Page 3 of Soulmateless (Soulmateless Trilogy #1)

Amias

Gloria nervously brushes her fingers through her blonde hair. "I'm so sorry I have to say this, but… you're not my type…"

My heart plunges, even though I saw this coming. "Oh… Okay then…"

My date, Gloria, sucks air through her teeth as we stroll between the food trucks and tents.

"Look. Don't get me wrong. You're a great guy.

You seem very motivated to help other people, and I think it's sweet to see you talk about how much you love the orphanage, but…

" She finally let’s go of her hair and squeezes her hands together, stretching her awkward grin.

"I just don't feel the chemistry. You'd make a really great friend, but I'm not feeling a romantic connection, you know?”

I attempt to keep my heart afloat, despite it yanking itself down. The disconnect between us was obvious the whole date, but I still hoped we’d work out. "That's completely okay."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. People have their types. We just don't match and that's fine." At least this is less devastating than finding out you're holding someone back from true love.

She exhales, her hands falling to either side of her scarlet sundress. Her smile looks less exaggerated and more relieved. “I’m glad you understand."

"Well, I wouldn't want to waste your time." We continue our walk underneath short brick buildings, catching whiffs of fat and sugar from food trucks that would've provoked my hunger any other time.

In the silence, I stare at my black tuxedo instead. It doesn't help the awkwardness like I thought it would.

Our steps seem to drag when there's pressure in the atmosphere, like an invisible magnetic field pushing me away from something.

I let my eyes strain them so the faint pink line tied to Gloria’s heart becomes visible. She's not soulmateless after all. The other end of the bond is nearby.

Glancing around, I try to find the person she's linked to. I should bring them together if they're so close. It would make the date better for one of us at least.

“Amias?” Gloria murmurs.

Looking through the crowds of women in simple dresses and men in collared shirts, I pick up my pace and follow the string. Gloria calls my name and runs behind me, but I don't want to wait in case their match gets too far.

My heart jolts when I spot a man dressed in black leather reaching for a food truck window lined with amare flowers. He’s given a dessert like the one drawn on the truck, a little heart shaped cake dipped in pink cream, under the printed sign, “Amare Flavored Cream Cake!”

The man wearing black leather jacket walks by me and the pressure of the pink string strengthens. It happens every time soulmates are close and my powers are in use.

He's the one for her.

I sigh, my heart digesting in my stomach. As the grandson of the gift of Love, it's only right to bring them together.

“Amias?” Gloria murmurs beside me, quirking a brow.

I titter and nod my head in his direction. “You’ll have better luck with that guy. The one with the leather.”

She follows my gesture, her eyes twinkling once she spots him. She falls quiet for a moment. “You think?”

“I can sense it.”

Her eyes shift as if to take in all the detail. He even looks more like her type; muscular and handsome, with a confident and charming spirit. He's the guy that women fawn over in movies, complete with dark hair and bronzed skin.

When my powers were triggered from just a single glance, I can tell she wouldn't be put in harm's way with him. He would protect her and adore her until his dying breath. He's perfect for her.

She deserves to have that kind of love.

“Well, you better get to him before you miss your chance.” I chuckle, nudging her shoulder.

She jumps before making eye contact again.

“Oh! Yeah…I guess I should.” The silence returns, her eyes flicking side to side before holding my gaze again.

“This is really mature of you. I mean…we're on a date and you're willing to admit that you're not my soulmate, and you point out the right guy just as you realized.”

I shrug. “I'd rather you find the one than have me waste your time. It's the right thing to do.”

She gives me a slow nod before returning a grin. “You might not be the one for me, but you're truly the best date.”

“I try.”

“And you will find someone. Even if you’re technically soulmateless. There has to be a woman out there waiting for you.”

I titter. If only that were true. “We'll see.”

“Thank you.” She starts making her way over to her soulmate. “You're the best!”

“No problem.” I watch as she approaches him. Wiping his lips of the cream from the cake, he immediately smirks at her greeting.

Finally being alone, I drop my shoulders. That’s quite literally the fiftieth date I've gone on. Still no match.

There's a pit of emptiness within me, the dread knowing I'll never experience something as special as love.

I turn away, bowing my head as I stroll by couples and families doing romantic crafts at different tents and blowing out the fire lit in the middle of red ignise flowers floating on the water fountains.

Many women hold amare flowers in one hand as they grip their lover with the other, some stopping to admire the glow when they both touch it.

l avert my eyes to my leather shoes. It's like life is mocking me.

Every couple looks so happy and fulfilled.

Their lives are complete. I know others feel fulfilled without a lover, but I'm not like them.

Life will still hold its beauty, but there will always be an empty space that longs to be filled.

But I've had fifty one dates, none of them going past the third. It's okay that none of them fit me, because people deserve to find their true soulmates, but the hope of having a lover dwindles each time.

But it's already been determined. I'm soulmateless. Destined to never find love. Never to be complete. To always yearn but never obtain it.

I cup my hands together. Focusing on my magic, my eyes tense again, their pink glow reflecting on my skin. Within seconds, the beautiful stemless amare flower grows.

It won't glow tonight. It won't ever glow.

What's the point of being able to make these flowers if they will never glow for me? I will never form a romantic relationship strong enough.

“Hey Amias!”

I perk my head up to see Glaide in a cream colored shirt and a black leather vest. He's smiling, oblivious to what happened a second ago.

I mimic his grin and tug my black suit jacket to make it look straighter. “Hey Glaide. How's it going?”

“Great!” Glaide glances around. “Where's your girl? I thought you had a date.”

“Yeah.” I sigh. The pain spreads through my body. “No luck this time.”

Glaide’s jaw drops. “Again?”

I purse my lips and shrug. “I found her soulmate.” I walk past him. “They're a rather nice pair.”

Glaide keeps pace with me. “On your brother's Soulmate Celebration, too? She could've waited until another day.”

“I showed her to her soulmate. She wouldn't have left if I didn't push it.”

His brows furrow. “Amias…”

“It's okay.”

“That's the fiftieth-”

“Yeah.” I smile. “There's nothing I can do about that.” It hurts to know I'll never find romance, but it's just a burden I'll have to deal with.

“So then…what's next? Are you just gonna turn every date into a matchmaking session?”

My body slumps over. “I guess I-"

“Here comes the young prince.” I look up to a woman with a cloak, the black hood casting a shadow over her face. The only thing visible is her wrinkled grin and dull white hair. “Perhaps you can save us from the hate that has plagued us.”

I scoff before noticing the cloud clasp keeping her hood together and the flier in her hand. Laughter escapes me. It's one of those crazy people. “Don't even try. ”

“Dreamscreecher aren't all evil but Amara would never know….” She rasps. “She’ll never understand-"

“Amara does understand. They were created to put us in harm's way.” I lower my voice, keeping it firm. “It was proven when we tried to befriend them all those centuries ago when they were first created. When we wanted peace, they attacked us. Isn't that proof enough?”

“That story isn't-”

“Amara's just trying to make sure people like you aren't torn by these demented creatures. The hate that we feel towards them is justified. Besides, Cosmo wouldn't make the Gift of Love hateful. He doesn't make mistakes and he loves us too much to do that! We're only following her story.”

“But dreamscreechers. They-"

I don't let her finish, just like Grandmother taught me. “Look, lady. I know you mean well but this ideology is something you need to talk about with a therapist. This kind of thinking is dangerous.” I offer her a smile. “I only say it with love.”

She opens her mouth again when someone shouts our way. We snap up to a cop, his face red like his uniform. The woman squeezes her cloak quickly, turning invisible. Only her face shows but with a quick turn, it's like she's not even there.

I walk away with Glaide beside me, knowing she’ll escape as the cop stands where she was, only to be whipping his head in different directions.

I chuckle under my breath and shake my head.

The woman's insane, but honestly, I'm glad she has an escape.

She doesn't deserve punishment for her delusions. It wouldn't help her case anyways.

“I still don't get how someone could even think that way.” Glaide's eyes narrow over his shoulder. “That's crazy.”

“Maybe if people weren't getting cleansed all the time, they could learn the truth instead of forgetting how they got tricked in the first place.” The dreamscreecher sympathy is dangerous but therapy should be the solution. They have good intentions after all.

“But that’s why they also come to you. You're an easy target. A listener.” Glaide shakes his head. “I say cleansing is their best chance to restart life.”

I open my mouth to counter him when a buzz comes from his pocket. He sighs, taking out his CaeCae phone. “Ivy's looking for me again. I'll catch up with you later, okay?”

I hold in my breath, a tingle starting in my hands as the thought of Glaide and Ivy twists my gut.

No. Don't let those flowers grow in front of Glaide.

I curtly nod, trying and failing to bury my anguish as we exchange goodbyes and he goes off to see her.

His soulmate.

As he walks off, I release the breath I held, letting my hands buzz stronger as green flowers wrap tightly around my arms and hands. They pop from my black suit and their thorns stab into my skin. A punishment for being envious.

Invidia flowers. Flowers of envy.

The flowers of loving something that someone else has but never having it yourself.

I foolishly stand there, sulking in the feeling. I hate being envious. I feel so stupid. Glaide has someone to share his whole life with him. Someone to cherish him as much as he does her. Someone to be intimate with. Someone to have a family with.

He's found true love. He's found happiness and fullness in a way I'll never feel. His life is set and complete.

And here I am, a man that's going to go through his whole life without experiencing the greatest joys of life.

Glaide triggers this disgusting feeling at every mention of his soulmate.

And I hate myself for it.

The flowers keep popping through my clothes as I turn away from him. Stop thinking like that. Stop it!

My life will be satisfying either way. I don't need a woman. I don't need a girlfriend or a wife. Many people live life just fine without a partner. I can do this!

The thoughts do nothing to pull my heart out of this lonely well of disappointment.

My eyes stress like they would pop from their sockets.

My breath quickens as I realize that my eyes must be glowing green if these flowers have grown!

I jerk my head in different directions, now aware that people are staring with scorn and squinted eyes.

I pick up the pace of my feet, moving somewhere away from here.

I already look like a freak to everyone. I don't need more of it.

I dash into a dark alleyway between the rough brick buildings, with only a single dim light hanging over the dumpster next to me.

It's dusty, dirty and decorated with spilled garbage.

Pressing my back against the wall, I take deep breaths while peeking out to see if others saw me go here, but it seems they all turned their attention elsewhere.

I realize my foot’s tapping and force it down before sliding my back down against the rough bricks until I'm sitting.

I can't let that happen again. No one should ever see me like that again.

Bang!

I jerk my head towards the dumpster. My body tenses to a point it would hurt to move.

What was that?

Bang! Clank! Ting!

I flinch and stand quickly. It seems like something is rummaging through the trash. Like a raccoon maybe.

No. The sound was louder than that. From a much bigger creature. Like…

A dreamscreecher.

They’re the size of pumas with nearly the same kind of body, with its claws and teeth waiting to shred me.

If one is in there, I'm done.

My heart lashes my chest as I reach for my pistol in my pocket. I don't go anywhere without It. I wouldn't dare.

And this is why.

“Hey!” I shout putting the gun in front of me. I cringe at the thought that I just exposed myself to a predator. What kind of an idiot am I?

For a moment everything is still. Dead silent. My muscles tighten more, waiting for the noise to come again.

I swallow and slowly approach the dumpster. I want to run, but what if this creature ends up ripping apart a child, or another innocent civilian? A prince like me should be the first one to take a hit.

My racing heart begs to differ. My thoughts switch between wanting to run and wanting to protect people.

I'm sure I'm dead. The only way I'm getting out is in someone's digestive system.

At least, I could get a shot in its head, or fill its stomach before it goes feasting on anyone else. You know, whichever works.

I take careful steps approaching the dumpster. Even with my palms sweating and my legs vibrating with fear, I keep moving forward.

This is it.

I get right in front of the dumpster, about a foot away from its mouth. My breath shakes as I peer inside, seeing nothing but darkness. Either the creature is hiding, or I’m just hallucinating. I would prefer the latter.

I debate whether or not to move a step closer. Then I take it, stretching my neck over the opening aware that I could be looking at death any moment. This could be the end. Getting swallowed by a dreamscreecher.

At first, I still only see darkness.

Then a pair of glowing, purple eyes blink back at me.

Before I can jump back, the eyes spring up at me as something crashes into my temple, making me yelp and fall into an abyss of death.