My Soul to Save (Soul Keeper) Read online

  My Soul to Save

  Melissa Solis

  Book # 3 Soul Keeper Series

  My Soul to Save

  Copyright © 2013

  Melissa Solis

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, distributed, stored in, or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, without express permission of the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  Cover Image Copyright ©ArtemFurman, 2013

  Used under license from Shutterstock.com

  Cover Design by Andrew Solis

  Contents

  Chapter 1 ~ Safe and Sound

  Chapter 2 ~ Mystery Shopper

  Chapter 3 ~ Good Lies

  Chapter 4 ~ Mother Knows Best

  Chapter 5 ~ Easy Breezy

  Chapter 6 ~ Dance with the One

  Chapter 7 ~ Nice Night for a Swim

  Chapter 8 ~ Culmination

  Chapter 9 ~ Flight of the Monarch

  Chapter 10 ~ Pants on Fire

  Chapter 11 ~ Labor and Delivery

  Chapter 12 ~ Ulterior Motives

  Chapter 13 ~ Fresh Fish

  Chapter 14 ~ Memories Like Mine

  Chapter 15 ~ Diversion

  Chapter 16 ~ Scars

  Chapter 17 ~ Redemption Song

  Chapter 18 ~ Heading South

  Chapter 19 ~ Texas on my Mind

  Chapter 20 ~ The Waiting Game

  Chapter 21 ~ Home on the Horizon

  Chapter 22 ~ Birthday Bash

  Song Play List

  Keeper Christmas Carols

  Chapter 1 ~ Safe and Sound

  The world around me slows down in a dramatic sequence of events that I absorb slowly as if they were snapshots of what was happening in real time. There I stand, fully encapsulated by Sam’s solid arms as chaos engulfs us like a wild fire, licking its hot tongue on the peripheral of our existence. He is blissfully unaware of any of this.

  If I have my say, he'll stay that way, a virgin to the bitter truth of whom he is, and what he's destined for, and what he's already condemned for. Sam will live life to its full extent without the burden of truth. My heart beats solely for him, and I give it to him, knowing without a doubt in my mind that he will cherish it forever.

  A bold flash of lightning outside, turns Elijah's eyes an eerie shade of silver for a moment. He stares into my eyes as I meet his gaze, looking over Sam's back. It sends chills down my spine and spikes the hair on the back of my neck up. Water drips from his supple lips as he stares straight through me. I bury my head in Sam's neck as he closes his arms tighter around me. I take in his warm, woodsy scent and bask in it. My Sam, my sweet, beautiful man, what kind of hell have I led us into?

  Inara stands fast by my side while Elena pops up beside Elijah outside in the storm. She pulls his arm, guiding him away, urging him to leave. He explodes in a fit of anger and my body ticks towards them. I want to help her. Inara gives me a serious, don't-even-think-about-it glare. In an instant, they disappear from sight, and my eyes turn up in worry. A dark skinned man, roughly the size of Manhattan, bumps my elbow as he moves past me. He gives me a toothy smile as if he knows me, and quickly makes his way over to where Elena and Elijah stood moments ago.

  "We need to get you out of here and quickly," Inara says to me from the red sky version of this world. I pull back and look at Sam. His sandy blonde hair is still damp from the rain. He gives me an easy smile. When I couldn’t reach him, my thoughts ran through the worst case scenarios. He must have been flying the entire time.

  "Are you staying here?" Not to lead him on, but I have to get him somewhere a little safer. The murderous looks Elijah was throwing out, weren't directed at me, nope. If he had the ability to red-rum somebody with just his glare, Sam would be in a few dozen pieces on the floor of this lobby right now.

  Sam flashes his room card and tugs my hand toward the elevator. He grabs a small duffle bag with his free hand. I glance back over my shoulder just as Elijah and Elena barrel through the lobby doors. Shoot!

  I hurry and press the up button and nervously glance up at Sam. Elijah sprouts a pair of glossy black wings and Elena dons pure white. Are good and evil at odds, or is it simply a jealous ex-boyfriend out for revenge? The dark skinned man finally manages to tackle Elijah and puts him in a hold with little effort on his part.

  Just because he fell from grace, is he automatically under the command of evil forces? Inara hurries me onto the elevator car before the doors are fully open. I hear Elijah yell at Elena from halfway across the room. "I just need to talk to her! You know I would never hurt her!" My heart bottoms out as his glaringly loud plea and my face fills with color all at once.

  Something inside is tugging at my better judgment. I want to know what he has to say. But I'm in no way going to risk getting hauled off to hell again, I hope he understands that. My hand rubs my neck, where just an hour ago, I had a knife wound, which had the potential to be a decapitation wound, if Elijah hadn't shown up when he did, I’d be dead right now. He saved my life, the least I can do is return the favor.

  Inara grips my arm as I reach out to stop the doors from fully closing. “No Brennen, let Elena do her job and keep you safe.” Only I can hear her or see her. Sam only looks slightly bewildered at my behavior.

  Sam squeezes my hand as the doors close, and I melt into him as the elevator ascends. He leads me down the long stretch of hallway and slips his card in the door. The green light signals a lump to form in my throat. He glances down at me. Those rich honey colored eyes ask if I'm sure I want to go inside. Inara folds her arms over her chest and glares at me from half closed eyes. It looks like Sam's chance at alone time just went to hell. I meet Sam's careful gaze with a look of longing and need that he could never mistake for a maybe. He swallows hard before allowing me to enter first.

  "I can't believe you flew down here. I was worried sick about you." I push into his chest. Immovable. He’s spent four years in the pool and the rest bailing hay, both of which has sculpted his body into a fine honed piece of eye candy. He's dressed in a velvety soft button down from Abercrombie that lures my fingers over his broad chest. I caress the little moose embroidered over his pectoral muscle. "You were supposed to stay home and miss me terribly, then decide Yale was a real possibility after all." Really, I am so relieved he’s here right now I could squeeze the breath right out of him.

  "I'm sorry I made you worry. I just missed you so badly that I when I went for my morning flight, I couldn’t bring myself to turn the plane around." He pulls me in so that our hips touch. Sam is magical like this. He’s able to envelop me into his world so that the drama playing out downstairs, becomes a distant memory. The pounding out of my heart lets me know that this is what’s real, flesh and bone that I can feel with my own hands, not some ethereal being that can spark in and out of existence. What we share could never be manufactured in the mind of a powerful Angel; it has to be real.

  Last night, the truth of who I really am was laid out in front of me like a giant A-bomb. Blowing my mind to smithereens. Everything I thought I knew vanished with the revelation that I’m not even fully human. They revealed someone had been messed around inside my head, slicing and dicing my memories like some cosmic infomercial. Last night I learned that I had a whole other life, a whole other mother, who is a real live angel of the lord our God. I’d yet been able to process any of this and Sam, the true an
gel in my world was the only glue holding me together right now.

  I want to tell my body guard to wait out in the hall, give us just one moment alone. I try and wave her off without Sam noticing. Her shoulders bounce as if she's humored by my attempt, and she plops on the sofa like she's not going anywhere, ever.

  "I can't stay long, the house moms check on us every hour or so."

  "I knew I wouldn't get much time with you, but every second I can steal you for myself, I plan on making out like a thief," he says it slow and velvety, kindling something inside of me. I want to be his accomplice in any crime of passion he's on the lamb for.

  "I'm glad you came. I missed you too." I reach up on my toes and kiss his yielding lips as slowly and softly as I can. His chest rises and falls as he sighs out a deep breath. He turns our kiss into something much more. Sam’s able to play tug of war with my heart, only I am letting him win. He can take all the line, keep pulling at it until he has us tangled up into one damned knot. I'm sticking this time.

  I lie across his bed and kick my shoes off. The room is quiet, and I wonder how Elena is doing with Elijah downstairs. I'm guessing the big guy is with them. He must be Sam's Keeper. I can't remember what they said his name was. Emmagen restored my ability to see the Keepers again and filled me in on the two realms of my reality. I am not a fan yet, so far it just feels like one weird out of body experience.

  A huge part of me is mortified knowing that the big guy has been watching Sam and I make out for months. An even bigger part of me is downright ashamed that Elijah had to watch as well. It must have killed him if he really loved me as much as they say he did or still does? Cheese and crackers, I'm a mess.

  Sam is frozen, standing above me, hovering. Probably wondering what the heck he's going to do with me now that he has me here. I lick my lips and wonder what's taking him so long. The gesture breaks his spell and he finally sits down next to me. Okay this isn't awkward at all?

  Elena's comment seizes hold of me. “Elijah, could just possess Sam and kill you that way." Shit! Why did they have to tell me everything? Sam is marked and can be possessed by a demon at any time, and his Keeper is not here at the moment.

  I need to get out of here. Suddenly, I'm afraid for my life. Sam inches forward dying to make his move.

  I sit up and hike my leg up under me as I face him, rubbing the non-exsistant knife wound on my neck. "So how was your flight?"

  "It was uneventful, which is always excellent. How did you do today in your meet?"

  I shrug my shoulders. God, this morning happened days ago here, and I'm still numb from the weight that’s been placed over me. "I'm my own worst critic, you know."

  "Bren, you’re brilliant. I'm sure you did amazingly well up there. He takes my hands in his. His touch is as welcome as the rain in a summer drought and I bask in it. My fear slowly begins to subside.

  "Brennen, it’s time to go," Inara says rising from the small sofa. I guess everything is okay with Elena. I hope she at least managed to speak to Elijah. What if all they did was fight until he finally gave up and disappeared? What if that beast of a man hurt him?

  "I'd better get back. I'll try and slip out once they make their rounds. All three of these girls sleep like the dead. Maybe they won't notice if I sneak out after curfew."

  Sam nods and pulls me up from the bed. I slip my flip-flops back on. He reels me into an embrace, dipping his lips down to mine. He taunts me with soft kisses that beg me to return for more. He offers to walk me to my hallway but I tell him it’s too much of a risk. Besides that, I need to be alone so I can grill Elena on just what happened.

  As soon as I'm alone on the elevator she appears next to me causing my heart to exit through my feet. "Bless me now, Elena! You scared me. Are you alright?"

  "Of course, what kind of warrior do you take me for?"

  Warrior? I still think of her as my psychologist. "Is he weaker now that he is in that state?"

  "Elijah could never be described as weak Brennen. He wasn't trying to hurt me, just bypass me." I raise a brow at her comment.

  "Well what did he say?"

  "He just kept saying he needed to see you. I told him it was too dangerous."

  "I don't see the harm in talking to him. There are three of you and one of him."

  "Look, I know you had your memory stolen, but Elijah is a force not to be reckoned with. If he really wanted to kill you, the three of us would be no match for him. There is a reason he is – was, an Elite. We can't take the risk of what may happen Brennen. He has your phone number if he "just wants to talk"." She makes air quotes while rolling her eyes.

  I scoot to the corner of the elevator, attempting to hold back the tears. Why am I even crying over this? I hate that I'm so emotional. Inara looks down at me full of compassion, and back up at Elena, torn between the two sides. She's quiet. Inara’s short curls bounce once as the elevator finally reaches my floor. She gently guides me out as if the small gesture will help stave off the turmoil my life has erupted into, and give me some semblance of normalcy.

  I walk back into my hotel room where I find Taylor and Caitlyn actually preparing for tomorrow's meet for our Model Arab League.

  "Hey Bren. We are just going over our stuff," Caitlyn offers.

  I am so exhausted. I just want to climb under the blankets and sleep for two days. Taylor pops the top off a Red Bull and pumps it into my hand. I give her a smile and plop down next to her. Maybe it will help take my mind off of everything. Or maybe I'll just sound like a bumbling idiot trying to make two coherent sentences.

  *~*~*

  The girls fizzled out after about an hour, while I am still wired from the energy drink. Mrs. Rycroft peeks in on us at eleven O'clock; she won't be back until the morning. I blink into the Keeper's realm and find Elena perched on the dresser like some deranged owl, Inara is seated at the desk writing in a book.

  I ease off of the bed, noticing my reflection in the mirror as I speak. "I'm going to take a shower, you won't follow me into the bathroom will you?"

  My lips don't move at all in the reflection, and I think it's rather creepy. I think I'll shy away from all reflective surfaces while in this state.

  "There's no need." She says dryly. Well at least I have one place that is safe from prying eyes. I gather my things as quietly as I can. I lean against the long marble counter as the water heats up, thankful to be alone for a moment. I hope Sam's still up, I'll text him when I get out.

  "Brennen."

  Someone whispers my name so quietly, it takes me a second to be sure I heard it.

  Shit! I whip around in nothing but my bra and panties and find Elijah mere inches from me. He has his hands up, pleading with me to be quiet, and not scream for my life. My heart jack hammers into my throat, and I'm not sure if I could even manage to get out a scream. He backs up and mouths the word please. His eyes are so full of sadness I could curl up and drown myself in them.

  My fingers grip the counter as if the inanimate object could swallow me up and save me if the need should arise. I grab a curling iron off the counter and wield it like a samurai. His lips pull to one side, humored by my choice in weaponry.

  "I'm sorry I scared you. I just had to see you one last time. They are going to take me soon, and I don't know if I'll ever see you again as me. After today, I don't want you to ever trust me again okay?" he says it as if it pained him. "Take this, I gave it to you once before when I had to leave." He slides an old worn leather book towards me on the counter.

  "You know I don't remember us, don't you?"

  "I know, but your memories were starting to come back. I saw you write them all down. It won't be long now." He keeps his distance like he's still not sure if he should come any closer. He's drop-dead gorgeous, and I try and imagine us together. I try and force the memories to come. But my mind is blank. I inch closer to him as if my body had slipped into his gravity. Maybe it's autonomic for it to draw near him. Maybe only my defunct brain is the problem.

  "What will they d
o to you Elijah? How can I help you?"

  "Can I hold you in my arms, just for a moment?"

  It won't hurt when I snap your neck. I think to myself. My body stiffens, but I nod anyway. God, Elena would kill me herself if she knew what I was doing in here.

  He takes me up in his arms. His touch is so tender. The fog comes over me and elicits sweet memories of this very thing. This man has held me like this an awful lot. His scent wafts up into the space between us and I drink it in. It’s intoxicating whatever it is. Notes of wine and dark chocolate and something else I can't quite place, makes my stomach lurch in its tracks and beg to consume it by the bucketful. Steam from the shower fogs up the room. The heated room plus his body has blushed my cheeks into shades of pink roses.

  "I love you with all of my heart. I made a promise to you and I will never stop trying to fulfill it," he says slowly so that my heart can fully absorb the weight of his pledge.

  Tears spring to my eyes as I recall the promise I made to him the night they stole our love from us. I said I would never stop fighting for us. I said I would find a way for us to be together. And now here I stand in his arms and it feels like I'm watching a home movie of someone else’s life.

  "Don't cry love. Remember my words. I will love you even when you don't love me. I will love you even when you don't want me to love you," he says softly in my ear, the heat from his breath in my ear causes my pelvis to launch in his direction as if she were saying, "Hey stupid, you're going the wrong way, turn this ship around." I didn’t even realize I was crying and really didn’t know why. I hate this. I hate how warped my mind is right now.

  "Elijah, I'm so sorry this happened to us. I've ruined your life. I'm going to get you out of this. I promise." He presses a finger over my lips and shakes his head.

  "No Brennen, this is not your fault. I chose this, and I accept my punishment. I deserve this and worse for renouncing my creator, for letting you ever get taken in the first place and for not getting rid of Nehemiah sooner."