Lunar Ryce, Soul Searcher: Sheol Legacies, #2

By M J Rutter

She knows the rules, she knows she can't fall in love and she certainly shouldn;t be falling in love with a Hunter. But she has and adfter his rejection, the only thing she could do was leave.

Sheol is under siege, held captive by Xavier and his demons. She has to collect a thousand souls to help strengthen the veil between worlds so that the demons will have no choice but to leave. With Elias Reid, the Hunter, in her heart, missing everyone she has ever known, on top of being completely exhausted, how can that be her only priority?

Her ex, Scott is Xavier's son, and he is trying everything he can to win her back, but her heart belongs to Elias. Scott had his chance and he blew it. This causes him to takedrastic measures with unprecedented consequences. The ransom is high and guess who has to pay it.  

• Language: English
• Publisher: M J Rutter
• Release date: May 31, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499392487

Book preview

Prologue

FOR A WEEK SHE HAD visited Donor after Donor, and yet more appeared on her body like henna tattoos. She had left after a heart breaking conversation with Elias, her Hunter that had been assigned to protect her. She left him babysitting a spoiled Princess and nursing his sick friend and mentor Elijah, he could have been dead as far as she knew. With no way of contacting him, she wondered day and night if she would ever see Elias again. But her feelings were not important, Sheol’s walls were crumbling and the collected souls there were about to be unleashed on the world, together with God knows what creatures. They needed her and that had to come first.

The sight of her next donor caught her eyes and snapped her back into reality.

Hi Greg, she said, Greg, a large, red haired boy turned to face her; he frowned at her and looked her up and down.

Who are you? he asked.

I am no one important; I just came to help you, to take it all away. Let me show you. She held up her hands and released his Glimmer, a new life of hope, a future. When it finished playing in his head like a movie she smiled at him, You can do all of that if you like.

What’s the catch?

I have to take your soul, she explained.

Will I still live? she swallowed and nodded, will it hurt me?

You will live and it’s painless, you will just fall into a deep sleep and when you wake up everything you want, is yours.

She promised. He nodded his head, All you have to do is say yes.

Yes, I want you to do it. She smiled warmly to reassure him,

Now, Greg, just look at the light, she dangled the pendant in front of her and the light glowed.

As she walked away weary, tired and hungry she thought about her friends, still trapped in Sheol. The demons had taken Sheol and everyone there hostage. Aided by Elias, only she was able to escape. So, with the weight of Sheol’s freedom, the thinning walls, the dropping veil, Layton, another Soul Collector’s capture, Elias’s feelings for her, Elijah’s health and the war in

Innerrim, she wondered how she ever made it this far.

She missed her sister, and because of it, the Amber took her back to Rockford, for one night she just wanted to go home. But standing outside of her empty house, her heart ached, she couldn’t go in, not even for a glass of water. Her once friend Jax and ex-boyfriend Scott would somehow know, she had to keep going, she

cut the seam and took one last look at her house before stepping through, to God only knows where, to hunt down and collect another soul.

One

Running Away

"You know, you should really be nicer to me if you want me to help you, Princess Leasoubra stated modestly. Elias turned to face her. Furious that she hadn’t alerted him sooner that Lunar had left and more anxious about the assembling army from Innerrim outside of his cabin. Just a suggestion, I am excellent with a sword, father taught me everything I know. She shrugged pushing her blonde, curly locks over her shoulders so that they cascaded down her back. Well, do you need me or not?"

What I need is for you to shut your mouth for a few moments so that I can think. He barked marching towards the window. Elijah, looking a little better than he did a few days ago, emerged from the bedroom and leaned against the door frame, You need to go back to bed, I got this. Elias insisted, furrowing his brown eyebrows together.

There are more than forty soldiers, let me call the Council for help, they’ll use the Nephilim to bring them here. Elijah grumbled as sweat beaded across his forehead. I can help fight them.

You can barely move, Elias sighed. Call the council, though I am almost positive that they will refuse. He gazed back out of the window again, his ocean blue eyes darted around the perimeter scanning the army as it gathered outside.

The Duke’s son, Andreul, dismounted his horse and drew his sword from its scabbard then held it in front of him. Elias rubbed his fingers anxiously over his lips. Normally he would welcome some combat, he hadn’t fought in years, but he had to protect the princess, a sick fellow Hunter and his healer Sadie, and on top of all of that, he was worried out of his mind about Lunar. She had been gone for three days and it angered him to think of their last words.

Elias, Andreul roared, I know you are here, I can smell you.

Let me go out to him, Leasoubra suggested, he’ll leave if I...

No, Princess. I swore to your father I would look after you and I shall. Elias frowned. I can do this. I just need to know that you are safe. Elijah, take Lea into the basement, the door is in the floor of Lunar’s...I mean, the bedroom, Sadie... he called out, she came from the kitchen.

There are four on the back porch, two in the trees and three by your car. She said tying her long, blonde hair pack with a rubber band. What weapons do you have? she asked marching forward. Elias rushed to the book case and pulled a book from the shelf. The rumble shook the floor as the book case opened in the middle revealing a wall covered in guns, swords, daggers, knives, grenades and a crossbow. Very nice, she gleamed stepping forward and lifting the bow, I’ll take care of the ones at the back, you start out the front and I will be with you in a few... she turned and winked at Lea, she’s a whizz with a sword, you should give her one so she can help.

No, I have already lost Lunar, Lea goes down to the basement with Elijah, he turned to Elijah. Contact the council... a loud thud banged against the side of the house, but I think it is too late.

Lea, you had better follow me, Elijah moaned as he moved, the burns were healing, but still stung when he moved. Hurry, please, Your Highness. She nodded and left the room with Elijah.

Are you ready? he asked Sadie.

Yes, let’s go party. She grinned. Elias opened the door, Andreul spun around to face him as several soldiers raised their swords in a stance ready to attack.

Where is my wife? he demanded.

Your wife, Elias scoffed, you don’t have a wife.

Princess Leasoubra, where is she? he roared.

Not here, she and the Soul Collector left a few days ago, Elias replied and folded his arms across his broad chest.

I can smell her.

Her belongings are still here, you know what girls are like. He smiled proudly. After all, she is only a girl. He added smartly. Now, if you don’t mind, I have things I need to do.

Andreul looked at his soldiers, his long and silky black hair was tied back from his face and his pale skin gleamed in the sun. Not liking Elias’s explanation he charged forward,

Elias lifted the sword from the back of his jeans and held it out in front of his body, squeezing the titanium handle. I don’t want to fight you, Andreul, but I will and I am not here alone.

I know, I can smell the female Hunter, she doesn’t frighten me, he snarled.

I wouldn’t be so loud, she gets easily offended. Elias warned. Andreul shrugged his shoulders and followed by three of his black soldiers, he advanced forward.

I have a hundred of my finest Black army with me, Hunter. I am not easily frightened and I am especially not frightened of a boy and a girl with toy swords. He scoffed.  An arrow whizzed past Elias’s left ear and landed in the center of one of the three soldier’s chest, he dropped to his knees. Andreul looked at the fallen soldier and then back to Elias.

I warned you, she is now upset and I expect you will lose a lot of your soldiers today. He grinned arrogantly.

We’ll see... Before he could finish, three more soldiers fell to their knees and collapsed in dead heaps on the ground. His eyes darkened with fury as he moved his left leg back and raised his sword.

Why are you prepared to die for someone who doesn’t love you? Surely finding a bride that loves you wouldn’t be so difficult. Elias questioned.

I have seven lovers, but none are princesses. I need to marry the princess so that my father could take over Innerrim and run Prince Idris and his heathens into the caves with the Horlocks, where they belong.

Your naivety is endearing, Andreul, but your father will never rule Innerrim. He hasn’t got the courage to fight the Horlocks, not to mention the Ilks. The parasites will drain him of his life before he could even blink. Elias retorted.

The Ilks were a breed of demon that drained life forces similar to a Succubus, only their humanity was gone, they had no feelings for anything or anyone. They lived in the dark mountains of Innerrim and feared nothing. Not even the Horlocks messed with them. You couldn’t miss them, they had ghostly, white skin with solid black eyes. Though very attractive to look at, they only had to touch you to kill you.

Andreul’s confidence was slipping as Sadie picked off more and more of his army with her crossbow. She wasn’t kidding, she truly could use it with her eyes closed. Elias began to wonder if she’d leave any for him to fight.

It looks like the odds just tipped a little in our favor, Elias grinned proudly, tightening his grip on his sword. So, now you have a choice, you can return to Innerrim unharmed and alive, or you can stay here and fight me, where I am almost certain you will be seriously hurt, you may even die. 

You do not scare me, fiend, I have chewed up and spat out Hunters like you for breakfast.

As they say in school, bring it on. Elias growled.

Andreul launched towards Elias, crashing his sword against his. Elias pushed him back and moved forward, raising his sword up and smashing it down on top of Andreul’s. All the while, his soldiers were being picked off by Sadie. Andreul flipped backwards landing on his feet as Elias charged at him, he jabbed his sword towards Elias’ body, Elias averted the sword with his and received a slash to the back of his hand. The pain seared through his arm, but he tried not to show the arrogant brat that it hurt or even affected him in anyway. Andreul dived at Elias, so he dropped to his back and used his foot and hands to throw him over his shoulders, Andreul’s sword flew across the grass. Elias jumped to his feet and ran for the sword as Andreul scurried towards it; Elias stepped on the sword and held the tip of his blade under Andreul’s chin.

A crack of lightning echoed out in the sky and a swirling vortex appeared in the surrounding trees. The wind whipped up and the horses began to get upset, bucking their heads and stepping sideways. Constance, Andreul’s mother, stepped through the vortex,

Andreul, your father has demanded that you return immediately. She ordered gazing at the pile of dead soldiers, Elias, we meet again, please let my son get up. She smiled somewhat, her dark eyes smoldered. Her black hair shone in the afternoon sun.

Constance, you look distressed, are things not going as you planned? Elias asked confidently, he stepped back from the Duke and allowed him to stand, but kept his foot firmly on his sword.

We will rule one day soon and you and your Hunter friends will no longer be welcome in Innerrim, just remember that. She spat. Andreul, take what’s left of my soldiers and go home. Andreul pointed at Elias,

I want my sword, He whined. Elias lifted the sword from beneath his foot and tossed it at Andreul. He caught it in his left hand and the blade slashed through his skin. He hissed at the pain and anger graced his face once more.

Andreul, his mother scorned, Leave, now.

I’ll be back and I will take her, she belongs to me, he warned. 

In your dreams, pal, Elias grinned and watched as he led his horse into the vortex followed by the few soldiers he had left. Then, finally Constance lifted the hem of her black dress and stepped inside, it sealed shortly after and the wind stopped. Elias turned to Sadie, she smiled smugly. You were good on that thing.

My weapon of choice, you don’t have to run fast, you just need to be able to track, hide and shoot. She bragged following him inside. Before he closed the door he glanced around, worried now more than ever for Lunar.

ϖϖϖ

Lunar had caved, weary and hungry she arrived at home and deciding it was safer to be there than anywhere else. She locked the doors, took a hot shower, filled up on oatmeal and syrup, then crawled between the sheets of her bed. Before she closed her eyes, she thought about him, wondering if he was alright and not too angry at her.

She had only been away from him for a week and it felt more like a month. She had to clear her head and her heart of him, being in love with Elias was only going to cause her problems. She squeezed her eyes closed and prayed for her dreams to carry her away, the reality of knowing that even if she gave up being a Collector, she still couldn’t have Elias burned her soul.

What are you doing here? Jax demanded after staring at her for a few moments. She looked good, too good and he shouldn’t have come, but his heart would always lead him to her. He frowned screwing his blue eyes up, she was being hunted and she should be somewhere safe.  Her eyes flew open and she sat up. Her anxious heart thudded away loudly in her chest as she tried to calm down. Her old and baggy t-shirt that she had worn to bed, hung loosely over her shoulder and he couldn’t help but look at her skin admiringly. Gazing at the names of Donors covering her in brown tattoos, her face, neck and shoulder were all covered. 

How did you get into my house? she frowned, sort of angry that he disturbed her much needed sleep.

I asked first. He pointed out crossing his arms over his chest.

I was tired, she shrugged still feeling groggy, I still am. So?

I don’t need a key, I can shift in and out, remember? he raised one of his eyebrows.

Yeah, I remember, she sighed. I thought you can’t be near me anymore.

I can’t, and on that note, I’ll go. He turned to leave her room.

Wait, she said pushing off her covers, have a coffee with me, it’s been a long time since I had coffee with anyone. He thought for a few moments and nodded his head, coffee was better the nothing, coffee with Lunar would feel almost normal.

Alright, I’ll go and put the coffee on, he muttered and left the room. 

She got dressed, brushed her teeth and hurried down the stairs to find him standing in the kitchen, gazing out of the window. The coffee hissed and gurgled away as she sat at the kitchen table. He turned and sighed,

Where is your Hunter? he asked concerned that she was alone.

I don’t know, she replied thinly. Have you heard that there are demons in Sheol?

Actually, yes, he tapped the side of his head. There isn’t much that goes on that we miss, he stared at her and realized how lonely and tired she looked, it hurt his soul to see her so gaunt looking. So, how have you been?

Busy, she sighed, I don’t even know what the day is.

Saturday, he smiled crookedly, they had spent so many weekends together, he missed that and wondered if she did too. He poured her a cup of coffee and placed it on the table in front of her, Would you like something to eat?

I had a huge bowl of oatmeal before I went to sleep last night, I think I am alright. She yawned, Sorry, I am so whacked!

You need to go back to Elias, Lunar, he can protect you and ensure you get enough rest. I don’t like that you are out there on your own with the demons hunting you down and everything. He insisted amicably.

I can’t, things are uh...complicated. She frowned, his heart hardened as he could sense her feelings for the Hunter.

You know the rules, he spat angrily, he hoped her heart would have missed him, he was wrong. You can’t love anyone, so you had better get him out of your head and your heart if you are going to survive. She nodded slightly, he frowned at her pain, he could feel how messed up she felt. I tried to warn you, I tried to stop you doing this. Your life isn’t your own now, you belong to them... he stopped, nothing was getting through. She sipped her coffee and sighed. Sorry, I just hate to see you bought up before the Council, that’s all.

Thanks for the concern, she replied dryly.

He shook his head, I just worry about you, that’s all. I try and stay away, but I can’t help it, your tremor puts a taste in my mouth and I can’t help but follow it. He explained and sat beside her. I know you said that you would never feel anything for me, but I can’t turn how I feel for you, off.

Don’t then. I do care about you, Jax, sorry, I mean, Aeron...

Lunar, call me Jax, okay? I hate my real name which is why I choose different ones.

How old are you, Jax? she asked, he had a whole other life she knew nothing about.

I was born in the late fourteen hundreds, I matured at eighteen and I won’t grow any older as long as I use my powers. When I stop using them and become more human, then I will age.

I can’t get over the concept of immortality, she said shaking her head. I mean, I grew up believing that you are born and then you die, my parents were proof of that.

It can be lonely, because you can never get too close to someone. He sipped his coffee without taking his eyes off the table, his cheeks glowed red. When they told me that you were born and what you were destined to be, I spent the next seventeen years waiting for you. No, that’s a lie, I have waited centuries to meet you, but it’s not how I had planned it. Becoming your friend was probably the worst thing I could have done, he admitted wryly. My father warned me that there would be a Collector to come into my life and she would steal my heart. I thought that maybe she would feel the same. He added. Lunar just stared unable to find the words she needed to say, because whenever she thought about love, she thought about Elias and how much she missed him. Please, don’t, he frowned and stood abruptly. I just poured out my heart to you and all you can do is think of him.

Delly always told me when you eaves drop, you’ll hear no good of yourself, maybe you should stay out of my head, Jaxon. She scorned.

I have to go, you need to watch your back, he said quietly, trust no one, before she could respond he had vanished, leaving his mouth watering scent wafting around the room.

Someone tried the front door handle, she stood from her seat, lifted her bag and crept out of the back door. She locked it and jumped as she spun around coming face to face with Stella. She hugged her so tightly, Stella could barely breathe.

We have to go, Lunar, she whispered, Cody Wilkinson and a few others are in your house. Lunar pulled her Amber from her pocket and cut open the seam, salty air blew in their faces as they stepped through.

Two

Warning

Scott walked through the streets of Sheol, gazing up at the dark towers and wondering if any of the others knew where Lunar had escaped to.  The smell was getting to him, he never did like cinnamon and remembered his days locked in the dungeon and how it made him feel. He also remembered the last words he had shared with Lunar, angered by the fact that they had used her to trap him, he took it out on her and called