. Their screams and fear only worsened and caused him to froth at the maw in glee.

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