Page 23 of A Soul’s Curse (Fallen Souls #1)

Despite my eagerness to jump right into things, Ren suggested I get some rest, choosing to make sure I got home by creeping behind me in his car while I putted along on Scootie Pie.

“I … have to go somewhere and do something,” Ren mentioned as I pulled up alongside his window as we approached my home. The downstairs lights were on. I needed to make this conversation quick in case Sly got curious and heard something outside. “And no, you can’t come.”

“Okay. But—” Ren’s eyes flashed a molten red and cut off my words.

“I am telling you because I am trying to earn your trust. But Theo, you need to trust me , too. I have to do this on my own. You can’t be there.”

“Can you at least tell me what you’re doing?”

He sighed, raking a hand through his messy auburn hair and running his tongue over the piercing on his bottom lip.

“Some things I’d rather not have to explain.

But what I can tell you is that I was given some …

information that might be helpful to us in dealing with the Syndicate.

But while I am free to do what I want, your oath will punish the person who cares about you if you attempt to intervene.

So please … just trust me. I’ll let you know what I find in the morning.

Stay in your apartment. It should be safe.

The Syndicate, or police, won’t be bothering you for now. ”

After Ren pulled away, I knew there was no way I could relax. I paced around the apartment, making myself a grilled cheese and some fries to eat, then sat on the couch with my boyfriend who had joined me downstairs to watch a movie.

“Hey, what’s up with you?” Sly wasn’t actually watching the movie and was messing around on his phone, sliding it on the end table when he saw me walking over.

He was dressed in a pair of comfy-looking sweatpants and a college t-shirt looking full of energy and upbeat—the exact opposite of how I was feeling.

“Oof. You’re looking a bit rough. Bad day? ”

“You could say that.” I nibbled on my sandwich. It didn’t surprise me he hadn’t heard about what happened with Mr. Carson. Sly lived in his own little bubble, and, since the establishment was owned by a demon, he probably wouldn’t have even realized it was the place I worked.

He snagged a fry off my plate, then took the whole thing from me.

Before I could yell at him for stealing my dinner, he placed it on the coffee table and held out his arms toward me.

With my back against his chest, I leaned into him as his thumbs dug into the stiff muscles of my shoulders to release the tension. “Anything I can help with?”

Sly’s hand glided lower down my body toward the button of my jeans, his touch sending shivers through my skin.

His lips lingered at the curve of my neck, planting slow, deliberate kisses that left a trail of warmth in their wake.

The faint brush of his breath teased my senses, making my pulse race with every tender movement.

“Yes,” I responded with a breathy, desperate moan as he unfastened the button of my jeans, his skilled hand brushing over my bulge through the thin fabric of my boxers, sending a jolt of heat through me.

I craved the distraction, the escape. I needed this release more than ever. With my world unraveling around me, I yearned for something, anything, that felt normal—something to keep me grounded amidst the chaos and make me feel good.

Sly’s phone then chimed, and the heat that had been tingling through my body suddenly turned cold when he removed his hand.

“Shit. Sorry, babe. I got this big endorsement from a gaming company to promote their new game. A group of us is streaming it tonight, and everyone wants to meet up beforehand to make sure we have a plan. I gotta go. We can finish this later tonight. I miss you.”

He kissed me on top of the head, then pushed me aside as he jumped up from the couch and scurried upstairs to use his computer.

That wasn’t the first time he said he missed me, yet he was the one always running away.

I sank into the couch, drawing my knees up to my chest to hug them and rest my chin on top, closing my eyes.

It wasn’t late, only about eight at night, and I wondered where Ivy and Stella ran off to.

Sighing, I wished Ellie was here. She always knew how to make me laugh when I was feeling down.

“I’m gonna forever regret eating that salad for lunch.

” My gaze shot open to see Ellie’s apparition hovering before me, staring at my half-eaten grilled cheese.

Her edges shimmered like heat waves, her form barely holding together.

The dark circles beneath her eyes weren’t physical, but they clung to her expression all the same—tired, disoriented, unraveling.

Even her voice had lost its sharpness, like it was struggling to hold onto whatever fragile thread still tethered her here.

“If I knew I was gonna be trapped as a ghost, I would have stuffed my face with potato skins and chocolate cake instead of vegetables.”

“I’ll fix this,” was all I could respond, hugging my knees tighter against my chest. I shared a connection to ghosts, which is why Ellie must have felt my need for her and suddenly appeared.

I wondered if it would work the same way with Capsian, being a half-ghost. Would he come if I called him?

What would I do if I came face-to-face with him?

Ellie shrugged, floating over toward the couch to sit down next to me.

She didn’t really sit, but hovered above the cushion.

Her form looked like it was bleeding magic, wisps of energy curling off her fingers and trailing from her mouth when she spoke.

“You know, it’s not all that bad. I got to speak to my great-great-great-great-grandfather.

How many people can say that , huh?” She tried to elbow me, her magic like a static electricity against my skin.

I knew she was trying to distract me, but I was already half paying attention to her as I picked up my phone and started scrolling through it.

“What are you doing?” Ellie asked.

“Stella mentioned the Syndicate likes to use abandoned office buildings and warehouses. I know it’s a long shot, but I figured I’d do a little research to see if anything popped up recently in the area. You never know.”

“Oh. Well, you have your own ghost friends, right?” I glanced over at Ellie, my brow furrowing with confusion.

A mischievous smile danced across her ghostly face.

“I put out some feelers for you, checking in with ghosts who might have heard about this Caspian guy or where my body might be. Most of them were eager to help out. I bet half the city of Salem knows you’re looking for Caspian by now.

But, if the Syndicate really has no one who can see or hear ghosts, use that to your advantage. ”

“How so?”

Ellie scratched her chin. “It’s not like they have anything overly exciting to do with their time.

Have them check out some of these places.

Maybe even spy on some people. Even weak ghosts can manipulate emotions to some extent …

you know, like that creepy feeling of being watched or followed?

Have them mess with Leon a bit. Maybe he’ll slip up. ”

My phone buzzed in my hand. The number listed was unknown, so I ignored it.

“That’s a great idea. I never actually thought about—”My phone buzzed again. The same unknown number. I let it go to voicemail, but it rang a third time.

“Hello?” I finally answered.

There was some crackling, but then a male voice spoke. “Word on the street is you’re looking for someone, Theodore Kingston.”

My hands started shaking and my stomach dropped. I put the call on speaker so Ellie could hear. “Who is this?”

“I go by Gray, but I know who you’re really looking for.”

“I’m looking for Caspian Vale,” I said just for clarification. I looked at Ellie, her eyes wide with intrigue. “Do you know where he is? How can I find him?”

Ellie came closer to the phone.

“I … I need to talk to him. About something.” Shit.

I wasn’t expecting anything to happen so soon.

From what Leon told me, Caspian lived in the shadows as a phantom.

For someone to directly call me about his whereabouts, hours after I made the deal with the Syndicate, was a blessing and a curse.

It saved me the effort of searching for him, assuming I could trust what this person was going to tell me, but I hadn’t even thought about a plan, or what to say when I actually spoke with the phantom.

“Breathe,” Ellie motioned with her hands as she elaborately inhaled and exhaled. “Just tell him you want to meet.”

“I’ll tell you what,” Gray continued before I could.

“Caspian is a cautious, calculating man who has been betrayed many times over the last hundred years by people he thought he could trust. Very few are granted an audience with him, but he’s intrigued by you.

Many ghosts sing your praises, but he has no reason to.

Prove to him that he should trust you. Help him with something, and he’ll consider listening to what you have to say. ”

“O-okay.” Striking new deals just to uphold past ones. This was going to go over well.

“Head over to the Salem Inn. There’s something there he wants you to get for him.”

“Wait, right now?” I clenched my t-shirt, fanning it out as I started sweating. “Now’s not a good time. I can’t—”

“Do you want a chance to speak to Caspian or not?” Gray’s tone turned irritated and bitter. “This is a time-sensitive matter. It happens now or never.”

“Of course I do! But … no offense, how do I know I can trust you? That you aren’t someone trying to trick me?”

“You’re only being offered one chance at this, Theo. If you trust me or not is up to you.”