My Soul to Keep (The Soul Keeper Series - Young Adult Paranormal Romance) (25 page)

“What? What is the problem?” I ask, taken aback by
his tyrannical outburst.
 
 
He sighs as if he is exasperated.

“Elena, told you to keep people away. Why didn’t you
listen? Now you are putting him in danger. I have been fighting all night
trying to keep them out of here, it is getting very heated. I have
reinforcements coming, but I cannot guarantee his safety once he leaves here. I
don't know what has them all riled up, but they have his scent and they will
not stop until he is dead.”

“First of all, she said that a month ago. How was I
supposed to know I needed to extend my stay in solitary confinement? What
should I do? You have to save him.” I feel weak as if any moment my legs will
collapse beneath me. I grab Will by the arms; he has a wing span that could
rival an eagle. “Tell me what to do and I'll do it. I can't lose him. I'm
begging you.”

“Look Brennen, I am already in the hot seat for
letting things get hairy last time, I have to keep you safe. I am no Elijah but
I am doing the best that I can. All I can say is keep him under your roof until
things blow over out there. I can keep my shield up over your house, you are
safe in here. If you do have to leave, keep him by your side at all times. They
will be waiting for any slip up.”

“Okay I think I can manage that. How long will this
go on?”

“I will keep you updated.”

“Oh and Will?”

“Yes?”

“Don't ever wake me up with your hand over my mouth
like that again; you almost killed me with a heart attack.” His gleaming white
smile is all I see before he evaporates before my eyes. I catch a glimpse of
yellow eyes peeking inside the window for just a second. It sends chills down
my spine and I shudder. I scurry out of the room as quickly as I can.

Sam looks so peaceful lying on his side facing the
fire. I peel back his blanket and ease my body next to his. I slide my arm
under his. Oh, Sam I am so sorry I involved you in my fight. I will keep you
safe if it's the last thing I do. I feel wide awake knowing that Will is
outside fighting off yellow eyed freaks in a battle of epic scale. He said he
is no Elijah, does that mean he is weaker or less powerful? Not as well trained
maybe? I am so scared for Sam. I squeeze him gently. His skin is so smooth I
run my hand over his chest slowly so that I don't rouse him. I try and match
his slow breathing and finally succumb to the night.
  

 
I am awakened
by tender kisses trailing down my neck. I stretch out and meet Sam's copper
eyes. His hair is a wild mess; he looks like a deranged Muppet. I run my
fingers through his mane and try and tame his locks. He smiles warmly and he
can't hide the hunger in his eyes.

“I could wake up next to you for the rest of my life,”
he murmurs in my ear before kissing my lobe and tugging on it gently with his
teeth, mm.

“What about the rest of winter break?” I ask
innocently. His eyes widen and his mouth drops open.

“Oh Bren, I would love to. But I don't think my dad
would go for that at all.”

“Get Chris to cover for you. Say you are hanging out
with him all week. Say you’re going camping,” I plead. It never occurred to me
keeping him here for a week would be an issue. I guess I am just used to not having
a parent to look after my moral turpitude. He puts his arm behind his head and
contemplates his options. Hmm, I better make my case. I swing my leg over his
waist and lift his shirt. His eyebrows tweak. I lower my head and languidly
explore the washboard before me. I lick and kiss his warm skin. I run a
fingernail from his clavicle to his naval. He writhes beneath me.

He reaches for his phone. “Hey dad, would it be cool
if I went camping this week with Chris.” He is motioning me -where? I grab my
iPhone and do a quick search while still straddling him. I show him a page.
“Yeah um up in Shenandoah.” He rolls his hand for me to keep going. I find a
list of activities and tilt the screen so he has access.
 
“We are gonna hike Baldface mountain. Yes it
is totally safe. Ah, we will be back New Year’s day or the day after.” He gives
me a thumbs-up signal. “Yeah I will be by to pack a bag. No, it’s too cold for
a tent we have a cabin.” He looks at me like he isn't sure if that was okay. Crap
he wants to go grab clothes. I could go with him. But no, that would ruin the
lie.
Think Brennen
. I could take him
shopping. Yes that's it. I owe him a Christmas present anyway. He hangs up with
his dad.

“Well what did he say?”

“He said yes!”

“How about we go to the mall and I buy you a few
clothes, I want to get you something for Christmas. Then you won't even have to
go home.”

     
“Bren
that would be even more suspicious if I didn't go home to at least pack a bag,
it won't take long. I'll be back before you know it. Besides you are the best
Christmas present a man could ever want.” Crap. Okay well this was so majorly
stupid.

     
“I am
just going to go freshen up. Don't go anywhere yet okay.” He nods with a
perplexed look on his brow. I dart upstairs and lock my bathroom door.

     
“Will!
Will, please I have a problem,” I call out and I get nothing, great. I brush my
teeth and hair. Maybe Dr. Kennedy can help. My phone is still downstairs,
of course it is
.
 

     
I hear the
front door slam and Sam yell, “Shit!” I race down the stairs and see blood
pouring from his scalp down over his now porcelain white features.
 
I grab a towel from the kitchen and hold it
to his head. He sits on the entryway stairs.

     
“What
happened?” His face is snowflake white. His hand is shaking and he looks
terrified. All of this is my fault.

     
“I...I
was just going to get my toothbrush. When this huge black bird swooped out of
the sky, and clawed the shit out of my head. I think it was trying to scalp
me.” I peel back the towel. I can see the deep laceration on the top of his
head. I think it needs stitches. He sways back like he is going to pass out.

     
“Stay
with me Sam. Hold this, I will be right back, I'm going to get my phone.” I run
to the family room and grab my phone off the ottoman. I get back to Sam and
take over holding the towel. I dial Elena and she answers on the first ring.

     
“Dr.
Kennedy, I need you at my house ASAP there's been an accident. It's Sam, he was
attacked by a bird I think he needs stitches.” She sounds more than annoyed
with my blatant disregard for her instructions as she tells me to drop him off
at St. Mary’s and let them deal with my accident.

“No I really don't think you want him going to the
hospital and telling everyone that a giant black bird with questionable
features tried to behead him, now do you?” I can't believe this woman.

“Fine, but I expect you to heed my warnings and
never doubt my instructions again. Fair?”

     
“She is
on her way babe.” She arrives in less than five minutes carrying a small canvas
bag. She removes the towel and examines the wound. I know she is not a medical
doctor, come to think of it I wonder if she has any real degree at all. What I
do know is she looks absolutely pissed. She takes out some gauze and a bottle
of liquid. She squirts it all over the wound and scrubs it rather roughly. He
cries out.

     
“This is
going to hurt like a bitch I’m afraid.” She pulls out a medical staple gun and
I grab Sam's hand. She puts the device right up to his head and pulls the trigger.
Sam cries out and squeezes my hand for each of the ten staples. She then
injects him with something for the infection and something for the pain. We
help him to the bedroom downstairs and he is out cold before his head hits the
pillow.

     
“How much
did you give him?”

     
“Enough to keep his ass in bed
til
tomorrow.”

     
“I'm
sorry Elena; I had a moment of weakness last night.” She storms out of the
bedroom. I trail after her.

     
“Do you
even know what is going on out there?” I shake my head.

     
“Come
here.” She grabs my elbow and pulls me out the back door like a toddler by the
ear.

     
“Look.”
She puts her palm on my forehead and suddenly the world around me shifts. The
sky is red, the clouds are black as night, and the ocean is littered with the
disfigured corpses of yellow eyed, large winged creatures.
 
I see a dozen men with white wings and swords
engaged in the heat of battle. They are everywhere. Demons screech in the sky
and attempt their assaults by torpedoing in on their target, me. I cringe at
the incoming monster. Will soars into it and knocks it to the ground, ripping
it apart with his bare hands. I see the ten inch razor sharp talons take one
final swipe before melting into the shadows. Will glares into me before taking
to the skies again. I see another fight between a white winged guy and two
demons. They ambush him from behind and each one grabs an arm and pulls, when I
think the worst is about to happen, the guy brings his hands together and
bashes the two demons together in one scull splitting display. They are no
match
for the Keepers but they out number them tenfold. They’re
like ants, just one can be squashed under a shoe, put a hundred of them
together all striking at once and you have a real big problem on your hands. I
realize now that the clouds aren't black, it's them. There are hundreds of them
darkening the sky. Another one has me in his sights. There are no keepers free
to stop its attack. It swoops down over the pool and looks me straight in the
eye.

     
“Brennen,”
It screeches my name with a hideous cacophony, like the ripping of a vinyl on a
record player. I am in fight mode, I stand my ground and hold my hands in the
defense position my dad taught me. The creature extends his talons ready to
slice me to scraps. It hits some kind of force field like a bug on a zapper. I
see its beak shatter into the invisible wall, and its large body once at full
speed, now crushed by its own inertia. It drops to the ground with its head on
backwards. I turn to Elena she smiles knowingly.
 
She removes her hand and the powder blue sky
and white cloud world comes back into focus.

     
“Not bad
kid.”

     
“I am
through playing the victim.”

     
“Is this
all because I have someone I care about over?”

     
“No this
just means that the time is coming near that there will be no going back. All
gloves are off until that point.”

     
“I can't
let Sam get hurt, please I'll do whatever you say and ask how high.” She has
that look in her eye like I made my bed and now I have to sleep in it.

     
“Elena, I
can't have any more blood on my hands. I will be no good to you if I am
responsible for Sam's death. I am at my breaking point.” My hand shakes as I
wipe the hair from my face. I really am about to crack. I can see myself at the
Looney bin going on about freakishly giant yellow eyed birds with beaks the
size of a Volvo.

     
“What do
you need me to do?” She finally resigns to help me.

     
“He is
already cleared to stay with me until after New Year's but he needs to go home
and pack a bag or his dad is going to have the National Guard called out.”

     
“Alright
I will protect him for the trip but that is it.” I nod, still afraid for them.

     
“Is he
really going to be out until tomorrow?”

     
“No, he
should be awake in a couple of hours.” Thank goodness. I go inside and check on
him. He is lying on Grandma's bed still sleeping like a child. He looks so
serene, not a care in the world. His life is at stake right now and it's my
fault entirely. One moment of weakness has almost cost Sam his life. I take his
hand and examine it freely. His nails are short and neat, he has long fingers
and rough callouses from years of working on a ranch. I kiss his knuckles and
place his hand on his chest. The room is just how she left it. A rose patterned
quilt tops her bed. A soft knitted green blanket is tossed at the foot. A cedar
hope chest stores her spare bedding. I wonder. I look inside, it's the one
place I haven't looked for any record of who my birth mother may have been. I
even unfold the blankets but there's nothing of interest. I find Elena in the
kitchen helping
herself
to a slice of cheesecake. Wow,
okay make yourself at home I want to say but decide I want to stay on her good
side.

     
“I'll
take a slice too, heck just bring the whole thing over here and well go at it.”
She smiles looking younger and untroubled. My Christmas lights are still on
even though it’s the middle of the day. I walk over and hit the switch.

     
“Christmas
time is very special for you isn't it.”