Soul Searcher Book 1

Cassie had gone to sleep disappointed because Rim hadn’t come over like she thought he would. She convinced herself that he had gotten busy and just lost track of time. She wasn’t totally upset as she thought they would end up meeting in a dream state but when that didn’t happen, she found herself waking up depressed about it. Reaching for her cell phone Cassie scooped it up from the nightstand deciding she would send him a text since she hadn’t spoken to him for nearly eight hours.

Hey Rim, I missed you last night. How come you didn’t come over 🙁I’m sad because I didn’t even share dreams with you. Anyway, message me back. Love you. Cassie

After hitting send, Cassie pushed herself out of her bed. Just as she started to walk to the bathroom, the dawning realization that it was Saturday popped into her head and she would be meeting up with the news reporter Tanya in an hour’s time. This caused a skip in her step as she walked into the bathroom before bending over the tub, turning the faucet on so that the water could warm up for her shower.

Once showered and dressed for the day, Cassie leaves the comforts of her apartment and begins her walk towards the coffee shop where Tanya had agreed to meet her. Pulling the door open, she walked in, allowing her gaze to roam the room as she did so. Noting that no one seemed to be anxiously awaiting her arrival, Cassie went up and placed her drink order.

“Cassie!” one of the baristas shouted out letting her know her drink was ready a few minutes later, she lifted the drink from off the counter and turning away from it looked around until her eyes fell upon a small unoccupied table near the front end of the café by a large bay window. Sitting both her drink and her phone on the table, Cassie sat down in one of the chairs facing the window so that she could watch people walk by while she waited. Taking a sip of her drink, she placed it back on the table and then picked up her phone wanting to take a look at her emails to make sure there were no unread messages from Tanya in her inbox.

A sigh of relief passed through her lips as she saw there were no unread messages to be looked at. Just as she was placing her phone back on the table, Cassie felt it buzz in her hand, the vibration tickling her palm. Quickly she unlocked the screen and saw that a text from Rim had just come through. Apologies my love. I found myself in a wicked argument with Sam last night. After we parted ways, I was not a pleasant person to be around. It was for the best that I didn’t come over last night. You would not like me if I had. As for not seeing you in dream state, I must have had some type of mental block in place for I didn’t dream of anything. Would you allow me to make up for deserting you last night? We could find something fun to do once you get off work.

Of course, just as Cassie clicked a button so she could reply to his question, Tanya walked in and up to her and so she laid her phone down as she stood up to introduce herself. “Cassie?” Tanya asked as she walked up to her. “Hi, I’m Tanya. I apologize for my lateness,” she adds quickly.

“Oh, gosh. That’s okay,” Cassie says shaking Tanya’s hand. “I am just happy you were willing to meet up with me.” Releasing Tanya’s hand, Cassie shifted her body, inviting Tanya to sit with her. Nodding her head in acceptance, she told Cassie she would be right back and dashed over to the counter to place a drink order for herself.

**

I’ve never had such an argument as I did with Samael the previous night. It was so bad I felt the need to isolate myself from Cassie and the world for fear of hurting someone or saying something that would cause Cassie pain. I recall the conversation that Samael and I had... Him popping in was an unexpected visit and I can tell by the look in his eyes that he had heard a portion of the conversation that had passed between me and my father

Samael stares at me in shock. “Are you serious? You have found my pure soul but won’t tell me who it is or where to find them. Why? I do not want to be immortal any longer. How do you not understand this?” I can see he is barely maintaining the anger that has begun to boil inside him, it flickers within his pitch-black eyes like flames licking at the night sky.

Instead of answering him, I turn the tables with questions of my own. “Why do you need a “pure soul”, can’t your witch turn you mortal? I’m sure she can conjure up something from the Dark-Book of hers...” I really don’t mean to sound so snarky towards him, but I cannot allow him to take Cassie’s soul from me. Not when I’ve just found the missing piece of my heart and now for once in my life feel truly alive! I will protect her at all costs. Not having ever felt at home in the heavens or in the realm of hell, when I am with her, I feel like I am home. I have finally found my place in the world, and it is to be by Cassie’s side from here through eternity! With a desperateness in my voice, I told him there had to be an alternative, that in fact I had just learned of another way for him. However, he is in no mood to listen to me any longer. Samael turns on his heels and heads to the entryway. From there I watch him storm out of the house, disappearing into the darkness of night. My mind is now a whirlwind of thoughts as I run through possible scenarios of how I can keep her safe and away from Samael’s grasp.

Shaking myself out of the memory I picked up my phone and sent Cassie a text asking if she’d like to hang out later tonight. Truth be told, I really miss not being near her. I feel like the last eight hours without her by my side is tearing up my soul, killing me in the process. The urge to be with her is unbearable, even if I can only stand by her and hold her hand, I am willing do it just so I can feel a minute portion of her essence. I know being able to do this will calm the ache that is trying to drown me.

***

Cassie listened intently as Tanya spoke, intrigued by the tale she shared. “There was an anomaly that occurred and from what witnesses reported, there had been a feeling of intense magic and power in one particular patient’s room. People said it was as if the hands of God had reached into that room and then the most magnificent white light began to grow and then what felt like an explosion shook the west wing of the hospital causing people to be flung about and little fires began to pop up. The staff worked as quickly as they could to get patients moved to safety. Two of the strangest things occurred thereafter, the first being that the patient in that room vanished. No one was able to find the person and they had people searching everywhere. The second strange thing is that to this day, no one has ever figured out what caused the explosion. And suddenly we, those who had been reporting about the incident, were no longer allowed to press for more information. It was as if the whole thing had never happened even though the proof of it having happened is still standing, just abandoned.”

“Wow, that’s insane. Tell me though, do you know if they were ever able to find that missing person? I mean, it’s been two years, right?” Cassie stared at Tanya in shock as she watched her shake her head no, causing her reddish-brown hair to fall about her shoulders as she did. “Truly crazy, how can some just up and disappear like that?”

Tanya shrugged her shoulders in response before glancing at her phone and saying, “shoot. I’ve got to leave; I’ve got a deadline on a piece I’ve been working on.” Tanya stands and looks at Cassie. “It is a pleasure to have met you. I hope you find whatever answers you’re looking for my dear.” She then places a hand on Cassie’s shoulder, patting it a couple of times and then abruptly turns and walks out of the café

$

After Samael storms out of the house, he melts into the night, allowing himself to become part of the darkness. He needed to think, and the shadows of the night allotted him the solitude he required to be able to focus on the nagging thoughts swirling in his head. There’s something Rim isn’t telling me. He paced in between the realm of earth and the afterlife racking his brain as he tried to sort out Rim’s words, his mannerisms when they talked. Samael recalled the way Rim walked, images of Rim’s facial expressions flashed across his mind and his reactions as Samael would say certain words. An idea was beginning to form in his head.

Hours later Samael stepped through the barrier between realms and came to stand near Rim’s rental home. He finally realized why Rim wouldn’t tell him where to find the Pure soul. Why I didn’t put two and two together sooner is beyond me! It’s that chick he told me about days ago. The human he has fallen in love with. Rim should know better than to double cross me though. He can find himself another human. I need that soul, dammit! With a growl, Samael descended the stairs and began to walk towards the boardwalk. He walked for about ten minutes before locating Rim down on the beach near the pier hanging out with a small group of people.

Jumping to the sand from off the edge of the boardwalk, Samael barely made a sound as his black combat boots hit the ground. Walking under the pier to get a closer look, he stood in the darkness as he gazed at the people gathered around a small bonfire before his eyes landed on Rim. Two can play this game, Samael thought as he stood in the shadows watching his pure soul smiling, laughing and kissing on Rim. He felt annoyed as he saw Rim looking lovingly into her eyes causing Samael to glower as he stood shrouded in the darkness. If he won’t bring her to me, I will make myself known to her and sway her to voluntarily give me her life’s essence, her beautiful, untainted soul.