The Outsiders

The Outsiders: Chapter Eleven

Khristopher De Caldwick

After last night, everything felt different.

Even as I rested in his arms, a glum feeling ate at my chest. Not only had I discarded my plan, but I emotionally mated with Soum. We were emotionally bonded for life, a bond only mates could possess. I opened up to him, I told him my motivations, all except one. The one motivation that kept me stuck wherever I went, no matter the circumstances. I needed a purpose, one larger than life and bigger than reality itself. I needed a strong, keen, formidable purpose to show my father, Spareaux, and the entirety of Caldwick that I was more than a tainted half-human, half-vampire. Staring at Soum, the sickening feeling only grew.

He was missing a soul, a part of himself more profound than our bond. Souls were meant to be in the body they were born into. If not, they were corrupted with contempt, never the same once stolen. There was an emptiness inside of him, one I only yearned to fill. There was still hope with my plan of purpose, but it involved tugging at ties already feathered with remorse. Our bond was all but unbreakable, changing my mindset, leaving me to ponder possibilities: possibilities of returning his soul, completing Soum and my task.

           There was only one that I knew held plenty of stolen souls. There was only one being I knew of to be unmerciful. There was only one being that could possibly have Soum's soul: Dear Uncle Allard.

            Sitting up, my chest ached with the sharp sting of scorn. Pressing a kiss onto Soum's temple, I lifted myself out of bed, heading towards the small desk. Sending sleeping Soum a soft smile, I lit a candle and conjured the book.

Sunlight glimmered into the room, warming the tight space and adding a golden sheen onto every surface. The faint smell of stew and morning coffee intersperse itself through the bellowing wind. Though my stomach grumbled ravenously, I nestled my nose along Soum's shoulder blade, lost in thought. Not even an hour after falling asleep, I woke up once again with the bright sunlight. Though frazzled at my position, I paid it no mind after seconds.

             Re-reading the entire book — only the light magic — I found nothing about soul-stealing or tracking. Hopeless yet pondering, I skimmed through the rest of the book. Though I fell asleep while reading The Rouge Alpha of The Rogue Age, my mind wandered to Caldwick as I delved into a deep slumber.

I hadn't thought much about my old home, but my talk with Soum truly opened my eyes. I didn't know if my Cauldron had truly deceived me. Maybe it was only my father that knew of my mortality? There were answers I needed that I couldn't find in South Everstone. Some answers were more important than myself. I needed to return to Hestonia, my country of birth, and truly decipher what my life had become. Was I truly a fraud or was I a selfish fiend overcome with overwhelming information? What was my purpose?

All I knew was I needed to return to Caldwick and pay Uncle Allard a visit while I was at it. I couldn't do any of it without Soum.

As I lost myself amid a profound sense of uncertainty, Soum poked my cheek with his long finger. Staring at me with his wide, knowing eyes, I sighed. Pressing myself into his chest, I dreaded the thought of untangling our limbs and discussing my night-barren revelation.

"Khris. Kristen. Khrissy. Khristopher."

Sending him a glare, I begrudgingly met his playful gaze. I groaned when he rose from our sleeping positions, straightening his back and stretching his muscled arms. Shirtless and exposed, I could only gulp as I ogled at his glimmering skin, toned shoulders, and arm muscles. With a small chuckle, he kissed my forehead before crawling out of the thick wool coverings.