Heat and Soul: A Soul Eater Love Story (xKid)

~Chapter Six~

I feel as if I’m frozen in place. I can tell that Daemon is completely serious. I reach for my pendant.

“Yes, that pendant is a special family heirloom. It allows me to connect to your soul. I am a control mechanism for you.” His familiar lopsided smile cracks his face, “My parents were furious when they found out I had given it to you.”

I stare at the pendant with new respect. Wow. So this thing was really that important… I’m very glad I wore it every day like he told me to. Otherwise, it might’ve gotten lost in one of the two house-destroying fires I’d caused.

“So… When the little torch is lit…?”

“Yeah, that means I’m in it, helping control your powers.”

I blush suddenly, “Does that mean… You’ve seen me shower and dress through this thing…?”

He looks uncomfortable, “I tried my best not to…”

I stand up, “You… You sick pervert! You should’ve told me what it was when you gave it to me!”

As I try to take a swing at him, he glows and disappears. I whip my head around, looking for him before I realize what happened. I glare at my pendant. The torch is lit now, of course.

“Don’t think you’re getting off so easily,” I growl at it, “I will get you back for this.”

I hear his voice in my head, Oh, chill out. It didn’t do any harm.

“You can talk through it?!” I shriek.

Well, yeah. How else are we supposed to communicate during battle?

“You could see me and talk to me the whole time?! The decade we were apart for so long, I was the only one who was actually alone?!”

I guess you could look at it that way, yeah…

“You asshole!”

I rip the pendant off and fling it away. It lands somewhere in the next room. Auntie Io has been silent this whole time. Now she stands and puts a comforting hand on my shoulder.

“Look at it this way, sweetie… He’s your ticket into Shibusen. If he can help you control your powers, you can pass the entrance exam without needing Soul Protection.”

I stare at her, slowly realizing that she’s right. No more grueling training sessions for me! I want to jump and whoop for joy. But then, I remember that I have to tell Daemon about becoming a spy for Auntie Io. I shuffle over to the pendant and pick it up. The torch is still lit, so Daemon’s still in it.

“Alright, I’m sorry,” I sigh, “I won’t hit you. Come out, please. We still have things to discuss.”

Almost instantly, Daemon is standing in front of me again. I’m tempted to slap him anyways, but I keep my promise. We file back into the living room and sit down again. I squirm as I try to figure out how to tell him.

Auntie Io beats me to it, “This whole ordeal came just in time. Ember was going to enroll in Shibusen soon anyways. However, Daemon, you must realize that her mixed soul will bring her much suspicion. That’s where you come in; you’ll be Ember’s weapon and defend her reputation whenever you need to.”

Daemon still doesn’t look like he trusts her, but he agrees for my sake.

“Good! Then, I suppose I should tell you exactly why she’s enrolling… She’s going to be a spy for me. Someone in that school killed both of my sisters.”

I jump. That’s news to me. She never told me her reasoning before now.

“That man… I want my revenge on Shinigami. Ember’s job is to find a weakness or a secret way in so I can kill him in return for his ruthless slaughter.”

I’m unsure all of the sudden. Shinigami…? Isn’t that the headmaster? I glance over at Daemon. The look on his face tells me I’m right. He meets my gaze.

“Are you sure about this, Ember? I’ll support you through to the end, no matter what path you choose… But I need to know that this is really what you want to do.”

I hesitate. I didn’t think letting Auntie Io get revenge on one person would affect the school much… But she’s after the headmaster! Surely, that would cause some problems. I sneak a peek at Iodama. She’s almost glaring at me, as if daring me to back down now. She did give me a place to stay, and bought me clothes, and fed me, and… She’s done so much for me, what’s wrong with doing a little spying? It’s not like I’ll be the one to kill anybody, right?

I finally nod at Daemon, “Yes, I’m sure. Auntie Io saved my life. I have to return the favor somehow.”

Daemon sighs in resignation, “Then we’d better find a place to practice controlling those powers… I was lucky, getting into Shibusen because of my family background and the story that I was looking for a compatible meister. But you’re going to need some work.”

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It’s finally time to take the entrance exam… I feel ready, but I’m still nervous. Daemon told me that they’re not going to expect much, considering I’m joining at the lowest level. He’s even going to be there, as a special student witness. We have a plan of action. I just hope it works… I step into an obscure office building and ride the elevator to the basement floor. I knock on a closed metal door marked “Staff Only.”

“Who’s there?”

“My name is Ember. I’m here for an entrance exam.”

The door opens to reveal a large, open space made of concrete. Some folding chairs have been set up off to the side. Daemon and a few others I assume to be students are sitting near the back. Three adults, possibly judges, are closer with a metal table in front of them. There’s a large mirror to one side of the table. I step into the light in the center of the room.

One of the adults cranks a screw in his head, “Where’s your aunt? She was so excited to get you enrolled; we figured she would come.”

I try to ignore how freaky he looks, “She couldn’t make it today,” I smile apologetically, “But I’m okay alone.”

Screw-head squints at me, as if looking into my soul. He starts to look confused. He mumbles something to the other adults and stares at me suspiciously. I squirm as all three turn their gazes to me.

A red-haired guy laughs, “Nonsense, Stein! She’s too young and sweet to be a witch! You sure your glasses don’t need cleaned?”

I clear my throat, “Actually, I do have witch blood in me, but I don’t know exactly where it came from. I’m more meister than witch, I assure you.”

The judges exchange glances briefly, then the only woman in their midst speaks.

“Go on then. What can you do that is special?”