Soulmate

The stalker Shadow

Rose woke up, she didn’t remember sleeping inside the cave; she was talking to Jesse and rest of the group retired to sleep as the excitement died down. Jesse must have brought her inside.

She stretched herself, she badly needed a hot water bath. She  stumbled on the sleeping form of Kenny, she sighed knowing nothing would disturb his peaceful not even the fall of skies.

Jesse, Sam, Henry were standing outside discussing about how to teleport four members without leaving anyone behind.  None of them  ever tried transporting two people at a time and they didn’t seem ready to take the risk.

“May be we could call for a pick up?”  Sam suggested.

“Jesse…” Rose broke into their conversation.

“Give us a second, I’ll be right back.”

Jesse turned to answer Sam when Rose placed her hands on his head and turned it towards the right side of the forest. 

“Souldrinker…” Helen gasped.

Jesse pushed Rose away and ran towards the souldrinker, Helen ran into the cave to wake up a sleeping Kenny. Jesse changed his tactics this time, he knew what to do so he conjured a sword this time. He ran straight at the souldrinker. The souldrinker ducked while Jesse charged at him. He never threw back a punch that made Rose think and the odd vibe she always gets when they were close wasn’t there.

“I came here to talk…” His deep voice was somehow familiar to her.

“Jesse…Wait…” Rose said but Jesse was in no mood to listen, all his concentration was on him.

Rose had no choice but to use mind control and will her mind to paralyze him. She ran forward and came in between the boys and the stranger.

Sam’s knife missed the stranger and slashed Rose’s arm which she used to cower her face. The stranger hit Sam on the chest and he went flying.  That familiar move…made her realize who he was.

Jesse got the control over his body back. He shrieked to stop the fight and rushed towards Rose.

“Don’t ever do that again…” he said pulling out his handkerchief and wrapping it over the slash.

“I had no choice…He is not a souldrinker. He is the one who saved me.” She turned towards the stranger for assurance.

The stranger removed his hood revealing his soft face. He had perfect features, his beauty was uneartly. The girls couldn’t help but gasp. Andy cleared his throat as Helen stared at him.

“It wasn’t like that…” Helen said sheepishly.

“Who are you?” Kenny bellowed.

“He is a shadow walker…” Jesse said.

“I’m shadow from planet Umra…”

“Were you stalking me? But why?” It was Rose’s turn to ask.

“I was merely returning the favour that I owed your mother…” 

My mother? He knew my mother but how? He was almost my age and my mother died giving me birth. Rose was lost in a train of thoughts.

“Thanks for saving her…” Jesse said.

Are these people crazy enough to trust the words of a complete stranger and how can Rose be so sure of him being the one who saved her? Kenny eyed the stranger with disapproval.

“Why did you show up now?” Sam was the one to ask.

“I had been silently looking after her since a few months and I followed you here. I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation and I wanted to help… I cannot protect her in this wilderness and I wanted to see her back in safe confines…”

“We don’t need anyone’s help…We can protect our sister.”The twins chorused. They didn’t understand why everyone seemed to take the protection of Rose upon them. These few months they had worried about keeping her away from Jesse now they have to watch out for this guy too. He seemed to be more dangerous than Jesse in their eyes.

“In fact we do…”

None of them agreed with Jesse’s idea of pairing up the people. But, they had no choice but to follow him.

“Think about it… You know about the effect Shadowers have on the opposite sex, it won’t be good to let her be alone with him.” Sam urged him.

“Her safety is the most prior thing to me…” Jesse said.

“Why can’t she travel with Sam or Henry…” Andy asked grumpily.

“Teleporting is too risky in her condition…”

Sam and Henry took the twins while Jesse teleported Helen. Rose stood back watching them all go ‘poof.’

“Are you ready?” His voice had a surprising affect on her.

She nodded without looking at his brown eyes that seemed to demand her attention all the time. He extended his hand waiting for her to take it. She did so reluctantly. He smiled at her and snaked his arms over her waist pulling her closer.

“Don’t let go…it’s important that you stay connected to me.” Rose nodded. She had all these crazy feelings clouding her mind, she didn’t feel it right. She wanted to get over all these stupid feelings and making conversation is the best way to do that.

“Why didn’t you leave me by the doorstep?”

“I thought it was best to stay hidden…” He smiled.

He hushed her. “Watch…”

Rose watched her surroundings, the chirp of birds, the tug of the wind, the smell of wood and wet land everything start to fade second by second. Everything around her blurred, a gust of wind enveloped them and circled them. The darkness that was around them was killed by the tiny speck of light that grew brighter and brighter. She heard light music, the smell of something being cooked, the harsh sounds of motor told her that they reached their destination. She wondered what her destination was, where did Jesse take them all?

“Wow! “ she said as colors started to appear again.

She felt dizzy, Shadow caught her before she fell down.  “Beautiful…Shadow…” she mumbled before losing conscious.

Andy removed Shadow’s hands away from her. Kenny scooped her up and carried her over to the couch.

“What’s wrong with her? She is unconscious all the time…” Helen said concerned, bringing over a glass of water.

“The souldrinker has drained most of her blood and her use of magic drained the gained energy. She should rest really well and keep giving her the beetroot juice. It’ll build her stamina.”

“Sure…” Helen knew how much Rose would like that.

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How do you feel about Shadow and Rose? What do you think about the twins protective stance?