Soul Catcher Read online

  Asylinth Cottage

  28

  At midday, Accacia trekked to Asylinth Cottage, a humble shack even smaller than Father Giloth’s petite home. She was dressed in appropriate attire supplied by Father Giloth to withstand the freezing temperature. She entered the small field of grass behind it, which was covered with a thin layer of white snow, making it slippery but not difficult to maneuver in. She looked at the branches of the trees and the piles of snow that caked the leaves, and spotted the winter flowers protrude past the heavy cover, defiant. Accacia hated the winter months, considering it the season of death.

  Aleco exited the cottage, carrying his weapons over his shoulder, shirtless. He dropped the gear into the snow and retrieved his signature blackened blade from the ground, easy to spot with its contrasting color. He hadn’t looked at Accacia yet.

  She approached him with her sword sheathed in the belt around her waist. The snow swished beneath her feet, making her gait more unsteady than usual. “You’re going to freeze, Aleco,” she said.

  Aleco ignored her and kept his head down as he sharpened his blade, focusing his sight on his sword and not on Accacia. “You’re sure you still want to do this?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she replied.

  “So be it,” he said as he stood up.

  Accacia noticed the sculpted muscles of his chest and perfectly shaped arms, the carved lines of strength etched across his torso. He watched her with a stern expression, his eyes locked onto her wandering gaze as she appraised his powerful physique. His fair skin was flawless, unlike what she assumed it would be, covered in scars, cuts, and bruises. She was amazed how quickly he’d healed and wondered what he used to promote its speed. His blue eyes reflected the white patches of snow covering the trees in the distance, and his blond hair complemented his complexion perfectly. He resembled his twin exactly, but to Accacia, he looked completely different in comparison. For the first time, she didn’t see Drake, just Aleco.

  “Are you ready?” he interrupted Accacia’s thoughts.

  Abashed, she looked away from his powerful frame. “Yes, I am,” she said.

  He walked into the middle of the field, which was completely caked with snow, and took a defensive stance a few feet from her. The crystals of precipitation reached to their ankles, which would be an additional barrier for Accacia in her movements. The snowy landscape and the chilly air empowered Aleco. He loved the coldness and the quiet scenery. The sky was a perfect mirror of the forest floor, completely bleached. “Do I have your word, Accacia?”

  Accacia knew what he was referring to. “I already gave it to you,” she replied.

  Aleco stared at her. He had his sword unsheathed, hanging at his side, as he clenched the handle of the weapon. He unleashed his powerful stroke and aimed at her arm with a flash of speed. She barely had time to block the blow, which she did carelessly, and lost her grip on the sword. It dropped to the snow.

  Aleco didn’t stop his advance. He tossed his own blade to the ground and attacked her. He tripped her legs from under her feet, and pushed her down to the pile of powder. She screamed as she crashed onto the freezing earth. Aleco climbed on top of her and held her wrists at her side, pinning her down to the ground, exactly the way Drake had. Accacia felt frightened—she had been in this position too many times.

  Aleco’s menacing eyes bore into hers as he held her to the ground. “What are you going to do, Accacia?” She tried to kick him off but his heavy mass was too much for her to move. She twisted her arms away from his grasp but his tight grip was too strong to escape. “WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?”

  Accacia continued to squirm under his hold and flexed her hips trying to buck him off, but it was useless. She was too compromised, and he was too heavy. Water formed in her eyes and she fought back the tears. She tried to hold back her fear, but the moment was too intense, too emotional, and the unwelcome sobs emerged.

  “Don’t you dare give up!”

  “Aleco, get off of me,” she cried.

  “No.”

  Accacia screamed in frustration. She tasted the salt from her tears as they dripped into her mouth. Her anger was fueled by her weakness, her inability to protect herself.

  “I have all day,” he said.

  She lifted her right leg from the ground, over his shoulder, and forced it against his throat. Aleco released one wrist to restrain her ankle, and with her now free hand, Accacia slugged him hard in the face. She hit him again in the nose and watched blood ooze from his nostrils. Pride surged through her body at his compromised state. Utilizing both her leg and her arm, she pulled him off her body and got to her feet. She spotted her sword and grabbed it, pointing it at Aleco who stood a few feet away with blood trickling down his face.

  “Good,” he said, as he wiped the blood away with his hand. “It’s a start.” Aleco walked to his pack and wiped his face with a cloth. He returned to her. “Are you alright?”

  “Yes,” she said as she continued to aim the sword at him. The adrenaline coursed through her body as if she was still in battle. Reliving that nightmare invigorated her with strength, and she realized that it was possible. She could do this.

  “Let’s try it again. This time, don’t drop your sword.”

  She nodded and their sparring continued. Aleco gave her a few bruises along her ribs and nailed her with the hilt of the sword on the arm, but he continued his advance since Accacia never told him otherwise. He was surprised when she pushed on even after he had injured her and pushed her beyond her limitations. He wondered if she was keeping her promise. “That’s enough for today,” he said.

  He repacked his gear and was about to walk into the house when Accacia stopped him.

  “How am I doing?

  “Horrible,” he said. “But you’ll get it eventually.”

  Aleco walked away. Accacia hated his indifference. “Aleco?” she said.

  “Hmm?” he said without turning around.

  “Why are you staying out here?” she asked. “It isn’t necessary.”

  Aleco marched to her and stared at her with his crystal blue eyes. “I want to stay out here, Accacia. You got what you wanted,” he said. “So leave me alone.”

  He strode to the cottage and opened the door.

  “Aleco,” she called.

  The only answer she received was the slamming of his front door.

  Their training continued for the following weeks as they deepened into the winter season. The days became shorter, the air became colder, and the snow piled higher on the ground, but they continued sparring every day. Father Giloth was prepared to discuss something with the pair of them, but pushed it back, hoping they could work out their differences beforehand. He had no knowledge of what caused their tense dispute. Aleco still had not come to the house and stayed far away from Accacia as often as he could.

  Accacia had encouraged Aleco to return to Asylinth House often but he refused any offer she made. It was clear he wanted nothing to do with her. Accacia’s skills had improved significantly during their lessons, and Aleco had increased her instruction to last most of the day because he knew she needed the additional help. She could deflect his blows and assaults quicker and return with ferocious strikes of her own. She wasn’t as skilled as Aleco, but she could inflict serious damage in any fight.

  “We are done here,” Aleco said, ending the lesson.

  Accacia’s chest was heaving, her arms were covered in bruises, and she was too sore to simply lift her sword. Their training had pushed her body to heightened limits, and he could see it in her form. Her arms were toned with strong muscles, her small shoulders were rounded, and her abdominal muscles were tight.

  Aleco left the clearing and wordlessly entered his cottage as he did every day, ignoring her existence whenever they weren’t sparring. He poured himself a brandy and sat in the cramped living room, slowly enjoying his reprieve for the afternoon.

  He heard a knock on the door and growled at the intrusion. Rising from his seat, he opened the doo
r to Accacia. “What?” he snapped. Aleco swallowed the contents of his glass while he stared at her.

  Her neutral face fell to a frown at his hostility, and even in sadness, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He shook his head and forced the thought from his mind.

  “Will you have dinner with me tonight?”

  Thankfully, Aleco had already swallowed the liquor; otherwise he would have spit it out. “What? Why would I want to do that?”

  “Please?”

  “No, thanks,” he said. “I have no desire to be with either of you at the moment.”

  “It would just be me.”

  “Even worse,” he said.

  Accacia rolled her eyes. “I’ll be back in an hour.”

  Aleco’s eyes narrowed in confusion. “So, you invite yourself to dinner at my place, where you expect me to cook, and when I say no, you decide to come anyway?”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything.”

  “That doesn’t change my answer,” he said.

  “I’ll see you soon.” She smiled and walked away.

  Accacia returned within an hour, and conquered the kitchen. She boiled a pot on the fire stove, chopped potatoes and carrots at the counter, and made a delicious smelling cider tea.

  Aleco sat in the living room that was opened to the kitchen and drank his brandy before the fireplace. Accacia walked over, snatched the throat burning beverage from his hand, and replaced it with the scented tea. “I’m cutting you off.” She smiled when Aleco sniffed the tea then sipped it. It wasn’t bad. The brandy was the clear winner though.

  She set the table and they began their meal. Aleco waited to hear the reason for this unexpected social event. The last time he checked, he was an untrusting perverse man that had some alternative motive for her safety, and she wanted no companionship from him. Was she just lonely? Secretly, Aleco hoped she had finally forgiven him.

  Accacia had reflected on their relationship for the past few weeks. She thought she would be happy back in Orgoom Forest but all she thought about was Aleco. Their relationship needed to be mended. Father Giloth’s words had caused her to change her perspective on Aleco. The Nature Priest loved him like a son even when he didn’t have to. There must be a reason. Aleco had given her the ability to become a warrior, and it was the greatest gift she had ever received. Her conflicted emotions confused her.

  The stew she prepared was delicious, despite its lack of meat. Aleco finished his plate and even ate a second serving. Accacia wore her typical traveling attire of tight leggings, dirty boots, and a long-sleeved black shirt. Her brown hair fell on her shoulders in lustrous curls, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she understood just how beautiful she was. Even when she adorned herself to look ordinary, she still looked extraordinary. Aleco changed the subject in his mind. “Why are you here?”

  Accacia finished swallowing her food before she spoke. She didn’t know how this conversation was going to unfold. She knew how angry Aleco was, and he had every right to be, but she feared he would throw her out. “I realized I made a mistake,” she said. “What you did to me was completely wrong, but—I should have forgiven you weeks ago. Now it’s my turn to seek forgiveness.”

  Aleco watched her in silence, unable to verbalize how much that meant to him, and how much he missed her over those agonizing weeks, as he mended his own broken heart in solitude.

  “You have protected me at the cost of your own life, more than once, and I’ve been so focused on what happened that I became blindsided to all of that. Now, you’ve helped me in the greatest way, by giving me the ability to protect myself, and—I’m sorry, Aleco. You were right. I shouldn’t hold it against you in light of everything you’ve done for me. I should have let it go sooner.”

  Aleco smiled at her and she smiled back. He rose from his chair and walked to her side of the table, picked her up from the chair, and hugged her tightly. “You are forgiven, Accacia.” Accacia laughed as he held her above the ground and swung her from side to side. She had never seen him so happy. “Accacia, I didn’t think you were ever going to forgive me. I’m so grateful that you have,” he said. “I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you too, Aleco,” she said. The intensity of his embrace made her heart flutter. She didn’t want Aleco to assume that their romantic relationship would continue as well; she wasn’t certain how she felt about that. Her feelings for Aleco were intense and confusing. “This doesn’t mean—”

  “I know,” he interrupted her. “Your friendship and trust is enough.” He hugged her harder.

  “Aleco, there is something I want to give you, as a thank you for everything you’ve done for me,” she said. Accacia felt her hands sweat as she spoke. She wasn’t sure why she was doing this but she knew she wanted to. It was an inexplicable need that she couldn’t fathom. “I know it’s something—you want.”

  He released his embrace and stared her. He had no idea what she referring to. “What is it?” he asked with interest.

  “Me,” she said. She watched the confused expression on his face, oblivious to her implication. She didn’t want to explain further.

  Her words bewildered Aleco. Just a moment ago, she said she forgave him, but their relationship would remain platonic, a proposition he had agreed to, so what was her meaning? “I don’t understand,” he said.

  Accacia took a deep breath as she stared at his crystal blue irises. She didn’t see the maniac rapist in those eyes, but a man she trusted and cared for. Accacia thought about the kisses they shared and knew she wanted to feel that embrace again. The thought of him shirtless gave her chills.

  She pushed him back into the seat. He stared at her blankly as she grabbed his shoulder, and lowered herself onto his lap slowly, her legs straddling his hips. He felt her thighs tighten around his sides as she squeezed him gently. His heart began to thump sporadically as her meaning dawned on him and sent arousal coursing through his body in pounding waves. Her intoxicating scent splashed over him and caused his hands to shake. He forced his hands to dangle at his sides, not allowing them to do what they really wanted. As she leaned closer to him, her brown locks fell down her shoulder to her perky breasts, and he desperately wanted to run his fingertips through the strands. His fists clenched at his sides and he tried to think logically, clearly, as the woman he wanted for so long leaned her body into him. He forced himself to behave.

  She pressed her forehead against his and stared down at his lips. Her warm breath fell upon his face and he wanted to kiss her, part her lips with his own. His eyes were glued to her mouth and he watched her lick her lips, which almost sent him over the edge.

  He closed his eyes and felt his hands run up her toned thighs, completely out of his control. They grabbed her hips and massaged the skin at the brim of her pants. His fingers slipped under her camisole and felt the smooth skin of her waist. He wanted to kiss the area and hoped he would by the end of the night. His breathing came out ragged and shaky, his physiological response had stimulated every part of his body and it worked in overdrive to prepare for the physical demands of his desire. She placed one arm around his neck and the opposite hand upon his chest. She scooted herself closer to him and he knew she could feel his swelling arousal, since she was sitting directly on it.

  “Accacia, you don’t need to do this.” He breathed. “You don’t owe me anything.”

  He attempted to be a gentleman even though he didn’t mean a word he said. He wanted this to happen, and now that she was sitting astride him, he didn’t know if he would be able to stop if she wanted to end it. He feared he would hold her down and take her against her will. What she was doing was very dangerous.

  “Isn’t this what you want?” she asked as she kissed him lightly on the lips. Her mouth lingered on his for a moment and he reluctantly let her pull away. She ran her hands through his hair and his spine shivered.

  “Only if you do,” he whispered. Aleco wished he would stop talking.

  “Well, I’m sitting o
n your lap, aren’t I?” She kissed his jawline until she came to his ear, which she kissed gently. The intimate sound of her kiss directly into his ear made him grip her tighter, and the moist feel of her lips on such a tender area made him gasp. The desire that coursed through him was like a lit firework about to burst at any second. She felt his breathing become more labored and she secretly enjoyed the affect she had on him. His hands tightened around her waist and she felt his hips rock slightly, like the beginning waves of an incoming tide. She knew how much he wanted this. His half-hearted, chivalrous attempts amused her.

  “Damn, Accacia,” he said through a heavy breath. “I can’t think clearly when you do that.”

  “Do you want to think clearly?” she teased.

  “I want to know that you understand what you’re doing,” he said. “That you realize you don’t have to do this. Your friendship is enough to satisfy me.”

  “You deserve more than that,” she whispered as her kiss moved down to his neck. He tilted his chin and exposed himself to her, his moans of pleasure a direct contradiction of his words. He was the worst liar she had ever met. She wasn’t the only one who couldn’t tell a convincing lie. “After everything you’ve done for me, and the way I treated you, you deserve to be satisfied. I want to satisfy you.”

  “Gods, Accacia,” he said. “You can’t talk like that.”