Broken Souls

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Authors: Jade M. Phillips
college soon. Nursing school, like
my mother.”
    Pandora scribbled something onto a paper. “Good,” she said. “All
right, what else? Any hobbies or careers that would enable you to contribute to
this community? What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
    I pondered her questions. Like grasping around in the dark
for a toothpick, I tried to recall the moments of my prior life. So I focused
hard and, little by little, flashes came back to me.
    “I loved children. I would babysit all of the children in
the neighborhood. And piano…” I instantly remembered the conversation with Guy.
The conversation we had that epic night in the mission during my
transformation. He’d been trying to distract me from the terrible pain and I’d
told him I loved to play piano. And though I reasoned he would mock me, he
hadn’t. At the time a piano-playing vampire struck me as bizarre. “I loved
playing the piano,” I recalled.
    Pandora held a pen in her hand and tapped it against her
chin.
    “Interesting,” she said, yet I got the feeling that she
found me less than impressive.
    But I tuned out her indifference, seeing that once I’d tapped
into my memories, they started flooding back like a river. I sat up straight.
    “I also volunteered a lot, in group homes and shelters. I
enjoyed helping people. I love to cook as well, though I’m not very good at
it.”
    Pandora laughed. “Well there’s not a lot of need for cooking
around here. Plus, the witches have that covered.”
    “Right.” My cheeks blushed at the irony of a vampire chef.
    Pandora sat forward and placed her pen on the table. “I
normally would not do this with a new recruit, but I’m placing you on blood slave
duty. Seeing from our earlier snafu, Horus insists you be somewhere he can keep
an eye on you. That is his area and you will be training with Cloe.”
    The lump that had formed in my chest earlier grew in size,
making it hard to breath. The last thing I wanted was to be under Horus’ scrutiny,
but training with Cloe might be the silver lining I needed. If I had someone to
talk to, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all, and I liked Cloe. She was kind
and I might just find a friend in her.
    Pandora reclined in her seat again and eyed me intently.
    “Do you have any questions for me?”
    A million questions were at the tip of my tongue, but at
that moment I couldn’t think of a single one. The relief of no longer being put
to death must’ve overshadowed everything else. I shook my head.
    “You will report for duty tomorrow night. For now, go to the
Crystal Palace Saloon and tell Jax I sent you. He’ll show you to your quarters
and get you settled in for sleep.”
    “Thank you.” I gave her a tentative smile, worried I’d
stirred up past feelings she didn’t wish to rehash by bringing up Nora. I saw a
depth of sadness in her eyes which normally held indifference.
    “Now go.” She waved a dismissive hand. “The sun will be
rising soon and I don’t like peeling vampire jerky from the streets.”
    With that, I was off to the Crystal Palace to find my new
roommate. I touched the place on my chest where the rosary Guy had given me
laid hidden beneath my shirt. I hoped Jax the werewolf was less unpredictable
than Horus the vampire. I also hoped that I could eventually let go of the fear
holding me so tightly. I was home now and needed to make the best of it.

 
     
    TEN: GUY
     
    They were at it for hours, interrogating me and basically beating
me senseless. Bruises and cuts covered my body. My throat was parched and
tongue dry. I’d lost track of time since being kept in the cell, my body
weakening from physical damage and lack of nutrition.
    But I refused to utter the slightest of sounds, my silence
infuriating the vampire Horus even more. Despite the pain, it amused me to know
I was getting the better of him, and he and his sidekick vampiress were tiring.
It wouldn’t be long before they gave up and left me for the day only to return
the next

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