Soul Catcher (4 page)

Her heart raced inside her chest as Jacque’s voice faded out of her head. Sweat covered her palms. The flip-flop of her stomach made her thankful she was too late for breakfast. She stared at the enormous tower in front of her. The class began climbing up the stairs one-by-one. Only after a couple steps, Angle froze as fear struck. The demon behind her persuaded her up the ladder with a small shove. Not wanting to back down, she inhaled a deep breath and continued. Her legs shook as she clutched each rung on the ladder. Keeping her eyes fixed above her, she inched her way to the top. When she reached the platform, she clawed her way to safety.

A hawk attacked the first cadet on the hand bridge. As she spun around to leave, the others caught her and pushed Angel to the front when it was her time to maneuver the course. She swallowed hard and grabbed the rope over her head, balancing her foot on the one below.

Angel gripped the rope so tight, the color faded from her hands, leaving them a pasty shade of white. She slid one foot in front of the other, refusing to look down. Trembling in fear and dreading the unexpected, she scooted in slow motion across the braided cords. She stopped when she began to sway with the wind. Tears stung her eyes and the braided hemp slipped in her sweaty hands. The squawk of the brown and tan creature approached above her head, forcing her to take action. She inched slowly, trying to make it to the other side. Her hands burned and the skin chaffed underneath as they slid over the cord.

When the hawk swooped millimeters from her head, she released the rope to swat at the bird. She fell unobstructed toward the ground. Nothing separated her from the hard compacted red dirt below. Her screams echoed through the air. Shutting her eyes, she braced for the impact. Instead of the crushing pain of hitting the ground, strong arms scooped her from the air and held her close.

Jacque stood still as Angel clung to him, burrowing into his chest and listening to his heart beat as fast as hers. He flew so fast she didn’t even see him until she was cradled in his arms. She couldn’t believe he caught her. She watched him allow a dozen other cadets hit the dirt. She wanted him to sweep her away, hold her close and take her to the safety of her room. When she lifted her head from the solid wall of his chest, she realized all eyes were watching them. Instead of sweeping her away, Jacque dropped her on the ground.

“This is why humans shouldn’t be a part of training!” he spat. “Get back on the tower and do it again,” Jacque demanded, leaving her to stare blankly after him.

Her body cried out for help. She ached all over from a combination of bumps and bruises earned throughout the day. Jacque pushed her harder and harder as the day continued. After shoveling dinner down her throat, she climbed the long stairway to her bedroom. Soaking in the tub, she closed her eyes dreading the punishment waiting for her the next day.

Chapter Four

The growls and snarls inched closer. Angel’s feet pounded the dirt, kicking up red dust all around her. The barren trees provided little sanctuary. Her heart and mind raced as she tried to think of her next move. The skies darkened above, thunder rumbled through the thick clouds, and the air smelled of dampness.

How long had she been running? It seemed hours. Other than Noel, the other cadets were long gone ahead of her. Being human sucked when it came to supernatural warfare, but she refused to give up. Every day the class waited, watched, wondering when she was going to quit. Two of the others had already dropped out, and they were demons.

Noel passed Angel on the left, ducking through the low branches of the charred trees, cackling as he passed. Angel picked up her speed, her calves cramping and an ache developing in her side. She wanted to stop. Stopping meant quitting. Quitting was not an option. The hellish howls closed in on her.

Angel glanced over her shoulder and caught sight of one of the ugly beasts. Its long, rounded snout protruded from an enlarged head. Red eyes peered through the burnt trees, scanning the landscape. A ridge of ivory spikes ran down the monster’s back extending from each vertebra. The dog-like fiend pounded through the forest on powerful, muscular legs, which carried its compact body. Outrunning them wasn’t going to work. She had to come up with another plan. Surveying the terrain in front of her, the only place to go was up. The trees disappeared into the grey clouds. If she could climb high enough, maybe she could wait them out. Or maybe they would go find another victim.

She lunged for the closest branch, leveraged her foot on the tree trunk, and boosted herself off the ground. It took all her strength to hoist her weight into the tree. As she reached for the second branch, three hounds pounced on the trunk, clawing at her dangling foot. The dark-haired one’s razor sharp teeth nipped Angel’s ankle. Stretching for the next limb, she stared down just in time to see the dagger like claws of the reddish colored beast rip into her calf.

Scurrying up the tree, she climbed higher until she was out of reach of the animals. Angel perched on one of the higher limbs, praying it could hold her weight. She clung to the trunk and observed the creatures clawing the burnt bark off the tree. Slowly, deliberately, a hound dug its sharp claws into the wood, using them like spikes, and began to maneuver its way to her.

Tremors quivered through Angel’s body, almost causing her to lose her grip and fall. Thunder clapped and lightning flashed. Ominous clouds gathered overhead, growing darker as the hound drew nearer. The animal swiped at Angel’s bleeding leg, barely missing as she jerked it onto the branch she sat on. Electricity hummed in the air. Angel felt the energy gathering about her, a strange, eerie sensation floating on top of her skin.

The hound’s red eyes glowed as it stretched toward Angel, drooling from its mouth and snarling. Angel stood on the limb, grabbing for the one above her. As she pulled on the branch, it snapped in her hand. She wrapped her arms around the trunk to keep from falling. The beast snagged her ankle, jerking its head, trying to yank her from her perch. Lightning flashed through the sky, hitting its target—Angel.

Angel closed her eyes as the pain she expected never came. Her body absorbed the energy and channeled it to the beast attached to her ankle. The smell of burning fur wafted to Angel’s nostrils. The hound fell to the ground with a thud. The two other monsters sniffed its cohort and growled up at her. Angel redirected the remaining energy to the creatures below with deadly accuracy.

***

Hidden behind a tree, Jacque watched, impressed and amazed. Angel had more power than he imagined. It was clear why she was so important to Lucifer. There were very few people with the power to control the elements. She needed to learn to deal with her gifts better.

The sound of a branch breaking caused Jacque to focus back on Angel. The limb she sat on snapped in two and she plummeted to the ground, trying desperately to grab hold of anything to break her fall. The high pitch of Angel’s screams ripped at Jacque’s reason. Her body bounced off the tree trunk and crashed through the dark branches. Again, he raced to her rescue. Before Jacque could reach the tree, Angel’s fragile body hit the ground.

He kneeled beside her and brushed the hair out her face.

“Hey. You took quite a spill,” Jacque murmured.

Angel stared up at him and smiled. “Yeah. But I showed those hellhounds who’s boss.” She chuckled, grimacing as she held her ribs.

“Yep. You showed them. Doubt they’ll mess with you again.” He examined Angel, wondering if he should move her.

“Did I pass the test?” A tear rolled down her face when she tried to sit up.

He held her hand. “Look. I’m gonna pick you up, and it’s gonna hurt. I’m sorry. I gotta get you back to camp and get you fixed up.”

She bit down into her lip, waiting for his next move. “Okay.”

“You let me know if anything hurts too bad.” He slid his arms under her back and legs, lifting her gently.

She was light as a cloud in his arms, her head rested against his shoulder. As he made his way through the forest, she moaned whenever he shifted her in his arms. Jacque cringed, knowing he caused her pain.

“Sorry,” he whispered in her hair.

Her hand caressed his neck. “I’m fine.”

The warmth of her touch spread a tingling sensation to the back of Jacque’s neck.

The campsite lay ahead. Jacque hurried through the brush. The other cadets waited, turning their attention to them as they entered the open area. He laid Angel on the back of the wagon with the equipment. “Bring me some Vamp Juice,” he barked.

Everyone scattered, gathering items. The tall dark-haired cadet brought the Vamp Juice, and Noel handed Jacque the medical bag. Jacque sat on the back of the wagon and propped Angel’s head in his lap.

Cracking open the bottle, he held it to her mouth. “You got to drink. Hey, let me see those big brown eyes.”

She groaned and her eyes fluttered opened.

“Hi there.” He smiled down at her. “Drink.”

She drank the juice, choking on the thick liquid. Jacque cradled Angel in his lap, helping her with the juice. Her body relaxed and her breathing steadied as her pain subsided. He fought the urge to kiss her and turned to the others.

“What’re y’all standing around here for? Pack up the equipment and let’s get ready to head back.” Jacque’s voice boomed.

He prepared a pallet in the wagon for Angel to lay on for the ride back to the city. Jacque hated the bumpy dirt roads. A point for living Topside, at least most of the roads were paved. Angel hadn’t fully healed. She took longer to regenerate since she was human. After ensuring Angel’s comfort, he slid into the driver’s seat and took the reins from the wide-eyed cadet.

“I got this.” Jacque nudged the kid. The fair-haired boy hopped down, his eyes questioning. Jacque looked forward, not rewarding him with an answer.

The wagon bumped and trudged up the road. Jacque released a sigh of relief when the city gates appeared ahead. Angel slept soundly in the back. Her soft moans brought Jacque comfort during the journey. It told him she was still breathing and alive. The fall was rough, even for a demon. She was a fighter. She survived. Her agony twisted in knots inside of him, drawing him closer to her, making him want to take care of her. He ignored the feelings, writing them off as sympathy.

Jacque halted the horses at the front entrance, went to the back of the wagon, and lifted Angel out the bed. He pushed through the cadets on the steps, carrying Angel into the castle and up the stairs. He kicked open the door to her room, went to her bed, and laid her against the plush pillows. She smiled briefly. He opened another bottle of Vamp Juice and held it to her mouth. She drank, the color returning to her cheeks the more she consumed.

“You’re looking better.” Jacque took a seat on the edge of the bed.

She smiled as she pushed the hair out of her face. “I’m feeling much better. Stupid tree kicked my ass. To top it off, the ground jumped in to help.”

Jacque was amazed she could joke about her trauma.

“I guess I failed the test.” She took the bottle from Jacque’s hand and downed the remaining liquid.

“What’d you mean? You killed three hellhounds and survived a sixty-foot fall, hitting every branch on the tree as you fell to the ground. You more than passed the test.” He gazed into her dark brown eyes. To counter the urge to touch her face, he took the empty bottle from her and stood. “You need to get some rest. I’ll have someone send you up some food later.”

As he turned to leave, she grabbed his hand. “Thanks. You always seem to be around when I need you.”

Jacque tightened his grip on her hand, enjoying her touch. “It’s nothing. You can take pretty good care of yourself, especially with the ability to harness lightning.”

“What’s up with that? Did I cause it to happen?” She pushed off the pillows, lay back down, and grimaced, holding her side.

He realized he still had her hand and let go. “You didn’t know you had active powers?”

“No.” A mixture of fear and confusion filled her features.

“I’m sure Luc knew when he made the deal with you. There’s not many Elementals around. It’s a valuable power to possess.”

Angel’s fingers brushed the back of his hand, sending a tingle up his arm. “Interesting. Can someone help me figure out how to use it?”

“There’s only one Elemental I know of. I’ll see if Marie is around and can help.” Jacque crossed the room, needing to put distance between them.

Angel sunk into the pillows and closed her eyes. “Thanks again,” she replied in a hushed tone.

Jacque slipped out the door, closing it softly behind him.

***

Angel awoke refreshed and healed. The only reminder of her terrible fall was fading bruises all over her body. The marks of the hound’s teeth also vanished. As she studied her face in the mirror, she smiled, proud of her accomplishments. She survived three weeks of training. Halfway done and she hadn’t quit or gotten kicked out.

More of the odd occurrences during her childhood and as she became a woman began to make more sense to Angel. She always thought it strange the weather always seemed to match her mood. Never in her life would she have thought it was because she controlled it. Angel found several books in the library about the elemental powers. These gifts were passed through generations of witches, warlocks, and voodoo priests and priestesses. Angel inherited the powers from the Laveau lineage.

Jacque tried to contact her great-great-great-grandmother, Marie Laveau. She was the only other Elemental he knew. Marie wasn’t expected for another week or two. Angel was anxious to meet Marie and learn more about her powers.

Once dressed, Angel went down for breakfast. An odd silence hung in the air. The other cadets stared at her as she walked to her table. Noel dropped his tray in front of her and took the seat across from Angel.

“Glad you’re okay.” He shoveled a spoonful of oatmeal into his mouth. Angel glanced up from her tray and narrowed her eyes. “Thanks.”

“I see Commander Toussant came to your rescue again,” he snorted.

“Yeah. He’s handy that way.” Angel dug her spoon into her grapefruit.

“He’s never around to carry me or catch me when I fall.”

She stabbed the spoon into the fruit again. “Maybe you should speak to him about it.”

“I wonder if it’s because you’re a female or because you’re human. Maybe, it’s both.” Noel grinned, showing jagged, yellowing teeth.

The sound of Noel’s spoon scraping the bottom of the bowl sent shivers through her. “Like I said. Take it up with Jacque.”

“Oh...you’re on first name basis now. How close are y’all?”

“Go fuck off, Noel.” Angel stood, picking up her tray, and left for formation.

As she waited in the courtyard, Angel wondered if everyone else thought the same as Noel. She decided she didn’t care. Her time was short time here. She would never have to see these people again.

Jacque walked past her, not acknowledging her existence. A lump formed in her throat; swallowing hard she pushed back the tears. After yesterday, she expected more from him—her mistake. She thought they made a connection, even hoped he might care for her. She realized now Jacque was doing his job and nothing more. She was reading too much into his actions.

He called cadets into formation and marched them to class.

***

It pained Jacque to ignore Angel. The sadness in her expression stabbed at his heart, but he had to regain control over the cadets. It wasn’t going to happen without him shutting her out. Not only did he need to regain control over the troops, he needed to rein in his emotions. This girl was under his skin, and he needed to purge her out of his system.

The cadets filed into the classroom. The scent of Angel’s apricot and vanilla perfume teased him as she passed. Jacque inhaled the aroma, trying to keep her with him. She took a seat in the back of the room, her brown eyes filled with indifference. When he flashed a smile, she looked out the window. Shaking his head, Jacque snickered to himself. He was failing miserably at getting her from under his skin.

“Whatcha doing?” Bell tugged on the flap of his back pocket.

Shifting his eyes down to the petite blonde, he winked at her. “Nothing. Waiting on you.”

Bell’s high-pitched soprano echoed through the empty hall. “Hmm. I’m not sure if I believe you.”

Jacque snorted. Bell was vain enough to believe his comment, even if he never said it. “You make sure to have a good day, Bell.”

“Maybe, I’ll see you later, and you can make it a good night.” Her eyes traveled up and down the length of him as she backed into the classroom.

“I’ll see you later.” He winked at Bell, catching a glimpse of Angel in his peripheral. He turned away and ignored her haunting stare.

He had to push her away. They were no good for each other. Jacque walked down the empty hall, shutting down his emotions, severing his connection to Angel.