Page 85 of Jackal's Pride
“What does she want with me?” Barron finally broke his silence and stepped closer.
Another shrug from Isabella. “I don’t know. I guess we’ll see.”
“I have a place and a name.” I didn’t recognize the new voice, but I figured she must be Melinda. There was a powerful yet unique aura about her. She was draped, from head to toe, in an ugly beige dress. Maybe at one time, she had been beautiful, but now she appeared like she was trying to hide it. She held a strip of paper in her skinny fingers as she eyed Barron.
“What?” Barron eyed her warily.
“The name on this paper is someone whom is supposed to die soon. Deliver them to their afterlife with ease. That is all.” There was something more to it. I knew it and so did Barron. We glanced at each other at the same time. The woman specifically asked for him, and it wasn’t like he was all rainbows and butterflies when it came to guiding souls to the afterlife. She wore a blank expression—no smile, no struggle to hold back a smile—and gave no other clue about the name.
Frowning, Barron asked, “If it was something a Reaper did on a daily basis, why not Sebastian? Why ask for me?”
She closed her eyes and shrugged. “You don’t want to do it?” She crumbled up the paper, setting it on fire in her fist.Umm…okay?“I guess another Reaper shall do the honors when it is time.” Dismissing Barron with a curious gleam in her eyes, she glanced at me next. “There’s no need for a memory spell. Jackal’s memories will come back likely in a week or less. It all depends on how quickly his power heals.”
My mouth fell open as my eyes grew wide. I stuttered, “A w-week? I-I don’t have a week!”
She arched a patronizing brow at me. “Why not?” Something about the twitch in her lips was evil, like the woman knew more than she should about me, and it amused her.
“Because…” Good question. Unfortunately, I only had a shallow excuse. “He’s not supposed to forget about me.”
She clucked her tongue at me. “You just want him back.”
“Of course, I want him back!” This witch pissed me off.
“Entities will naturally fight off anything they’re hit with. Spells and potions mean nothing to any of you. Sure, you can be hurt, but measly things like memory spells…” Her voice trailed off. “They don’t last long at all. Tell me, when you were blown to pieces, how quick did your body regenerate itself?”
“I don’t know…”
“Likely less than an hour. Your power… Your essences work like immune systems. They’ll correct and fight any wrongs done to your body or mind. Right now, his mind is already working to remember what he’s forgotten. I assure you, he no doubt knows he’s missing something. Let him remember.”
Let him remember.Let him remember.
I wanted him to remember, but it felt like she was asking a lot, especially when the pain in my chest grew worse the more I missed him.
Shit, this sucks.
“So I wait?”
She nodded. “You wait.”
“I wait,” I repeated.
Fucking shit.
I hated you Jackal.
Then I remembered his wild essence and the way he always let it run rampant, the way he stepped in front of me like I was someoneworthsaving. Maybe, I was to him. Warmth burst from my chest. I could be good to him—I could be better. I’d learn to love him the way he deserved even with my curse.
That was it. I loved him.
I love you, Jack.
So please remember me.
Chapter 32
Jackal
I didn’t know why I was awake. I couldn’t even remember where I’d been, but I knew I’d been somewhere. The last thing I remembered was putting myself to sleep to keep the one hundred and thirty-seven hearts silent. When I came to, I was in a giant gaping hole in the human world. I didn’t know why I was there, but every shattered bone and scrape of singed flesh let me know I had been a part of something.