Soul Possessed. Katlyn Duncan

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СКАЧАТЬ took advantage of the momentary distraction and landed a fist to Ally’s head. She faltered and fell against the lockers. Then he quickly turned and lunged at me, his scythe raised high.

      The world froze around us. My power spread through me as it homed in on its new target. His scythe nearly grazed me but I ducked under its deadly edge, coming up to stand face to face with him. My sword was out of reach so I reached up and grabbed for his throat. He gasped as the orange essence effortlessly wrapped itself around his neck, feeling his life force coursing under my fingertips. The essence continued to tighten around his throat. He choked as I crushed him under my hand. I tasted a fraction of what I could take from him and as each second ticked by it became harder and harder not to give in to the power and take him the same way I took David.

      Why not take him? an unsettling part of me questioned. You thought you’d already destroyed him.

      My hands gripped tighter, the essence’s color deepening in response.

      “Maggie, no!” Cooper shouted. “We can use him.”

      Ally and Cooper held their swords up toward the blond Shadowed, his scythe no longer in his hands.

      Jackson touched my hands, wincing. The essence’s color brightened.

      “Don’t—” I didn’t want to risk any of them near me when my power was unleashed. Closing my eyes, I shoved it down as best as I could and was surprised to see how quickly it conceded.

      I opened my eyes in time to see Jackson turn to the blond Shadowed and growl, “You’re outnumbered.”

      The blond met each of the Guard’s gazes before locking a fearful stare on me. “He won’t stop looking for you,” he said, his voice wavering.

      I flinched. “Who? Who won’t stop looking for me?”

      Suddenly the weight in my hands lessened as Aaron slipped from my grasp. I lunged for him but was too late. Aaron lifted my sword from the ground, slicing it through the blond. The Shadowed’s mouth opened in a silent scream before his soul disintegrated.

      Jackson and Cooper wasted no time in restraining Aaron. But he didn’t put up a fight. Instead he let out a relieved laugh, an uncharacteristic response for someone in his predicament. “If we didn’t bring you back we would have been destroyed anyway. At least in the After I can be Recycled.”

      “We’ll see about that,” Jackson grunted.

      “The Caeleste over there are more generous than the ones running with the Shadowed,” Aaron sneered back.

      I went over to Ally who was leaning against the wall, rubbing her head. “Are you okay?”

      “Fine,” she said, shoving off the wall and stalking toward the guys.

      “What are you—” I barely finished my question when Ally’s fist connected with Aaron’s face. His head shot back then rolled forward, falling limp on his shoulders.

      Ally gave me a sidelong glance. “I’m better now.”

      I shook my head, amused. “What’s the plan now?”

      Jackson adjusted his grip on Aaron. “We’re all going back to the After. I’m sure the Caeleste will have some questions for the traitor.”

      I picked up my sword and sheathed it. “I should check on Jamie, make sure she got home okay.”

      “We can do that later,” Jackson said.

      Ally opened her locker and pulled out the book. “Okay, let’s go.”

      ***

      The After as a whole tended to be a calm place which is why I wasn’t prepared for the cacophony that rattled my soul when we arrived with Aaron. The Collections Officers, Caeleste that handled the opening and closing of Soul Collectors cases, were the first out of their seats. Then the barrage of questions began.

      “What is he doing here?”

      “What happened?”

      “Are you insane?”

      “Do you remember what he did to us?”

      “He deserves what he gets from the Shadowed.”

      “What if he escapes?”

      Jackson and Cooper tried to speak over them but their words were drowned by yet more inquiries.

      Something tugged at my shirt and I followed the arm attached to my last Collector trainee, Dylan. His bright blue eyes peered up at me. “Why’s he back?”

      “He’s going to help us find the Shadowed,” I said.

      “Is he on our side again? Like Jackson?”

      “No. Not like Jackson. But he is going to help us.”

      Then he’s off to Recycling. I hadn’t made my point firmly enough before but Felix was certainly going to get an earful this time.

      A young girl came up to Dylan, leaning close to him, and he patted her on the arm. “It’s okay, Fiona. Maggie says he’s going to help us.”

      “Really?” She smoothed the shirt of her white Collecting uniform, risking a glance up at me.

      Dylan looked up at me and I gave him a quick nod.

      “Yeah” he confirmed smiling.

      I stifled a grin. It was nice to see Dylan doing well. I’d like to think I had a hand in that, even though he had fit into the community better than I ever had.

      The Guard parted as two Caeleste guided Aaron’s subdued soul out of the office.

      “Where are they taking him?” I asked Jackson as he came up to me.

      “They’re going to the interrogation room. Hopefully we’ll get a lead soon.”

      The door to Felix’s office opened and his hulking form breezed out followed by Calliope. His bright golden eyes pinned each of us as Calliope continued on her way, ignoring us.

      “You captured Aaron?” Felix directed his question to me.

      “We—”

      “Yes,” Jackson interrupted. “And she eliminated one of the others.”

      “But—”

      “Good work. I’ll need to see you in my office once we get location information from Aaron.”

      “Sir,” we said in unison.

      Felix started to walk away, but then turned back to fix me with his eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you about him.” He nodded once and continued toward where the others had taken Aaron.

      I blinked, staring at his back.

      Jackson looked as stunned as I felt. “I’ve been around Felix for a long time СКАЧАТЬ