Sour Souls The Morningstar Series Book 6
Sour Souls Chapter 42

I'm dying.

Literally

this time.

It f*****g sucks.

I need my mate. Where is she? Why can't I replace her?

We've been doing everything over the last week to replace her. Bexley and Nix have no idea how to replace this house all of the Banchee's live in. Uncle Soren is no help when it comes to that. Yes, Uncle Soren is still here.

At first he was being held here by Bexley. Which had us all a bit freaked out. I don't think any of us knew that Bexley was that strong. Well, some of them apparently knew, but most of us did not.

How is that little brat that powerful, and none of us knew? How does Grandpa know? I wonder if this has something to do with Bexley and Nix's secret mission that lead them to the Banchee's in the first place. With that being said, Uncle Soren is now here of his own free will now. I think it was after the break down I had on day three that made him want to say. It was pretty f*****g messy. At least for me.

I've rarely ever shown emotion my whole life. I come off as grumpy because of it. And I am a grump, don't get me wrong. This break down I had though, was probably the most emtion I have ever shown in my life. I had been hearing Emilia in my head. I swear I could hear her voice. Calling to me. Wanting me to help her.

I started teleporting to random areas. I had no idea what I was doing. Kee chased me around the world, to other realms, and anywhere else that I went. I teleported 137 times before I became so weak that I couldn't stand.

Kee had taken us home. Where I started to hyperventilate so bad that I threw up until blood came out. It f*****g hurt like a bitch.

Mom had to spell me to calm down. I finally had stopped vomiting, My breathing had slowed. All for me to start sobbing uncontrollably.

No one knew what to do in that situation. Mom held me while I sobbed like a damn baby. Everyone else either gave me my space, or stayed with me.

I don't care in the slightest what any of them think either. Or anyone else. I don't care about my reputation, or how weak I look. What's the point?

My mate is gone.

Will I ever see her again? Hear her giggles, or see her smile? Is she lost to me forever? And why hasn't Emilia came back to me yet?

Uncle Soren was clear about who he thinks Emilia is. It would make sense that she would be this person if she's that important to this Darian guy. Emilia is their queen.

The Queen of the Banchee's.

My mate comes from the bloodline of the first Banchee to ever exist. She is the most powerful out of all of them. Powerful enough to give my uncle a run for his money. Uncle Soren is scared of my mate, but Emilia is mine. She belongs with me, and with this family. From what Bexley and Nix had to say about the other Banchee's.. I have a hard time believing they all really want war. It sounds more like they want to be free. The girls wanted to help the other Bacnhee's, and I think they still do.

Uncle Soren is against it. He is the only one here who is. I don't think Grandpa cares either way, but the res of us..

We are all living proof that the world is different now. All species get along with each other. The majority of us are Hybrids, or more. Our jobs, and everything Anderson represents is equality. Treating people for who they are, and not what they are. Now Uncle Soren is torn on what to do. So is my father. I am not though.

In all honesty. At this point, I don't really f*****g care who lives, or who dies. All I want is my mate back.

I should have marked Emi the moment I found her. I should have taken her mark what she tried to give it to me. Then I would be able to replace her right now. No matter where they have her.

And why hasn't Emilia gotten out by now?

They must be holding her there against her will. Those bastards better not be hurting my mate. I will do more than end their lives if the hurt her in any way.

I hope Emilia is doing okay. I hope she isn't doing as bad as me. I can rarely focus these days. I don't eat, I barely sleep. All of the light in my life is gone.

There is no meaning to my existance without Emilia. I have to get her back. I will get her back.

***********

Two more days, and there is no change to our situation. We are no closer to figuring out how to track the Banchee's down. I have been without my mate for nine days now.

I'm fucking losing my mind without her. I have still been going into random breakdowns. Sometimes I fall over randomly with exhuastion. It's strange since I don't feel exhausted in those moments. I don't sleep a lot these days, but these epsiodes.. It feels like I haven't slept in weeks.

Other times I just start crying silently. It's like there is an overwhelming sadness in my heart. It stops me in my tracks, no matter what I'm doing. Then I just stare off at nothing, and cry.

At night is the worst though. Something in my heart tugs painfully. It feels like my body is scratchy. Something isn't right, but I can't figure out what.

It's all strange. I hate it. All of it. I need Emilia here with me. I need to keep her safe.

"Ares."

I looked up at the Bexley's annoyed face. Her and I have been arguing... a lot differently lately. I can't say it's more, or less. We've always fought a lot. This is just different. Now it's Bexley yelling at me constantly while I barely respond at all. "Huh?" I asked.

There is a bunch of us sitting in the conference room. Talking about what to do next, trying to game plan still. Some of them gave up though. Now, it is only Kee, Vessa, Karla, Bexley, and Nix. Talia and Derek wanted to be a part of this, but Ambrose doesn't think they're ready.

Doesn't stop them from hounding me every chance they get though. I think it is sweet how much they care about my mate, but it hurts. I'm no closer to rescuing Emilia, and they are constantly reminding me of it.

Bexley huffed in annoyance, and then I heard a loud slap in the air. I was about to look around for the source of the sound, when I felt the sting on my cheek. I brought my hand up to my face as my eyes found Bexley's.

"Pull your head out of your ass Ares." Bexley growled out. "I know you are suffering without your mate, but get it together. We can't replace her without you Ares. You need to focus." She said.

"I'm trying!" I roared as I shot to my feet. "I'm doing the fucking best I can right now Bexley! It is taking everything just for me to do what I am!" I shouted.

Bexley only stared at me in return. Her eyes, and face are much softer now. She took a deep breath, and started speaking much softer.

"I can't begin to imagine how you are feeling Ares. I know I have no right to ask you to do more than what you are now, but.. We need you to hold on a little tighter, for a little longer." She said. "We are going to replace her Ares." Kee said.

I sighed as I sat back in my seat.

"Maybe you should get some rest for the night. We can start again when you are refreshed." Nix suggested.

"No-" I said, but was interrupted.

"I think that is a smart idea." Bexley said.

I slump in my chair. I can't go home to get sleep. I never sleep, and when I do.. It's just a dark endless void of nothing. All I do is walk around calling, and searching for my mate. I hate it.

I miss when we used to be in each other's dreams. At first I thought that if I slept enough she might replace me, but that never happened. I don't want to go back to that place anymore. It's too lonely with Emilia. "Wait, what?" Kee asked.

No one repsonded. I didn't even look at her. Who is she talking to?

"Ares, did you say that you and Emi have been in each other's dreams?" Kee asked.

I looked to my side to meet her eyes.

"I think it might be tied to her Banchee side." I told her.

"Visiting each other's dreams?" Nix asked.

"Yeah." I replied.

"No." Bexley said.

"No?" I asked.

"Yes, no. Banchee's don't have that power Ares." Bexley said.

"Well.. what the hell does that mean. I'm not a Dream Walker." I said.

"Are you sure?" Bexley asked.

I thought about it for a moment. I mean, I've never visited anyone's dreams before. The first time that I had an experience like that, was that night I saw Emilia's flame, and Honi for the first time. That wasn't the same as Dream Walking though. "That was the night you were gone.." Kee mumbled.

I looked over to her. That's right. She said that my mind was gone, but my body was here.

"How..?" I asked her. "We are not Dream Walkers."

Kee stared into my eyes for a few moments. I can see that she is looking through me, and not at me. She is seeing something, but I don't know what.

"Oh my Goddess.." Kee breathed out.

I gave her a confused look.

"We didn't notice it before because it was so small." She said.

I frowned at her.

"Notice what?" I asked.

"It was you the whole time. It explains why you were able to visit her before you had even met her. Why it happened every night since you met her." Kee said. I frowned harder.

"What are you talking about Kee?" I asked annoyed.

"It's your darkness. It awakened. Like it knew you needed to get to your other half. Once it had her.. it didn't want to let go, and now it searches for her." She told me. "What?" I asked.

This whole time it has been me. That makes more sense. It's not like I Dream Walk anyways, its more like my soul visits hers. That's why everything seems so different in those dreams. They weren't dreams at all. It was just our souls resting that had opened up some kind of door for our souls.

"I need to replace her." I said.

"Yeah you do." Kee replied.

"I need to go get some sleep." I said as I got to my feet.

"You go home, and sleep. I will get a few things together that will help enhance your soul replaceing her." Kee said.

I nodded to her, and rushed out the door.

This is it. This might really be the key to replaceing my mate. My soul can replace her. Rex growled in agreement.

*********

It's been two weeks without my mate now. My soul has not found her. It's still a dark void of nothingness.

I am doing much worse now than I was before. It's rare that I get up from my bed. I just lay there, waiting and hoping to fall asleep. I just want to replace her. To replace my little light in all of this darkness.

Where is she? Why can't I replace her? Is she not sleeping?

Rex whined in my head.

My wolf is silent most of the time these days. Rex is in too much pain to do much of anything other than whine. We are just too worried about our mate.

I swear I can feel Emilia's sadness. It sounds crazy, but I can feel that she is in the same state as me. All I can do, is hope that they aren't hurting her where ever she is.

I've tried countless times over the last week to try to reach Emilia. I never can. It's always just hours of me walking around in the void calling out for her. That doesn't stop me from trying as much as I can though.

"Ares you can't work yourself up." Kee said from behind me.

I'm layin in my bed like usual. The only reason they don't pull me out of bed is because we found out that someone is watching me. Kee had figured it out when she had came to place crystals around my bed a few nights ago. She had been getting things together that she hoped would enchance my darnkess.

It was then that my little sister felt the presence of someone else. She didn't tell me at first. Not until she did a bit of digging, but Kee is good at hiding in the shadows.

After Kee had told us, I was ordered to stay in my bed. My only job is to sleep as much as I can, to replace my mate. Kee put a spell around me that makes it look like I am awake when I'm really asleep.

Not that I am getting much sleep as it is. Usually, I have to drink some tea from Belle. Even then it's iffy for me.

I'm just falling apart without Emilia. It's been too long of me being away from my mate. I have no idea how Azai was able to do this for months. It's only been fourteen days for me, and I feel like I can't breathe. "Ares." Kee said my name sternly.

I turned my head to my little sister. Kee is givine me a stern look. Her glowing eyes are extra bright tonight.

"Get some sleep." She ordered.

Before I could respond, my eyesight went fuzzy. I tried to ask what was going on, but then my head fell on my pillow. Everything went black.

I'm walking in the darkness once more. I see nothing. I blew out a breath as I started walking. Here we go again.

Suddenly, something fuzzy wrapped around my legs. I jumped back. What the hell was that?

"It's me." Came a voice to my ears.

My eyes went side.

"Rex?" I asked.

"Yup." He replied.

"H-how are you here?" I asked as I reached out.

I felt Rex's soft fur through my fingers. This is crazy. He's really here.

"I dunno." He admitted.

This never happened before. All the times that I have been to this void, I was always alone. I felt Rex there, hovering, but nothing like this.

"Wow.." I breathed out.

"Let's try to replace our mate." Rex said.

I held onto Rex's fur as we walked through the darkness. After a while I blew out a breath. It's always the same.

"I'm never going to replace her." I muttered.

Suddenly I see a small light ahead of me. I gasped. Could that be?

I walked towards it slowly. Please let this be my mate. Please..

Rex and I made it to the light. It is a small white flame. It belongs to my mate. I know it does.

I reached out to touch it, and it licked my fingers. Warmth spread throughout my body. This is a part of Emilia, and it's trying to make me feel better. "Where is she?" I asked it.

The flame only flickered slightly.

When nothing more happened, I started to grow sad. The flame contined to lick across my fingers and hand. It's warmth is doing little for me right now.

"Ares.."

Huh?

"Ares."

What the hell? Where is that coming from? I looked around, but I don't see anything.

"Ares!"

I barely registered her face before she launched herself into my arms. I fell back on my ass as I wrapped my arms around her. I noticed her wild red hair first. Now I'm swarmed with her cherry blossom scent. I pulled back to look into her face. Those beautiful hazel eyes shined back at me. I was graced with the most gorgeous smile.

"I found you." She said.

That's... my line..

My fingers trailed across her face. She's really here. This is really her.

"Emilia.." I breathed out.

My mate smiled back at me. She pushed herself into me as she pushed her fingers into my hair. I nearly melted.

"I told you to call me Emi." She said.

Without thinking I grabbed Emilia by the back of her neck, and smashed our lips together. My mate kissed me back immediately. I pushed my tongue past her lips, and moaned when I tasted her mouth.

I missed her so much. Every inch of my body feels hot. I need more. I need all of her. Right now.

"A-Ares wait." Emi said when she pulled back.

I didn't listen. I just started kissing down her face, licking down her jaw, taking in every inch of her. I want more of her. I need to make her mine right now.

"Ares please. I missed you so much. Tell me you missed me too." Emi said.

I can tell she's crying by her shaky voice. I pulled back to look into her eyes. Thanks to Emi's flame, I am able to see her face. Emi has tears running down her cheeks. Her bottom lip is trembling as she stares at me. "Baby I missed you more than I could ever try to explain. My life has been nothing without you Emi. You are everything to me." I told her.

"D-do you mean that?" My mate asked.

I leaned my forehead to hers.

"Of course I do. You are my heart." I said.

"That makes me so happy." Emi repled.

"Tell me where you are. I'll come get you right now." I said.

"I.. don't know." She said.

I frowned at her.

"They have me kept in this house, and they said it's untrackable. I can't see anything out of the windows. I can't escape either. Nothing opens." Emi said.

Pride and relief flooded through me at her words. At least she hasn't wanted to stay with them. If they weren't holding Emi against her will, I would have her right now.

"You have to replace me somehow Ares. Now. Like right now. You have to get me out of this place, and the others." Emi said,

"How am I supposed to replace you?" I asked her.

"Listen to me. I think that we are in a different dimension. Not a realm, but somewhere else. You need to replace me quick. Ares they are planning to.." She trailed off. "What? What are they planning to do?" I asked.

"Ares they are planning to rape me, and spell me to be a puppet forever." She said.

"What?!" I roared.

"Calm down. They don't know I know, and I am going to try to do everything in my power to not let that happen, but I need you to replace me. They seem pretty confident that they will win." Emi said.

"Look Ares, Darian hates your family. Something about a war. He wants to kill all of you. I won't let that happen, but I think that you should tell-"

"We already know about their war. My uncle Soren started it. Darian was there. That's partly why he wanted you so badly." I told her.

"Huh? No, he just wants me to hurt you. Nothing more." Emi said.

I shook my head.

"He didn't tell you what you are to them?" I asked her.

Emi shook her head.

"Emilia." I breathed out her name as I cupped her cheek. "You are their queen. You come from the bloodline of the very first Banchee." I told her. "What?" She breathed out in response.

"I don't know what it means exactly. Other than it makes you more powerful than all of them. Probably more so since you're also a Hybrid." I told her.

Emi looked down as her thoughts began to swirl.

"That must be what Anna meant.. Why the others feel a pull towards me." She mumbled.

"Emi, mark me. I might be able to replace you easier that way." I said.

"Ares-" She said sternly, but I stopped her next words with a growl.

"Mark me. Now. Or I will keep our souls here, in this place, forever." I threatened.

Emi gave me a sad look.

"But.. I want you to.." She trailed off

I can feel her doubt.

"Emi, I love you baby. Mark me please. I want to replace you so that I can mark you too." I told her.

"How will we even know if it works in this place?" She asked.

I pulled her closer to me, pulling her head down to my neck.

"All we can do is try my love." I said.

Emi hesitated for a split second. Then she bit down on my neck hard. I gasped as I felt the bond fall into place. This is completely different than I was expecting. It's like our bond has fallen completely in place even though we haven't finished the process yet. "Thank you pet."

Emi pulled away from me. She looked into my eyes, and a trail of blood poured from the side of her mouth. I smiled down at her as I wiped it away.

I opened my mouth to tell her I love her, when I was suddenly pulled back.