Page 82 of Souls We Rip

A fifth swirl was added to my eyes.

With the corner of my eye, I saw the two women getting out of the church. They walked hand in hand to me. The younger woman covered her mouth at seeing the priest’s decapitated body lying at my feet. Her dark eyes widened, but despite the fear, she kept her head straight.

On the other side, the older woman smiled. “That priest made my daughter suffer. He was no man of God!”

I simply nodded as my gaze travelled over the bloodied cassock. “Let it be a lesson, then.” I stepped away from them and travelled to the cave.

I didn’t feel remorse for taking the soul of a priest. Not when he was creating pain instead of alleviating it. Once my feet touched the dirt before the cave, I ran inside. My eyes couldn’t focus on anything else besides the kitchen.

That stood empty.

My pulse quickened, and I yelled for Andrei. No response came. Furrowing my eyebrows, I walked further to Tiberius’s room. The chamber was exactly as I left it that morning. Void.

His immense Mirror pulsed with a red light, as if calling for me. My steps faltered as I walked to it. One finger tapped the pristine glass, and a crack appeared on the Mirror.

“Well, you surprised me,” the Elk’s voice filled the space around me.

“Set him free,” I ordered, my head standing straighter.

Its laughter pinched my skin. The Elk was surrounded by darkness, as its soul was. I squinted, but there was nothing beyond the glass.

“I didn’t know you had it in you, peasant. But it took you long enough, so I demand another soul!”

I swallowed. “You said that I needed to take one soul, and you’ll release Tiberius.” My fingers twitched. “You’re not a beast of your word, then.” My blood travelled faster through my veins, my head aching.

“First of all, I am not a beast, peasant. I am a God!”

“Not mine.”

“I see you have not relinquished your beliefs,” he mused, his words creating another crack in the Mirror.

“I think you knew that already,” I whispered.

The candles’ reflection in the Mirror flickered, threatening to burn everything around them. In that moment, I didn’t know who was angrier, me or the creature who stood behind the darkness.

“One more soul, peasant. And I’ll deliver the man who screams for you.” Its lips smacked. “Oh, and all the rest of the souls must be taken by the first month of the New Year. Otherwise, both of you will be ashes.”

And with that, everything became a haze.

Images of Tiberius's magnificent eyes captured my mind as I crumpled to the ground. Every touch, every bad and kind word came to my mind. Every time he tried to keep me safe in his world crowded my imagination. I felt as if I couldn’t breathe.

“Ana?”

A squeaky voice called my name, but I couldn’t focus my eyes on anything other than my reflection in the Souls’ Mirror. Almost pristine eyes watched my pale skin. I never felt so useless.

“Woman, wake up!”

A cold sensation passed through my body. I looked up, and Andrei was sitting right on my leg. Shivers passed down my skin as his translucent figure stood above me. It was as if I could feel death on my skin.

“Sorry,” he mumbled and stepped aside. “But you seemed lost there.”

“I am lost,” I admitted, shivering. “The Elk asked me for another soul.” My feet shot up; my attention snagged by a third crack appearing on the Souls’ Mirror.

"Oh!" His yelp made me jump. “It would be your sixth, right?”

“Yes.” I bit my lip. “But this time, the Elk didn’t mention who it should be.” My hands fretted as I walked to my room. The Mirror stood on my bed, waiting. “Which is a good thing.” Taking a deep breath, I stopped. “And then the Elk will deliver Tiberius.”

The boy sauntered after me, his eyes fixed on my hands. “Wait, what do you mean by ‘delivered’? I do hope the Goat Man would be alive, otherwise I don’t know what to do with my afterlife!”