Sour Souls The Morningstar Series Book 6
Sour Souls Chapter 38

My head is throbbing.

What the hell happened?

We were helping to get the kids out, but then..

We were knocked out. Honi told me.

Knocked out?

That's right. Someone hit me over the head. I passed out.

Finally, the realization set in. I shot up as my eyes popped open. I'm in a dark shabby room. The floor is concrete, and I can see only one door. The only things in this room are the bed I'm on, and a chair sitting next to the bed. My head is still throbbing painfully. I stood up to replace myself bare foot. I looked down at my body. Thankfully I still have my clothes on.

There are no windows in this room. I tried to pull on the door, but it's locked. So, I started pounding on the door.

"Hey! You fucking asshat! You kidnapped me! Let me out of here right now!" I shouted as I pounded.

I stopped after a moment. Then I waited. Giving the person time to show themselves. No one ever came. So, I continued to pound, and scream.

"Someone is going to come in here at some point! I will not stop until I'm let out of this damn room! You got another thing coming if you think you can wear me out! F*****g bastards!" I shouted as I pounded. Still not working. Well, it's a good thing that I just got some rest. Let the games begin.

************

Four hours later, and I gave up. My throat hurts. I need a drink.

No one has answered, came by, said anything. Nothing. I'm starting to wonder if anyone is even outside of that door.

I tried to break it down. The thing is shabby as all hell. I should have been able to kick it down, but I can't. Unbelievable.

I sat back on the bed, and put my face in my hands. Ares is going to kill me when he replaces me. He gave me the chance to give me space on this mission, and I royally f****d it up. I bet he's fuming right now. That's okay though. Any second now he's going to bust down that door, and save me. All I have to do.. is a lot of groveling after.

*********

A full 24 hours has passed. I should know. I'm good at keeping track of time in places like this.

I tried pounding on the door more. Shouting more. When that didn't work, I took out my frustration on this room. I flipped the bed, tore the mattress, and threw the chair at the wall breaking it.

When none of that worked, I slumped to the ground. I didn't cry. I refuse to. I won't let them break me. If Frederick couldn't do it, these fuckers surely won't.

Still, I can't believe I was only free for such a short time. Less than a month. All to end up in another dungeon. It's cold, dark, and lonely here. Just like before.

Ares still hasn't found me obviously. I bet he's just freaking the fuck out. I swear I can feel his anxiety deep inside of my chest. I wish that I could tell him I'm okay. I'm okay Ares.

******************

I am no longer doing okay. It's been three days. Three whole days without my mate. I'm starting to lose myself to the sadness deep in my chest. How come I haven't felt any distance pains?

No one has came to see me still. No water. No food. No bathroom to use! It's worse then the damn dungeon. At least I had a bucket there.

I think I've been having panic attacks. At least, that's what Honi says. Sometimes it's like I can't breathe. Like my throat is closing up.

Honi helped me through all of those times.

I still refuse to show weakness. I have not cried, and I will not either. I haven't begged to be let out either. I've only demaned to be let go. My mate would be proud of me.

My mate..

Why hasn't Ares found me yet? Is he doing okay without me? Is he worried? Is he sleeping? Eating? Does he feel the pains? Does my mate even care? Did he give up on me? Is Ares going to leave me all alone? Honi whimpered in my head as I buried my head in my knees.

I don't think I could survive it if Ares left me alone. He promised I would never be alone again. Did he lie then? Or was it just easier to give up looking for me? Ares did say he never wanted to meet his mate.. Don't think like that. Our mate loves us. Honi scolded me.

Does he? I asked.

Yes. Honi stated confidently.

Then why isn't he here? I asked.

Honi whined. He must not be able to replace us. She said.

I didn't respond to her.

Honestly, I hope it's that. Because I love him, and I miss him so much. I miss his scent, his warmth. I miss the few smiles I would catch on his face. I even miss the way he would say my name angrily. I miss touching him, and hearing his voice. "Damnit, where are you?" I whispered to myself.

Just then, for the very first time in three days, the door opened. I looked up, and squinted at the harsh light. A figure is standing in the doorway.

It's a man. He's tall, not as tall as Ares though. He's lanky, not nearly as much muscle as my mate. He has on a pair of black jeans, black hoodie, and black boots.

I shot to my feet.

"It was you. You're the one that hit me." I accused.

The man stepped into the room, and I got a good look at his face. He has light brown hair tied in a bun at the back of his head. His eyes are a bright blue. There is stuble along his jaw.

"I am very sorry about that, but I didn't think you would come willingly." He said.

His voice is deep. Not like Ares, but close. That makes me mad.

"And keeping me in here for three days? Was that just an oppsie on your part?" I asked snidely.

The man chuckled at me.

"I apologize for that as well. I had to wait until you were weaker. So you didn't kill me." He said. "No offense, but you are mated to a Morningstar, I wasn't sure if you would kill me right away or not." He said. I just glared at him.

"My name is Jace. It's nice to meet you Emilia. We've been waiting for you for a very long time." He said.

Waiting for me? Why? And what does that even mean?

"We?" I asked.

Jace smiled brightly at me. I did not return it.

"Would you like to come out of this room, and meet the others? It's dinner time for us." He held his hand out for me.

I looked down at Jace's hand, then back up to him.

"I am not taking your hand." I stated.

Jace closed his palm, and took his hand back. He turned for the door. I watched him walk to it, and open it up. Then he turned back to look at me.

"You coming?" He asked.

I didn't reply, but I did follow after him.

Jace lead me around a corner, and up some stairs. It was completely dark until Jace opened another door. I must have been in a basement, because now we are in a carpeted hallway.

The hallway is just as shabby as the room I was in. There are old paintings hung on the walls. They look to be in just as bad of shape as the rest of this house.

"There are seven of us in total. Not a whole lot, but we get by. This is the house we live in. I will not tell you where it is located, but I will tell you that it's untrackable. Which is why your mate hasn't found you yet." Jace said.

A place powerful enough that a Morningstar can't track? Sounds fishy to me.

We won't trust them. Honi said.

Agreed.

"The others are excited to meet you." Jace said.

"Who are you?" I asked.

Jace paused, and turned to look at me. He looked me up and down making me scowl at him. Dude needs to keep his eyes to himself.

"I told you. I'm Jace." He said.

I rolled my eyes.

"No shit. I want to know what you are." I said.

Jace chuckled. "You're cute when you're mad." He said.

I blushed. I wasn't expecting him to say that. Is he.. flirting with me?

Jace turned back around, and started walking down the hall. I continued to follow after him. I crossed my arms over my chest. This is all really weird. I don't get a threatening vibe from Jace at all. Honestly, he seems almost familiar, and that kind of freaks me out. "You aren't going to tell me what you are, are you?" I asked.

"I think that you should meet the others first." Jace said.

I kept my mouth shut after that. Jace continued to lead me through the house. This place is huge. Must be some kind of run down mansion or something.

I looked for any exit that I could replace. It's strange, all of the windows look dark outside. Not like it's nighttime either. It's just.. black. Completely. And I haven't seen one door. Maybe I can break a window, and sneak out anyways.

"If you are looking for an exit, you won't replace one." Jace said.

I looked up at him, but he's looking forward.

"This place is spelled. You can't get out." He said.

I frowned.

"Why are you keeping me here? I don't even know you." I asked.

"All in time." Jace replied.

I wanted to question him more, but then he stopped at a set of double doors. Jace turned to me, and smiled. I only scowled at him in return. To which Jace laughed.

"Ready?" He asked.

"No." I stated.

Jace chuckled, and then flung the doors open. Inside is a large dinning room. Almost the size of the one at the Morningstar mansion. It looks just as shabby as the rest of the house. Only the table looks newer. There is also tons of food laid out across the table. It's making my mouth water.

"I don't know why you're going all out Anna, she isn't going to eat anyways." Said a girl in the corner of the room.

This girl has long black hair, pale skin, and black eyes. She looks like she could possibly be Chinese, but I am not sure honestly. Another girl came from somewhere else in the room. She put another dish of food on the table. This girl is the complete opposite of the first. Pale blonde hair, tanned skin, and bright blue eyes.

"I'm just nervous. I want her to like us. Besides, why wouldn't she eat? She has to be starving." The Anna girl said.

The first girl rolled her eyes.

"We kidnapped her, and kept her locked up for three days. I don't see the point in trying to make a good impression now." She said.

"That's enough Mei. Let Anna try to make the girl comfortable." Said another man that I didn't notice until now.

He has dark skin, like Talia. His eyes are black as well, and he has no hair on his head. Although, even while sitting down I can tell that he is a very tall man.

It's like none of them have noticed Jace and I standing here.

"Well, if you're talking about me, you might as well stop. I'm not eating anything you weridos make." I stated snarkily.

All eyes in the room turned to me. I glared at each person. Even the other three that haven't spoken yet. These people have all lost their minds.

"Well, well, well, you finally went and got her out of that dungeon." Said another man.

Jace ignored his comment.

"Everyone, this is Emilia. Emilia, this is Anna, Mei, Darian, Jack, Luca, and Uma." Jace introduced.

I paid attention to each of them as Jace listed them off. Jack looks exactly like Anna with pale blonde hair, tanned skin, and bright blue eyes. They must be twins. Luca has tanned skin as well, but in a different way. He has dark brown hair, and light brown eyes. Uma has very dark skin. Not as dark as Darian, I think she's Indian, if I had to guess. Her hair is impossibly long, and wavey. Uma's eyes are hazel like mine.

Honestly, all of them seem nice enough. The only ones that didn't smile at me were Uma and Luca. I'm just not sure what's going on.

We have to wait for an exit. Honi said.

Yes. And get to Ares immediately. I said.

"Come, have a seat. I made tons of food." Anna said as she ushered me to the table.

I sat in the chair that Anna offered me, but I didn't eat. Not even when Anna piled up my plate for me. The rest of the people also joined us at the table. Jace sat next to me, and even pulled his chair closer to me.

"You come any closer, and I will stab you with my fork." I told him.

Jace held his hands up in surrender.

"So, Emilia, we have been waiting so long for you." Darian said.

"So I've heard. Makes no sense." I said.

Darian chuckled.

"I want to know what you all want from me. Who are you? Why am I here? Why can't I leave?" I asked.

"No one said you couldn't leave." Luca stated.

I turned to Jace.

"Jace just meant that you can't leave yet." Anna said.

"Why not?" I asked.

"We have a lot to talk with you about." She replied.

"Then talk." I ordered.

Jace chuckled next to me.

"Perhaps we should start with how we found you." Darian said.

I turned my head to him expectantly.

"We thought you have been dead for years Emilia. We got word that you were still alive about a month ago. When you were released from that pack. We have been keeping an eye on you since." He told me. "Why?" I asked.

"Because, you are special." Jace said.

Is this about that other side of me?

"We apologize about kidnapping you, and keeping you locked away." Anna said.

"We didn't think you would leave your mate willingly." Uma added.

"You're right. I wouldn't of." I stated.

Jace tensed next to me. The hell is his problem?

"We brought you here, because this is where you belong." Jack said.

"No, I belong with my mate." I stated.

"That's just the Werewolf side of you." Jack said.

I raised a brow at them.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I asked.

"You have two sides to you Emilia." Darian said. "The Werewolf side is the one that wants your mate. Not all of you." He said.

I frowned. That can't be true. I do want Ares. I love him.

Honi growled. I don't like what they are saying. She said.

Me neither. I said.

"The other side of you is different though. It doesn't have a mate." Darian said.

"What would you know about the other side of me?" I asked.

How do they even know about that? It's not like I've kept it a big secret. I was locked away for so long.. After I got out though.. Ares has been searching for information about me. How is it that Ares can't replace any information about me, but these people seem to know a lot about that other side?

Honi is on edge, right at the surface. She's just waiting for them to say something else she doesn't like. I've never felt Honi be so aggressive.

"Because we are like you." Jace said from beside me.

I whipped my head to look at him.

"Like me?" I asked.

Jace nodded with a smile on his face.

"We are all bringers of death." He said as he gestured to everyone.

I looked around at all of them. No. No way. How could that be..?

"We are called Banchee's." Mei stated.

Banchee's?

"We feel death, can use deaths energy as our own power." Luca told me.

I opened my mouth to say something, but closed it again. What am I supposed to say? Is this real?

They might be lying. Honi said.

"We can prove it to you." Jace said.

"Really?" I asked as I turned to him.

Jace put his palm to me. After a moment, I reluctantly placed my palm against his. Our hands glowed white, and I felt the power rush through me. For the first time the flame inside of me moved. "Make it do what you want." Jace said softly.

I closed my eyes, and focused on the flame. It flickered, shot up, went down, did everything that I wanted it to. I can't believe it.

"Holy shit." I muttered as I opened my eyes.

He.. helped you control it. Honi said.

I know. I replied.

I don't like it. Honi said.

I ignored her.

"How did you do that?" I asked.

Jace chuckled at me.

"With practice." He said.

"We can share power." Mei said.

"We can help you learn control." Darian said.

I took a moment to look at all of them.

"I don't understand. Why are you wanting to help me? Why have you been looking so long for me?" I asked.

"You are the most powerful Banchee Emilia." Darian said. "Our kind has suffered through the years. We are all that's left of our species." He said. They.. We.. are all that's left?

"That was originally why we had been looking for you. After we found out that you're a Hybrid.. Well, we knew we had to get you here." Darian said.

"To teach me control?" I asked.

Darian nodded. "That, and because you belong here. With others of your kind." He said.

Others of my kind. But I am a Hybrid. That makes them only half my kind.

"So, you want to help me learn control because I'm a powerful Banchee." I summed up.

"No." Darian said. "You are the most powerful Banchee Emilia." He said.

Something is off. Honi said.

I furrowed my brow at him.

I agree.

"What happened to our people? Why are there only eight of us now?" I asked.

Darian sighed. "Long ago, our people were killed out. By Reapers. The ones that work for the Devil's son. They were jealous of our people's power. Our entire race was wiped out. Expect for a handful. That was centuries ago. Now, we are lucky to have what we have." He said. He's hiding something. Honi said.

I know. I replied.

"And I am extra special because I'm part wolf. What about my mate? Why can't I be with him?" I asked.

"The Morningstar's are the ones that slaughtered our people." Mei said angrily.

"Why would you want to stick with them?" Luca asked disgusted.

"He's my mate." I stated just as angrily.

Jace placed his palm on top of my knee. I looked over at him, and he leaned in slightly.

"Banchee's don't have mates. We pick them. Maybe that other side of you.. will let you pick someone else." He said as his hand moved up my leg.

I frowned at him. Honi is growling like crazy in my head. She's absolutely furious. I don't blame her. They are pretty much degrading my wolf, and my mate bond.

What are you doing? Push him away. Honi said.

We need more information from these people. It's obvious that they don't plan to let me go. If Ares really can't replace us here.. I need to play my cards right. I told her.

"And if that isn't what I want?" I asked.

"After we teach you how to control your power, you will." Jack said.

I looked at all of them. I'm not sure what they really want from me, but I have a feeling it isn't just to teach me control. I won't survive much longer without Ares. That is something they don't understand.

"Can I leave, and come back when I am ready?" I asked.

"No Emilia, we want you to stay here. With us." Darian said.

"I'm being held against my will then." I stated.

Darian shook his head.

"It isn't that bad, is it? We understand you. More than anyone else. Just give us a chance." He said.

I thought about it for a moment.

"Okay. You have a point. I've always wanted to know about this side of myself. But.. I'm already attached to my mate." I said.

"It will fade, with time." Jace said.

I frowned at him.

"Look, I've been watching the two of you. It doesn't seem like your mate likes you very much. He's kind of an ass." Jace said.

Honi growled loudly.

"Maybe this space will be better for you than you think." He said.

I gave him one nod.

I'm not sure what these people really want from me, but.. Jace has a point. Does Ares even like me? Is the bond the only thing holding us together? "Now, eat!" Darian said happily.

I picked up my fork. Now there is doubt in my head. I'm already crumbling. Maybe this is why Ares hasn't found me yet? Because he doesn't really want me..

Ares, where are you?