Page 35 of Souls We Rip

“An old church, destroyed by time and war,” the Goat Man answered, its eyes on the vines. Its voice created a cold breeze, welcomed in this heat.

I placed my braid on my back, the sweat dampening my neck. I watched the brute, my eyes narrowed as my palms rested on my hips.

“I hope you have not dragged me here to stare at the stags and an old wall, Goat Man,” I said, squeezing the skin of my arm with my fingers. “I promised Andrei I would help him cook and feed the horse.”

It snickered, and for the first time since we arrived on the hill, I noticed the lack of horns. The cloak’s hood was covering its face. When I narrowed my eyes at it, I observed that there was no fur.

It stood like a statue, unmoving under my scrutiny.

“Where are your horns?” I questioned, my eyes flying again to the top of its hood. I tilted my head, assessing its posture. It was significantly thinner than before, the cloak cascading from its slender body.

It stood quietly, a sudden gust of wind circling my legs. Its chest rose slowly through the cloak, dragging my attention to it. I ignored the blush that was threatening my skin.

Out of thin air, in my hands appeared a sheepskin coat, its fur soft and curly. “This heat shall be the end of me, wrapped in such a coat!” I whined, imagining the fur tickling my neck skin.

“Where we are going, there is no torridity, woman. Now put it on!”

Its voice boomed in my ears, scratching my thoughts.

I leaned my head on my shoulder. “Is your tongue always this sharp, or do you save the spite for my ears alone?”

The Goat Man tsked. “Are you sure your God will forgive your comments?”

We moved towards the old church’s wall, the stags enjoying the heat too much, their grainy eyes following my steps. Their stare raised the hairs on my body.

If I gained the courage to mount the blood-curdling stallion behind me, I had to find it in me to walk across the herd of stags.

Breathing loudly once and with my heart in trenches, I stepped after the Goat Man. It seemed to forget that I was behind. The cloak it wore brushed the burnt grass, the sound of it replacing the silence.

“Why are they here?” I voiced my thoughts, eyeing the stag on my right. It was tame enough, but the noble voice in my head said to stay away and not touch it. Especially not its antlers. Its brown fur had a reddish hue in the sundown, its wet nose gleaming in the sunrays.

From afar, they were alluring, drawing you in with their majesty and elegance.

“I will answer all your pestering questions once we are down,” the Goat Man hissed, his cloak flapping in its breeze.

The herd of stags was watching our every move, their beady eyes tracking our feet. The grass tickled my skin, sweat dampening my hair, and my patience was nowhere to be seen.

In addition, the coat was suffocating me.

I swallowed, registering his answer. “Down?” I repeated, looking around for stairs. There were none. I felt my heart racing, creating an unpleasant sensation in my chest.

“I sacrificed myself for my father, I signed my soul away to you again, placing my family over my life, so at least one answer, I think I deserve!” My voice was not mine; it turned hoarse and raspy.

I stomped my foot once on the grass, making the stags rise to their feet, one of them taking a faltering step.

The Goat Man halted, its head turning slightly in my direction. “Oh, but peasant, do you lack comprehension? I already said I would answer all your questions.” Its voice was calm, but I felt the insult crawling on my skin.

I stepped into its space. “I agreed to do your bidding out of fear, but that doesn’t mean that I cannot fight back, Goat.”

Without even thinking, I took the coat off my shoulders and threw it in its face. Turning around, I walked back towards the stallion, my fists clenching and unclenching. I felt the burning gaze of the Goat Man on the nape of my neck, but I couldn’t care less.

I was going back, tired of the way he was talking to me.

A gush of wind touched me lightly on my stomach, stopping me in my advance.

“You cannot escape the contract, or everyone you hold dear will be buried six feet under.”

My heart was pure, but at what cost?