Free Where All Souls Meet by S. E. Campbell

was filled with fear, she was more determined than ever to leave this place and find her last soul. Her time in here had taught her that she had to save her friends because she loved them. She could find the last soul. She could. No door-shaking demon was going to get her to change her mind.
    "Oh, a shaking door." Eden rolled her eyes. "I am so scared."
    "I can do much more than shake doors," replied the grumbling voice. Eden recognized it. Lamashtu. "You would do well to not toy with me, human. I do not care what powers you have."
    "If you are so powerful, then why are you hiding behind a shield of wood?" Eden asked. "You are scared. No matter what you say, you are."
    An angry roar filled the hallway. The door burst into flames, falling to her feet in cinders. The smell of burning wood filled the air. Eden covered her head and then took a step back. She had thought she'd anger her guard. She hadn't thought it would be enough to have her blow off the door from the frame.
    "Who is using a door for a shield?" Lamashtu said. "I believe it's you who is scared now."
    Eden knew that Lamashtu was right, but what frightened her more was the fact that she couldn't see her. Behind her Eden heard the sound of movement and whipped around. She could not see Lamashtu. This must be a part of her abilities. How can I not find a creature ten feet tall with six feet wide bat wings and a lion's head? She decided she would rather not find out where Lamashtu hid and would attempt to get away. Charging forward, Eden sprinted into the next room, an empty, stone chamber, only to be ripped off her feet by someone grabbing her arm and pulling her to the ground. Blinking, she stared up but could not see anyone. The entire room filled with deep, dark, demonic laughter.
    "I was scared of you, but you are a weak human just like the others," Lamashtu said, her voice echoing throughout the dungeon. "How could I have been so foolish? You can't even find me."
    Eden struggled to her feet and glanced around, scared. There were stone steps leading down. There was a window and Eden saw spots of light in the distance — lanterns. Those had to be her friends. They would be the only ones brave enough, or maybe stupid enough, to monitor the dungeon. Maybe they would try to find her, or maybe she could get out to find them.
    You know what demons are like. Only the weak have to cloak themselves. She shut her eyes and listened to what was around her. There was only the sound of water dripping down the walls. Drip, drip, drip. Or was it water? She had not heard the sound before she started playing hide-and-seek with Lamashtu. Demons could not disappear into the cracks completely.
    Eden opened her eyes, zeroing in on a puddle of liquid and the water that dribbled down from the ceiling. Seriously? A demon that could become water? But as she examined the puddle, she realized it was too green to be water. It had to be something else, such as acid or boiling green poison. I have to test this, or else I won't get away.
    Knowing she was going to get hurt again, she sprinted for the stairs, and before she could blink, she felt the same hard hand grasp her arm and throw her backward. She fell to the ground with a crack and a groan. Cold laughter filled the dungeon.
    "You'll never find me," Lamashtu taunted. "You're making this too easy. Go ahead. Try to run again."
    Eden turned on her side and searched for the green liquid. The puddle had disappeared. All that remained was some green sludge on the ground. Rolling, Eden re-located the dripping acid pool and discovered it was now on her opposite side. Yuri told me a lot of demons infested rivers and lakes with poison. I always imagined demons dumping in the poison, not being the poison.
    Eden feigned being confused, groaned, and then struggled to her feet again. She gazed at the green sludge and slowly inched toward the wall, as if being too downtrodden to continue. She stood two feet away from the puddle. Once again, Lamashtu