Page 144 of To Free a Soul
“Answer to what?”
His lips quirked. “Wouldn’t you like to know. How’s the feline Mavka?”
“You have some gall asking me about him after what you did.”
“I did to him what was done unto me. Then again, that’s not entirely true, as I did do a little more than that.”
Her stomach knotted with understanding and dread.He’s better, since it’s been a few years.Leonidas was resilient, probably more so than his siblings, but there were scars in places where the eye could not see.
Cutting off his head to save him had been hard, but she’d also been there when he came back to life. He’d been thankful after she explained why she did it. A small amount of trust had grown, but he was skittish around most beings now – understandably so.
She wanted to ask Jabez how he could do that to another living creature, but she was also acutely aware of how hypocritical that would be. Like he said, he did what was done to him... by her. She would probably do more if she had theopportunity, like cut out his beating heart and show him how sickly and broken it was.
When did Lindiwe’s spirit grow so corrupt that she would even consider doing such a horrible thing?I’m a monster, as much as he is.She’d known that for a long time too.
She was more of a monster than her children, even if she didn’t look like one.Everything I do, everything I touch, rots.Perhaps she was unlucky or cursed.
“How’d you save him anyway?” Jabez asked, extending his hand and dropping his apple core. He looked down, watching it fall, and then tsked when it hit the ground, like he’d been hoping it’d land on someone’s head. “I’ve always wanted to ask how he got out with the barrier still in place.”
“I... cut off his head.”
He didn’t laugh, didn’t make a joke. The silence was surprising, and when she lifted her gaze to him, he cocked a white brow.
“I never thought you’d do such a thing.” He looked down at the apple in her lap, rolled his eyes, and then snatched it so he could eat it when it was obvious she wasn’t going to. “But that’s the price of war. You find yourself doing unimaginably horrible things, even when you don’t want to.”
Lindiwe was unsure if he was talking about his own actions or hers, even when his ears were pulled back in a way Lindiwe knew meant he was being coy or hiding the truth of his emotions.
“I can’t do this anymore,” she said, getting to her feet. “I can’t sit here and pretend we’re on amicable terms when I want nothing more than to scratch your eyes out. You are the one at war, all by yourself.”
“Fair enough. I did just come here to annoy you, after all. However, Lindiwe...” he trailed off.
She considered ignoring him and not giving in to the weight of her name and how he said it. To not give him the satisfaction of turning and meeting his malice-filled gaze.
She failed... and greeted him.
“We have been patiently waiting nine years. It’s not my revenge to take, but hers, but my war has always been more important to me than her wishes. I suggest Weldir lowers his ward now, or prepare yourselves to suffer the consequences of inaction.”
“I told you, we have no–”
“You are almost out of time. Heed that warning now, as this is my way of offering kindness.”
Then he was gone, and Lindiwe’s blood pumped with alarm.
Reia was in danger. Then again, she had been this entire time. It’d never been a case ofif, butwhen.
I need to prepare them for any outcome.Orpheus likely told her of Jabez and the danger he presented, but that didn’t stop her from being snatched.If she can just give me time to get to her side and help, if she can wield her sword and protect herself, then...
Maybe Reia could survive long enough that it no longer mattered.If she would just give him her soul...
She hastily shifted into an owl, all so that she could lure Reia to a bookshop where she’d leave behind tokens for her to obtain. Feathers that stuck out from the spines of books.
Weldir, I really need your help right now.
Please wake up.
October 23rd, 2022
I want to keep watching them.Lindiwe had never been this interested in any of Orpheus’ offerings, but things had also never gone this well before.But I can’t stare at their house all day.
