Obsidian Souls (Soul Series) (35 page)

We watched the flames slowly die out against the backdrop of the day’s sunset. It was beautiful, and I felt as if it was a gift from god, or Frank as Jack liked to call him, to Charles.

Chapter Thirty-Six

The air had the crisp clean smell that you only get in heavily forested areas. I breathed deeply of it. I caught the slight scent of Charles’s fire lingering on the wind. The crowd silently dispersed as the last of the embers died out and I walked hand in hand with Caden back to the car. He stopped at the trunk, changing into a new shirt and pair of jeans. We drove back alone. Mike, Alex, Dave and Joey were driving separately.

The bar was dead silent as we pulled in.

“I want to show you something,” he said as we walked in.  I followed him up to the fourth floor and watched him unlock the door to a level I’d never seen. He walked in and flipped on the lights. The space was huge with gigantic windows.

“Do you like it? I know it is a bit rough right now. I can have the floors redone, some paint and new cabinetry.” He walked around trying to show me things.

I thought I could do this but I couldn’t. Seeing him day in and day out might not be a good thing. It might be a slow torture. “I’m not sure I can stay here.”

“Why?”

“I think it might be better off if I got a little space from the situation. You said that there would be some time before Rufus regained strength.”

He looked at me and dropped his head. “I hoped you would like the idea. I know you like plants. I thought you could grow them by the windows like you had at your old place.”

I turned away from him. It was the hardest thing I’d ever done, walking away from him, but I had to do it for my own sanity. “I know your trying Caden, but I can’t stay here,” and I kept walking.

I went down into the apartment and started packing my bags. I had a cousin in California that always begged me to come out there. I’d go hide there for a while and figure out my next step. Try as I could, I couldn’t keep the tears from coming, as I packed my belongings. I kept waiting for Caden to walk in the door, but he didn’t. 

I walked out of the apartment, taking one last look around. It had become my home. I pushed the panel for the elevator and made my way through the still silent bar, glad no one was around to explain to. I’d send a letter to Mike after I got settled. I couldn’t handle another goodbye right now.

I rolled two suitcases that I had found in the closet along the pavement. I’d left an IOU in the empty storage space they had resided in. I crossed the now bustling street to the garage to find my Mini Cooper. I didn’t want to waste money on an airline ticket so I quickly decided I would drive cross country.

I was putting the suitcases in my small trunk planning my route when I heard him.

“You can’t go.”

I felt relieved and tortured all at once. As much as I didn’t want him to let me leave, I knew this was going to make it so much harder to leave. And I had to leave. I couldn’t stay like a groupie, hanging on for any shred of attention I could get.

“I have to.” I couldn’t look at him. If I looked at him, I wouldn’t leave. I slammed the trunk of the car and went to get in the front seat and he was blocking my door.

“You can’t,” he said again.

“Please,” I said to his chest. I wouldn’t look at his face.

“I know what I said to you. I was wrong. I need you.”

I felt his hands on my shoulders as they slowly moved down my arms. “But what about not wanting to be human? Wanting to be how you were?” I asked him.

“It doesn’t matter. This is who I am now. I need you. I need you to stay with me.” I still hadn’t looked at him. He leaned down and softly kissed me. “I’ve got issues. I know that. I’ve never had a normal relationship either, but I want that with you.”

“You said you couldn’t be with me like that?”

“I know. I don’t know how to do it, but I will. I’ll figure it out. I don’t know what kind of life I can give you but I’ll do everything I can if you will just stay.”

I looked at him now, “I’ve been worrying about tomorrow my whole life and it’s gotten me nowhere. I don’t want to worry about tomorrow anymore. Let’s just take it day by day.”

“I have no idea how to do this, but I can’t seem to leave you alone.”

“Then don’t.”

I reached up and pulled his lips back to mine.

“You need to know what you are getting yourself into. Rufus and his friends might not be the only problem anymore. When I killed those two demons, I might have started something pretty big. They had friends who might want vengeance. It might not be an easy road for us. Are you sure you want to stay? Jack might be a safer bet than I am now.”

I looked up into his eyes and I saw fear there. Fear that I’d walk away from him and it erased any hesitation I had left.

“We’ll deal with it as it comes. Together.”

The End

Watch for “Pieces of the Soul” coming November 2013.