Page 79 of Souls We Rip

A powerful light came from my left, a skull discarded on the stony floor. Blue-filled eyes with black specks watched me under the light of a single candle.

“Hello, brother.”

Ana

If I had had a heart, it would have exploded into millions of pieces. Both of my hands flew to my mouth to keep my breathing in check.

I was wrong about him. As he was about me.

Yes, he did take the souls of people in the centuries he was the Goat Man. But he did all of that because of his brother. Who was no other than the Elk. My pulse quickened as I heard shuffling coming from where the Goat and the Elk stood.

At once, something snapped, followed by a piercing scream. My back glued to the wall of the cave; my body petrified in fear, warm tears drowning my eyes. Behind me, I heard someone murmuring, but I could only focus on the Goat Man’s screams.

They wrecked my body in ways I didn’t know it could.

Swallowing my tears, I took a deep breath.

My mind was, for once, in accord with my feelings, and I pushed myself off the cold stone, my fingers brushing it. I was guided by the snaps of bones and the screams of pain coming from the man who occupied my mind.

“Stop!” I shouted.

The snaps halted, but the screams turned into sobs.

My feet hit something soft, and I felt his voice calling for me. With my hands, I reached through the darkness, and I found something warm and thick. I knew what it was.

Blood.

My fingertips were coated in it, and I felt my own blood boiling, my muscles and veins straining against my skin.

“Who are you to command me, Stag Woman?”

I swallowed; all the courage I had earlier dissipating. Closing my eyes, I willed my pulse to stop its race against my veins. A warm hand touched my fingers and squeezed once, as if to say that he would be with me, despite the pain in his body.

“Leave him alone, Master!” I demanded through my teeth, holding the Goat Man’s hand, his shallow breaths ringing in my ears.

The Elk’s laughter replaced any other sound. “You’re ordering me, peasant?”

There was a similarity between the brothers, and that was their mockery. Although the Goat Man has changed for the better, his brother was the worst.

Don’t leave me, God. Even if I do not choose You this time.

“Please, let him go!” I begged, almost falling to my knees. “I…”

“Hm.” The Elk seemed to ponder, and I knew something evil would follow. I heard the clatter of hooves on the stones. “No, but…” its words crawled on my skin, “there’s a way you could free him.” Its voice seemed to travel over the walls, piercing my mind.

“Ana,” the Goat Man whispered, pulling me to my knees. Both of his hands searched for mine. “Leave me here and go. He will not end me, not until the contract is through. Go!”

“How can you be so selfish?” I asked, grabbing his arms. “Don’t you think that…” The words were blocked in my throat. Taking a deep breath, I touched my forehead to his. “I have a contract to fulfil, Goat Man.”

“Tiberius.”

My legs felt numb. “What?”

“That is my birth name. Remember it, Ana! Because it was too long since someone else knew it.”

I stood up, my blood flowing faster. Because yet again, the creature which took me was bare before me.

“Tell me, Master, what do I have to do in order to release the Goat Man?” My voice was steadier than my pulse and thoughts. I wanted to say his name out loud with every fibre of my being, but not here. Not when his brother was watching us from the darkness.