Eternal (#1 in the Soulmate Series)

One

 Warm blood ran in between Tori's fingers. She hissed and brought her hand to her mouth, a frown tugging the features of her face. In the pearled moonlight, she could hardly see the thorns on the brambles in front of her, but they were definitely there, evident from the cut she had just received. The entwined branches caught on her clothes and she was hesitant to move. If her dress ripped her father would know she had been wandering in the woods again. 

It wasn't like Tori had wandered too far, she had just broken through the line of trees into the crawling woods. If she turned around, the estate would be right behind her and it would take mere moments to walk back to the manor. But the temptation of the world beyond the forest called to her more than any other place had. It was said to be wicked and vile beyond the woods. Evil dwelt in the air and death walked with souls wherever they went. It wasn't that Tori was overly ecstatic to walk with death. But she believed that something beyond the woods could explain her mother's disappearance. 

Reason, something that rarely came to Tori, settled in her mind and she sighed. She reached down and gathered her skirts, listening as the fabric snagged. She mentally cursed herself. She should have stolen her brothers breeches before wandering down into the woods. She hoped the tears were small enough the maids wouldn't notice. She didn't need them telling her father she needed more dresses. 

Tori wandered back up the small hill, the pale grass rippling beneath the cool breeze. The night was cool, a nipping chill flushing her freckled face. She could see the orange glow of lanterns surrounding the manor and it led her back to the side door. If she entered through the kitchen's storage area she could slip back into the house without having to encounter her obnoxious brother. 

Tori opened the door and the constant bustlings of the kitchen greeted her. The maids and young servant boy were conversing casually as they sat around the stove, peeling potatoes and carrots. 

"Oy, lassie. What you think your doing going out so late a'night." Laurie, the head chef didn't even raise her head. 

Tori dropped her skirts and smoothed her hands over them,"Practicing the dark arts, sacrificial rituals. I'm hoping to perform one on my brother sometime soon." 

Laurie laughed quietly, her shoulders moving up and down. She shook her head,"You're wild. Ought to be tamed one day." 

"No," Tori said simply, turning and leaving the kitchen. The manor was silent, as always. Poorly lit hallways and intricate decor did not mix well. Rather than seeming rich and luxurious, the house seemed haunted and a step away from being abandoned. The halls were tall and the ceilings towered above them, sky high. Chandeliers hung throughout the hall, unlit and raining dust as they swung. A thick, lovel carpet ran beneath Tori's feet, leading to the front door and on the right, the parlor. 

Tori entered the parlor and immediately grimaced when she saw her brother, Jordan browsing the bookcase that stood beside the fireplace. 

"Is that my dear sister? No doubt, just returning from frolicing in the woods like a foolish traveler," Jordan did not bother to turn around and look at her. 

"My apologies. I did not mean to interrupt you and your books. Such a sweet love affair," Tori rolled her eyes, sarcasm falling like heavy rain. 

Jordan took a deep breath, pulling a book from the shelf and spinning around to face her. Her brother was taller than her, slender and fair. It seemed as though he had never seen a day of sun in his life. No freckles dotted his face like hers and the way he carried himself seemed pretentious. Everything about him irked Tori. 

"What would you know of love, you cold hearted witch," Jordan stuck his tongue out at her. This was what bothered her the most about him. He was a refined, intelligent gentleman in the presence of anyone else, but with her he was childish and mean. Everyone loved him and Tori thought it was unfair. It was as if they had fallen for a false man. Only she knew the real side of him and it bothered her that no one else could see it. 

"More than you, you uptight, obnoxious, unloveable son of a boar," She sneered. Tori was always the first to get vicious in fights. She couldn't help it. She had a temper and he set it off like a firecracker. 

Jordan lunged forward, grabbed a pillow from the couch and threw it at her. Hard. It hit Tori straight in the face, sharp and quick, ,the rough fabric scraping. Her mouth fell open and she glared at him. She bent down and swiped up the pillow. 

"You're dead," She said. Jordan saw the look in her eyes and broke into a run, shoving her out of the way as he zipped out the door and around the corner. Tori stumbled into the nearby dresser before pushing herself up and taking off after him. He'd better hide real good because when she found him he was done for. 

The hallways were dark but Tori knew them by heart. She ran up the stairs to the second floor, turning left before stopping and catching her breath. Where would Jordan hide if he knew his sister was going to kill him the moment she found him.

Tori heard the soft sound of footsteps behind her. She could sense the presence of her brother. That little prick thought he could sneak up on her. With a loud cry, she twirled around and swung the pillow in her hands as hard as she could into his face. 

A airy shriek that sounded like a cross between a whistle and a hiss sounded and Tori stepped back. 

"Wha...?" She started but her voice faded into nothing when in the dim light, two eyes looked back at her, glowing red. A tremor started in her heart and she suddenly felt the excitement that came with a fright. The red glowing eyes faded and she saw nothing of his face anymore.

Tori's eyes adjusted in the dark and she realized this was not her brother. Perhaps, an apology should have stuttered out of her mouth. An explanation. Anything similar to regret. 

Instead, Tori found herself saying,"Who are you?" 

She should have screamed for her father. A maid. Even her brother. But the longer she stood there, the less she feared and the more her curiosity pulled her. The man before her said nothing. She could nothing but his silhouette, a somewhat tall man, slender and sharp figured. He was as tall as her brother, but he was most definitely not her brother. 

Tori took a step forward and repeated,"Who are you?" 

The figure flinched and his eyes began to glow red again. His head tipped to one side and he took a step forward. She saw the silhouette of his hand as it began to reach for her. Tori took the smallest step back. 

"I'll scream," She said quietly. She couldn't figure out why she hadn't yet. She couldn't look away from his glowing red eyes. The man took another step towards her. Tori sucked in a breath and opened her mouth to scream. 

A gust of wind whipped around Tori and before her eyes the figure disappeared. Her heart was still beating wildly but it ceased completely when she was grabbed from behind, an arm tight around her waist. Her scream started but halted when his hand tightly cupped over her mouth. 

"Not a sound," He whispered in her ear. Tori grimaced and tried to pull away but his grip was too tight. He removed his hand from her mouth. Tori thought to scream again but stopped when he grabbed her right arm and roughly tugged her sleeve up to expose her skin. He touched the middle of her inner forearm, muttering some strange language beneath his breath. A purple symbol engraved itself on her fair skin, burning as it appeared and Tori gasped. She struggled to pull away but the man did not let go. 

"What are you doing?!" She cried finally, her captivation dissipating as she looked at the mark he had just made on her skin. 

The man released her and Tori stumbled forward, spinning around to face the assaulter. But he was gone. He had vanished into thin air.

Tori looked at her arm. The mark was still there, burned into her skin. There were no comprehensible thoughts she could form about this. 

Who was he? What had just happened? Where had he gone? What did this mark mean? Tori turned and ran from the hallway, her heart and her mind racing. 

What did this mark mean?
What did this mark mean?
What did this mark mean?