One Soul Book Two

Chapter Three

Zeev POV

I felt her pain and had yelled her name until my voice had nearly turned to a whisper.  I never knew I could get this bad.  I’d never let myself get this hungry.

“Hungry!”  I yelled.  They needed to let me go before the next one that stuck their arm in the cage got it bitten off.  I collapsed to the floor again and stared at the ceiling.  I knew she was up there, I could feel her soul tugging at mine.  I needed out.  I needed her.

“That’s it, I’m getting out of this zoo.”  I growled.  The problem is, they’ve done such a good job with the warding.  Protection against Angels and Demons.  Symbols carved into everything.  But they forget, I’m also human now.  Time to go digging for that little spark of soul.  Maybe if I can bury my Fallen elements far enough inside that humanity, maybe, just maybe, I can get out…

Harlee POV

“Sorry Harlee.  I’d usually wait until we were a little better.. reacquainted, I  guess.. But there’s no time.”  Ash suddenly had me in their arms, had rearranged me on the bed and had moved my pajama top up and stripped the bottoms off before I had time to blink twice.

“What?”  I tried to struggle upwards, but Ash pushed me back down with a gentle hand on my shoulder.  I suddenly panicked, realizing just how strong Ash really was.  They may look slight and waif-like, but I realized Ash could probably crush my head or break my arm with one hand.  I cringed and saw Ash blanch slightly.

“Harlee, please calm down.  I haven’t.. I mean, I’m very drained and my nerves are very raw.  Your emotions are grating against them like sandpaper.”  Ash grimaced.

“I don’t understand what that even means..”  I gasped as Sam and Sands rushed into the room.

“About time, what were you doing?”  Ash growled.

“Cael wanted to help, it took some convincing.”  Sam panted.

“Cael?  He’s just a kid!  What’s going on?”  The cramping in my abdomen was getting worse and I moaned.

“She’s bleeding again Sands.  How are you on Grace?”  Ash asked with a sigh.  Sands winced.

“Doesn’t matter.”  Sands ground out.  “She needs our help.”  Ash was still holding me down with one hand on my shoulder, but the other was cupped around my stomach.  Sands’ hands quickly joined his, but Sam pulled him back.

“You’ll Fall.”  He said softly.

“It doesn’t matter!”  He repeated desperately.  The edges of my vision were going dark and I was breathing hard, but I still managed to see Sands yank free of Sam’s grasp.

“No.  I won’t allow it.  You’re the only one that’s not Corrupted of us all.”  Sam’s voice was anguished.  “Let me.”  And with that, he muscled past Sands, placing a hand on my abdomen as another series of cramps made me squirm and whimper, fighting the exhaustion that was pulling me under.  There was a sudden burst of flames around Sam’s hand and I screeched before the pain made me let go of my body.

Zeev POV

The damn cage seared the flesh from my arm again and then I felt the cramping from Harlee intensify, and suddenly.. nothing.  I waited, quieting my inner torment to feel our link.  Was she still alive?  Ah there-the throbbing of her consciousness in an unsettled sleep.  I collapsed backwards.  I may have been able to escape the ties they’d bound me with, but this stupid cage!  I kicked the bars.  To my surprise, they gave a little.  I felt a laugh bubbling in my chest.  Did they ward this cage against all but mortal, mundane, physical damage?  Surely Sam and Sands had known better than that?  After all, they knew my strength in battle..  I kicked experimentally at the bars again, but they didn’t budge.

“Damn!”  I spat.  I lay back on the floor and stared at the ceiling, battling back my needs and hunger.  Forget the worst torture I’d ever been through, having a soul, being this close to human, having nearly all of my Demon capabilities stripped from me was worse.  So much worse.  I sat up suddenly.  That’s it!  But if I drained myself any further, I could lose my mind.  I laughed out loud maniacally.  As if I hadn’t already.  I cautiously released a small amount of energy into the concrete floor, concentrating on warming it.  It rebounded into me off the wards and I hissed, but quickly kicked the bars again while still weakened and healing.  The bars bent.  I waited as the burns slowly healed over and then tried kicking the bars again.  No give.

“Shiiiit..”  I breathed, a crazy grin stealing across my face.  Of course, this could be dangerous.  I just hoped Harlee’s soul was enough to keep me sane.  But then again..  I stared up through the ceiling where I knew she was, suffering mentally just as much as I.

Harlee POV

“No, Nuh uh.  It’s too late for that.  You can’t lie to me.. Anymore.”  I groaned, clutching my head as flashes of memories tried to struggle to the surface.  “..You.. have to.. tell me the truth damn it!”  I yelled.  I had a blanket wrapped around me and was balled up almost in the center of the huge bed.  Ash had a hand extended towards me and Sands was sitting on the edge of the bed looking dejected or drained.  Sam was looking as grumpy as ever, leaning against a wall.

“Harlee, it’s just..”  Ash stammered.

“No!  No more excuses!”  I shouted, and Ash’s mouth slammed shut, their eyes going wide as an arc of cold light shot between us.  I jerked and my headache intensified.  I began to shake.  Meanwhile, poor Ash looked like they’d been whipped.  “What.. was that?”  I asked, my lips trembling.

“You gave your Bonded servant a direct command.”  Sam’s voice rumbled through the room.  I looked at him blearily.

“What?  I.. oh my head.  I don’t understand!”  I mumbled.  Ashs’ gaze suddenly intensified on me.  “Sands, can you go get Harlee something sugary?  I think she’s about to faint from low blood sugar..”  Ash spoke quickly, while pulling a piece of candy from their pocket.  “Sorry it’s not a peach ring.”  Ash grinned.  “But will a caramel do?”  Ash didn’t wait for my reply and leapt onto the bed, clambering to me quickly as I began to slump.  Ash shoved the smooth candy into my mouth and supported my head so I wouldn’t choke.  “And some water Sands!”  Ash called.  My body absorbed teh candy almost greedily and Ash helped me eat and drink when Sands returned with a piece of chocolate chip cheesecake and a bottle of water.  It took a little while, but when my head stopped swimming, I glared at Ash.

“Like  that-any of that.  How did you?  And what did you mean?”  I glared at Sam next.  He reached for the empty plate with a sigh and Ash handed it to him, only the plate sort of disappeared from Ash’s hands and reappeared in Sam’s.  And then winked out of existence again.

“Don’t you think it’s a bit soon?”  Sands asked nervously.

“No, she won’t let it go.  Look at her face.”  Sam replied.  I was shocked, terrified, but determined.

“What. the. Hell.”  I whispered.  Ash actually laughed a tinkling, musical laugh that made me want to do two things: one, make them laugh often so I could keep hearing it, and two, kiss them silly for the beautiful sound and the way it tickled from my ear to my very soul.  Ash’s arms tightened around me and I turned to see tears in their eyes.

“What’s this for?”  I asked incredulously, rubbing at an escaped one.  I’d have to ask them about their waterproof mascara later, damn good stuff.  Another tinkling laugh distracted me and Ash caught my hand and kissed it.

“The tears, Harlee, are because you don’t even remember me, but you still accept me and offer such love and kindness.  Look at you, not even knowing what I mean.”  Ash took a deep breath.  "Harlee.. We’re not human.”  Ash said carefully.  I stiffened.  My mind immediately rejected the idea, scoffing, but the illogical side argued about all the weird little things I’d seen.  Sands sighed and stood.  There was a noise like a feather duster being slashed through the air, and suddenly huge white feathered wings were being folded neatly behind his back.

“What the f-”  I stammered.