The two Shes finally melted away under my powers into black muck. Before I could refocus my attention, another She was upon me. Her long nails pierced through my shirt and into my stomach as she let loose a delighted shriek. The She rocked back and forth as if in unhinged ecstasy as she clawed through my flesh. I grabbed her wrists to keep her from digging in, but I didn’t have the leverage to throw her off.
That’s when I saw Travis come up behind the She with my broadsword and I knew I was saved. My relief dissolved instantly when I watched how he wound up his blow. His swing had too much momentum. It would cut through the She then straight through my own jugular.
I watched his eyes widen as he realized his mistake, unable to slow down his swing. The blade cut into the She’s neck, slicing through and continuing its path down toward me. I closed my eyes and thought only of Emma’s sweet kiss.
The blade sliced the skin of my throat. Then it stopped. The blade was pulled back and away from my flesh. Opening my eyes, I watched Travis stumble backward as he had jerked back to retrain the aim of the blow. I swallowed and licked my lips. Rivulets of blood seeped down my neck, but other than the disconcerting sting of a cut on my throat, I was fine. Throwing the dead She off me, I leapt up and grabbed the sword from Travis’s hand, plunging it into the two remaining She who thought they were sneaking up behind him. With two quick swipes, that was the end of the She.
Still panting, I touched my neck. My fingers came away wet with red.
“Oh god, Calan,” Emma rushed to me. “Are you okay? Your- your throat.”
“I’m fine.”
Then seeing my Master behind her, I dropped to my knee and bowed deeply. “Master Ylang.”
Master Ylang was four inches shorter than me but carried a presence that demanded respect. He wore a long blue robe with ornate gold trimming. Master Ylang seemed to glide forward. My Master waved me up to my feet with slim yet knotted fingers. His bald head was almost as knotty as his knuckles but long hairs fell, like waterfall whiskers, from beneath his nostrils. Waterfall whiskers were what I always thought of them as. His eyes were wide but clouded over. Anyone might mistake him to be a blind man, but I knew better. He’d swat your hands before you even thought to steal an apple.
“Chevalier,” he addressed me with formal authority, “Why have you brought these people here?”
“Master, a soul eater came to physical form before my very eyes. And you saw the She. They have amassed in unprecedented numbers.”
The skin over his eyes rose where there should have been eyebrows. “That is impossible, my son.”
I shook my head. “It is not for me to speculate on what it is possible, but I have witnessed it all the same.” My shirt was soaked. I held a hand against my stomach where the She had tried to disembowel me. I would need medical attention, but it could wait. I glanced down at Emma’s legs, her pants were torn and stained dark with her blood.
The sight of Emma bleeding sent a trill of fear through me I’d not known before. I’d seen her in danger, but seeing her flesh marred hurt more than my own wounds. My insides went cold.
Emma boldly stepped up. “I saw it too.” As if sensing my distress, she came over and put a hand on my shoulder.
My Master rose another non-existent eyebrow at her. “And who is this?”
Before I could say anything, Emma continued. “My name is Emma, and that’s Travis.” She waved to Travis who turned and gave a slight nod of acknowledgement. He had migrated to the lit fire place that was as tall as he. Travis hugged himself near the flames, probably cold from shock, but he seemed to be keeping it together.
Emma went on. “We were attacked by a soul eater, but Calan saved us.”
My Master looked into my eyes. I closed my thoughts and feelings until there was nothing on the surface but the need to fulfill the mission and obey my Order. From the outside, I could appear to be the same faithful servant of the Light. He folded his hands into either sleeve of his robes. I knew he was displeased I had named myself to these civilians and I expected due discipline.
“Travis there is the Propheros. We’ve been trying to get him to you for days.” Emma added, putting everything out on the table. My Master looked displeased with her forward nature, which made me want to squirm, but I remained still.
My Master’s head snapped to Travis. “Is this true, Chevalier?”
Travis was warm enough to turn around so he could give his backside some attention from the fire.
I nodded carefully, “The creature indeed named the virgin.”
Travis’s hands flew up. “Whoa now, what did you just say? Did you call me a virgin? I’m not gonna stand by and let you accuse me of being a virgin. What’s wrong with you, man?” Betrayal shone in his eyes, though I didn’t understand why he was so upset.
Emma crossed her arms. “For heaven’s sake, what is it with guys and their manhood? It’s perfectly alright to be a virgin. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Travis scowled. “Hey, I didn’t say anything about there being something wrong with people who are virgins. I just don’t happen to be one of them.”
I chanced a look at my Master who was now staring at Emma. A cold stone dropped in the pit of my stomach.
The two went on bickering as if we weren’t there.
“Oh yeah?” Emma said. “And who exactly have you slept with, big roller?” she glanced over her shoulder at Master Ylang. “We went to high school together.”
“Jeanine Stalwart for one,” Travis said, hands on his hips now. “Peggy Lipton, and oh yeah, Tawny Johnson.”
