Page 159 of To Free a Soul
“Heya babies,” she cooed, scratching both under the chin and completely incapacitating them.
“You could give them the same horns again,”Weldir suggested.“Although they aren’t truly twins.”
“Mmm. But they’re still siblings.”
A warm chuckle vibrated in her mind.“Their skulls will make them look like Mavka regardless.”
She answered back with her own laugh. “I guess that’s true.” As she lifted one into the air, their hands opened and closed in her direction as they emitted a happy squawk. “Leopards are still common, and I’ve always wondered if their fur patterns would be present on them.”
“Leopards are the spotty felines, aren’t they?”
“Yeah. I guess I’m running out of ideas after twenty-three children.” These two made twenty-five, and it was a lot of skull and horn variations to go through.
She remembered each one vividly. She knew their names, their faces, their special animal features, and where each one was located. She knew how old they were to the day, what colour their orbs were.
So many lives. So many deaths.So much work and effort.
Only one had ever willingly hugged her as an adult, and that was Leonidas after he was tortured. Lindiwe still held out hope that it was possible.
The twins are rather accepting.They liked playing with her and even let her rest against the outside of their cuddle when they were feeling generous.I guess a part of me is hoping that if these two form a bond, they’ll let me do the same thing.
She’d love to know how warm and soft it was under Aleron’s wing, or even Ookpik’s – although he was a rather stern, quiet, and solitary Duskwalker. He didn’t even like Demons and considered everything beneath him.
I think if I tried now, a few might be accepting.
It’d been years since she’d visited many of them, and most of them had changed. A few were like Orpheus and Magnar: seeking a companion, a bride. They’d even gone to lengths to befriend a few stray humans, although it never worked out.
But it’s possible,she thought with a smile.They can be happy, achieve love.That was more than she’d ever asked for.They’re even having kids of their own.It’d been around two weeks since Magnar and Delora’s child, Fyodor, was born, and all things looked to be going well.
Delora seems so much happier too.Weldir even said her soul, although still plagued with the coal markings from her depression, looked brighter and healthier.I’m so glad things are going well for–
Lindiwe gasped when one minute she was sitting in bright light, and in the next, she was shrouded in shadows. Her hair and cloak lifted around her like she was thrown into water.
“Weldir?” she asked, surprised he’d brought her to his realm without warning.
She searched for him, and from what she could tell of his visible parts, he had his back turned to her. It was easy to find him from the bright viewing discs surrounding him like a ball.
She swam to his side, and he pulled his physical self to his shoulder so she could place her hand on it.
“You must go,” he said sharply, as two discs moved from opposite directions to stop in front of him. “Both Orpheus and Leonidas are in danger.” Then his face coalesced so they could meet each other’s gazes, revealing his cheek, eye, brow, pointed ear, and tapered horn. “Pick one. Leonidas, or Orpheus and his bride. Both are within the Veil’s forest.”
Cold dread slipped down her spine, and she hugged their babies closer. “Who’s in more danger?”
Lindiwe’s heart raced with her indecisiveness. Why was this happening so suddenly and at the same time?
“Both are being chased by a group of Demons. Orpheus is encumbered by items from the village, and he hasn’t been able to remove them. Leonidas doesn’t carry anything – he is also quicker and closer to Magnar’s ward and safety.”
“Jabez?”
“I cannot see him just yet. I’ll keep an eye out.”
She nodded. “Take me to Orpheus and Reia then.”
She was sure Reia was being smart and remaining incorporeal, but she was also likely to try to defend him with her sword. She was brave, maybe foolishly so. Orpheus might react to protect her and leave himself open to attack.
But most importantly...If Jabez has instigated this to happen at the same time, then he’ll go after them.He’d go after the two who killed Katerina.
In a rush, Lindiwe was shoved into the early afternoon in Austrális. The Veil’s forest offered little light, giving the impression night was almost upon them when it was truly hours away.
