Soul Searcher Book 1

“No” Cassie shouts as she feels herself being yanked out of her dream state. Looking around her bedroom, she tries to figure out what would have caused her to wake up so abruptly. Realizing it was her cell phone ringing that had caused her to stir so, she reached across her bed to the nightstand where she had laid it down so it could charge throughout the night. Seeing Ginny’s name on the screen had Cassie becoming more alert. She swiped her finger along the screen to answer the call. However, by the third swipe, she knew Ginny would have already disconnected the call. With a sigh, Cassie hit redial on the missed call and listened as the other end just rang and rang. What the hell? She literally just called me. Why wouldn’t she answer my call back?

Growling in frustration, Cassie hit end on her call and placed her phone back on the stand, on top of the wireless charger once more. Reaching back out, Cassie clicked the side of her phone to light the screen back up because she wanted to see what time it was and then immediately regretted it. Four in the freaking morning! Why in the hell did she try to call me this freaking early? “Ugh…” she uttered the word as she let her body flop back onto the bedding. Closing her eyes, she allowed her mind to wander back to her dream of Rim. She had been so close to getting answers! Damn you, Ginny! Besides hoping to fall back asleep and find herself in dream land with him again, Cassie could only hope she would accidentally run into him in her waking hours.

**

Swinging my feet over the side of the bed, I rest my elbows on tops of my thighs as I sit and run over the conversation Cassie, and I had while sharing dream time. Grabbing my phone from the nightstand I am shocked to see that it’s only four in the morning. Knowing I’m not going to fall back asleep any time soon, I decide to get up and go make myself a pot of coffee. After pouring myself a cup, I decided to go out on the balcony connected to my bedroom. Having grabbed my phone on my way out, I placed my cup on the little black wrought iron and glass table and take a seat.

My phone, still held in my hand, gives me a start as it suddenly rings, vibrating in my palm. My heart rate speeds up as hope surges through me that Cassie has decided to call me before I realize she doesn’t have my phone number. Glancing at the screen, I grumble before sliding the lock and saying, “hey Samael. What’s good? A bit early to be calling someone, isn’t it?”

Samael laughs before responding to my question. “Hey buddy. Since when you sleep while the moon is out?” His comment makes me laugh in turn. Prior to having come on this mission for him, I hardly ever went to sleep until I saw the sun rising.

“Yeah well, my sleep pattern has been a bit off since I arrived here. Searching this town at different hours throughout the day and night takes a toll, even on a Halfling...”

I heard him chuckle for a moment. “Speaking of searching, have you made any progress? I spoke with Shayla, and she cast a Scrying spell to see if she could narrow the Pure Souls location down to a smaller area for you.”

“That’s great because I keep coming up empty handed. I feel like I’ve gone from one end of Myrtle Beach to the other with nothing to show for it.”

“Right, I feel ya. Luckily this narrowed location should help you a lot. The Pure soul lives near a spot called Broadway at the Beach.”

“No shit! Really? That’s wild. The house I rented is maybe a block away from that area. This is amazing. Now at least, I don’t have to wander the entirety of Myrtle Beach. Ask your witch friend if she has any amulets or crystals that can help me tell when I’m near this soul of yours.” Why I hadn’t thought to ask that sooner is beyond me.

“Sure, let me get a hold of Shayla and I’ll give you a call later today and let you know what she tells me. Well, I will let you go. Talk to you later Rim.”

“Night, Sam.” Ending the phone call, I sit my cell on the table, pick up my mug of coffee and take a drink. Placing it back on the table as well, I let out a sigh and watch as the sun begins to make its presence known to the dawning new day.

***

Cassie woke up shocked that she had been able to fall back to sleep. Lighting up the screen on her phone and she was even more shocked to find out how late it was. I don’t know the last time I slept until 11a.m. she thought as she rolled out of bed. Throwing on a tank-top, shorts and locating her favorite pair of flip-flops, on a whim she decided to go to the Social Kafe Shope and get a coffee. I need a serious pick-me-up today and what better than a shot of espresso to do the job.

The bell tinkled as she entered the shop and spotted her favorite barista. “You want your usual, Cass,” the girl asked as she grabbed an extra-large coffee cup getting ready to make Cassie’s drink.

“Yes, please but can you put an extra shot of espresso in it? I need some serious caffeine today!” As the barista nodded, Cassie walked up to the register so that she could pay for her drink. Waiting patiently for the girl to bring her drink to the counter, she began absentmindedly to drum her fingertips on the counter. Suddenly she doubled over from the pain that flashed across her mind and behind her eyes. Like a streak of lightning, searing, white-hot light, and blindingly excruciatingly she cried out in agony.

In the far distance of her mind, she heard the bells chime overhead as someone came into the coffee shop. Directly in front of her, she could just make out the barista asking if she was okay. Suddenly Cassie felt a hand on her should and as she stood upright to see who had touched her, she was shocked to see Rim mere inches from her face. Looking at the barista who still wore an expression of concern on her own face, Cassie told the girl she was fine before quickly turning her attention back to Rim. “What are you doing here,” the sound of surprise evident in her voice.

I have no idea why I have the sudden urge to get another of those iced mocha coffee things (aside from the fact that they taste good), my feet lead me to the coffee shop just down the street from my house.

The bells rattles as I pull the door open and enter. Thinking about my drink, it takes me a second to realize who is at the counter. My heart begins to pound in my chest almost to the point of painful. Gazing at her though, I notice that she is slightly bent over with her hands gripping the sides of her head. Even though she is in pain, she still manages to ask why I’m here. Shaking my head I laugh, well more of a chuckle, “I wanted to get an iced coffee. Are you okay? You look like you were in pain?” I say ‘were’ because she doesn’t appear to be in pain any longer.

“Oh, yeah, I’m fine. I get sharp flashes of pain in my head sometimes due to a car accident I was in a couple years ago though I had gone without experiencing this sensation for nearly two years, the pain has recently started to bother me again.”

“Wow,” I say stunned. “Do you need to sit down for a moment? I’ll sit with you if you like.”

“No, really, I’m okay. However, I would love to go for a walk if you’re not busy right now?” Her beautiful sapphire blue eyes look into mine with hope. Grinning, I nod an okay. Turning to the cashier, I ask for an iced mocha, pay for it and then Cassie and I move to the area where they sit the readied drinks.

Two minutes later I have my drink in hand and Cassie and I walk out into the afternoon sunshine. We wandered along the boardwalk for a few minutes before I mustered up the courage to ask, “you mentioned having been in a car accident. Do you mind if I ask what happened?” I turned my head to look at her, wanting to make sure asking the question wasn’t bothering her.

Cassie shrugs her shoulders, “honestly, I don’t remember anything of what happened. I woke up to find myself in a hospital bed hooked up to machines, tubes, and I.V.’s. I didn’t even know I had been in an accident until the medical staff tried to question me and told me I had been in one. Apparently, it was a bad one too because when I woke up, I had been in a coma for two weeks and they weren’t even sure if I would ever wake up again. On top of that, I also suffer from amnesia and to this day I still don’t remember anything from my life before finding myself in the hospital.”

As Cassie spoke, we had made our way to the railing of a portion of the boardwalk that allowed us to lean against it and gaze out at the ocean. “Wow. That’s wild. Does it feel weird not being able to remember things from your childhood? What about family, your parents must be worried out of their minds about you...”

She offers a shrug of her shoulders as she stares out at the horizon. The summer breeze tugs at her long strands of hair as she turns her eyes towards me. A bit of hair dances across her face and unconsciously I use my left hand to brush it away from her eyes, tucking it behind her right ear. My apology is barely audible, but I hear her whisper “it’s okay. Thank you,” as she smiles shyly, looking into my eyes. Realizing she has been staring at me (as I am staring at her), She averts her eyes back to the blue water, watching as the waves crash onto the shoreline. “Honestly, I’ve never had anyone say I look like a missing girl. And since I can’t remember anything about my past, there isn’t anything weird to feel about or anyone to miss, ya know?”

I nod in understanding, not sure what words of wisdom I could offer and then I turn my eyes to the ocean as she has and watch as the water gently rolls back and forth off the sand. Biting my lip, I look at Cassie once more as I try to build up my courage and then throwing caution to the wind I ask her, “would you like to go out with me some time, like on a date? I would really like to get to know you better and I don’t want to leave you, but I do have an errand I have to attend to...”

Her smile is wide, I can tell before she turns her face back to look at me that it is so. “I think I would like that. Do you have a cell phone?” As she asks this, she puts her hand out towards me, palm up expectantly. I arch an eyebrow; “give me your phone so I can put my number in it and then you can text me for that date.” Oh, duh! I grin at her and place the phone in her hand. She glides her finger across the screen and then puts her number in the contact section and hands it back to me. “I saved the number as Cass.”

“Okay, cool,” I say, sounding like a complete dork. “I will text you later today. It was nice running into you, Cassie.” The dumb grin won’t leave my lips, but I don’t feel like a complete jackass about it since I see the same dumb grin on her lips as well.