Page 95 of Souls We Rip

Ana walked into the kitchen with a warm smile on her lips. Just for me.

“I can only, if I ask my brother,” I responded, my eyes looking at a fixed point over the stove.

“Are you two talking about the contract?” Ana asked, grabbing a mug from the cabinet.

“Yes. We are rummaging through our brains,” Andrei answered, throwing the rag away.

“Do you have one?” I asked with a smirk.

Both looked at me as if I threw them into the fire.

“Any luck?” Ana asked. She poured herself a cup of water. As soon as her lips touched the ceramic mug, images of them touching mine flew to my head. Rubbing my eyes, my burning thoughts were replaced with my brother.

He made me realise how selfish I was during all these centuries. How I took Ana and made her suffer just for my purposes.

My eyes focused on my inimă, who was watching me as though I was out of my mind.

“We are looking in the wrong place,” I said, jumping from my seat.

“Alright, I don’t know what has gotten into you,” Andrei shrugged.

But Ana was focused on my words. “What do you mean?”

“My brother wants to become a human to get his piece of land. And according to the Order’s lore, only a pure soul can eradicate evil by crushing the skull and taking the head. Seen any pure humans?”

“The child!” Andrei shouted, one finger in the air.

“How the devil could you suggest sending a child to end a powerful creature?” I retorted, a tightness settling over my chest.

“Andrei! Eugen can barely lift a haystack!” Ana shouted, placing the mug on the table with force.

“You are right,” the ghost nodded, placing a hand on his chin. “Well, master, if you had waited just a few more weeks, then maybe Ana could have done it.”

“No, I could not,” she said, raising her head. “I didn’t know back then how vile that creature is.”

“That is right. Ana wouldn’t have hurt a fly if there hadn’t been the contract gnawing at her.” I grabbed her hand and kissed it, apologising with my eyes.

“I will leave you boys,” she said, beaming again at me.

To think there was a time when I would ask myself if I could make her smile.

I shook my head; the same guilt I felt anytime I watched her collect a soul captured my senses. “She gets sick every time her scythe cuts.”

My hands grabbed the end of the table, pushing it forward, its legs squeaking on the stone. “I was such a fool, Andrei! There is no excuse for my behaviour. I took an innocent girl and smashed her dreams. She wanted a family of her own, her mother and sister to be at peace, and I came and wrecked everything.”

“It sounds like you’re in love.”

I jerked my head towards the ghost, his words crawling over my skin. The child said so too.

And they were right. What else could I name the feeling of my stomach turning when Ana had to take a soul, or how could I express the sensation of giddiness when she was in my arms? And what was with the happiness when I imagined the four of us in the house I bought?

Even without a heart, my mind took over all those feelings. Or, just as Ana, love can bring your soul back. Something precious to hold onto.

“Don’t you hide away as you do when you encounter difficult situations, Goat Man! I am quite fond of the woman,” the ghost warned.

I stood up, my feet walking towards the ghost. “Don’t worry, I plan to make her the master of my world, life and soul. And once I get my heart back, she will rule that too.” I turned to leave, but I halted in the middle of the kitchen. “I will say this once: I apologise for mistreating you, Andrei.”

I stomped out, pulling Ana from her room. She landed right into my arms, her gasp sending thrills through my body, and I couldn’t stop smiling.