Soul Searcher Book 1

Growling out my frustration, I run a hand through my hair tousling it I’m sure, and... I don’t really care. I can’t shake the image of that chick; I mean Cassie from my mind. It’s as though she has been permanently etched into my brain. The only thing I can think of as to why she has imprinted herself in my thoughts like she has is because she is a witch. Why else would she be able to invade my head? She must have put a spell of some kind on me. But now I want to know the ‘why’. Why would she want to do this to me? I have never met nor seen this girl before my dream last night.

Throwing the black silky comforter from off my body, I crawl out of the bed. Walking over to my duffle bag, I pull out a clean pair of black shredded and torn jeans and pull them over my legs, buttoning them at the waist where they settle loosely against my hips. Since I am the only being in the house, I don’t bother putting a tee shirt on, and so bare chested, I wander out into the kitchen in search of coffee products.

Sitting on one of the stools that are placed strategically around the island that is stationed in the center of the steel-grey colored kitchen, I inhale the steam that is flowing upward from my freshly made cup of black coffee. I close my eyes for just a second but that is all it takes for Cassie to spring into my minds’ eye. Her shimmering blue eyes sparkling in the same way that the sun sparkles when bouncing off the top of a rippling lake. I hate that I want to go back to sleep on the off chance that she could pop back into my dreams again.

Taking a very large gulp of the still scalding hot liquid, I slam the mug down on the marbled countertop and then clench my jaw tight because I didn’t mean to do it so hard. Hesitantly, I pick the mug back up and look over it quickly just to make sure I hadn’t caused any damage to it. Letting out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding; I push myself up from the stool after seeing that the cup was still intact and not cracked.

Placing the mug ever so carefully into the kitchen sink, I go back into the bedroom and rummage through my clothing for a tee-shirt and then grab a hoodie. Pulling it over my head, I tug it down and push the hood off of my hair. I’m sure people look at me strangely as I wander around in the Carolina heat, but in all honesty, I never get hot, nor do I produce body heat even layered in clothing such as I am.

Successfully having pushed thoughts of Cassie deep down into my mind, I set forth on my task of finding the ‘Pure Soul’. Instead of perusing the Boardwalk this time, I headed in the opposite direction, making my way down the beach to wander along the ocean’s water all the while questioning Samael as to why he thinks I will be able to find this mystical human.

***

Having checked the weather app repeatedly before finally deciding to go, Cassie grabbed her beach towel, an umbrella, and her black waterproof backpack that had a few water bottles, her tablet and her phone inside it and slipped it over her right shoulder. Shoving her feet into her favorite pair of flip-flops, she scooped her keys up from off the kitchen counter and walked out of her apartment. Taking a deep breath of the fresh ocean air, Cassie released it slowly feeling her body relax as she did so. With a smile on her face, she hopped off the last step that led up to her apartment and quickly made her way down to her favorite spot on the beach.

Once she had her beach towel laid out, and her umbrella set strategically in the sand, she plopped down and rummaged through the backpack, pulling out her cell phone. Scrolling through her music stations, she picked ‘New Rock’ and hit play. Placing the phone next to her on the towel, she then reached in and pulled her tablet out so that she could finish reading a book she had started a few days back. An avid reader of the paranormal romance for young adults, Cassie had found herself drawn to the supernatural sub-genera of late. She couldn’t seem to get enough of love stories involving humans and vampires or humans and werewolves.

Craving the love that the characters got to experience in her novels, Cassie sighed longingly and then put her tablet back into her backpack. Stupid love nonsense! I think it’s time for a swim. Hopping to her feet, she shimmied out of her clothes to reveal a bright blue bikini (the only time anyone would ever catch her in something other than the color black), which showed off her slim picturesque frame quite well. Dashing to the water’s edge, she let the waves crash over her feet and then walked straight into the ocean, allowing the pull of the waves to take her outward, away from the glittering, shining sand.

Unsure as to how long she had been floating out on the water, Cassie decided to head back to shore. Running back up to her towel, she grabbed some cash and made her way over to a tiki-bar that was a few feet away from where she had been resting on the beach. For some odd reason she found herself craving a margarita and even though she was aware that she had to work in a few hours, she didn’t think one margarita would cause any harm....

**

Currently I feel like I have been walking in circles for hours. I have never felt that I was truly doing something so pointless in my life until this moment. I really wanted to give Samael a call and tell him as much, but I kept my phone in my pocket and continued my wandering for another half hour before spotting a free-standing bar. Making an executive decision, I make my way over to the bar which was made entirely out of bamboo and driftwood and took a seat upon one of the three white stools that line the outer portion of the bar.

“Hey Jimmy, can you make me one of those amazing margaritas of yours,” I hear a voice say to the bartender. A shiver courses through my body, the voice, I recognize it somehow. Mind you I don’t know any humans in this town, nor in this state. Curiosity getting the better of me, I glance to my right, my body stiffens in shock. It’s that girl!

“Cass! How you been? It’s been a while since you’ve come out here. Thought you left town or something.” Jimmy grins as he pushes a button, and the blender spins loudly as the ice gets crushed for the margarita. Discretely I watch the interaction between the guy and Cassie. I can tell by the way she responds to the bartender that she has no idea he is flirting with her. While they continue to chat with one another I allow my eyes to roam over her body and skies above; she is absolutely beautiful!

Sucking in a breath of air, I find myself holding it as I take every last ounce of her in. From her mane of soft black shining hair to her kissed by the sun, tan which happens to enhance the blue color of her eyes ten-fold. Did I mention her bikini? It shows off her toned stomach which I would love to caress with my fingertips, and my lips. The thoughts rolling through my head of what I would like to do with her are shocking (even to myself), trying to shake these thoughts from my mind, I finally release the air I had trapped within me.

Once I am able to think straight, I realize that Jimmy hasn’t paid me any attention about getting me a drink. The anger I feel rising in me though isn’t for the fact of being ignored, no. It is that he is fawning all over her. I want to stand and shout, ’she’s mine! Stop looking at her, stop trying to flirt with her.’ and I am appalled at myself for having such an urge. She’s a freaking human, dammit!

Slamming my fist on the countertop, I get up from the stool and march off in the opposite direction from where she is sitting. As I stomp through the sand, I swear I hear her ask the Jimmy dude; “do you know that guy? No, I feel like I know him, but I’ve never seen him before, and why in the hell is he wearing a hoodie in this heat?” Hearing them laugh behind me nearly sets me off and I fight myself to not turn around and go back to them and give them both a piece of my mind.