Tag: demons

• Krystal’s Captivity: Days 9-11

   Day 9

  Sleep….

  Day 10

  More Sleep…

  Day 11

  BAM! BAM! BAM! “Wakey, wakey sleeping beauty!” a familiar masculine voice yelled on the other side of the door of the room Marcus let me stay in. I was so excited that day or night, I couldn’t really tell the time. The room had a cloche waiting for me on the table, and underneath was heaven in the form of a big, juicy, greasy burger with bacon and a heap of fries.

  Periodically, I woke to more food, ate, and promptly fell back to sleep. Marcus and Korbin left me alone so I could recoup, but this incessant banging was unwelcome to say the least. Struggling to untangle myself from the blankets, I manage to catch myself before faceplanting on the carpet. I right myself and stagger towards the door.

  ‘Whoever it is, better have breakfast. Lunch? Dinner?’ I think to myself, realizing I have no idea what time it was or what day. As I passed the table in the sitting area, I looked for my phone before realizing they took it from me a while ago. I huff as I swing open the door.

  “What is it?” I start as I am interrupted by the peon who so rudely woke me up.

  “It’s about time,” Louey announced with a dramatic sigh before pushing into the room. “Is this what you are wearing?” he asked, taking in my ruffled pajamas and serious case of bed head. It probably looks like a bird’s nest.

  “Louey,” I huff. “It’s pajamas. What else would I be wearing?”

  “Something more than that,” he gestured my way. As far as vampire henchmen go, Louey is not a bad one. Normally, I enjoy his style and dress advice, but not when I just woke up and want to desperately crawl back into bed.

  “This is perfect attire for going back to bed,” I retort as I make my way back in that direction. “I am sure you can let yourself back out. If Korbin needs me to be anywhere, he would have sent for Marcus.” I wave my hand dismissively as I plop down on the edge of the bed and throw the comforter over my head.

  Moments later, the covers are snatched away, and I am staring up at the amber-eyed devil who can rock a dress better than I could. Ever. His gaze is set in a down F- around with me look, he only gets when he is stressed. Something’s happened.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask bolting up. “Is Korbin okay? Where’s Marcus?” I asked as he stalks away from me. Okay, more strut than stalk, but his back is ramrod straight, and his jacket cape couldn’t hide it. With a flourish, he spins and sits at the dinette table, crossing his legs and delicately placing his hands on his knees. His mouth forms a tight line, causing laugh lines to appear around the corners of his mouth. He never lets his laugh lines show.

  “You are scaring me, Louey,” I say as I come over and pull up a chair in front of him. “What’s going on?” I ask again as a cold weight sinks into my belly. He looks around nervously before landing back on me. He pauses before he begins again.

  “It’s that new baby vamp Marcus dragged in here half-dead,” he shook his head, unconsciously picking at the leftover fries on my plate. His brow creased as he wiped the grease from his hands. My thoughts went back to the huddled mass that was in the adjoining cell. She looked like she had been to the 7^th ring of Hells and back. Wisps of her final moments float through my mind and I shudder.

  “What happened to her?” I whisper even though I don’t know why I was doing it. We were alone in this room. Daylight streamed through the window, but we were well away from any direct light.

  Rumors say any sunlight will kill a vampire. It isn’t true. The younger the vamp the more resistant they are to sunlight. It’s the older ones that need to be careful. They may grow in power, but it makes them more susceptible to the light. I wasn’t sure how old Louey was, but his normal guarded mask slipped as he gazed longingly at the sunlight. He missed it but reflexively inched away from it as a sunbeam landed close to his Italian loafer.

  “Louey?” I inquired, touching his arm. His amber gaze burned through mine as it snapped back in my direction. He blinked back whatever memory had overcome his present moment. He cleared his throat, and his unbothered mask settled back over his smooth features.

  “Not sure. It seems she is seeing the dead. None of us knows what that means. If she had a gift before being turned, it should have left her,” he explained.

  I knew this to be true. Marcus and Korbin talked about it when I asked why Esmeralda was so mean. She was a powerful witch that was feared throughout Spain. She was turned against her will because an older vampire wanted to harness her power for an eternity. As soon as she awoke, her abilities were gone. She killed her maker.

  “Marcus gets to help her work through this mystery,” he paused again and smiled. “I have never seen him so rattled by anyone in a few centuries.” He chuckled. “This will change things; we just don’t know how just yet.” He finished clapping his hands on his uncrossed knees and gave me his full attention. Then he frowned at what he saw.

  “What?” I asked, self-consciously tugging on my sleep top, then patted my bird nest I call hair.

  He stood frowning down at me, “This won’t do at all.” He declared, looking at his watch. “Oh! We need to get going. We can’t keep her waiting.” He pulled me to my feet and ushered me towards the en suite.

  “Hey,” I squeak.

  “No time to dally. You need to shower and do something with your hair,” he commanded, throwing a towel at me. “I will have clothes waiting for you.”

  I pulled the towel from my face and put my hand on the door before he could close it. “Who?!” I demanded. “Who is waiting and why do I need to see them?”

  “I thought they told you,” he said, placing a hand on his hip. I shook my head at him. “The Oath Breaker. She is here, and she is not a being you should keep waiting.” He replied and slammed the door in my face.  

  ***

  Twenty minutes later, I was pulling at the clingy light purple material Louey called a dress. It was a low V cut at the neck, basically vamp candy. Form-fitted down to just above my knees and clinging to every curve I didn’t realize I had. Louey had to help rescue the comb I was trying to use in my hair. When I saw myself in the mirror, I almost didn’t recognize the creature staring back at me. I made a mental note to ask him what products he used to get my hair so straight.

  Now, we walked arm in arm down to Korbin’s private rooms. I knew the way intimately from the Before Times with Korbin. My heart pounded like I was a virgin going to a prom afterparty. I hesitated when we approached the double doors. A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth as I realized the etched peacock feather was still on the door. He hadn’t removed it after all. The butterflies in my stomach didn’t seem to know what to think about that, the way they knocked about in there. ‘Calm down, Krystal.’

  Louey didn’t bother knocking. He just threw open the double doors with his signature flair and bowed as we entered. I took the opportunity to reacquaint myself with Korbin’s space. Lavender permeated the air, leaving it light and fragrant. His wall-to-wall bookshelves cover 90% of the wall space here, overflowing with books from various countries, in various languages. Korbin admitted he wasn’t much of a scholar in life, but in death, he couldn’t get enough information.

  The double doors and the narrow-tinted window took up the remaining space. Korbin’s gilded writing desk was littered with papers, books opened to various pages, and a laptop that balanced on the edge of it. My attention was pulled by the tickling of laughter coming from the sitting area. A couple of deep green couches and a couple of purple armchairs make a U-shaped area designed for leisurely conversations among friends.

  Now, seated on one of the green couches was Korbin. He wore slacks and a ‘Bite me’ graphic tee. His fashion choice was weird, but he was relaxed in the company of a very tall, raven-haired woman seated in the armchair next to him. His gaze zooms in on me, and my breath catches. Korbin appraises me, and judging by the smirk on his face, he likes what he sees.

  “Louey,” a sultry feminine voice cooed from the occupied armchair. Louey rises from his bow and glides over to the woman, who I assume is the Oath Breaker. He takes her hand extended from her unusually long blue arm. Her fingers were also an unusual length, and I couldn’t help but stare.

  “Cricket,” Korbin whispered, throwing his voice, so I felt it on my neck even though he had not moved. “It is rude to stare.” He chides, and I blink out of my daze to glare at him.

  “Korbin, do not chastise the child. She has not been around long enough to know what is out in the worlds,” the Oath Breaker tsked. “Come, child. Let me see you,” she beckoned me forward.

  Louey sat in the other armchair, which only left the space next to Korbin open. That’s if I didn’t want to be across the space on the other couch, which had been pushed away from the others. Korbin raised two fingers and signaled for me to approach. I bristled at the summons and thought about grabbing a desk chair to sit. Unfortunately, before the plan formed in my head, I was transported onto Korbin’s lap, his arm draped across my hip.

  With a gasp, I stare down at his smug face. “Not today, cricket. Behave. Or I will have to punish you,” he said, raising an eyebrow.

  “For the love of the fates,” Oath Breaker muttered. She held out a hand, and I extracted myself from Korbin’s lap. A rush of power blew my hair back. ‘Whoa!’ I blinked up at her now that she was standing. Something in her magic called to mine in such a primal way. I took a step closer, entering into her personal space.

  “Wha-“ I blabbed, trying to form the words of the multitude of questions swirling around my head.

  “That’s better,” she hummed, then leaned down closer until our faces were almost touching. A low growl came from the direction of the couch, causing the Oath Breaker to smile. “Oh, behave. You asked for my help; let me work,” she chastised Korbin, whom I had wholly ignored. Her magic and beauty had me mesmerized. I couldn’t look away.  Louey snickered from our other side. But my attention was all for the creature in front of me.

  “What are you?” I asked, transfixed. That pulled a throaty laugh from her.

  “I’m an old soul that has seen a great many things. Yet, this coercion that has bound you is a mess.” She clucked her tongue. “Either they were very skilled or – “ She paused, squinting at me, “-or they used a very powerful spell with little skill and fudged it up.” She dropped my hand and nodded her head.

  “Well,” Korbin asked, leaning forward on the couch.

  “Are you sure you want to know what she knows?” she directs her question to Korbin, but continues to stare at me. “You are not going to like what you hear.” Her overly full lips thin out as she sucks in her bottom lip.

  “Yes, of course. If for no other reason than to protect my source from the damned fae,” he says before leaning back on the couch. He drapes his arm along the back of it as he stares away from us.

  We both turned to him, and Louey snickered again. The way he said it stung more than I thought it would. This is the second time in as many months that I have ended up back in his care. First running afoul of some slight because he felt I disrespected him, and ended up having my body hijacked by a djinn. Now, the fae wanted to do damage control, and he is acting like I am a piece of property. I cross my arms as I glare at him. The Oath Breaker places her long, delicate fingers on my forearm. With a tsk at Korbin, she turns to Louey.

  “Dear sweet love, can you get me my bag from the hall?” she asks, taking my hand and guiding me towards a small wooden table and two chairs. To me, she says, “Please sit.” I comply pointedly ignoring Korbin, who had turned back our way. “Korbin, you need to learn to take better care of your heart.”

  The Oath Breaker sat opposite me in the other chair as Louey set her carpetbag down for her. She smiles and caresses his cheek before he retreats to the sitting area, where Korbin has changed his position, leaning on his knees. His gaze laser-focused with a dangerous glint. I tried not to focus too much on him or what she had told him. Focus on the task at hand, and I can go home.

  The Oath Breaker takes out an incense holder, two beeswax candles, a feather, and a prism. I sit quietly as she lights the incense and the candles.

  She holds out her hands to me over the candles and smiles at me. “Ready?” she whispers.

  “No,” I reply before a whirlwind takes me and I am plunged back into the past.

  April 4, 2026

  demons, fantasy, fiction, funny, short-story, supernatural, urban fantasy, vampires

  ---

• Soul Eater (Chronicles of a Soul Jumper – Finale)

  Lights down low, hookah smoke swirling around the couples hiding features and intentions. This bar is a nice cozy place to blend in and to not be noticed. ‘Gods know I need to lay low,’ I sigh to myself as the waiter sets my drink down on the small circular table in front of me. If you could call this little structure a table. It is barely big enough to fit my drink and my clutch let alone anything else one would put on a table.

  I wait for my server to walk away before reaching for my bourbon, neat with a twist of orange. The first sip of smokiness hits my tongue both cooling it and burning my throat. The amber liquid settles nice and warm in my belly as I lean back in my plush seat. Another sigh escapes my lips as I close my eyes, finally relaxing in my skin. Nothing like a good glass of alcohol to melt away the stresses of the day.

  ‘Hells, for the century I’m having I would need to drink my fill of the whole distillery.’ My thoughts invade the moment of silence I was barely able to grasp but not hold on to. I guess it’s hard for a djinn to have peace of mind when you hold the relic; a key to open doors to whole universes and dimensions. Once upon a time, I was known as a soul jumper, but once I earned my full powers and my original body back I haven’t been able to access that ability. I will be extra careful with this one.

  ‘Don’t want to go back to the void,’ I muse as a shiver flows down my spine. I don’t ever want to revisit that place again. I still have nightmares of what awaited me beyond the darkness.   

  My loose black curls brush my upper back and dance across my shoulders, pulling a sigh from my lips. So many centuries I went without looking into mirrors, knowing I wouldn’t see my own face peering back at me. Several lifetimes have come and gone. Gratefully, with my body and magic returning comes new life and I plan to take full advantage of this one. Nothing and no one will stop me; especially that stupid elf at S.N.O.B.

  “I’m with the Supernatural Oversight Bureau and you are coming with me,” I mimic Detective White–Craig’s–voice before taking another sip of my drink. I let the smoothness of the alcohol wash away the sting in my chest that comes with thinking of him. I did the right thing. He was hurt and I couldn’t bring more danger to the crowned prince of Fairy.

  ‘Then why does it hurt,’ the voice in my head asks as a single tear slips down my cheek. ‘Stupid elf’.

  “Am I now?” a smoky voice asks rousing me from my painful introspection. The seat across from me had been empty a moment ago. Now sits a dark vision in a thousand-dollar suit. His ankle crossed over his knee as he lounges.  

  “Ep!” I squeak, my eyes darting everywhere before settling on him, the Soul Eater. “What?” I asked cautiously. I didn’t think I would see him so soon. I still hadn’t figured out how to remove the mark so he would stop tracking me.

  The side of his mouth tilts up slightly in a devilish smirk. His fingers brush mine as he reaches for my glass. I fight with my body to move but I am frozen in my seat cursing Craig for distracting me yet again. My eyes track the movement of the glass as it travels to his full lips. My mouth suddenly goes dry as I watch him take a sip. My tongue sweeps across my lips, wetting them as I watch him swallow the amber liquid. Behind the glass his smirk turns into a grin before he sets the glass back down on the table.

  “Am I coming with you?” he asks again breaking the spell of his eyes. I clear my throat, realizing he overheard my mocking of the SNOB detective.

  His golden eyes shine even in the dark. His five o’clock shadow doing nothing to hide his strong jaw. The rest of him contained in the tailored Italian suit. Everything a woman would love to have wrapped around her in the midnight hour. Flashes of us intertwined between gray satin sheets fill my mind’s eye causing warmth to spread through me, easing some of the fear I am feeling. “Stop that!” I exclaim in alarm at the intrusive thought.

  He chuckles as heat creeps up my cheeks. My drink glass dangles from his fingertips as his arm settles on the arm rest. Imaginings of those fingers on my body creep in raising a blush all the way to my hair line. ‘This is so not happening,’ I think as memories flash of our first encounter. My skin still crawls when I think of my magic being sucked out of me. I shiver again as if a chill had descended over me. ‘This guy has some nerve,’ I fume.

  “Come now, Minerva. Can’t we be friends?” he asks as if he had not been hunting me for years and came close to ending me on more than one occasion. Okay, two occasions but that was two too many. I cross my arms and sink deeper into the plush chair.

  “Aziz,” he points to himself. “Minerva,” he replies with that damn smile again, pointing at me. He sets the glass down on the table.

  “Why aren’t you trying to kill me? “ I ask as I narrow my eyes at him. His aura shifts as he continues to slowly invade my space, leaning towards me.

  Aziz’s frame is much larger than I first estimated, because him leaning forward eats up the remaining space between us. His long fingers graze my knee, sending sparks of electricity shooting up my leg. I must stifle the squeak that wants to emerge.

  ‘You’re in danger girl’, echoes inside my head. I can’t tell if it is from his sex appeal or the literal existential threat he poses to me. My arm hair starts to rise as goose bumps form.

  “Now that we are friends –” he begins.

  “I never agreed to being friends with the likes of you,” I spit, as my magic and the fire in my belly roar to life finally thawing out the frozen response I had been locked in. Aziz moves back in his seat to lounging as I pick up the remnants of my drink and slam it back.

  Bristling at his words, I look around hoping to find an exit. He caught me off guard twice before and I guess this makes three, but I wouldn’t go without a fight. His kind have hunted my kind for centuries if not even longer. One soul eater alone could take down a village of soul jumpers in a matter of hours.

  My mind reels as I try to survey the bar. No one is close enough to us for me to jump into, even if my ability was working correctly. I internally curse my power’s limitations. The waiter starts his rounds to see if anyone needs anything. Perfect. I just need to get his attention. I start to raise my hand when my arm is halted by a large warm hand wrapping around my forearm.

  “Tsk, tsk. Now, now Minerva. You have nowhere to run and hide. You are stuck here with me.” He pulls my arm back down into my lap. Another zap of electricity flows from his hand up my arm as he slowly releases his grip. The electricity follows the line his fingers trace along my arm. I rub my arm where the ghost of his touch remains.

  “Besides, we are just two friends catching up with one another,” he muses as he once more sits back.

  “You aren’t here to take me?” I eye him suspiciously. Trusting others isn’t one of my strong suits.

  “No; why would I?” he asks dismissively. “As ancient as I am and the many worlds I have walked, why would I turn you into a meal when you have something I want? Even though your soul would feed me for several lifetimes.” His grin is all teeth as his gaze scorches my skin. Hunger and desire filling his eyes.

  “What could I possibly offer you, other than my soul?” I ask trying to keep the panic out of my voice. I am not a skilled-ish fighter. I know how to run, duck and dodge. If only I could get that waiter’s attention. My eyes shift back to the server’s direction watching him take another drink order and walk back to the bar. Frack!

  “Don’t be silly. You are more valuable to me alive than dead, or I would have killed you years ago,” he scoffs brushing imaginary lint off his suit jacket sleeve. “No, I have a business proposition for you.”

  My brain screams for me to jump out of my seat and try to run. But his statement stops me. My curiosity piqued.

  “Go on,” I prompt, trying to calm my thundering heart. He smirks again and I want to smack it off his handsome face.

  “I need to find an artifact that you may have come across in the past. Unfortunately, where it is currently located, I don’t have access to get there undetected. However, you would be welcomed there with open arms.” He pauses. I wish he would get to the point because I have been to a lot of places, dimensions, and even another universe one time.  

  “Filania, realm of daemons,” he finishes his words accented with a flair of annoyance.

  My jaw drops. What could he possibly want from my father’s realm? I have only been to my father’s realm twice in my existence. Both times ended disastrously. My father wanted me to stay but I couldn’t. Not under his rule and not with his stipulations. My human mother wanted to make sure I had a choice, and we escaped to Earth with others of my kind. I close my mouth and collect my thoughts, my hand closing around the amulet I wear. The key back to Filania.  

  “What do you want from there?” I ask, suspicious of his request.

  “A weapon capable of killing an angel,” Aziz replies, and for a second time I am shocked by him. My hand lowers back down to my lap.

  “The Corruptor.” I whisper, thinking to myself what the implications would be if I helped him. Walking a sworn enemy into the heart of my father’s homeland to retrieve a weapon capable of killing a higher energy being, good or bad. It would be chaos. For the first time this night a smile slowly spreads across my face.  

  “Why?” I ask to see if he really knows what he is asking of me. Aziz sighs, the lines upon his face making him look devastatingly handsome instead of aging him. My smile drops because one being cannot be that fracking gorgeous.

  “Old fashioned revenge,” he replies. His face returns to the smooth mask it was when he first appeared in front of me. “I have a score to settle with an angel that owes me a blood debt,” he explains. That I could understand. I had a few scores to settle. There is a demi-god living on borrowed time.

  What’s in it for me?” I ask leaning heavily towards helping him.

  “SNOB off your back so you can live your life in peace.” He replies.

  “It’s that easy?” Now it is my turn to scoff.

  “Yes, it is.” He snaps back, his jaw tensing. He shifts his weight over his knees as he leans forward again. His hand skating over my knee. I wish he would stop touching me. It makes me so uncomfortable. ‘It’s because it reminds you of Craig,’ that annoying voice whispers in my mind. I frown.

  “Look, I have no quarrel with you or your kind. I couldn’t care less to ever eat another soul again. I just need that weapon. Once I have it, I can release you from my mark and make it so SNOB won’t bother you again,” he pauses.

  “After that we never have to see each other again.” He reasons.

  Aziz makes a good point, I think. I am finding it hard to concentrate on his words. My attention is on the warmth radiating over my knee from where his palm is resting. A small gasp escapes my lips as his hand slides to my outer thigh, his long fingers brushing the hem of my dress.

  “Do we have a deal?” Aziz asks as my eyes flick from where his hand is up to his golden gaze. I smack his hand away and point, about to lay into him about unwanted touches. Even if they feel so damned good.  

  “Is there anything else I can get you miss?” the waiter asks as he finally makes his way back over to me. My eyes cut up to him as a chill takes the place of Aziz’s warmth on my thigh.

  “No, we are done here,” Aziz answers while holding up a hundred-dollar bill for the waiter to accept.

  “Thank you, sir,” the waiter grins accepting the money and scurrying away. Aziz stands and holds out to me.

  “Shall we,” he commands. He is making a habit of not asking but demanding and it makes me bristle.

  “I never agreed,” I mutter. However, I still place my smaller hand into his larger one. Once again, the warm tingling sensation begins shooting up my arm.

  “To Filania,” I mutter as we make our way of the club.

  November 28, 2025

  demons, fantasy, fiction, funny, short-story, supernatural, urban fantasy, writing

  ---

• Chronicles of a Soul Jumper Part 26 – Finale

  “If you do leave it will be against medical advice,” Dr. Richards chastises Craig as he attempts to get out of the bed for the millionth time. 

  “Unlike in the fantasy books, you are not superhuman and cannot heal any faster than you already are, son,” Joanne agrees, levelling him with a stern look that even has me sitting up straighter in my chair. 

  Craig falls back against the pillows with a sigh, bowing his head. “Yes ma’am.” The gesture gives me a glimpse of the younger Craig home sick from school. Joanne shakes her head and smoothes his hair down on the top of his head before cupping his cheek. Emotions stir deep within me as I watch the mother and son interaction. Warmth spreads through me as I bathe in the love she has for her son. A profound sadness I had not felt in a while also overtakes me, as the ghost of mother’s touch caresses my memory. Unshed tears pool at the edges of my eyes. I grit my teeth as jealousy takes hold of my heart. Weakness. 

  ‘That’s what he brings out of me: Weakness.’ The thought tumbles through my mind, crashing into all of the sentimental feelings I just experienced in a matter of minutes. ‘I can’t afford to be weak. Not now. Not when I am close to earning my freedom again. He wouldn’t understand. He has everything. I don’t deserve to lose all that I have gained to these feelings.’ My thoughts continue to spiral. ‘He won’t understand what I have sacrificed to get here.’ 

  Craig looks over at me, his lopsided grin spreading across his freckled face and it almost breaks me. ‘Better to break his heart now than to live a lie. He will love again. I don’t really mean that much to him.’ I reason. ‘Stupid freckles.’ I think as I smile back at him, though mine doesn’t quite feel genuine. He must realize something is up because he reaches for my hand as his smile falters. 

  Abruptly, I stand, moving just out of reach causing him to frown. “Minerva,” he says as a dark look shades his features. 

  “Maybe we should go,” Joanne pipes up, sensing something is off between us. ‘Stupid fae and their heightened senses.’  

  “No!” I exclaim before clearly my throat and patting Craig on the arm. “I mean, no. Stay. He needs both of your healing expertise.” I smile at Joanne and Dr. Richards. “Besides I have to run a quick errand.”

  Joanne looks at me before pulling me into a hug. The warmth coming from her reminds me of a warm, spring day. “You will be back,” she says not asking but telling me. I pull back and nod, not trusting my voice to respond. 

  “Thank you, Dr. Richards. You are an amazing healer,” I say nodding to her before turning my attention to Craig who watches me cautiously. I go to him and plant a chaste kiss on his lips. His expression is unreadable and closed off. My heart breaks a little knowing I put that guarded look there. As I start to pull back he grips the back of my neck, halting me holding my gaze momentarily before crushing his lips to mine. 

  There is so much heat and promise in that kiss. He assaults all of my senses and I almost cave into the unspoken demand, Stay. The one thing I can’t do. The one thing that would break my spirit. I let him devour my mouth and I return the intensity. What feels like an eternity finally ends with the kiss. Craig resting his forehead against mine not having released the back of my neck. 

  “I will find you again. You can’t run from your destiny. You can’t run from us,” he demands, the full weight of his magic sealing the promise to find me. I gasp quietly as I feel it sink into me. Staring into his eyes, the tears in mine finally fall. Smiling weakly, I wipe at them as he releases me and settles back into his bed. 

  “Don’t be silly,” I laugh lightly and turn to face the other women in the room. Both of whom are looking everywhere but at us. I clear my throat again and lifting my chin, I leave the room. 

  ‘It’s for the best. I have to finish this task and get on with my life. He won’t find me. I have spent the last decade running from him. What’s the next hundred years or so,” I muse as I enter the living room and grab the satchel containing the Book of the Ancestors. First things first; I need to deliver this book. “Now what was that guy’s name again?” I ask out loud. 

  “Byron Hughes,” Joanne replies. “He is an anthropology professor at Oxford University, however, he is giving a lecture at Baylor University near Dallas, Texas.” I turn to look at her, tears threatening to make an appearance again. 

  “How?” I begin but she holds up her hand to silence me. 

  “I have my sources as well. My boys forget they get their sleuthing skills from me,” she smiles, brightening up the dreariness that surrounds me. She takes my hands in hers lifting my chin with her finger, startling me. Blinking, the tears make a break for it as she takes in the satchel slung over my shoulder and sighs. 

  “I don’t know what is going on between –” 

  “Joanne, I am –” I interrupt but her fingers against my lips silence me. 

  “The two of you will work that out or you won’t. There was a time I had to make a choice between love and what I thought I wanted for my future,” she pauses. 

  “Do you regret it?” I ask as doubts about walking away swirl through my head. 

  “Not even a little bit,” she replies, wiping the tears running down my cheeks. “However, I was ready for that change. The funny thing about destiny; whatever you chose, that becomes your destiny.” A sob breaks free from my chest and she pulls me into a tight hug. I take in as much as the motherly love she offers me. I don’t deserve her kindness or this love, but I will take it anyway. 

  “Just do me a favor and don’t give up on love.” She commands as we separate from one another. All I can do is nod as I feel my heart break into smaller pieces. “You will choose the right thing. I have faith in you, Minerva.” 

  I let the final blessing from her sink in as I step back and a portal opens behind me. Clearing my throat and drying my tears, I blow out a deep breath. “If you will excuse me, I have a book to deliver and a world to save.” Joanne blows me a kiss as I step backwards into the portal, and I plunge into the colorful darkness. 

  ***

  Baylor University’s campus is beautiful but larger than I expected. Like most universities, I get lost as soon as I step out of my portal. Unfortunately, I plow into a long-legged student and we both end up on our asses. 

  “For fuck’s sake,” she exclaims. “Watch where you are going,” she demands as she collects her items that litter the ground. “Shit! I’m late,” she finishes collecting her things and scurries off. 

  “Goodness glaciers!” I exclaim rubbing my head as I stare after the woman who is hauling ass to gods only knows where. “Hey, you forgot your –” I hold up her phone that she missed in her hurry to leave. “Oh well,” I say to no one since I am alone in the green space between buildings. 

  I get to my feet and look around. “How in the Hells am I supposed to find this guy?” I ask out loud and as if by some miracle a ping sounds from the student’s phone. I pull it up and read the message scrolling across the screen which looks like an alarm: Dr. Hughes’ lecture (boring but extra credit). 

  Thank the gods! I take off in the same direction the woman went to assuming the building is where the lecture is being held. I can at the very least give her back her phone. I know how attached to them humans can be. 

  As I get closer to the building, a figure steps out from the shadows. The hairs on my arms begin to rise and I slow my steps. Menace radiates from this person as he comes closer, causing me to stop all together. The shadows reveal his handsome features. Crap on a cracker! It’s that fire-wielding maniac who tortured Craig. Frack!

  “Hello, little djinn,” he calls out with a smirk. “Didn’t think you would see me so soon,” he taunts as he moves closer. 

  “Can’t say I was looking forward to it,” I retort, looking for a way out. I am too far from the other buildings to run. This green space is wide open so there is nowhere to hide. As powerful as I am, I don’t have any real offensive powers. I am no longer a vampire and those gifts are gone. This is going to be painful if I don’t think of something quick. 

  “There is nowhere to go,” he informs me as a fireball forms in his hand. With a flick of his wrist, the fireball lands just in front of me pulling a squeak from me and causing me to jump to the side. As graceful as a baby giraffe, I hit the ground and roll. The Book of the Ancestors falling a mere few feet from me. 

  “Shit!” I mutter, scrambling to get to the book before he launches another fireball at me. It lands in the space between me and the book, making me fall back from it. 

  “Mallec will be pleased that I retrieved his precious book,” he says, disdain dripping from his lips. 

  “Not a fan?” I ask as I get to my feet. 

  “Not really, but I just need to bide my time and then I will be number one,” he admits, walking towards the book. Panic begins to set in as I see my chance to be rid of the book and complete the quest going up in smoke. 

  “That would make you the second most powerful warlock in the world,” I say, trying to buy time to figure out what to do next. 

  “Yes, Lord William Knightly,” he introduces himself, pausing by the book. 

  “How fancy. Nice to meet you Bill,” I say as I position myself closer to the building’s front entrance. 

  He sneers, “My name is not Bill, it’s William.” Turning to face me, fireball at the ready. “It won’t matter to you soon, djinn. You have done me a favor. I think I will burn you and the book, then Mallec won’t be able to complete his plan.” He scoffs. 

  “You mean this book?” I ask, holding up the Book of Ancestors. 

  “What the –” he sputters, looking all around him seeing my portal close up on the ground where the book once stood. “You little –” he yells as rage fills his features, turning his face bright red. Just as a larger fireball forms, a beep sounds and we hear a large number of footsteps exit the building. 

  Students spill out of every building surrounding the green space. William puts out his flames and stares bloody murder at me. If looks could kill, I would have been a pile of ash on the pavement. 

  “Hey, you bumped into me earlier. Did you see a phone anywhere?” the woman from earlier asks me as she blocks my view of William. I smile up at her because she has me by a few inches. 

  “Yes,” I say beaming at her. “Here you go,” I say, handing the phone over to her. 

  She lets out a breath of relief. “Thank God! I thought I was done for,” she replies, shaking her long hair. “You have saved my life.” She smiles. 

  “On the contrary, you just saved mine.” I say peeking over her shoulder. Not seeing William, I turn my attention back to a quizzical face. “And your name is?” 

  “Oh, it’s Calily North,” she smiles at me. 

  “Nice to meet you Calily. My name is Minerva. Do you happen to know where I can find Dr. Byron Hughes?” I ask her. 

  If her eyes could roll any further they would be looking out the back of her head. “Snore. Yeah. He is in room 1201. If you hurry, you can just catch him,” she finishes. “Shoot, I gotta run. Nice running into you, again.” She chuckles before she dashes off. 

  As she leaves I make my way into the building and down the long hallway. The building is pretty modern and all the doors look alike until I turn the corner. 1201 comes into view and I throw open one of the double doors. Standing at the lectern is a tall sturdy man with shockingly white hair that reminds me of swan feathers. He looks up from whatever he is reading as I rush over to him. 

  “Dr. Hughes, I presume,” I say a bit out of breath. 

  “Yes, may I help you?” his clipped English accent flavoring his words as he watches me curiously. I reach into my satchel and I notice him flinch as I pull out the Book of Ancestors. 

  “This belongs to you,” I say, handing over the book. The book hums with magic seeming to wake up with him near. Maybe it knows it is close to completing its own destiny. Either way, it no longer concerns me. He gingerly takes the book from me and I can tell he knows what it is. 

  “How?” he asks as I turn and start to walk away. When I don’t answer, he calls out, “Why me?”

  Pausing at the door, I shrug. “Why any of us? All I know is I had to find it and deliver it to you. It’s up to you to figure out who it belongs to and get it to her,” I tell him. I don’t waste another minute talking and take my leave. Students scurry around me as I make my way out of the building. Breathing deeply, I bask in the sun knowing I finally have my life back. I set off across the green space I had come across initially, happy with how life is finally coming up Minerva. 

  I wait as everyone goes on to their destinations and I am finally alone. With a flick of my fingers I open up a portal as I think about my destiny. ‘Craig won’t have to chase me after all,’ I think as the portal opens. I can see his mother’s house on the other side and my heart warms. 

  A breeze blows across my back as I am about to step through the portal and my forearm starts to burn. “Hello Delphine. I didn’t expect to see you,” a smoky voice says from behind me. I turn to see him and my heart stops and my mouth goes dry. 

  “No, it’s too soon.” I mutter, closing the portal behind me. Soul Eater. 

  “Come now, child. I expected to find Reginus but color me surprised. I find you instead.” The swarthy figure in a three-piece suit says, picking at invisible lint on his jacket. 

  “I was tricked. Don’t worry; Reginus met their end. You don’t have to collect,” I bargain trying to think my way out of this situation. 

  “So it seems,” he says mulling over what I told him. “Regardless, a soul must be eaten and I am famished. You will feed me for some time to come, little djinn.” He steps closer to me. “I will have to pay a penance to your father, but it will be well worth it.” He grins as I stand paralyzed with fear. 

  ‘All I wanted was to live my life on my terms. Now it’s over before I am able to,’ I think as thoughts of Craig flash through my mind. ‘You can’t follow me where I am going.’ 

  I watch as the Soul Eater’s mouth turns into a gaping maw and I feel my magic rise to the surface. I fight to contain it but it is a part of my soul and where my soul goes so does it. I grit my teeth and dig my heels in as I feel the pull the void calling me back. 

  “Land’s sakes, girl!” a shout emanates from behind me as four hands grab my arms and pull me backwards. I fall back through a portal and land hard on my ass. An unearthly shriek follows me as I watch the portal close. My next inhale is filled with sweetness as I look up into violet eyes. The Waters women stand over me as I lay on their living room floor. 

  “I am not sure what you have done to land yourself at the mercy of a Soul Eater and I don’t want to know,” Stormi Waters mutters as she helps me up. “But we have a bit of a vampire problem we need your help with.” I hug the old wild woman and kiss her cheek. 

  Beaming at them, “I guess a djinn’s work is never done.”

  ---

  Thank you for taking this journey with Minerva. I hope you enjoyed it. She was fun to write. Fortunately, this isn’t the end of her story. There will be more to come in future books and blogs. Until next time…

  November 21, 2025

  demons, fantasy, fiction, funny, short-story, supernatural, urban fantasy, writing

  ---

• Chronicles of a Soul Jumper Part 25

  Anger darkened the hollow eyes reflected back at me in the mirror. Gone are the full cheeks and warm tan of my skin. Only the gaunt pale face of a stranger stares back as I try to quell the rage simmering below the surface. My knuckles pale as my grip on the marble sink intensifies. I don’t even recognize myself anymore. Fear creeps up as sorrow threatens to pull me under.

  ‘He tried to take everything from me,’ my thoughts slip through my mind. ‘He took my peace–my life–and replaced it with this… fear.’ My teeth grind against one another as a tear slips clear of the cage of my lashes. Rage begins to simmer in my belly. ‘All I wanted was to be left alone. To live my life in peace.’

  My body begins to tremble as the events of the past month filter through my mind’s eye, reminding of what was tasked of me. My magic responds, my hands begin to glow as I think of how that golden retriever of a man hounded me and wormed his way past my defenses. Now if I don’t go after him, he could die and the world might end if I don’t bring that book back. A curse leaves my lips as my gaze snaps back to the mirror. ‘Frackin’ fae princes!’

  “You were a badass! You, Minerva!” I point at my reflection. “Even without all of your powers you were a force to be reckoned with.” Even I could see the lie in my own eyes. Fear stripped that away from me. Dying has a way of humbling a person.

  A sigh escapes my cracked lips as I hang my head down. “You could just go and not look back,” I whisper to myself, gripping the relic lying cold on my chest.

  “But then how could you look at yourself again? Even with a new body you would know that you are a liar and a failure,” I hear my voice call me out. Knowing I am right, I couldn’t stomach eternity if I ran. I wouldn’t know peace if I gave up now. Peace is all I ever wanted.

  I blow out a deep breath and look at the mirror again. Flashes of the visions my mother imparted to me while in the void flash before my eyes. I see where Craig is being held. I know who took him: Mallec. I have no choice but to run towards my future.

  Taking courage from the warmth the memory of my mother gives me, I straighten my spine. “No other being is capable of doing this, Minerva.” I hype myself up. “You know it and they know it. Everyone knows it. So. Go. Get. It. Done.” With another deep breath I square my shoulders and turn as a portal forms in front of me.

  Stepping through the swirls of color, I dive into a world of contrast. I feel myself flying with pressure lightly squeezing around me as if I am moving through gelatin. I look beyond the colors that surround me into the darkness beyond. But it isn’t completely dark; other portals open and close, streaks of colorful light, tubes and bridges fill the darkness with wonder. When I was younger, I loved traveling this way. It was a simpler time then. I would soar through these tunnels and skip across bridges for hours.

  Now, I am grateful these trips are very short. ‘Get in and get out.’ I think as my feet step over a threshold into a dark room. Magic instantly coats my skin tingling and sizzling in warning that I am not supposed to be here. I get it but I don’t have time to disarm the magical trip wire because my heart stops beating.

  “Craig,” I murmur as I take in the prince of quickly stealing my heart. His form is slumped forward in a chair. His arm wracked behind his back, his legs tied to the chair. Even in the low light I can see the blood dripping from a fresh wound on his face. The blood pools by his boot. Too much blood.

  Quickly, I close the gap between us. Dropping to my knees in front of him, I cradle his face gently, my chest squeezing with unexpressed emotion. “What have they done to you?” I ask, taking in the cuts and bruises decorating his body and neck. His shirt discarded next to him, putting his injuries on full display.

  “Hey beautiful,” he mumbles through swollen lips. “I knew you would show up. Dead or alive, I knew I would see you again.” He says trying to smile but wincing when his split lip protests. Rage burns away any fear that may have been lingering in my gut.

  “Shhh, don’t speak. I am going to untie you and then we can get out of here,” I tell him as I circle around the back of the chair. The iron shackles glow faintly causing me to recoil.

  “Fracking bastards!” I mutter as I stop. They put him in cold iron and infused it with dragon’s blood and something else. I pace behind the chair trying to rack my brain. I can’t use magic to release the shackles and every minute that passes I can feel him fading, like his essence is being removed. Craig’s groan pulls my attention and I move back in front of him.

  “It’s okay, Minerva. Go, get the book and finish your quest,” his voice barely audible.

  “They put you in cold iron. My magic won’t work on the shackles,” I say, my eyes searching his; for what I wasn’t sure. His head drops more, and panic fuels my being. My hands fly to his face again, feeling the heaviness of his head. “Stay with me,” I plead.

  “I can feel the iron. It pulls on my magic,” he finally replies. His breath labored, as if it took way too much strength to say that much. “It’s okay, beautiful. I knew sticking with you would be the adventure of a lifetime,” he says; the last words barely audible. I watch as his chest struggles to rise and fall and a new fear douses me with the truth that I was about to lose a love that I never knew I wanted.

  “Stay with me,” I say through gritted teeth. “All I need is a key, or something that could work on the lock…” Realization hits me like a ton of bricks. ‘Minerva, you can be so dense sometimes.’ I chastise myself as I grip the relic in my hand. ‘Duh, a key that can open rifts in time and space will open a damn magical lock.’

  My hand smacks my forehead as I race back to the shackles behind Craig’s back. Taking the relic in my hand my thoughts and magic wrap around it, forming and shaping it into what I need. I open my hands as a skeleton key sits in my palm and wasting no time I unlock the shackles. First, I unlock his legs and then gently move to his hands. With the final click, Craig falls forward and is able to catch himself before he can faceplant on the floor. Rushing to his side, I am not sure where to touch him as he was so badly beaten.

  “Craig,” I say gingerly, laying a hand on his back. His body shudders under my hand and begins to glow faintly. Golden light washes over him and the worst of his visible injuries begin to heal. The light fades quickly as he grips my hand, using me as leverage to stand. Pulling me into his body, his breath flutters the hair on the top of my head. I allow myself a moment to snuggle closer to him as he leans into me.

  “Delphine,” he breathes, pulling back and cupping my face. “Hi,” he smiles that dumb smile of his at me then winces from the pain of his injuries that now look less severe.

  “We should go. We have to leave. I’m surprised they haven’t come to check on you,” I mention as I leave him to check the only door in the room. Pressing my ear to the door, I listen for any signs of life, hearing none. I quietly crack open the door and spare a glance down the hallway in both directions. Sensing nothing I close the door and turn, smacking face first into Craig’s chest.

  “We have to get to the library,” he comments, now fully dressed. He reaches for the door leaning heavily on the door jamb before stumbling out the door.

  “Craig,” I hiss, chasing after him. ‘This man will be the death of me… again.’ I think as I catch up to him. I slip under his arm that is leaning against the wall, taking his weight as we stagger forward. “Where are you going?”

  “They aren’t here. We weren’t supposed to survive. They left me to die in that room,” he grits out through clenched teeth. “We’re alone and hopefully Mallec was dumb enough to leave the book for us to take.” He finished as we came up to a pair of doors made of dark wood.

  “Who are they? Where is Mallec?” I ask as I jiggle the handle on one of the double doors causing it to swing open quietly. I move us into the large room covered in wall to wall books. A dark wood modern table stands in the middle of the room. Floor to ceiling windows peek from between the equally massive bookcases.

  Craig falls into a seat closest to us, a sheen of sweat breaking out across his brow. He may have been able to heal some of his injuries but I could tell it took more energy from him than he wanted to let on. He sighs as his eyes meet mine.

  “The twelve are they. Mallec has them somewhere in South America.” He takes a deep breath. “I overheard one of them talking about a temple or something and a missing key.” He finishes and I clutch the relic that is now back around my neck masked as the pendant from before.

  ‘He doesn’t know.’ The errant thought seizes me, halting my search for the book. Clearing my throat, “where would they have kept the book?” I ask, trying to not clutch my pendant.

  “When I arrived, they had it in here. I think there is a panel behind that painting,” he says, clearly in need of medical attention. I rush over to the painting, ‘Très clinche. Do better, Mallec,’ I think as I remove the painting and start pressing on the wall. Nothing appears to be there until my magic flares to life once I press on the last section of the wall that was under the painting. I allow my magic to flow, causing the wall to glow faintly before we hear an audible click. Smiling to myself I watch as a small panel opens revealing the book, and wasting no time, I grab it and turn to slam into Craig’s chest once again.

  “Damn it! Stop doing that,” I demand. He smiles down at me.

  “Never,” he says, pulling me closer to him. He dips his head, his lips mere inches away from mine. “We should high tail it out of here,” he chuckles and then winces clutching his side.

  “Oh no, don’t leave on my account. Mallec will be happy that you stayed,” a man with remarkable features, brown hair and glasses. We both turn to face him. Craig pushes me behind him, squaring off to the stranger.

  “Sorry to disappoint but we have a meeting with destiny,” Craig replies trying to straighten to his full height, his expression tight with pain.

  “Funny, I thought I killed you. You fae just don’t know when to die do you?” He replies before tilting his head and looks around Craig to me. “I assume you are Minerva. I will enjoy rubbing it in Mallec’s face that I will be the one to kill the djinn.” The stranger shifts his stance, gesturing with his hands. “Too bad he won’t be here to see my triumph.” He finishes as a fireball hurtles towards us. I touch the wall behind us as Craig has backed us up against the wall with nowhere left to run.

  Time slows down as the heat from the fireball gets closer and I grasp the back of Craig’s shirt pulling him back with me as we plummet through the portal that appears behind us. We fall through the color-filled void only to tumble out on tflhe oor of Joanne’s kitchen. Seconds later a fireball slams into the kitchen cabinet catching it on fire.

  Moments later, Joanne rushes in with a fire extinguisher in hand. I untangle myself from Craig, climbing to my feet and helping him up. He gives me a big dumb goofy grin as he holds up the book. “Success!” he exclaims.

  “Next time son, have your success with a little less fire. I swear it’s like your childhood all over again,” Joanne responds shaking her head, causing me to laugh. I might just make it out of this adventure alive.

  November 15, 2025

  demons, fantasy, fiction, funny, short-story, supernatural, urban fantasy, witches, writing

  ---

• Chronicles of a Soul Jumper Part 24

  The darkness surrounds me as I float in the abyss. Time doesn’t mean anything here. ‘Is this true death? Has it finally found me? I thought I had more time.’ My mind wanders about what is next for me when light illuminates the space ahead. My consciousness feels the warmth the light offers and moves closer. I hadn’t realized this place was cold until the light invaded my space. The warmth grew as the light became brighter until I came to a still pool. I touched the surface causing ripples that started to reveal a hazy scene that I could barely make out. I heard muffled voices coming from the other side as the ripples petered out. Pulling my hand back–or what I imagined was my hand– silence gathered around me again. As the pool stilled, I couldn’t see the blurs or hear the muffled voices anymore and I desperately wanted to hear and see them. Death seemed way too lonely.

  I touched the surface of the pool again moving my whole hand through the still waters and felt a slight pull. Terrified, I pulled my hand back clutching it to my person that had somehow materialized in this dark, cold place. The scene became clearer. ‘Craig? Joanne?’ I thought I could see Craig’s mother speaking to Craig with her hands on his chest as if trying to keep him in place. I couldn’t hear what they were saying but clearly something had happened. His usual mirth-filled face was stricken. Sadness consumed me. Why was he so distraught? I wanted to whip that look from his face. But the image began to blur again, fading from sight.

  “No! Bring him back!” I demanded as silence once again consumed me. However, this time the light began to fade. “No, no! Bring them back!” I screamed into the void, my hands on either side of the pool as it stilled once again. Despair claimed me as the darkness threatened to overtake me. I can’t go back to the complete blackness. Even though I thought I was alone as the light slowly faded, I could feel another presence somewhere behind me.

  A screech cut through the silence as a wind swooshed by me, almost knocking me away from the pool. I froze where I floated in front of the pool as another screech answered the first and more wind swooshed by me. I backed up until the pool touched me. I could feel the ripples as the pool was disturbed by my presence.

  “Minerva. Come back to me, please,” Craig’s voice found me. “I need you to follow my voice and come back. You are still needed here,” his hoarse voice pleaded with me causing the light to grow brighter. I turned around to see his beautiful face marred with blood and stained with tears. Damn fae prince: even distraught he was handsome. Was this a fairy thing? I looked like death warmed over when I cried. Mentally, I sighed and reached for the pool. Touching caused the ripples to get bigger and I could feel the pressure of his hand gripping mine tightly.

  “Craig,” I called out and he appeared startled, surprised by something happening.

  “Minerva? Baby, that’s it. Take a breath. Come back,” he encouraged, bringing a smile to my face. With that encouragement my hand once again broke the surface of the pool and I watched him gasp as I felt my hand tighten around his.

  “Nooooo,” a voice hissed behind me. I whipped around looking for the being that belonged to that voice. “You belong to ussss,” it hissed again. The light began to fade again and I could hear Craig’s muffled cries to come back.

  “Who’s there?” I called out to the void and I could have sworn it smiled back at me.

  “We are eternity,” it replied. “We are the never were and the always have been before time began, little djinn.”

  “What do you want from me?” I asked not really wanting to hear the answer.

  “Join ussss,” it lisped. “You taste of life and light.” I stepped back as another screech sounded somewhere closer to me now. “Your death has sent ripples through the strands of destiny. Your life cut short like others belongs to ussss.” It explained, much too close to me for comfort.

  “It is not my time and I will be damned if I stay here with you,” I affirmed. A wicked cackle rang out through the void.

  “Little djinn has no choice in the matter. The window closes. You are too late,” its cackle response came from right in front of me. I dropped in time as claws materialized and swiped the place I had been standing. And as quickly as I ducked, I sprung up, took a deep breath, and lunged for the pool I had been looking through.

  The voice had been right; the pool was much smaller than it had been a moment ago. I had to squeeze through, but I made it. My consciousness dumped into a gray mist-filled land. I scrambled back from the pool as gnarled hands with razor sharp claws followed me through. I watched as the pool closed on the hand and its final warning to me. “When the soul eater finds you, we will have you back.” It professed, followed by the evil cackle that sent shivers down my spine. Then the pool winked out of existence.

  ‘If that is the case, I will definitely need to get this mark removed sooner than later. It will be a cold day in the seventh circle of Hells before I go back there.’ I thought as I shivered. I stood and looked around the place I ended up. Light filtered through clouds and mist hugged the ground. Gray was the only word that really described the place I found myself in now. Unfortunately, it also made it difficult to figure out where to go. At least in the void I could follow Craig’s voice and the light back to my body.

  ‘What to do now?’ I thought to myself as I looked around. As I contemplated where to start, I noticed something glittering in the mist. I bend down and pick up the glittering silver chain from the ground. It shone beautifully in the dim light and gave a tug, making me stumble forward. I looked down realizing it was connected to my waist.

  “Holy Heavens! I exclaimed as I lurched forward again with another tug.

  “Come on, Minerva,” a feminine voice I didn’t recognized called out to me. “I have never lost a patient before and I don’t plan to lose one now,” she commented. Leery, I followed the silver chain as I walked through the gray mist.

  As I travelled through this bland land I noticed the light got brighter and warmth flooded my limbs chasing away the chill I hadn’t noticed sooner. My breathing became easier as I heard Joanne’s voice added to the other woman’s voice. I could even feel the healing presence of her Earth energy spreading through me. Smells of cinnamon, apple pie, and herbs filled my nose. As I noticed more of my senses awakening, I became concerned because I couldn’t feel Craig anymore. His presence is the one I wanted to feel more than anything.

  Even though he wasn’t there I knew I needed to keep going because life was at the end of the silver chain. I really wanted to be alive again. The closer I ventured, the louder the voices, the warmer the light and the more my senses came alive. I even started to feel the stirring of magic. It was like receiving a hug from a close friend. I didn’t realize how much I missed it. I smiled as in the distance I saw a door. It was a beautiful Moroccan blue with ornate designs carved into the wood. It reminded me of my mother’s home.

  However, the closer I got to the door the heavier my steps became. Exhaustion pulled at me to stop moving forward but I knew if I did I wouldn’t be able to get back. So I pushed on, falling a foot in front of the door. I crawled towards it, my breathing becoming more labored as if I had run a marathon. The mist clung to my body as if it were sludge. The last few inches became unbearable as I fought to keep my eyes open but were lost when they shut and I collapsed right in front of the door.

  “Delphine, you have to come back. Craig needs you. He went after Mallec. I fear the worst. Please, help my son,” Joanne’s voice whispered to me. I rolled over onto my back as tears streamed down the sides of my face. I had no fight left in me to cross the threshold. My eyes shut for what I feared was the last time.

  “Delphy… Delphy… My beautiful starlight,” a soft voice whispered on a breeze I hadn’t noticed before.

  I gasped, “Mother?” I asked, my eyes flying open. I stared up into the same kind, dark eyes I shared with the woman I had lost so long ago.

  “My starlight, what are you doing here?” she asked with a soft smile. I was transported back to my childhood when we would lounge around the pool at our home. Me asleep in her lap and her stroking my hair.

  “Sleeping, mother,” I replied with a matching smile.

  “There is no time to sleep, my Delphy. There is much to do before you sleep,” she would tell me as she stroked my hair and then tickled me awake.

  “Alright. No time to sleep. There is much to do,” I mimicked, giggling.

  “You are needed, starlight. Go save your prince. He needs you,” she told me and kissed my forehead. A flash of visions filled my mind of what is to come and I gasped arching my back as they slammed into me. They overtook me until finally after what seemed like forever they ebbed and ended all together. With renewed energy I flipped back over and struggled to my knees. Turning the knob, I was bombarded with the brightest light I had ever seen and fell through the threshold, tumbling into darkness once again.

  *****

  “Minerva. Minerva, are you awake?” a soft female voice asked. I tentatively cracked opened my eyes and immediately regretted it. “Oh sorry! Let me get the light,” she said realizing my discomfort. “There is that better?”

  I cracked opened my eyes again relieved at the dimness that greeted me. “Where—” I croaked. My throat screaming from underuse.

  “Shoot, here have some water,” the woman said. Moments later cool liquid touched my dry lips quenching my thirst and lubricating my raw throat.

  Clearing my throat, I tried again. “Where am I?” I asked blinking crust out of my eyes as my vision grew accustomed to room around me.

  “You are in Dr. Richards’s clinic,” Joanne’s voice answered as she came by my side. Her hair was disheveled and there were bags under her eyes as if she hadn’t slept in days.

  “Who?” I asked confused. “Where is Craig? I heard him a moment ago.” I finished as a pretty black woman with shoulder length hair in a white lab coat handed me the cup of water I had just drank from. Both women exchanged a look before returning their gaze back to me.

  “Uh, why don’t you drink up and let Dr. Richards examine you,” Joanne encouraged me with a smile that didn’t quite meet her eyes. Though fear ran wild through me I listened and drank my water, feeling better after having done so.

  “Hi, Minerva, I am Dr. Natalie Richards. I am Joanne’s neighbor. Her and Craig got you to me just in time. We thought we lost you but I’ve never lost a patient before and you weren’t going to be my first,” she said by way of introduction as she began her examination of me.

  “I am glad I was able to keep your streak alive, doctor,” I joked to cover the discomfort from her poking and prodding of my body.

  “It’s good to know you have a sense of humor. It looks like your wound is almost completely healed. Honestly, I’m impressed with how quickly you have healed. It normally takes months to heal a gunshot. Especially, one to the gut.” Dr. Richards comments as she replaces the bandage over my wound. “However, it looks like the couple of weeks you have been asleep have sped up your healing.”

  “I told her you have always been a fast healer. It must be something in your blood,” Joanne commented emphasizing the word ‘blood’.

  Nodding I replied, “Yes, my family has always been fast healers. Thank you, doctor.”

  “You’re welcome, Minerva. I will release you to Joanne’s care for now. But I want to check up on you in a week to make sure everything is healing appropriately.” Dr. Richards says as she removes her gloves. “I will write you discharge instructions and pain meds for you to take in case you need them.”

  The doctor smiled at me and I could see a light purple aura surrounding her. I blinked and it was gone. I looked up to Joanne as she patted my shoulder knowingly. We would discuss this as soon as Dr. Richards left the room.

  “Okay, I will let you get dressed and you two will be able to go. I will go get the wheelchair,” the doctor said, rising to leave the room. We watched as she left and closed the door behind her. Tentatively, I sat up swinging my legs over the side of the small cot I had been lying in for the past couple of weeks. Joanne passed me a pile of clothes that were clearly not the couture I usually wore. I would wager that it was better than putting on a top with blood and a bullet hole in it.

  “Natalie is a natural witch. She doesn’t know it, though. That is what aids in her healing abilities as a doctor. Between her innate ability and me offering you my healing gift, as modest as it is, we were able to cut down your wound healing from months to weeks,” Joanne explained.

  “That’s why you look so weary,” I stated, knowing the price it cost her. Healing abilities aren’t as common as fairytales would have you believe. If you weren’t born a witch with that specific gift or are a were-animal or an angel, it costs you time off of your long life. I would be indebted to Joanne for what she gave up to help me stay on this side of the void.

  She nodded to my statement. “I would say I did it because I am an altruistic being but I would be lying.” She sighed and nested her fingers together.

  Aw, there it was. She did need something from me after all. “Craig?”

  Tears shone in her eyes, on the verge of spilling over the edge. “Bring him home,” she pleaded as only a mother could plead for the life of her child. The sad part was she didn’t have to beg me to go after him. He brought me back from oblivion. I would bring him back from wherever he was being held.

  Squeezing her hand, I nodded and she inhaled a shaky breath. “You never had to ask,” I told her as I placed the shirt over my head.

  “I will go grab the wheelchair from Natalie,” she said and left the room.

  Alone in the strange sterile room I stood and looked into the full-length mirror hanging on the wall. Lifting the borrowed shirt and peeling back the bandage, I could see the wound was barely a scar. A few more days and it would completely disappear. I inhaled a deep breath as a tear rolled down my cheek. In all my centuries on this Earth this was the closest I had come to death. ‘Definitely not a fan. Zero stars. Would not recommend.’ I mused as I dropped the shirt that smelled faintly of the man I was about to go to war for.

  I lift the sweatpants sitting next to me on the counter, and a clunk sounds as the relic– still hidden in its pendant form–hits the floor. Gingerly I put the sweatpants on and with a grunt of pain from the tightness of the wound I pick it up.

  Rubbing my thumb over the pendant, it resonates with my magic. Determination sets in as I place it over my head and it settles against my chest. Mallec will wish he had completely finished the job of ending my life. “I am coming for you. And we are going to finish this dance, you bastard,” I proclaim as I clench the relic and a portal with its swirling lights winks into existence behind. “I am done running.” I vow to my reflection before turning and marching through the portal towards my destiny.

  November 6, 2025

  demons, fantasy, fiction, funny, short-story, supernatural, urban fantasy, witches, writing

  ---

• Chronicles of a Soul Jumper Part 23

  Thank you for your patience. There was birthday shenanigans afoot. Now I am back on schedule. Enjoy!

  ---

  The George Peabody Library is a marvel of architecture. The Greek revival building with its sandstone bricks and ornate features glowing softly in the morning light. Craig opened my door and ushered us to the doors that appeared to still be locked. Standing there in front of the doors, a stiff breeze shifts my trench coat. I shrug my coat up around my ears. The cold sucks and I am finding it very annoying that Craig doesn’t seem to be bothered by it in the slightest.

  Breathing on my hands, I complain, “Why are we here so early? The library isn’t even open yet and this chill isn’t agreeing with me.” The last part came out a bit more whiny than I meant for it to be. ‘Who said that? Ew. I know that wasn’t me. Gods, I hate women like that.’ Craig just smiled his annoyingly cute smile and looked at his watch.

  “Patience beautiful,” he said moving closer to me and rubbing his hands up and down my arms. My face, and other parts of me, flushed from the heat he was throwing off. Energy poured from him, coating my skin exposed to the elements. Warmth washed through me and I had to fight the urge to kiss him. Especially when his lips were so close to my face when I looked up at him.

  His mouth hovered so close all I had to do was reach up and capture his lips with mine. Temptation, thy name is Craig White! And I have no willpower as I drifted closer to the promise of … what? Not sure but I wanted to find out.

  Keys jingling in a lock startled me out of the moment. I cleared my throat and stepped away welcoming the bite of chill in the air. My gaze shifts to the library door and an older man in a tan cardigan and khakis with a plaid button down on. His graying hair was mussed, and his big horn-rimmed glasses took up most of his face. However, the power he possessed flowed off of him in waves causing me to gasp and turn back to Craig.

  His smile found its place back on his face trying to quickly cover up the look of hurt that was there moments before. A sinking feeling hit me in my core, but I refused to acknowledge it. His dopey sad puppy dog eyes would not work on me. We have more pressing things to worry about than his lovesick feelings. We need to get this book and get out of here as quickly as possible. A nagging feeling in my gut is urging me to move us faster. Yet, despite myself, my hand reaches out and squeezes his as the older man opens the door.

  “Your highness,” the older man says addressing Craig, bowing slightly before pulling him into a huge bear hug. Their relationship was a lot closer than I first realized. I wonder who he is to him. Then turning to me. “You must be Minerva. I have heard quite a bit about you. Seeing you here now it all makes sense.” He finished with a chuckle and stepped aside. “Let’s get you in out of this chill.”

  We filed inside and followed the man into the library proper. My jaw hit the floor. I think I even drooled a little. Inside the George Peabody Library I felt like I stepped into a place suspended between worlds—a sanctuary where knowledge hums softly beneath layers of dust and light. Columns of iron and shadow rise toward a vaulted glass sky, where daylight spills like sacred fire, bathing the books in quiet gold. Each balcony curls outward like the edge of a scroll, every spine a talisman inked with the memory of those who came before.

  Even the air feels magical as it shimmers faintly, as if the space itself is breathing—pages flutter without wind, and the scent of old paper carries the weight of secrets long kept. Standing on the ground floor and looking up all around me I felt as if I was in its heart. Its beat making us feel both watched and welcomed, as if the walls remember. What it remembers is anyone’s guess. To say I am floored is the understatement of the year.

  “She was voted one of the most beautiful libraries in the world,” the older man stated. “I have loved working within these walls form the moment she was built.” He pronounced proudly as he cleaned his absurdly large glasses.

  I felt him before he spoke. His hands caressed my arms causing a chill to follow in their wake. “Everyone is awed by her the first time,” he whispered.

  “I am sure,” I replied taking a deep breath as I step out of his comforting touch. Turning to our host, “You know my name. Who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?” I asked. I wouldn’t extend my hand until I knew who and what he was. Some of the older beings in the universe are particular about touching.

  “Where are my manners?” he uttered shaking his head and walking over to me. Reaching his hand out for me, he answered my question. “Finneas Albert, guardian of knowledge and purveyor of the most delicious mead this side of Fairy.” I shook his hand feeling that he pulled back the energy that had been flowing from him when we first met.

  “It’s nice to meet you. No thanks to princey boy here. So rude. I know his mother raised him better than that,” I joked. Finneas laughed and slapped Craig on his shoulder shaking him from his sulking mood.

  “Oh, ho ho. You have your work cut out with this one, my boy. May you continue to work to earn this one. Your father would be proud,” Finneas stated. “Come, let’s get you what you are looking for. The book is this way in our private collection in the basement.”

  He motioned us to follow him through a couple of corridors and down three flights of stairs. The basement seemed like any ordinary library basement. Books, boxes, and dust reigned supreme down here. I was not impressed in the slightest. That was until we came to an unassuming wooden door. If Finneas hadn’t brought us to it I would have overlooked it. I didn’t even sense the magical signature on it until his hand waved over the handle.

  At his touch, a faint blue light outlined the shape of the door humming with fae energy. The power coming from it felt ancient and heavier than any magic I had felt in a long time. ‘What secrets lay behind this door? ‘I wondered as I subconsciously rubbed my hands together. ‘Maybe something that could get rid of this fracking marker that creature placed upon me.’ I thought angrily as I rubbed the brand on my wrist.

  “Here we go,” Finneas announced as he wagged his eyebrows at us and opened the door.

  “Wow!” Craig and I exclaimed in unison. As we stepped through the door, an impossible world of literature greeted us. The room was twice as large as the main library upstairs. Globes of floating lights lit up the enormous space in soft colors hovering over endless rows of tables, nooks and seating areas completely covered with books and scrolls. Row after row of bookshelves stretched impossibly as far as the eye could see.

  Ancient texts were on display everywhere we looked and a faint smell of sandalwood and cedar wafted through the air replacing any hint of dust, mold or must. My hands itched to spend some time here looking for the answers to all of my problems. I swallowed as I approached a nearby table perusing the words etched into a stone tablet. ‘How to attract nymphs—”

  “Ha, well,” Finneas interrupted my reading as he turned the tablet over. Blushing he explained, “research for a client.” He finished by clearing his throat and gesturing for me to an empty table Craig was already sitting at.

  I patted his arm and whispered, “Your secret is safe with me.” I stifled my smile as I walked over to the table. The only time men wanted to attract nymphs is when they were feeling a bit ‘lonely’. Maybe he needed to get out more. I chuckled to myself as Craig pulled out my chair.

  “What’s so funny?” Craig asked and I shook my head.

  “I am sworn to secrecy, but I would suggest maybe taking Finneas out for a night on the town.” I replied. Craig just nodded as Finneas approached us with a large book in hand.

  “Here we are,” he announced placing the book on the stand in front of us. “This is the book of ancestors,” he explained. “It is a family grimoire it seems. There is the family history, spells and incantations. Some of these texts are older than any of us in this room. It is curious that you were sent to fetch this particular tome.”

  ‘I wasn’t sent to fetch anything,’ I bristled mentally at the notion. No one tells me to fetch. I think as I cross my arms and sit up straighter. I’m about to tell him as much just as Craig’s hand sends warmth through my thigh where his hand touches and the ice on my shoulder melts. I turn towards him sharply. When had his hand found its way to my thigh. Why am I not pushing it away? I think as I settle back into my chair trying desperately to hold onto my indignation but finding it very difficult.

  Oh, Detective White is definitely too dangerous to be around. I muse as my thoughts wonder what other things his hands can do.

  “And that is why it is important that you find Byron,” Finneas concluded jarring me out of my daydream.

  “Who?” I asked because I obviously wasn’t listening.

  “Byron Hughes. The feathered man the Oracle told you to get the book too,” Craig summarized for me. I shifted in my seat giving his hand, that is still on my thigh, a squeeze in thanks.

  “Mr. Hughes. Got it. Do you have a picture or know of his whereabouts?” I ask trying to get to the point so we can finish this task. Being this close to Craig is making me a little restless and I needed some air to cool down from his … heat.

  Finneas pulled out his smartphone and scrolled through it before turning it over to us. A photo of tall willowy man with platinum blond hair that resembled feathers, a summer tan and large blue eyes. What is with all the supe men being tall. Byron’s smile was only matched by a younger Finneas as they stood next to one another with their arms around each other’s neck. Friends from another lifetime it seems. There was another man in the picture with them that looked a great deal like Craig, and I hazard a guess that was his father. Finneas looked at the photo fondly before typing on his phone. Moments later Craig’s phone dings and he takes it out to see the shared photo.

  “This is his true face; however, he has been known to change his look from time to time. He is an incredibly gifted illusionist as well as a swan shifter,” he offered. Craig sat there quietly examining the photo. His hand tightened slightly around the phone, his smile turning sad.

  “You look so young and happy in the photo,” I mention trying to alleviate the somber mood that had taken place.

  “Yes, that was a simpler time back then. We were at university together. Those were good times,” Finneas mused.

  “Three studs on the prowl. Am I right?” I egged him on coaxing a smile out of Finneas.

  “Something like that,” he replied on a laugh, clearly thinking about a fonder time. “You should be able to find him in London this time of year.”

  “Why? He seems harmless. All I am going to do is give him the book and tell him to pass it along. I am not looking to be dragged into anything else,” I retort, crossing my arms again.

  “A word of warning: Looks can be deceiving and his especially,” Finneas cautioned. “He is a member of the Twelve.”

  “The Twelve?!” Craig uttered looking up from his phone finally. His muscles tightened causing his jaw to tick.

  “The Twelve?” I questioned looking between the two men. “Who are they and why should I be worried?” I shrugged. “I am a djinn, and he is a high court fae prince.”

  Craig answered before Finneas could, “they are an order of warlocks that think they are above all laws. They are only beholden to themselves.” He turned to me. “They are very powerful and keep themselves secret for a reason. No one really knows the extent of the power they wield. We need to be very careful when we approach him.” He finished and started typing on his phone.

  “Are you a member?” I asked.

  “No, my dear.” Finneas laughed. “I am not powerful enough nor do I have the inclination to join that faction.” He said the last part with a bit of disdain. Nodding in understanding I think of how to ask my next question as delicately as possible knowing it probably won’t be well received by either man.

  “Who is the other man? In the photo with you and Mr. Hughes,” I finally settle on being upfront. I have never been good with polite politics; why start now. Probably because the energy of the man seated beside me shifted from sadness to anger.

  “I think it is time we leave,” Craig says before Finneas is able to answer.

  “Right,” he says sensing the shift as well. Finneas takes a shoulder bag half the size of the book and starts shoving it inside. Miraculously, the book fits. Lifting the bag to put on my shoulder I realize I have heavier handbags than this shoulder bag.

  “Wow,” I muttered to myself as Craig tries to take the bag from me. But I pull it out of his reach and sling it across my body. “My mission. My bag,” I remind him.

  “If you say so,” he mutters and turns to Finneas. “Thank you old friend, I will be in touch.” They lock forearms and nod to one another before Craig leads the way out of the room. I trail behind him until we are about halfway up the stairs.

  “Are you going to tell me what is wrong with you?” I ask because his sour mood feels so out of character for him that I am not sure how to react.  He just keeps on walking ahead of me, forcing me to jog to catch up. “So, you aren’t going to talk to me?” I ask as we make it to the main floor and he ignores my question. I don’t even know why I am so concerned about his current mood. Men are all the same: so moody.

  “I swear men are so fracking moody. I don’t know why I thought you would be any different,” I muttered as I strode back down the corridor we went down before.

  People were milling around and walking here and there making the library seem to come alive with a hushed energy. Normally, I enjoyed strolling through this type of unhurried pleasant energy, but I couldn’t fully enjoy it with the dark cloud following me to the front doors. In the atrium I reached for the door handle only to be halted before opening the door. Craig pulled me into a small alcove near the entrance.

  “He was my father,” he admitted catching me off guard. It took me a second to realize he was referring to the third man in the picture with Finneas and Byron. Understanding colored the concern on my face realizing that his mood shift was grief over the loss of his father.

  “I’m so sorry, Craig. I truly am,” I said wrapping my arms around him because I had been wanting to do that all day even though it was against my better judgment. He stiffened.

  “Yeah, sure you are,” he replied and pulled away from me.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, very confused by the cold treatment.

  “It means you are… Never mind,” he answers before trying to storm off but I catch his arm, pulling him back.

  “Oh no, you don’t get to say that and leave,” I whisper-yell as a couple of people walk in from the cold. They glance our way as I pause the conversation waiting for them to continue on their way. Once they leave, Craig crosses his arms and looks down at me. Gods I hate tall men. Why is everyone so damn tall?!  “Now you are going to tell me what I did to piss you off so much.”

  “You are so back and forth,” he exclaims searching for the words. “I have made my intentions known from the beginning or at least I thought I had. Then you go… We … kiss.”

  “Oh,” I say, surprised by how flustered he is by my actions.

  “Then you go cold on me today. But only really,” he says exacerbated throwing his hands up in the air. “I can’t get a fix on you. You are impossible!”

  “I’m impossible,” I repeat. “I am many things but impossible. Ha! You are the impossible one hunting me one minute and the next coming on this quest with me like some knight in shining armor.” I poke his chest with my finger. “Where do you get off thinking every woman wants that? We don’t all want that. We aren’t all damsels in distress in need of a big strong man to rescue us!” I shouted at him.

  He scoffs at me, “You could have fooled me. I seem to be saving the day a lot since I offered to be part of your ‘little’ quest.” He finished standing there smugly looking down on me. And there it was. He was just like all the other fae who looked down on my kind. I stepped back from him, bumping up against the opposite wall in the small alcove.

  “You are right. I needed your help and just like the hero you are willing to be the do-gooder and save the world. Just for the record most women don’t want the hero, they want the villain because at least the villain would end the world for them. With that I relieve you of your duty, hero.” I say pointing in his face as I turn to leave.

  “Oh, come on Minerva. I didn’t mean it like that,” he called after me as I approached the front entrance. I turned to him with the door partway open, the cool air rushing in to cool the rage boiling just under my skin.

  “Fuck off, Detective,” I reply pushing the door open to leave only to stop in my tracks.

  “Hello, Minerva. I have been waiting for you,” Mallec says in the way of a greeting. “It seems you have something I have been looking for.” He finishes before the flash-bang of the gun goes off and a searing heat enters my gut.

  I hear my name being called, as Mallec, snatches the shoulder bag containing the Book of the Ancestors, from me. “Everyone wants a villain until a villain shows up.” Darkness consumes me as Mallec’s laughter follows me as I lay dying… Again. Fuck!

  ---

  October 29, 2025

  demons, fantasy, fiction, funny, short-story, supernatural, urban fantasy, writing

  ---

• Chronicles of a Soul Jumper Part 22

  “We have to make a pit stop before heading to the hotel,” Craig tells me after we stop by S.N.O.B. headquarters. We stopped so he could check in and get us a car. Unfortunately, with it being so late in the evening the library had already closed, and we had to wait until the morning to retrieve the book.

  “I thought that was the pit stop,” I said motioning behind us as we pulled away from the government building.

  “No. Not there,” he replied, his smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

  “What it is? Where are we going?” I asked curious and a little suspicious. As easy as it is to be in his company and how relaxed he makes me feel we were still on opposite sides of the law. I would trust him with these tasks, but I wouldn’t trust him with any other part of me.

  “It’s a surprise,” he mused as we glided down the highway.

  “I don’t care for surprises. They never work out for me,” I reply looking at the landscape passing us by.

  “This one you will enjoy,” he affirmed as his hand lightly pats my knee and returns his attention back to the road. A comfortable silence fell over the car as we came to an exit for Lynx, Maryland. I took in the large colorful craftsman, bungalow and Victorian homes we passed.

  The car slowed as we pulled up to a baby blue Victorian. Its rounded front porch was large and inviting with its flowers and plants flanking it on either side. This was no cookie cutter house. It had depth, dimension, and character that pulled a smile from me.

  An older woman stood up from her rocking chair and waved at us as Craig got out and came over to let me out. She wasn’t very tall, and her pale blond hair reflected the electric light filtering from the inside of the home. Craig helped me out and pulled me along to greet the woman who beamed at him. When we got closer, I could tell better that this woman was his mother. Same smile, same bright green eyes even though her skin told a tale of her having worked tirelessly in the sun.

  I tried to pull my hand from his grasp. ‘It is a little too early to be meeting the family,’ I thought as Craig let me go long enough to hug the smaller woman. Internally, I was panicking because this surprise was not what I wanted at all. Maybe a bubble bath and some wine, but this I was not prepared for. I tried not to retreat from the loving moment mother and son were having.

  I guess Craig sensed my need to flee as his iron grip found my hand again and pulled me closer. “Mother, this is Minerva.” He presented me as if I was a potential bride. I tried not to cringe as she folded her arms across her chest and looked from me to her son. I hope she didn’t take offense.

  “Son, did you spring this trip on this poor woman?” she asked winking at me, and I gaped at her. Fortunately, Craig had the good sense to be chagrined as he rubbed the back of his neck. It made me relax a little bit knowing she called her son on his shit. He cleared his throat and looked away.

  “It’s good to meet you, Minerva,” she said shaking my hand. Hers was rough with callouses and weathered like she knew hard work and wasn’t a pampered princess. An inner warmth spread from her to me. It tasted of Earth and summertime. I gaped for the second time in minutes. She was not full blooded fae. There was definitely brownie mixed in there. It would also explain the flowers blooming in the cool weather.

  “It’s nice to meet you, too,” I replied genuinely meaning it.

  “Inside you two. I am sure you haven’t eaten yet,” she summarized as my stomach growled its agreement. She ushered us in to one of the most beautiful and comfy houses I had ever been in. The room had comfortable seating for an army and even sported a piano. As we followed her through the home I took in all of the family photos on the walls and on the hall tables. It was amazing to see their large family captured in moments in time. The most telling thing about them is they really appeared to like each other. It was a rarity in fae families, especially in royal ones. So much competition to rule but I got the sense that wasn’t the same for them. It made my heart ache for what I missed out on growing up as a young djinn. Not really having the stable, nurturing family environment. I found myself lacking in the presence of this… love.

  Craig and his mother, Joann, seated themselves around a large round table in the kitchen, pulling a chair out for me to sit next to him. Joann served us a delicious stew with crusty bread which she, of course, made from scratch. I moaned when I took the first bite. I hadn’t had a homecooked meal in forever. I smiled and made pleasant conversation as the night went on. I couldn’t get over how down to earth they were and how much I longed for this with someone. It cut me deep that I hadn’t found this in all of the centuries I roamed the world.

  “Won’t you stay the night,” Joann asked me, rousing me out of my spiraling thoughts.

  “Hmmm,” I responded blinking back to the present conversation.

  “My mom would like for us to stay here tonight instead of the hotel,” Craig repeated sensing I hadn’t paid too much attention to the later part of the conversation.

  “I… uh…” I stuttered as two parts of me warred to answer. Part of me reveled in the peace and coziness of this place knowing I would be safe and secure here. While the other part of me rejected this place as false and not wanting to dwell in the lie a minute more.

  Craig’s smile dropped a little as he chuckled uncomfortably. “Mom, I think I should get Minerva to the hotel. It is closer to our destination and we want to get there as soon as it opens,” he offers saving me from the look of disappointment that crossed Joann’s face.

  She looked between the both of us and nodded her head. “Okay. If it is for the best,” she replied not fully convinced but knew when to concede. She walked us out and as we said our goodbyes she pulled me into a fierce hug. I melted after a moment of hesitation. Her warmth spread into me again and my eyes watered as tears threatened to overtake me.

  Joann whispered in my ear, “Be safe and come see me again. Even if it is without my son. You are always welcome.” I pulled back and she wiped a stray tear that had fallen. I nodded because I didn’t trust myself to speak. We said our final goodbyes and got into the car headed to our hotel.

  “It was good to see my mom. I worry about her sometimes,” Craig commented filling the silence.

  “Oh,” I replied absentmindedly. “She seems nice,” I followed up staring out my window as we made our way back to the city.

  “That’s all you have to say?” he asks me when I don’t fully engage in the conversation.

  “Yes, it is,” I replied moving my gaze from the blur of the landscape to look at his profile. He was devastatingly handsome in a ‘golden retriever’ sort of way. So sweet and so very nice. He deserves someone who can match his energy. I am not her.  Craig’s jaw clenched as he kept his eyes forward as if he heard my thoughts.

  “Was there something wrong with the food or company?” he poked and I gawked at him.

  “Absolutely not. Your mom was a gracious host, and I know you heard me moan into that stew.” I said shifting uncomfortably as Craig visibly relaxed. “It’s the best meal I can remember having in quite a long time.

  “Then what is wrong? You have been quiet tonight,” he added.

  “Hmmm,” I replied as we pulled up to the hotel’s valet.

  “Like that,” he pointed out, his hands gripping the steering wheel while we waited for the valet. He turned to me, “Minerva, is this because I surprised you with that visit?” he searched my face for confirmation but before I could reply the valet opened my door.

  “Welcome to View on The Hill, ma’am,” the young man said as he helped me out of the car. Craig scrambled out of his side of the car and ate up the distance between us. He gripped my arm as I tried to make a break for the front door.

  “Oh no you don’t,” he said ushering me inside. “I need an answer, Minerva. Do you really not like surprises that much?” he asked as we made it to the front desk. We quickly checked in. Fortunately, he got us separate rooms because I don’t think my nerves could take being any closer to him for the day.

  On the elevator, we were alone, and I willed the floors to pass by fast so I could get away. Unfortunately, I am not that lucky. Craig hit the emergency stop and watched me. I sighed heavily because I got the feeling people didn’t tell him ‘No’ often, and when they did, he wore them down. The day had already been way too long and far too many emotions were stirring up inside of me. All this time on Earth and I can still feel: who knew?

  “Fine,” I breathed squaring up on him. “You have dragged me through three different cities. I have been marked for annihilation. Not death but annihilation. You have acted like my knight in shining armor even though I am the furthest thing from a damsel in distress. Then you took me home to meet your mom, and it was beautiful, kind and made me…” I choked on the last part of my rant. Tears threatened to spill the confines of my eyes. “I just… It is too mu—”

  I was cut off as his soft lips crushed against mine. The tears broke free as Craig pressed me against the side of the elevator. He invaded all of my senses and overwhelmed me like no one else ever had before. I was lost in the moment of bliss and didn’t want the moment to end but it did.

  Craig pulled back resting his forehead on mine. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. But you were so… I don’t know. Open, vulnerable.” He said making me laugh as his thumb wiped away my tears.

  “Me crying and blubbering like a child does it for you, does it?” I joked as he backed up a little more giving me room to breathe. He looked down at me, face serious as he reached over and pushed the button to make the elevator move again.

  Turning back to me, he took my hand rubbing the back of it. “No, not exactly,” he smiled. “You showed me the beautiful soul you try to hide from the world. I was honored to experience it.” He pulled me closer to him and cupped my face just as the elevator dinged and the doors opened. An older couple waited as we walked out of the elevator blushing like two teenagers being caught doing something naughty.

  “I’ll see you in the morning,” I told him as we approached my room. He nodded and kissed my hand goodnight.

  “Til tomorrow then,” he said and waited until I entered my room. I closed the door and leaned against it. The rest of this adventure just got more complicated.

  October 17, 2025

  demons, fantasy, fiction, funny, short-story, supernatural, urban fantasy, writing

  ---

• Chronicles of a Soul Jumper Part 21

  Balmy air greeted us as we stepped through the portal into the light of day. The multitude of people milling about the waterfront didn’t even bat an eye at our arrival. They were either supes who were used to using portals as transportation or norms who only perceived additional people were taking up space on the walkway. Either way we blended in with the tourists and vendors who crowded the street as we made our way to gods only knew where.

  “Detective Wh-“ I began.

  “Craig,” he corrected grasping my hand so I wouldn’t lose him in the throng of people.

  “Fine, Craig. Where are we going?” I asked frustrated by being led around without knowing the plan or why we came to this tourist trap of a swamp. Charleston’s air can be so sticky with humidity.

  “You will see when we get there,” he replies pausing at the street corner. He checks his phone and then pulls me in another direction. Annoyed by the jerky movements, I yank back on my hand hoping to be released from his hold. Unfortunately, he doesn’t let go but tightens his grip. Though my pulling does make him stop and face me. His green eyes fill with confusion as he stares at me when I tug on my hand again.

  “That is not going to work for me, Craig,” I retort as I cross my right arm under my breast. He still hasn’t released my other hand, and it is starting to piss me off. “You haven’t told me anything since you whisked us away to… here.” I gesture to the bustling city around us.

  “Oh right,” he mutters as if he just realized he didn’t tell me about our destination until right now. He smiles at me as his thumb rubs the back of my hand gently causing me to stop trying to escape him. The movement spreads warmth from my hand through my arm to my chest. I shiver slightly bewildered by the effect this fae has on me. I don’t like it, but I am captivated by him, nonetheless.

  “We are going to the Charleston City Market,” he replies and gently tugs me in the direction of the open-air market. The sun briefly blinds us before we duck under the pavilion shielding the market stalls from the elements. Throngs of people cram into the space making it feel smaller.

  Craig is not phased by any of it as he presses on. We weave our way to the back of one of the buildings, away from the crowds. Making it easier for me to breathe again for the first time since we got to Charleston. Between the heat, humidity and people I am having a hard time being here. Fortunately, he leads us to a quieter, less crowded space that has glorious air conditioning.

  My lungs fully expand as the crowd thins out to only a few people milling about window shopping. Some vendors look on hopeful for a potential sell while a few others look bored out of their minds. Some even turn our way as our footsteps echo on the stone floor as we approach a weathered teal door. The sign above it with its flashing neon lights reads ‘Spill Da Tea Bookstore’.  

  “Ah, here we are. My sources indicate that this secondhand bookstore may have the book we are looking for.” Craig says as he scrolls through his phone.

  “It’s that easy, is it?” I ask, my eyebrow raised in disbelief.

  “As a fae prince and top notch S.N.O.B. detective I like to think I have some pull in the supe community,” he replies with a smirk.

  “We will see about that,” I jest as I just shake my head as he opens the door for me.

  The bell chimes as we cross the threshold and I feel the tingle of magic crawl over my skin. The owner has pretty strong wards on this place, and I have to fight my instinct to rub my arms.

  “Good afternoon,” a pleasant voice rings out as we move further into the store. “Oh, uh, you shouldn’t be in here,” the pleasant voice turns sour as the owner of it eyes me warily.

  “I hope that isn’t how to greet all your patrons. Or am I just special?” I retort stalking closer to the petite redhead standing behind the wooden counter.

  She huffs and points her stubby little finger at me, “You are a djinn. You are not allowed in this store.” She says as she hops down and disappears behind the counter only to round the corner a second later. I stop dead in my tracks.

  “You’re a gnome!” I exclaim as I come face to stomach with the short creature standing in front of us.

  “Uh, Minerva, please,” Craig interrupts grabbing my arm and guiding me to his side.

  “My liege,” the gnome squeaks and bows before him. I mean she was already close to the floor, so it wasn’t that far for her to go.

  “Please, Taina, please, get up. You know that you don’t have to do that. I really don’t need it,” Craig tells her offering his hand to help her stand. Is he blushing? My gods he is blushing. He keeps getting more interesting by the minute.

  He cuts a look in my direction and shrugs once Taina is upright. I have no clue as to why he is embarrassed by his subjects showing him respect. Hells know I would not get that same reception from other demons here or in my father’s realm.

  Taina shuffles over to Craig and tugs on his pants leg. “Your highness is it prudent that you be seen in the company of the likes of her,” she gestures with her head in my direction after her not-so-subtle stage whisper. I look at Craig as he chuckles and pats Taina’s hand.

  “It’s okay. She is nothing like her kin. You can trust her,” he assures her. “I trust her.” the last part being more for me than Taina. She harumphs and glares at me.

  “This is going nowhere,” I say and let my hand fall on Craig’s forearm. His magic hums just beneath the surface of his skin. It’s like contained electricity that jumps to meet my fingertips. “We should go,” I say breathier than I intend for it to come out.

  “Yes, you should,” Taina retorts beneath her breath. I tighten my grip on Craig’s arm as I grind my teeth. ‘That little bi-‘ But before I can make my eloquent comeback Craig places his hand on top of mine, his thumb rubs soothing circles over the back it and I instantly clam. Sorcerer! He’s a sorcerer!

  “Ladies,” he sighs then turns his attention back to Taina. “We have come for a book,” he explains to the gnome.

  “Then you have come to the right place, Prince Zavien. Please excuse Taina. She is upset that the djinn made it through the wards,” a sultry voice answers from behind us.

  “Reginus, there you are,” Craig says, his smile widening as he approaches a tall slender person. Even from across the room they radiate power. They give off a perfect balance of feminine and masculine energy and I can’t decide if they are a woman or a man. Honestly, their magic tastes old enough that it doesn’t matter. Their skin is the color of dark coffee and the colorful Mumu they wore accentuates the flawlessness of it. White braids fall down their back to their knees. The gold jewelry they have layered on their person who make a dragon jealous. They are gorgeous and I instantly hate them. Craig and Reginus air kiss as they clasp hands.

  “What book can I help you find, my dear boy?” Regina asks waving Taina off. The gnome disappears and I am left standing by myself in the middle of the store.

  Craig turns his smile my way and beckons me over to them. “This is –“ he begins to explain.

  “Oh, I know all about Delphine. She is an interesting player in this game of the gods,” they smirk as they turn, gesturing for us to follow. I huff but follow hoping this will actually lead us to the book I need to complete part of this quest. Stupid gorgeous know-it-all creatures.

  We walk past several tastefully crafted bookshelves and displays housing everything from contemporary art books to dime store romance paperbacks. The store seems endless as we zig and zag through the stacks and travel through a dark aisle before stopping in front of a simple wooden door.

  Reginus opens it and ushers us into the coziest sitting room I have ever been in. A tingle spreads over me as we pass under the threshold. More magical wards. What are they trying to protect?

  Colorful pillows, cushy chairs, couches, tables and bookshelves crammed full of books surround the room. A small fireplace, flanked by 2 tall bookshelves, burns brightly chasing away a chill I didn’t realize had settled over me. I became mesmerized as I perused the titles on a table closest to me. Some of these tomes are older than I am and a few I know to be missing from their original owners. Who is this Reginus person?

  “Come. Sit,” Reginus offers pointing to two cushioned chairs around a table set with a whole tea service. I hadn’t noticed the table in the middle of the room before now. There is a lot to take in but something feels… off.

  Craig guides me to the table and we sit as instructed. There aren’t many beings I respect or fear, but I can tell Reginus isn’t one to cross. I may not like them, but I am not ashamed to admit I am a little scared of them.

  “Tea,” Reginus inclines towards the pot that is already pouring its content in our cups. Guess we don’t have a choice in the matter. Then again, I don’t think I would want to pass up on that heavenly scented elixir. The magical tea service fixes each one of the cups to our preference. Not sure how it would know but I am going to keep my mouth shut until I can figure out what Reginus is up to and how the Hells Craig knows them.

  I take my cup in my hand allowing the warmth to soothe my nerves that have been on edge since we entered this bookstore. My gaze sweeps around the room while Craig and Reginus make small talk as they sip their tea. I tuned them out as I take in the room. Silk fabric hang along the walls and ceilings where the bookshelves don’t take up space. I go to take a sip of tea but pause as I notice the edge of a mirror in the corner hidden behind some lavender fabric. I squint to get a better look and set my cup down on the table.

  “This book you are looking for, what is it called?” Reginus asks pulling my attention back to them.

  “Huh, oh, it’s called ‘The book of the Ancestors’”. I reply, picking my tea back up from the table, the mirror forgotten. “The Oracle, Cassandra, said I needed to deliver it to a man with feathered hair, or something like that.” I murmur as I go to take a sip of tea.

  “Yes, we think you might have the book here. Hopefully,” Craig interjects causing me to pause the cup at my lips before setting it back down. Reginus shifts irritability in their chair at my actions. I am not sure why but I think it may be because of the look Craig gives me. His hopeful optimism is contagious and makes me smile back at him.

  “Hmmm, do you know anything else about the book?” Reginus questions as they sit back sipping their tea. I stare blankly at them confused as to what extra information I could possibly give them. They sigh, “What it is bound in or when it was made, perhaps?”

  I think about it trying to remember the imagines I glanced from Cassandra when she gave me this task. “It is leather bound and old. Old is relative compared to these tomes you have in here. So it would be relatively new in comparison,” I muse and start to lift the cup of tea back to my mouth.

  Reginus taps the side of their teacup and stare at us. “I think I know the book you need.” Craig and I perk up causing me yet again to put my cup back down. I have a million questions and I am ready to fire them off. But they hold up their hand to silence us before we can speak. “Unfortunately, I don’t have it here in my store.”

  “Damn!” Craig exclaims and places his cup of tea back on the table.

  “Quiet your minds, I can still help with your search for the book,” they say as they rise placing their cup on the table. Reginus moves in the direction of the mirror I had completely forgotten about a moment ago. They pull the lavender fabric back revealing a large, gilded floor mirror. Waving their hand over it, the surface begins to ripple as they whisper to it.  Their language is so ancient I can’t follow it entirely. I glance over at Craig who smiles at me with an eager glint in his eyes. He definitely is here for the adventure. Excitement flows off of him in waves, but it isn’t enough to settle the unease that is causing goosebumps to form on my arms.

  “Do you know what they are saying to the mirror?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me. Before Craig can reply Reginus turns back to us and steps in front of the mirror.

  “Found it,” they declare. “For this Prince Zavien, my debt to you is erased,” Reginus stated.

  “Yes, of course,” he confirms. “I told you I have some good resources,” he tells me. I chuckle at his preening.

  “Please, Delphine, drink up. Your tea will get cold,” Reginus tells me breaking mine and Craig’s connection with one another. Craig turns his attention to the beautiful creature as they place their hand on his shoulder. With a shrug I finally take a sip of my tea.

  Herbal warmth floods my mouth and flows down my throat settling in my belly. The conversation in the room dulls as the temperature spikes. My skin feels like it is on fire, and I unbutton the top button of my shirt dress. Something is wrong. Very wrong. My senses are overwhelmed. Their conversation goes from dull to thunderous only muffled by the pounding of my blood in my ears. My vision blurs and magic stings my skin. It feels as if the magic is burrowing deep inside me searching. Searching for my essence. Shit! I begin to panic as I try to scream but am unable to do so or move for that matter. My teacup falls from my hands.

  “Minerva!” Craig shouts as he leaps up from his chair coming to kneel in front of me. I feel the coolness of his magic rush against my heated skin. It feels so good that I moan in relief. “Curse you, Reginus! What have you done to her?!”

  I couldn’t focus. My attention falling to where his hands touched. The pain and heat only subsiding in those places but quickly returned with a vengeance whenever they moved elsewhere.

  Until his hand brushed against the amulet I am wearing around my neck. Bright light flashed from the relic and I exhale as magic floods my body. Just as sudden as the heat and digging sensation started it was snuffed out like ice cold water being dumped over me. All that was left was a tiny circle with a slash through it on the inside of my right forearm.

  “Where did you get that?” Reginus hisses as they advance on me looking to rip the relic from around my neck. Weakly, I raised my arms to defend myself. I was wiped and my magic barely responded to my call. However, before I could muster a defense, Craig pulled a glowing silver sword from his suit jacket.

  “That is none of your concern,” he bites out holding the tip of the sword to Reginus’s neck. “What. Did. You. Do. To. Her?” He glares at them. “I won’t hesitate to cut you down in your inner sanctum.” Craig threatens and for the first time I see the Fae Prince in him. I get it now. Those dark romantasy girlies are on to something. My body flushes for a whole different reason. Reginus steps back from the blade but Craig advances on them, keeping the sword in the same spot.

  Reginus cuts their eyes to me then back to him. “You dare to bring a djinn into my inner sanctum. Not just any djinn but Cruxis’s daughter.” They spit the last part at me. Craig doesn’t hesitate to press the blade further into their neck drawing a trickle of green blood. What are they?

  “We came for knowledge. We came in peace. And this is how you repay my generosity? We have known each other a long time and I am well within my right to slay you for your crimes.” he snarls back at Reginus. They cower and hold up their hands in surrender.

  Seriously, I know it isn’t the right time or place, but my basement is starting to flood.

  “Where is the book, Reginus?” Craig demands, his voice suddenly going very calm. The hair on my arms begin to rise from the magic that is leaking from him. He is pissed. I thought I had seen him pissed before but nothing like this. Obviously, he was just toying with me in the past. That kind of pisses me off but not enough to challenge him.

  They murmur, “Baltimore, Maryland.”

  “Care to narrow it down for us,” he instructs.

  “George Peabody Library,” they reply.

  “Good,” he says, and Reginus relaxes a little before stiffening again when Craig presses the sword further into their neck. “What did you do to her?” he gestures my way. Rage fills Reginus’s beautiful face as their glare cuts through me. Chancing a glance Craig’s way, they smirk before addressing me.

  “I may have owed the Fae Prince a debt but not you, little Delphine,” Reginus hisses. “You have taken my mark your father put on me so long ago. May the Soul Eater find you in my stead.” They spit at me.

  Craig turns wide eyes from them to me and then back to them. “Noooo!” he shouts as he rams the silver sword through their throat before withdrawing it and slicing them down. Reginus’s head flies towards the fireplace, and a scream fills the room as the beautiful creature dies. Their body falling to the floor before Craig in a smoldering heap of color and gold.

  I sit there stunned by the revelation. There is ringing in my ears and my heart beats as if it is trying to escape my rib cage. Soul Eater. The one being that won’t just kill you but will erase your entire existence. I can’t seem to draw in a deep enough breath and black spots dance at the edges of my vision. What did Reginus do to my father to warrant that sentence? My thoughts whirl around what this mark means for me. All I wanted was to be left alone. Now this.

   Craig’s bright green eyes fill my field of vision as he tries to coax me to breathe. “Breath Minerva, breath.” He says as his hand gently cups my face forcing me to see him, really see him. My gaze falls on his lips I follow his instructions. I take deep breaths until the black dots disappear and my racing heart settles.

  “Good, good. There you are beautiful,” he says as I blink to recenter myself in the room.

  “Craig,” I whisper trying not to panic again.

  “Shhh, its okay. We will deal with that last little tidbit later,” he assures me and touches his forehead to mine. I exhale as the weight of what he just pledged to me settles over me. I am not alone in this. He stands and offers his hand. I nod my head and take it as I stand.

  “You are right. We have a book to check out of a library,” I say as I exhale another deep breath. No time for wilting violets. Even with odds stacked against me I have never let them get me down. This time is no different.

  “Let’s get out of here,” he says pulling me close and opens a portal that we fall into to another adventure.

  October 9, 2025

  demons, fairies, fantasy, fiction, funny, short-story, supernatural, urban fantasy, writing

  ---

• Chronicles of a Soul Jumper Part 20

  The city passed by the sedan’s window at a fast pace blurring into a gray lump as we moved down the avenue. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat as my gaze shifted to the elf driving us to our destination.

  “You don’t have to look at me like that. I won’t bite,” he said absently as he slowed the car down. Traffic had gathered around us as we inched along.

  “Look at you. Ha! Perish the thought,” I scoffed and returned to my pointless window watching. He chuckled to himself before turning and entering a parking structure. Within moments we were enveloped in darkness briefly as the car made its way underground. Detective White smoothly pulled into an assigned parking space.

  “Someone must be pretty special to have his own parking space,” I jibbed but he only smiled at me.

  “That’s what my mother tells me all the time. Then again, I suspect she tells all her boys the same thing,” he joked as he got out of the sedan.

  “I can imagine,” I say to myself as I stay seated in the car. ‘I have to find this book, and I have no time for these shenanigans.’ My thoughts wander to my next steps refusing to move from this seat until I finished formulating my plan. Unfortunately, my plotting was interrupted as my car door opened on its own.  

  “After you madame,” Detective White says offering me his hand. Surprised by the gesture I slowly unbuckle my seatbelt eyeing his hand warily. He chuckled to himself again. “I told you I won’t bite.”

  “I thought chivalry was dead,” I mused taking his offered hand to help me out of the car.

  “Not for me. I am far older than I look,” he replied with a glint of mirth in his eye. “Besides, my mother would tan my hide if I was rude to a lady.” At that I snorted in reply straightening my dress as I stood next to the sedan while he closed the door.

  “Your definitions could use some work. A lady I am not,” I retorted as I studied him for the first time. He was tall and lanky like most fae. His auburn hair almost looked brown in the low light of the garage, but his green eyes shone brightly. He even had the nerve to have freckles. ‘What grown man has freckles?!’ I thought in outrage.

  “Oh, well. I am not sure what reflection you are looking at but, in my eyes, I do see a lady in my presence,” he replied guiding me towards the building entrance behind us. His hand rested on the small of my back, the only contact between us.

  ‘I guess the freckles aren’t that bad,’ I mused to myself as I allowed the elf to escort me to my doom.

  We walked through the entrance and moved through the building quickly. I couldn’t get a handle on the maze of generic doors and basic hallways before we came to a non-descript door. Detective White ushered me through to a cozy office space beyond.

  “What? No lock up? No restraints?” I asked, eyebrow raised as I eyed the slightly messy office.

  “Would you like to be restrained?” he asked, closer to me than I had first thought. A shiver ran down my spine as a tingle of magic caressed my skin.

  “You are a dirty fighter,” I said shocked at the glamour magic he had been using on me. Normally I would be able to detect such subtle magics, but he was either very powerful or very old, or both.

  He chuckled as he moved to the other side of the cluttered desk. It only seemed to have a little bit of space visible beyond the stacks of papers. “Please have a seat,” he gestured to the seat opposite his in front of the desk. I sat down feeling for other magics that might be clouding my judgement, but I couldn’t sense any other than the glamour magic he had dialed back once I noticed it.  

  “We aren’t at a S.N.O.B. facility are we,” I summarized settling back in the chair. His humor filled expression turned serious for a moment. His mirth filled smile disappearing behind his mask of business.

  “No, we aren’t,” he replied as he leaned back in his chair. His gaze penetrated me as the pause in our conversation drew out. “Can I trust you, Delphine?”

  “Can I trust you, detective White?” I retorted.

  His smile returned to his stupidly handsome face. “I would like to believe you can. I would like to believe you would put your faith in me.” He paused holding up his hand before I could counter his statement. “However, I have hunted you for years. Hounding you at every turn, knowing all you wanted was to live your eternal life in peace and without trouble.”

  Any response I may have had died on my lips. He was right about that. I just wanted to live my life in peace but trusting him was a long shot. However, I sat there waiting for him to continue. Curiosity getting the better of me, “What is it that you want?” I asked.

  “Simply put, to help you in your quest,” he said watching for my reaction.

  I laughed. My head fell back as I gave a full-throated laugh at the ridiculousness of his words. “You want to help me?” I asked again, wiping tears from my eyes at the sheer nonsensicalness of it all. His gaze skimmed over my face as he nodded in the affirmative. That stopped my laughter in its tracks. “Why?”

  “Because we are old beings. Because I am a bit bored and chasing you has been the most fun, I have had in a long time,” he replied with a smirk. “Because something is coming, and I can feel it deep down in my soul. Something that is going to impact my family in a way that we may not recover from.” He finished with that somber look on his face again.

  “Okay,” I nodded in agreement. Not knowing if I could fully trust him but feeling the weight of the truth behind his words. I told him of my visit to the Oracle and what was tasked to me. I told him of my run in with Korbin, Mallec and the Waters family. However, I neglected to mention the relic dangling from my necklace. He watched me intently as he absorbed my words. Nodding along not judging my fumbling moments with Cassandra and Krystal’s cat, Max. When I finished, we sat there in silence for what seemed like forever.

  “That is quite the tale and quite an ask for you to manage by yourself,” he said leaning forward to tap away on his computer. “However, I do think I can help at least give you a direction to look in for the book and maybe even find that swan shifter for you.”

  “What is this going to cost me?” I asked suspiciously. He smiled broadly as he leaned back in his chair, folding the hands behind his head.

  “Simple enough. Let me go with you. I feel like this little field trip is going to be fun,” he replied.

  I sat back in my seat in thought. I wasn’t entirely sure I could trust him, but I knew I needed the help. Was he truly trustworthy? What would my father think? His only daughter trusting an elf of unknown origins. His words held the truth but a part of me was unsure. I came this far by myself. I am smart enough to figure out the rest.

  “Detective White,” I began.

  “Craig,” he supplied.

  “Craig, as flattered as I am by your generous offer I have to decline,” I said getting up from my seat. “This conversation has been fun, but I must be going. Needing to save the world and such.” I put on my million-watt smile and moved towards the door.

  “I get it, you know,” he called out causing me to pause with my hand on the doorknob.

  “Get what?” I asked, turning to face him.

  “Why you run. Why you can’t seem to trust people completely. Especially an elf you hardly know, one who has been hunting you for years because he’s bored,” he replied. I crossed my arms and frowned at him.

  “Sir don’t presume you know me at all,” I scoffed pissed at his assessment.

  “You’re right. I don’t know you. Not really. Just like you don’t really know me,” he said getting up from his chair and moving from behind the desk closer to me. His presence seemed to fill the room, and I cursed my mother for having passed down her short genes to me. I hated feeling small next to such big men.

  “Delphine of Filana, daughter of Cruxis. My name is Zavien Alaric Stennus, Prince of the High Court of Fairey, son of Zaxel,” he bowed at the waist in a formal introduction before standing up and grinning at me. I stood slack jawed in awe of what he just admitted to me by way of introduction. A lost prince of the High Court slumming amongst humans was no small thing to admit.

  “What?” I managed to squeak out. He stalked closer to me, crowding me back against the door leaning down to speak in my ear.

  “Now you know my secret. I am at your mercy. My entire family is,” he said shifting to stare me in the eyes.

  I just about got lost in them searching for the lie but finding none. He knew he was risking the safety of not just himself but his family. I could turn them in to the High Court of Fairey or I give them over to my father. Either choice was a death sentence.

  “Why?” I uttered in complete disbelief of the burden he placed upon my shoulders.

  “Because this quest you have been given is going to change everything. And because if I don’t help you, I feel, people I care about will die. Let me help you, Delphine,” he proclaimed.

  I wanted to blame his glamour magic, or the proximity of his body to mine, or the way the mint on his breath caressed my lips in creating this heady need within me but I couldn’t. He ensnared me with his bright green eyes, and I couldn’t seem to tell him no. All I could do was nod my head in agreement.

  “Good, off to Charleston we go,” he smiled and grabbed my hand before pulling us into a portal I hadn’t realized opened behind him. I was so fucked.

  September 25, 2025

  demons, fantasy, fiction, funny, short-story, supernatural, urban fantasy, writing

  ---

• Chronicles of a Soul Jumper Part 19

  ‘He can’t hide from me forever,’ I thought as I stalked through the shabby Washington D.C. neighborhood. I grimaced as I stood on the broken sidewalk with its cracks filled with weeds and long forgotten grass. I huffed as I squared my shoulders and set off across the minefield of potholes and debris littering the street to my destination.

  Hair Oracles.

  ‘You would think Cassandra would have picked a nicer spot or at least come up with a better name for her business.’ I scoffed. ‘So unoriginal.’ Then again, she was only a conduit for the gods without an original thought in that bird brain head of hers.

  As I approached the building, the Hair Oracles sign was partially peeling from the blacked out storefront glass window. There was a definite stench in the air of unwashed people and urine. Gross!

  The door swung open with the flex of my finger. My magic tingling along my hand. ‘No way I was touching that germ ridden handle. There was no telling who could have passed through these doors. Cassandra wasn’t discerning in her clientele either. Which makes sense why she is in this rundown side of town.’

  The bell chimed announcing my arrival as I stood in the doorway taking a minute to examine the room. Women with braids in various stages of washing, blow drying, or styling hair laughed with customers. The vibe was relaxed with an underlying buzz of energy humming throughout the space. But I knew what the hapless women in those chairs didn’t. Cassandra was the worst kind of blood sucker. She stole energy from those women without their consent or knowledge. If you didn’t know to bring something in exchange, she would bleed you dry.   

  “In or out, Minerva,” Cassandra called out to me. “You are letting out all the AC. That’s costly in this summer heat,” she stated as she buffed her nails from the chair she sat in directly across the room from me. The air stilled and I flicked my eyes to the women who had gone utterly still, watching me. Their clients frozen in place none the wiser to this conversation.

  I took a couple of steps forward and the door shut behind me. The lock sliding into place putting me on edge. I hated being cornered. I especially hated being cornered by an enemy who knew way too much about me. Instead of showing my unease at her power move I simply stood there and crossed my arms. My face a mask of indifference. I could power play with the best of them. Cassandra’s eyebrow rose as she smiled looking over at me.

  “Well, well, well. I see someone has gotten her magic back. It looks good on you, Delphine. Welcome! Come in and tell me what you want,” she purred unraveling herself from the chair and beckoning me to sit. I knew the drill. I had come to her before to seek out information I couldn’t get elsewhere. ‘Sit in the chair, provide my offering and get my future path laid out for me. Easy enough.’ I thought as I moved forward cautiously and sat in the offered seat. I placed a large tear drop pearl in her waiting palm. Her fingers wrapped around it as she gasped and hummed happily.

  “What a beautiful offering. Mermaid tears are especially delicious,” she purred before spinning me around to face her. “Now tell me little djinn, what brings you to my doorstep again?”

  But before I could answer her face to face, she spun me around again so that I was facing the mirror looking at her reflection. She never liked face to face conversations. Always hiding behind a veil or screen and now a mirror it seems.

  “Shouldn’t you already know that,” I smirked causing Cassandra to cackle and time restarted. The buzz and energy from the women in the room returning.

  “You were always a smart one, weren’t you?” she hummed to herself. “Some might say too smart. Always getting into trouble you had no business getting into in the first place.”

  “Maybe.” I paused in thought. “However, I always found a way out of it. Besides I never went looking for trouble,” I retorted.

  “Yet, it always seemed to find you,” she chuckled to herself before running her fingers through my long ebony hair. Those long spindles massaged my scalp relaxing me ever so slightly until I heard Cassandra’s voice whispered in my ear. “What trouble brings you my way today then, hmm?” I flinched as she plucked at the gold chain around my neck.

  “Looks like someone is wearing stolen power from the gods,” she whispered. “Tsk, tsk. You know that won’t do. They want it back.”

  “They can kiss my ass,” I hissed at her reflection, causing the women in the store to pause again momentarily. I pulled away from her as she straightened glaring at me through the mirror. She crossed her arms as a low hissing sound started around us. The floor beneath us vibrating with power.

  “You come into my temple and blaspheme against the gods!” she declared, her voice amplified echoing off of the walls. I glared right back at her reflection which seemed to have grown larger and more imposing.

  “I am djinn. Your gods are not mine. Either hear my plea and let me be on my way or give me back my offering and let me be on my way,” I demanded. “Make no mistake I am not the youngling you once knew. I am a force to be reckoned with.” We continued to glare at one another for what seemed like forever before she broke into a smile. She cackled again as the women around us resumed their normal banter.

  “I can see why the gods favor you,” she smiled at me before running her fingers back through my hair pulling me back into my seat. “You would defy creation if it stood in your way, hmm.” Her braids shook around her shoulders as she shook her head with laughter. I crossed my arms and huffed at her.

  “Come child, tell me what you desire?” she asked in earnest.

  “Revenge and protection,” I stated plainly thinking of what both Korbin and Mallec had put me through. Cassandra smirked at me because she already knew, already saw the many paths my future led down. A comb appeared in her hand as she began combing through my tresses. She sighed and looked me in the eyes through the mirror.

  “Know this, you have a part to play in what is to come. Revenge is not yours,” she began and I started to protest. She held up her finger. “Though revenge is not yours directly as long as you carry that relic around your neck you will have all the protection you need.”

  “What do you mean I have a part to play?” I asked a little confused and pissed off I wouldn’t be getting my revenge.

  “Take heart dear sweet summer child,” she began. “Your part is this will set into motions the necessary steps that will serve the greater good.”

  “Who cares about the greater good?!” I whisper yelled. “I only care about my good. I was wronged and I want to right that wrong.”

  “I know,” she paused as she stopped combing my hair giving me her full attention. The weight of it spoke of a deep sorrow. “I know what Korbin did. I know what Mallec did. I know the suffering you have experienced over your lifetimes. Your grief is great but if you do not play your part in this there will be no tomorrow for you seek justice.”

  “This was a mistake coming to you for answers,” I said rising from my chair only to be shoved back down. She glared at me, her mouth a line of determination to make me hear her.

  “No mistake made coming here but if you leave, I fear that will be a mistake none of us can come back from,” she cautioned me.

  “Fine,” I relented. “What is the message from the gods that is so important that I have to stay my hand for revenge?” With a deep breath, she stilled the comb she had been using falling from her hand as something took over her.

  The lights dimmed around us and with a gasp an otherworldly voice rose from Cassandra, “In this time of man, we beseech you Delphine of the Djinns. Find a book of ancestors and deliver it to a man of softened feathers. This will finish the war of the gods. If you are unable to do this all is lost. Find the book, save the world.” With a shudder, the lights returned to normal, and Cassandra looked weary and ancient for the first time ever since I had known her.

   “That’s it?” I questioned. “Find a book and deliver it to what a swan shifter?! What do I look like, Amazon?” I asked as I shook my head and got up from the chair. Cassandra looked visibly shook and grabbed my arm before I could leave.

  “That was the first time they have ever channeled directly through me in thousands of years. Heed their warning. Something is coming. Something will change and not in our favor. Do this task and you will have your revenge though not directly. Three must rise to power through this action. Those three will get your revenge better than you ever could. Trust me on this,” she finished and then waved me off.

  I stalked through the door and into the night. “How the Hells was I supposed to find a book of ancestors and a swan shifter?” I asked out loud.

  “Maybe I can help you there,” a tall figure stepped out of the shadows, and I stilled. “You are a hard woman to find Minerva. Come with me and let’s have a chat.” Detective Craig White of the S.N.O.B said, motioning me forward with a gun in his hand.

  “Frack!” I uttered hands raised. This day just went from bad to worse.

  September 19, 2025

  demons, fantasy, fiction, funny, short-story, supernatural, urban fantasy, vampires, witches, writing

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