Free My Soul to Keep (The Soul Keeper Series - Young Adult Paranormal Romance) by Melissa Solis

I
have to be at the ready. I have placed protection around your home so at least
you are safe there.
    I
am so relieved that your father is your real dad. I tried to find out who your
mother is and it was extremely unusual that I was told to leave the matter
alone and not to pursue the issue. I mean what if you are right and you still
have a living parent in this world? People change, maybe she is in a better
place, I can only speculate as to why a mother would abandon her new born with
the father. There is something amiss about this whole story and I want to find
out what is perplexing me.
    I
wasn't put on your guard until you were about six months old. I feel terrible
that the woman your father married turned so vindictive toward you. She treated
you with such harsh indifference most of the time. I think she was jealous of
your relationship with your father. You were three the first time I saw her
spank you and I never let her near you in that way again. She appeared to trip
over her own feet and busted her lip on the coffee table the first time I
intervened. I think it scared her, and she deserved to be scared. Every time
her temper would flare up around you, she would have some highly unfortunate
accidents. Finally she learned her lesson at the park one day, I was watching
you on the swings and she wanted to leave, you wanted to stay a few more
minutes and she went to jerk your arm into compliance. Conveniently, a giant
crow just happened to collide with her head at that very moment, sure, she
needed a couple of stitches, but she never abused you again.
          We arrive back at shore and I drive you
home. You haven't said one word to me and I deserve that. I think it is for the
best for you not to like me right now. Although it has to be one of the hardest
things I have ever had to experience. I wish I could see the whole picture. I
leave you to go inside and hand you your keys. You give me a look of -why does
it have to hurt so much? And I have to turn from you yet again. I don't hug you
and I hope that makes it easier for you. I lope down the stairs pretending to
be apathetic.
      I can't watch you tonight it hurts too much. I
know you're safe inside and I will know if you leave. ~
      I take a
break from my journal and go into the kitchen to cook something and that's when
I seem him from the corner of my eye. He appears black as coal and his sickly
yellow eyes glow in the shadows. I'm always ready for a good fight. I move
swiftly upon him and grab him by the neck and squeeze, his yellow eyes strain
under the pressure. His talons rake across my arm like a kitten's claws. He
draws blood, which heals immediately. I slam him into the stone floor and crack
the tile. Now he's irritated me. I reach deep inside his chest and with one
quick swipe I end him.
      In his last
breath, he seethes. “Elijah we’re coming for her.” He disintegrates into a mist
and his shadow bleeds back into the dark corner. I don't know why they even try
to fight with us; they're like ants under a shoe. I return to the kitchen and
take out some shrimp and toss them with some olive oil and fresh pepper. I
squeeze a little lemon in the bowl and throw the shrimp on the grill. I enjoy
my time in the kitchen. I make a small portion of risotto. I grab a wine glass
and uncork a bottle of Merlot. Brennen is probably eating a peanut butter and
jelly sandwich for dinner. I would love for her to try this. The wine is
pleasing and surprisingly rich with notes of dark chocolate and
blackberries.   After dinner I make a
chocolate ganache and a batch of vanilla cupcakes, garnishing each one with a
fresh raspberry. I place one on a plate and take it next door. I just can't
stay away from her for very long. I see her on the sofa reading a book. I tap
on the glass and she rises to greet me. She's wearing a short emerald green satin
robe; it matches the exact color of her eyes. I love how her silky blonde hair
is pulled into a ponytail highlighting her long