Separate Souls | #1 Tainted Series

Chapter Eleven

" Don't you see? They're working against you."

Ryder Tate: 

Ryder Tate had grown rather tired of calling her "the woman". If she'd confided in him, it meant she was getting more comfortable around him and that was a victory for him.

She could be lying though. "Hope" was his father's bird, a dead Fallen, though Ryder was unsure of who it had been. It'd escaped a few days back, so she could've easily seen it, and if Theodore knew Kale, he could've told them about it, but what if it was true? If it was, someone already knew of her talents, which made the situation far more dangerous than he'd ever imagined. Besides, if she was trying to get to him, she would've handed him the letter as soon as possible, without going through so much trouble, and could've attacked him—she had so many opportunities to—but she didn't. He was defenseless, practically at her mercy!

They're trying to get to her, not me, he thought. And I don't even want to think about Theodore and my father. The reminder set him whirling, he clenched his teeth, his hands tightening into fists. Even though the treason affected him, greatly, especially since he owed his thirst for knowledge to his uncle, he needed to stay composed. Breathe, he told himself. If being the next Guilt leader taught him anything, it was to prioritize. He couldn't focus on every problem at once.

For now, he needed to get the pills and learn more about this woman beside him. She'd grown quiet, more than usual. He kept thinking about the fact that she trusted him to ask about the visions, so perhaps he could finally learn her name once and for all. He'd tried teasing it out of her and she neither gave in nor fought him entirely. She was passive, for the first time in the entirety of their adventure.

He gathered that she must've been as confused as he.

"Alright, I get that you don't want to give me your name, but–"

"I thought you wanted to guess'it," she said, barely looking at him.

Ryder suppressed a smile. "Correct... even so, try to tell me about any other visions you have, as a precaution." She neither agreed or disagreed to this proposal, and as Ryder tried to read her body language, a pang of pain burst through his head. Stifling a groan, he brought his hands to his forehead, as if that would somehow help.

Ryder... a voice slithered, but it faded as quickly as it had come.

It's getting stronger, I need a pill, he thought, now.  A sudden sense of panic engulfed him.

Meanwhile, the woman actions confused him further. He'd caught her staring at him often, sometimes muttering words so low he could barely understand them. Ryder, though flattered by her attention, didn't think much of it. His mind felt like it was being sawn in half and the stressing situation demanded his notice.

Soon enough, Ryder took the lead without any problem at all, he was already in somewhat familiar grounds, and they both agreed he'd take her to the herbalist. They stopped at the doorstep of a small battered up cabin. At first glance, it might simply seem like a few fallen trees, but Ryder knew better. The cool wind lashed his skin as he knocked on the door. "It's Ryder!" he called out, noticing the woman stood a few steps behind him, at a distance comfortable enough to run or pounce if she had to, or so Ryder assumed. She tightened her grip on his sword and he wondered if he would ever get it back.

The door slammed open and a thin woman stood in front of him. Her skin was as pale as his own, her curly hair was shriveled and frizzy, her eyes were a dark brown, her teeth were crooked, and her figure was so skeletal that Ryder could surround her wrist with his pinky and thumb. She barely had a womanly figure, so everyone considered her a child, and she agreed, after all, she didn't remember anything about where she came from or who she was, but she had a genuine smile, and kind eyes. Her eyes shone with every small little detail she noticed, if the day started raining, she'd smile and appreciate it all the same as if she were watching the sun set for the first time. Ryder adored her, he thought of her as family, someone who depended on him, who needed him, and he'd do whatever it took to make sure she was alright.