Soul Mate: A Novella

Ch. 5 Samael

I’ve never experienced the sensations that course through my body as when Khloe places her hand upon mine. Being able to physically see the vibrant purple-blue electric current pass between us is astounding! I’ve never heard of such a thing occurring to a Grim Reaper before and the urge to become mortal is overwhelming, so much so that I jump to my feet in a panic. My breathing has become haggard and in a rush of words I say; “I’ve got to go Khloe. I’m sorry. I’ll see you later.” I step into the shadow realm quickly disappearing from her sight. At the moment I didn’t think about her being human and exposing my world to her and honestly, I still don’t care. She may not have even noticed how I vanished because she had been sitting in a state of shock herself.

Running a hand through my shaggy black hair, I switch my thoughts about what had happened to ones about wanting to find a Pure Soul. Taking out my cell phone, I send Rim a text telling him to meet me at the Bay Theater and to bring the amulets that my witch friend’s daughter had given him to assist in his quest to find the soul I need. It’s a long shot but I need something to distract myself from my mind being consumed with thoughts of Khloe. Walking through the lobby of the building, Rim questions me; “were you told what to look for while searching for this human soul of yours? You know like, should be keeping an eye out for a specific type of being, female or male?” He leans against a chair and crosses his arms over his chest as he waits for my reply.

“No, Rim,” I say a bit snarky. “No specific details were given. That’s why I asked you to bring those amulets. So, if you would be so kind as to remove them from under shirt, then maybe we could move things a long a little quicker...” My response is harsher than I intended it to be but my frustration with Rim has steadily been growing and I’ve apparently reached my breaking point.

“Dude, chill,” Rim says raising his hand at the same time in mock surrender. “I just meant there must be something, some way to find your pure soul that doesn’t require us walking up to every single person we see and wave the amulets in front of them to see if they are ‘the one’?” He and I both sigh in frustration at the same time.

“Right. Well, this is what we’ve got to work with now so we will just have to make do. Follow me down towards the front of the auditorium where those groups of people are milling about by the stage. If the amulets don’t show any signs, then we’ll be on our way, okay?” I don’t give him a chance to respond and begin marching towards the front of the room. After passing by each group, I can’t help it as a growl of frustration falls from my lips. “Whatever let’s take leave of this place.” Turning on my heel, I made my way to the exit. Once we are out in the sun, I see Rim pull a cell phone out of his back pocket and after a few seconds I see a cheesy grin take over his face. “Might I ask what has caused that hideous grin to take hold of your face?”

Arching an eyebrow, I wait for him to reply. “Oh, apparently being around humans has caused me to take on some of their characteristics,” Rim’s laugh almost seems forced as he runs a hand through his white-blonde hair, but he continues; “Cassie sent me a text letting me know she and her friends were done eating their lunch and I could come over if I wanted to, that’s all. I’ve no idea why I keep getting this grin and I’m not able to control it once it takes over my lips. It comes and goes as it pleases.” His surprise and dismay at the ‘stupid grin’ causes me to laugh out loud. It’s a rare occasion that I genuinely laugh, go Rim!

Slapping my hand on his shoulder I say, “all those times before when I told said you were in love, I was joking but seeing your face just now and hear you talking about that stupid grin, man, I can’t believe it! I was right! You really are in love with that chick, wild.”

He tries to argue with me as he shakes his head no, “whatever. You’ve no idea what you’re talking about dude. That’s just ridiculous!” Rim scoffs as he allows a scowl to settle on his face.

“Yeah, okay. You’re deluding yourself if you really don’t think you’re in love, but something tells me you know you are.” Feeling a buzzing coming from my front jeans pocket, I lay my palm against the fabric to make sure it’s my phone vibrating just as it begins to beep as well. “Hey, I’ve got to leave. A job just popped up that I’ve got to attend to, but I’ll swing by your place later tonight, alright?” With a nod of my head, I step into the shadow realm to get my assignment.

Having finished my um, ‘errand’, I found myself hanging out in the shadows of the night running through everything Rim and I had talked about earlier that day. A nagging feeling in the depths of my consciousness’ was screaming for me to analyze his mannerisms and movements when certain things were said and done around him. A thought was beginning to form in my mind. Stepping through the barrier between realms, I came to stand near Rim’s beach rental as I’ve finally realized why Rim kept dancing around the topic of my pure soul. Honestly, I’m surprised I hadn’t put two and two together sooner. He’s found the pure soul but doesn’t want to tell me he has because it’s the human he has fallen in love with!

Rim should know better than to double cross me though. He can find another human. I need that pure soul, dammit! With a growl I descend the stairs and begin to walk towards the boardwalk where ten minutes later I find him down on the beach near a pier hanging out with a small group of people. Jumping to the sand from off the edge of the boardwalk, my black combat boots barely make a sound as they hit the ground. I come to stand under the pier, enveloped in its darkness as I get a closer look at the small gathering before my eyes land on Rim. Two can play this game, I think to myself as I gaze in his direction, watching as my pure soul is smiling, laughing and kissing on him which causes me to glower in anger as he in turn looks at her lovingly. If he won’t bring her to me, I will make myself known to her and sway her to voluntarily give her life’s essence, her beautiful, untainted soul to me.

Since I know where she works, I decided to hang out at the boardwalk across from the club in hopes of catching up with her before she has to work tonight. Patiently I sat for about three hours or there before finally seeing her leave the building. Her apartment must be on the second floor of the place because I had never seen her enter only exit. Without hesitation, I follow her looking for the perfect moment to accidentally ‘bump’ into her. A sigh of relief leaves my lips as the perfect opportunity presents itself because Cassie walks into a corner café. I smirk in satisfaction as I enter behind her, falling in line with her. Moments later I brush against her and pretend to be surprised at running into her. “Oh, hey! Cassie, isn’t it?” I say as I offer the most charming grin possible.

“It’s O...” I watch Cassie’s eyes grow wide in surprise to see me standing behind her. “Right, yeah that’s me, Cassie. And you’re Rim’s friend, right? Samael?” She offers an awkward smile before asking, “um, what are you doing here?”

“Uh, what? Oh, I was in the mood for a coffee and thought I’d come in here. Kind of crazy running into you though. Is this a place you enjoy coming to? Is the coffee good?” I grin before turning my eyes up to the menu so that I can keep up my façade of having come into the place for a drink and to deter her from thinking I’m stalking her.

Giving me the benefit of the doubt, she answers me, “yes, quite good actually. I would recommend the dark roast, it’s my favorite.” Before I could ask anything further, she steps up to the counter, so she is able to place her order. After she placed and paid for her order she moved to the end of the counter for her drink, and I stepped up to the barista and placed my order.

Moving down to where Cassie is standing, I decide to invite her to sit with me. “Cassie, I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind joining me? I would like to get to know the person who has enraptured my friend so,” as I ask, she and I are handed our drinks and she turns to look at me, indecision flickering in her eyes. I chuckle and add, “I promise, I don’t bite,” offering my charming grin once more.

Finally, she concedes, “um, sure. Why not,” and with a roll of her eyes turns away from the exit in search of an empty table. Once we are comfortably seated, Cassie looks at me. “So, what would you like to know about me?”

I widened my grin into a full-fledged smile, admiring her abrasiveness. “Straight to the point kind of gal, I like that.” I can tell by the look that she gives that she isn’t impressed with my compliment, and I shrug my shoulders. “I’m curious... did Rim by chance tell you what he is?” For some unknown reason this question seems to anger Cassie.

“If you’re referring to him being a Halfling then yes. He told me all about his angel father and demon mother. Tell me Samael, why do you care if he told me? Hmm?”

Chuckling I ask instead of answering her question; “well, has he told you why he’s in Myrtle Beach? About the mission I have him doing for me?”

She seems to be getting annoyed with me for some reason and she sighs before saying, “if you have something you’d like to tell me, just do it! This beating around the bush crap is tiring me. No, even more than that, it’s irritating me!”

“Damn girl. I can see why Rim has fallen in love with you. But okay, I have a tale of my own to share.” I raise my hand to keep her from speaking. “Don’t worry, it will be short and to the point. One quick question before I begin though, did Rim tell you who or rather what I am?” Cassie slowly shakes her head no. “I didn’t think he had. I’m a Reaper, you know, as in The Grim Reaper. An Angel of Death.” I can’t stop the amusement from flickering in my eyes as I watch Cassie go into shock.

“Honestly, I wish I could say I’m surprised by this, but I’m not. I told Rim I got a bad vibe about you so...” She rolls her hand for me to continue my story.

“Okay so, I had sent Rim on a quest to find me a pure soul because I want to become mortal.”

“And” Cassie asks in frustration.

“He has found the pure soul I require...it is you, you’re the soul that I need. All you have to do is willingly give it to me for me to be able to transform,” I tell her quickly.

“Ha!” Cassie scoffs at me. “You’re mental dude. Why would I ever willingly give you, my soul?” She stands so fast from her chair that it gets knocked backwards, causing it to crash loudly to the floor. Picking up her drink, Cassie storms past me, quickly making her way to the exit. Sighing, I lift my drink and take a sip of the bitter liquid.

**

Out of nowhere I receive a text from Rim, and I can tell from the words that he used that he is very upset with me. I laugh half heartily because he doesn’t have any right whatsoever to be pissed at me. He wouldn’t even be in this state if I hadn’t given him this mission! Rim is demanding that I come out to the dunes which means he’s probably wanting to fight me because it is a spot where humans won’t easily be able to see us.

I stroll just past the dunes and can see him. Casually I walk up to him as though I’ve not a care in the world and say, “Rim, you beckoned? What do you wish to talk about that couldn’t have been via text message or phone call, hmm?” I can’t keep the laughter in my voice at bay which pisses him off all the more.

He growls before stalking even closer to me, getting in my face. “Why in the fuck! Cassie called me so upset. She ended up crying in my arms you asshole! There was no need for you to go and speak with her. If you had spoken with me first, I could have told you that I have found another way to achieve your mortality! You fucking dick!” In a blind rage Rim’s fist comes flying at my face and connects with my jaw, knocking my head back. I’m able to slam my fist into his side, right into his ribs and I hear a satisfying ‘oomph’ fall from his mouth at the contact. Rim manages to get by me and connects his knuckles with my forehead and bridge of my nose.

Seeing stars, I’m not able to swing right away so I snarl out, “I’m not waiting for any alternative solutions unless it is something that can happen immediately.” Gathering my bearings, I slam my knee into his stomach lifting him off the ground as it collides with his abdomen. However, as soon as his feet hit the sand, he throws his body against mine like a linebacker and my arms automatically wrap around his waist to try and halt his movements. The anger swirling within me causes my powers to awaken and I allow the pitch-black mist to flow off me. As my powers collide with Rim’s golden colored powers, electrical surges of lightning streak around us.

Neither of us has a clue that Cassie has found us until she suddenly shouts ’STOP!’ at the top of her lungs causing our heads to turn in her direction our movements frozen mid swing at the force she put into the word. “Please stop,” she sobs. “Rim please, I am willingly going to give my soul to Samael.” A satisfied smirk crosses my lips and I watch as Rim gather’s Cassie in his arms and I’m assuming he is going to try and change her mind about the decision she just made. Thankfully she is steadfast and determined in her decision.

I not so gently shove Rim aside placing my hands upon Cassie where his had been seconds before and then I place my forehead against hers and stare hard into her beautiful eyes. Moving my left hand from her face I lay it against the center of her back, right in between her shoulder blades and then I tip her backwards just enough so that her face is looking at the full moon of the night sky as her long black hair falls away from her body appearing to brush against the sand. I shift my right hand from her face to the middle of her chest and then closing my eyes, I begin to chant a spell that my witch friend had told me to use to extract souls.

The air around Cassie and I becomes electrified as the spell begins to work but then something goes wrong, and I watch as Cassie’s entire body begins to glow and the light from within her becomes increasingly brighter. I’m stunned by this turn of events because her essence should be growing dimmer, weaker as it’s being removed from her body, not stronger as is the case. I release my hold upon her as the light increases tenfold and I have to cover my face with my hands at the bright light coming pouring out within her.

Suddenly she falls to her knees and the light goes out but only for a few seconds before it is renewed, and light burst forth from her mouth and eyes shooting skyward and then from in between her shoulder blades more light emanates briefly before wings appear. Yes, actual wings! She is an angel, not the pure human soul I needed. “NOOO!” I shout out and then step into the shadow world. Un-fucking-believable! How did I nor Rim not recognize her as a messenger of God? What could’ve possibly happened for her angel’s light to be blocked, locked away so deeply that any other supernatural beings wouldn’t be able to detect what she is?