Page 24 of Solivagant

Aerith’s chest rose and fell faster, her temper threatening to make itself known before she got it under control once more. Had she not still been clenching my hair in her fist, I might have considered backing out the door and leaving this disgusting place.

“Well, it is on that matter that we are here.” Aerith spoke, sounding more composed again. “We have the soul Khorli wished to keep. Bring it back, or whatever it is you promised him.”

“I did what I promised him. A cost was paid, and a service delivered. I owe you nothing. If you wish for additional assistance, it will have its own cost.”

Aerith turned to me, her left eye twitching slightly as she yanked me by the hair toward the witch. “He will pay it.”

I swallowed. “Well, I never agreed to⁠—”

“You. Will. Pay. It.” Aerith spoke between clenched teeth.

Going to her had been yet another mistake. No Benygal was perfect, and though I came pretty close, Khorli seemed to be a weakness for me.

I rolled my eyes, feigning nonchalance as my pulse continued to escalate.

The witch turned silver eyes to me. I swallowed, but it was little help. My mouth was suddenly far too dry.

“Leave us,” she spoke.

I nodded, quickly yanking my hair from Aerith’s hand as I turned toward the door.

“Not you.” The witch interrupted my escape. “You’re paying. Which means any deal shall be between us alone. No outsiders.”

“I’m not leaving.” Aerith crossed her arms beneath her chest.

“Then I’m not helping.” The witch grinned.

Another staring match, and Aerith lost, turning her attention to me. “If you mess this up, that braid will be the first of many things I slice off your body,” she snarled. Then she stormed toward the entrance, slamming a door that should have busted from the force as she marched away.

The witch seemed larger now that we were alone. A door I hadn’t initially noticed opened to the side of the room, though I couldn’t see inside.

She walked ahead of me, ducking so she could fit through and disappearing into the shadows.

My eyes flicked toward the exit. I could probably run away before she could catch me. I’d have to escape Aerith too, though…

But even if I could… nothing would have changed. Even now, that twisting inside me was there. I sighed, praying to the Nyth before I braced myself for whatever was to come and stepped into the shadows.

12

THALIN

The room was far larger than it should have been judging by the outside of the hovel. The walls were stone and sturdy, unlike that of the room we’d just come from. And the shadows we’d passed through obscured my view of the other side. It felt like a Bridge.

I didn’t have the chance to ponder that too deeply, however, as the door slammed closed on its own, and I knew without trying, I wouldn’t be able to open it without permission.

“Yes, you’re very powerful.” I rolled my eyes. “Let’s just get this over with. What do you want?”

She smiled. “We haven’t met, have we?”

Oh, how I wish it had stayed that way. Every moment in this dreadful place, under her intense gaze, made my skin crawl.

Chains rattled against a far wall, and I turned to find a creature I hadn’t initially noticed. It was surprisingly clean, despite the dirty surroundings. Its wrists were cuffed to the stone as it stared vacantly. Long, shiny blond hair fell over pale skin. It looked human. At least on the surface, because it seemed something was dreadfully wrong with it.

“What is that?” I dared to ask, hoping to shift that intense stare off me for a moment.

It didn’t work. She continued to stare, even as she answered my question. “The human soul can withstand approximately five reincarnations before it’s broken beyond repair. Each time it comes back a little more… damaged.”

I swallowed. “How many is that?”