Page 98 of Haunted Hearts

Aleera gasps in horror. Her head snaps towards the other two who can’t seem to meet her gaze. Slowly, her head turns back to Theo, then to me.

“I-I’m sorry, I didn’t know. I swear!” she shivers. “W-what can we do? What do you want from us?”

“Do not negotiate with evil!” Dileep hisses as he continues to cradle his wrists into his chest. “Look at what she’s done! She’s killed our people! What we have done, we have done for the Fae. We’re at the top of the food chain and it will remain that way as we continue—”

“You’ve said and done quite enough, Dileep,” Aleera hisses in his direction. “You will be dealt with accordingly after I’ve fixed what you and the others have done!Ifthis can be fixed.” She looks back at me. “What can I do?”

Rather than answer right away, I make her wait. While she holds her breath, I look from Theo to Kwil, both of whom are stiff and silent, watching the Elders closely. An idea begins to form in my head. I turn back to face the three Elders.

“Theodon of Windom, Kwil of Glenwig, and Viktor of Fowlmore have sold their souls to me,” I look from Aleera to the crowd. “In exchange for all of yours. They begged me to give you all another chance and the grace to allow you to learn from your mistakes. So, I will not kill all of you. Not right now, at least. Heed my warning: if you want to live on, you will no longer travel to other realms. Not mine, not to any others. Your days of sucking the life out of worlds is over. From now until the end of time, you will live with what this one provides you. Nothing more. Bring your Ghosts home and close the ripples you have opened into the Third Realm.”

When I look back down at Aleera she gulps and nods.

“We’ll do that, right away. I’ll make sure we put a stop to all of this. If I had known…” her voice trails off as her face falls. If she knew, there would have been nothing she could do to stop it. Not on her own. No one would have believed her and the Elders behind this would have probably ended her to keep her silent. This was the only way to get the Brotherhood to stop.

Aleera glances over at the two men beside me. “I am so sorry, Theodon, Kwil,” she looks down the steps, “and Viktor. Thank you for your sacrifice. Your honor has stuck with you even in death. I’m sorry we deemed you ‘Fallen’. May the decree be revoked. Your names are cleared in our books. None of you will be forgotten here.”

I bite back a victorious grin. Just like that, the Windom, Glenwig, and Fowlmore names have been cleared. Maybe they’ll even bring Theodon’s mother and two sisters out of exile. One can hope, and I can only do so much.

“There is one more thing,” I step closer to her.

“Y-yes?”

“My warning extends to associating yourselves with others that have similar aspirations. There is one particular individual that I have my sights set on that your Brotherhood has befriended. The warlock, Fulton Noir, will soon meet his end. Until I get my hands on him, you will not speak to, help, or harbor him. Is that understood?”

Aleera nods frantically, “Of course, I understand.”

“Good.” I turn to Dileep and Sandor who are both holding their breaths, waiting for whatever it is that I decide to do next.

I consider my options.

It’s clear that these two were in on this and they probably know who Fulton is. I can leave and hope that they’ve learned their lesson and cut ties with the mage. Or I don’t leave it to chance and take them with us.

There’s also the option that I can just destroy their souls. They’re warped and sullied anyway. I have zero doubt that they would’ve helped hold me hostage here to drain me of my life and power for their own gains, and thought nothing of it. These men don’t house empathy anywhere inside of their rotted hearts.

“Theo, Kwil, and Viktor have nothing else to give to bargain for their people. If I find out that you have started back up again, I will not hesitate to return and seek retribution for all the souls you have forced into my realm prematurely.” The frost on the steps has continued its progress up and around the temple and around the town’s square. It covers bodies and seals entrances. If I don’t hurry up, the Fae won’t make it back into their bodies.I turn to look at the Fae below. “I leave you with these parting words: your Brotherhood is corrupted. I implore you to purge yourselves of the disease.”

I look to Theo and Kwil who continue to glare at the Elders.

“Time to serve your master, boys.”

I’m glad my hood is up because I can’t keep the smile off my face as I add just a hint of a tease to my words.

With a dramatic descent down the stairs and both men on my heels, I call back my power. The storm clears, the spirits return to their bodies, while the ice fades away.

Brock turns to face me, his mouth twitching as he fights to keep the shit-eating grin off his face.

“Do I get to call you master later?” Jonah whispers as his eyebrows wag while I approach them. My shoulders shake with laughter that I try to muffle. I turn to Brock.

“Let’s go home.”

“As you wish,” he bows dramatically and opens the Veil.

Jonah and my ex-Ghost proceed through the Veil first. When they’re through, Brock turns and waits for me. I take a step towards the opening but stop and turn around again.

“I think you two better come with.”

With a grin that goes unseen, I yank Dileep and Sandors souls free from their bodies once more. The two of them have just gotten to their feet when their souls are ripped free. Their bodies crumple, never to stand up again. The two spirits are pulled towards me on invisible chords. They squirm, trying to break free of my hold but it’s no use. They’re mine.

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