Divinity: The Gathering: Book One (45 page)

He smiled at the gesture.

“I’m glad I did run into you though. There’s something about you that I feel safe and connected to.” I confessed to him.

“Safe? Is everything alright with you?” He asked with genuine concern.

I shook my head and swallowed, setting my cup down beside me, “I don’t think it’ll ever be alright but if I can deal with it better it’ll help and I am trying to, but it’s been getting a lot harder.” I told him.

He took in what I said with deep thought and nodded. I took that same moment to really study and look at him closely then too. The faint lum
inescence under his skin was still there and I wasn’t sure what to make of it.

Despite the fact that he wore sunglasses, which I hated because I couldn’t see his eyes right now, I tried to examine every other aspect of him. His face, his skin, his hair, the shape of body
even in the trench coat but I really had no idea what I was looking for…wings I guess, and of course there were none that I could see.

His brows furrowed whimsically at my obvious perplexed expression.

“Is something wrong? Do I have something on my face?” He smiled and asked so politely, while reaching a hand to his cheek at the same time.

I sighed and shook my head, blushing like an id
iot, “No you don’t. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to stare at you like that.” I smiled and turned to look out across the pond.

“Ah, well thank goodness then. Come on, take a walk with me; I want to tell you a story,” He then said as he stood up and reached out a gentlemanly hand to me with a smile.

I didn’t hesitate to take it and let him ease me up, as I grabbed my coffee cup in hand before we headed for the trail and continued on in the direction I had been going in the first place. Again, there was a refreshing tingle coursing through me when our hands touched and I immediately felt…calmed.

I glimpsed up at his face in my p
eriphery from time to time again in wonder as we walked together side by side.

“Drake, can I ask you something?” I then began.

“Of course.” He replied.

“You said you were a teacher. What do you teach if you don’t mind my asking?” I then asked.

He paused, “Theology.” He answered simply.

I nodded figuring that he’d say that naturally, “Where?” I then asked looking up at him.

“I travel. I’m self-employed, I simply go where I’m needed or requested. Why do you ask?” He then smiled.

I felt silly interrogating him like this, “I was just curious.” I then said with a smile.

He nodded.

             
We continued to stroll together and all the while, there was no repeat of the incident from earlier back there. No foul stench, no whispers or invisible joggers. It was like I was…protected by simple virtue of being with Drake — unless it had been him that had been playing games with me back there, which could be probable as well. I stayed wary on the inside making sure not to show it on the outside.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” Drake then asked
.

He casually placed a gentle hand against my back in a comforting gesture
, and I jumped a bit with a soft gasp — there was that feeling again with him. I literally felt a cool shiver begin to spread across my back like a relieving ointment. My eyes instantly went to his face, hoping to see something as supernatural as his touch.

He was looking down at me now
, though it was hard to tell how he was looking at me through the sunglasses, I assumed it was with peculiarity.

“I’m okay. Just nerves I guess. I had a lot going on this week in addition to everything else. Term papers and finals are in full swing now too
, and I haven’t even cracked a book yet,” I hated to lie, which was ironic considering he didn’t seem to believe what I was saying either, but he smiled anyway.

“I can completely understand that but don’t let it
all consume and drive you crazy.” He told me.

I laughed a bit, “Easier said than done but I’ll try. Um, you said you wanted to tell me a story?” I then asked with a raised brow.

We began walking side by side again. The cool sensation on my back had dissipated to a light tingle and then was gone, and the dull burn of the scratches also ceased. I wasn’t in the church this time. I swallowed at the thought, all the while looking down at my feet.

“Yes, I did. It’s a story that came to mind actually upon seeing you today. It’s sort of a fable but it is somewhat of a true story with maybe a few e
mbellishments. It was passed down to me and I share it quite often when the opportunity deems it necessary,” He then said.

“Necessary?” I asked inquisitively.

He smiled, “Essential may be the better term. None of us are above needing something positive and guidance once in a while.” He clarified.

“That’s true.” I nodded in total understanding.

He continued, “This story is actually about four young girls and a very notorious bachelor. The girls were of marrying age, and had been well groomed to be selected by an equally well groomed and educated man for courtship and eventually marriage. Well, it just so happens that a new, mysterious, handsome and strong suitor seeking a bride comes into the first small town where the first girl lived one day, arriving on a majestic steed decked out in gold and gems, which made the first girl fall head over heels from the start.

He wooed her with his looks, his
riches, and promised them to her if she would promise him one thing in return, her soul. Without question or hesitation she promised her soul to him, and he kept his word in giving her all the fine jewels she could ever want or ask for and she became the envy of the town as well as all her friends, which is what she wanted. She was happy for a while until one night, her home caught fire and every valuable thing she owned, including the jewels were destroyed. This handsome suitor requested to collect what she had promised him and she refused saying her belongings, and her jewels had been destroyed in a fire, and that she no longer even had a home. She asked him for more so she could sell them to buy another home, but he laughed and told her that the deal was that he would give her all the jewels she had asked for, but he never promised she could keep them, in her despair she committed suicide and it was then that he took her soul.” Drake paused.

“Ah, so this suitor guy must have been the devil himself.” I smirked.

He shrugged a shoulder with a sly smirk, “It’s speculation.” He laughed a little.

He went on, “ Her soul made him more powerful, more handsome and more irresistible
, and so he moved on to the second girl in the next town; arriving with flowing hair, muscles rippling and the physique of a perfectly chiseled stone statue. Again, he worked his charm and romanced her with skills that no other suitor in her lifetime had ever been able to do and make her feel.  Having this handsome, young man on her arm made other women jealous and she became the envy of all her friends. Her courtship with him encouraged other young men to vie for her attention as well, which she thrived on.

Of course you guessed it
— the price for this new found popularity was… her soul. It didn’t take her long to agree to that and then one evening she was attacked and sexually assaulted by a group of men who didn’t appreciate her turning them down. When the suitor returned for her soul, she refused him stating he broke her heart and hadn’t been there to protect her when she was attacked. He told her that he never promised his heart or his loyalty in protecting her, and as she lay dying from her injuries, he then took her soul. The third young woman was not easily swayed by material or glamorous things. Her fancy lie in authority and power, and that was exactly what this suitor picked up on and of course, promised her. He made her mayor of her small town and even courted her as she continued to rise in power but her greed got in the way and she began to make enemies who later turned on her. In an uprising they stormed her home and kidnapped her, taking her into the woods in the wee hours of the night where they assassinated her. As she lay dying the suitor came and she cursed him for not being there to protect her or vouch for her when the village townspeople accused her of stealing tax money. He simply laughed and told her he only promised her power, power that she did have for a while, but with power comes responsibility of which she grew careless and with that he took her soul as it left her body.

Upon arriving in the fourth town, he was taken by surprise by the most beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes on and in turn he found himself love struck with her. He knew without a doubt that he had to have her soul, so he began with promises of jewels and riches, which this girl r
efused. He would not give up so next, he promised her passion but still she did not give in to him. Then he offered her power, the power to rule over men and other Kingdoms with him and still she refused. Well, this angered him now, as well as delivering a blow to his ego because after all, he was the strongest and most handsome suitor. No woman had ever refused him before, and he knew that everyone had a price so a last resort, he promised her infinite youth and beauty as well as riches, passion and power. Still, she refused him.

That was when his wooing turned to wrath
, and he resorted to using fear, anger and hate to scare her into changing her mind. He beat her viciously, tortured her physically and mentally, as well as those she loved, all in attempts to break her spirit so she would submit to him, even making her physically ill. Everything he could do short of killing her he did and she still did not give in. Enraged he vowed to claim her soul one day because he hated that she held his heart yet she refused to offer him hers even if it took him a thousand years,” Drake paused.

I was enthralled with this story and I wondered why he stopped.

“Why didn’t he just kill her or take her soul?” I then asked.

He looked at me and smirked, holding a finger up to signify that he wasn’t finished yet.

I shut up and continued to listen with wide eyes.

“Because he couldn’t. As powerful and as han
dsome as he was, he had no power or right to simply claim a soul. One’s soul has to be willingly given or forfeited.”

Okay, that was freaky
— Cam told me the same exact thing at the Purple Tomato the other day.

“So he did all those painful and horrific things to her
, to make her surrender to him basically.” I then surmised, getting the gist of what sounded like a biblical story to me.

“Exactly,” Drake smiled with a nod.

“Did she ever give in?” I then asked as we both stopped walking and faced each other.

             
I looked up at him and Drake stared down at me for a long time, as if he were studying me this time, and I wondered what he was thinking. I wanted to see his pretty eyes, but only seeing myself in the reflection of his sunglasses.

“Her dilemma is still ongoing as is with all of us in some form or another
, but you know something? I personally don’t think that she will. I think she is way stronger than even she realizes. What do you think?” He then asked.

I wrinkled my brow looking at him peculiarly as I shrugged a shoulder, “I don’t know. I mean if she hasn’t after all that I don’t think she will either but…” I began as we started walking again.

“But what?” Drake asked softly.

“Seems like he’d just move onto the next girl then I would think, I mean there are plenty out there.” I then said.

“True. But his ego, pride and power is built upon the conquest of each individual soul. The more complicated and harder that he had to work, meant the more powerful the soul was and he thrived on challenges. Not only was he captivated by her spirit and beauty, but he absolutely wanted her for her will and defiance. All the time he spent beating her, torturing her, trying to figure her out, waiting to see if any of his tactics would finally make her give in, being frustrated and enraged and vowing to find some way to make her surrender had taken all his time and attention away from many others. That in turn actually spared the lives of many he would have taken. But if she were to ever give in to him, he would become more powerful than he had ever been before not to mention finally continuing on to the next and the next just as he had been before her.” Drake finished.

I pursed my lips in thought.

“So aside from being beautiful, what was so special or different about her that she wouldn’t give in as opposed to the others? Maybe she just didn’t want to be rich, beautiful or young or have passion and power. Not all girls do.” I then said.

“No?” Drake said in a questioning manner.

I turned to look up at him, “No, I don’t. I mean, maybe the passion but not without respect, love and honor. None of that other stuff is important or matters, at least it won’t soon anyway.” I then said.

It was quiet for a moment between us.

“You still believe in the events of the end of the world in the dreams that you told me about?” he asked curiously.

“Yeah, I do.” I said without hesitation.

He stopped again with an almost sympathetic smile.

“So, you don’t believe there’s any hope left for people at all?” He then asked me with a curious and furrowed brow.