Tainted Souls

By Alice J. Black

Ruby faces her biggest challenge yet when she's sent on an indefinite case with three other Hunters.

Settled in with her role as a Hunter, Ruby embraces the newest request in a small country town. Things heat up as communication breaks down, and she finds herself dealing with far more than demons.

Ruby's days are tied in with the community centre, but as she battles with the challenges that face her, leading to horror she could never have imagined, she also finds herself looking for more answers to questions that shouldn't have arisen.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melange Books, LLC
• Release date: May 14, 2019
• ISBN: 9781680467550

Alice J. Black

Alice lives and works in the North East of England where she lives with her partner and slightly ferocious cat. She writes all manner of fiction with a tendency to lean towards the dark side, but also likes to challenge herself and write out of her genre too. Dreams and sleep-talking are currently a big source of inspiration and her debut novel, The Doors, is a young adult novel which originally sprouted from a dream several years ago and grew from there.

Book preview

Chapter One

I crept down the concrete steps, toes peeping over the edge of each riser. Tub of salt in my right hand. Torch in my left. The beam lit the bottom of the stairwell, and I saw rubbish piled up amid sludge. I took a deep breath after I reached the bottom and straightened. My body was on high alert, the hackles on the back of my neck standing to attention.

I had received a message on my TAT. Something was going down near St. Helen’s. I was the closest, so I responded. Others were on their way, but right now I was taking the lead. The sun still hadn’t appeared despite the time, and I grumbled about being forced out of bed after such a lovely night. But it was my job.

I pressed my ear to the door and held my breath. No sound was coming from the other side, but that didn’t mean anything. Demons are usually silent. I rapped on the metallic door and the sound echoed. Grimacing, I wondered if my presence had been detected. I waited, counting down the seconds. No answer. I gripped the handle and pushed. The door swung open, and I stepped across the threshold. My torch beam barely scattered the darkness inside. I took a deep breath. Looking up the stairs behind me, I glimpsed the streetlight, which cast a yellow glow. I thought about waiting for someone else to arrive, but if there really was a mother and child in danger, I couldn’t afford to wait.

So I pressed on. I swung the light around the room. It illuminated an old sofa, a chair lying on its side, and a TV that had fallen forward on the floor. A doorway at the back of the living room led further into the flat. I tiptoed towards it, senses alert as I prowled through the house.

What had happened here?

Hello? I shouted. I’ve been sent by The Agency. I’m here to—

Something barrelled into me. I stumbled backwards, my calves hitting the chair sprawled on the floor, and I fell across it. Pain flared in my hip, but I ignored the ache as I sat up and swung the torch. I was face-to-face with a woman, her expression contorted, mouth wide and eyes red.

It’s in there, she whispered, looking back towards the doorway.

I nodded.

She lifted herself from the floor and picked up the toddler, whose eyes were wide.

It’s okay, I said. You get out of here.

She fled towards the stairs, leaving me alone in the darkness.

Once my heart slowed, I took a deep breath and pressed on. I came to the second doorway and realised I was in a hallway. Three doors led from the passage. I proceeded with caution, sweeping each room as I went. First, the bedroom. Then the kitchen. Nothing, except the destruction left behind by whatever had been here. That left the bathroom. Why does it always have to be in there? I took a deep breath and marched towards the final door. It was pushed shut. Only one way to do this—quickly. I kicked the door in, then streamed the torch beam around the small room. The light hit the Cursed and the demon began to dissipate as it scrabbled at the tiles. For good measure I threw salt towards it, and within seconds the demon was gone.

My shoulders sagged. The woman and her child were safe. I moved back through the flat. The darkness had softened, and as I travelled up the concrete steps, I felt relieved that the place was empty.

You got it? The woman’s eyes were wild. She cradled the child to her chest, chugging up and down in an attempt to soothe.

It’s gone. I nodded. You can go back in.

She shook her head. Not tonight. I’m going to stay with my sister. But thank you.

Just doing my job.

Ruby, a deep, harsh voice said.

I turned around to find Luka standing there.

You went in alone?

I know I shouldn’t—

If you’ve learned anything in the past few months, it should be that you never work alone.

I know, I was just here, and I thought I’d take a look.

He crossed his arms. That was a stupid thing.

I dropped my head.

He was right. Rushing into a case alone, guns blazing, was a disaster waiting to happen. That was how my dad had been killed.

But you did well. Luka said.

Really?

Yeah. Now come on, I’ll drop you off. And if Sheila asks anything about it, we went in together.

I nodded.

If we had to tell a white lie to stay on her good side, I was more than willing.

Chapter Two

I woke to yellow light streaming through the curtains of the room I shared with Becca. It was still early, and my body protested the awakening after such a late night. I stretched, my body warm and unfurling like a cat who got the cream. And boy did I get the cream. The end-of-year dance had been the night before, and Vaughn was my date.

My belly flopped. It still felt surreal, as if the lights sparkling across the dance hall and the flowing punch—which had certainly been spiked with something—were a glorious dream. The only thing that would’ve made it better is if I hadn’t received a message on my TAT in the middle of the night about a woman being harassed by a Cursed, which not only spoilt my sleep, but any semblance of a glow I might’ve had this morning.

The summer holidays had arrived. Six weeks of bliss. And boredom. No matter how much I tried to pretend like I would have the time of my life, I knew I’d be bored after day two. Although, Demon Hunting would keep me busy for at least a few days out of the lot. I would spend my summer like I did every other—hanging out with Becca and reading. I was sure to see Vaughn, too. I hoped. I couldn’t get enough of him, and up until the dance, I’d made do with just seeing him during training. But now I wasn’t sure I could go back. I adored him. He was the first thing on my mind when I woke and the last thing before I went to bed.

Becca stirred on the other side of the room. The cocooning covers shifted as she yawned and stretched. Then her eyes opened, and just like I thought, she looked pristine. Her hair was in ringlets about her shoulders, and her skin was flawless.

Morning, she said.

Morning. How you feeling?

Good. She broke into a smile as she pushed herself up. You?

I think I had a little too much of that punch. My stomach churned in agreement, and I grimaced. And I’m pretty tired.

I told you not to touch that stuff. Jake brought us plenty of wine.

I’d probably be in the same position. Worse even.

Don’t worry, it’ll wear off soon.

You would know. I raised my brows.

Jeez, Ruby, live a little.

I live plenty, thank you. And besides, spending my nights at Rusty’s wouldn’t work too well while hunting demons.

She rolled her eyes. You work too much. Take some time off.

It’s not like I can just switch it off, Becca.

Well, you can this morning, because we’re going shopping! She wiggled her brows.

Shopping? I feel like shit.

My stomach was brewing up a storm, and my head pounded with an ache that worsened every few minutes.

All you need is a hot shower and something to eat. Good job it’s the weekend. Jen will’ve done a fry-up.

I grimaced again as her words filtered through my mind, and my stomach groaned in protest. I’m not sure I can eat a fry-up.

Trust me, it’s exactly what you need.

Maybe we can go tomorrow instead?

Shut up and come on. She flung the covers off her body. Let’s grab a shower, and I promise you’ll feel human then.

Her burst of energy was enough to tire me out, but I knew she was right. I felt rotten, and without a shower there was no way I was heading out. So with a sigh of frustration, I pulled my legs from under the covers.

Becca waited, dancing from foot to foot as I grabbed the few things I needed. She still hated the fact that I carried a bag with me everywhere I went, but always having the basic tools of a Hunter had saved my arse more times than I cared to remember.

Being on the third floor had its advantages, like a private bathroom in the attic, but the pitfalls included being the furthest away from the dining room. In the hallway, I heard the common room TV and wondered how many of the girls were down there. St. Helen’s tended to be a relaxing place during summer holidays. The rules were more lax—apart from those involving boys and curfews—and we all used it to our advantage.

I saw Barbara as she left her office and strolled into the dining room, long skirt swishing. Mary followed closely, and I wondered whether they had been having a meeting. It was customary for the staff to get together every now and again, and I suspected Barbara was trying to put in a plan of action to prevent riots for the next six weeks.

Becca led us into the attic, up the familiar draughty staircase, and into the expanse of a room that encompassed the entire roof space. It was quiet, none of the girls on our floor having emerged from their bedrooms yet, and I chose the tub at the end, while Becca took the one next to me. I pulled the curtain over, turned on the water and shed my clothes.

The attic bathroom hadn’t always been such a nice place for me. It was where Cursed had appeared, and it was where I’d first encountered Sloth. I always used to think of the seven sins as just that. Sins. But it turns out, they’re much more. The seven sins are demons. Demons that came to earth when a person was created in sin. And so far, two out of seven had come to my hometown.

I stepped into the shower and felt the hot spray envelope me. I let the water run over my face and across my locks, feeling them stick to my skin as streams coursed down my back. With each passing minute, I felt more human. My stomach still kicked like a mule and my head still thudded, but it was nothing a couple of pain pills wouldn’t sort out.

I still had a lot of questions which hadn’t been answered. Why did I have the Hunting gene? And why did they express themselves when I was sixteen? Plus, call me crazy, but I felt like this was far from over. Two sins had already been thrust into my life, and for some reason I was always nearby. It was like they were drawn to me, and all the people I’d voiced my concerns to had no answers. Sheila kept a lot of things close to her chest. I figured with an organisation that big it was safer to be discriminate information distribution and keep people within a hierarchy of knowledge. But there’d been one thing hovering at the periphery of my mind. The locked section in scriptures room, available only to certain people. There could be information in there about the seven sins, about why I was experiencing what I was when it shouldn’t have been possible. I needed answers. I couldn’t keep going on like this.

When I stepped out from the hot spray, I felt a million times better.

Told you. Becca grinned as I pulled the curtain back. She sat on the edge of the bathtub, waiting for me.

What?

You feel better, right?

A little. I nodded.

Good. Then there’s no excuse to duck out of shopping.

I rolled my eyes. Except that it sucks my soul dry.

Stop being so dramatic. You’re a girl, Ruby. Shopping is normal.

None of my life is normal, so I’m not going to start there.

I don’t get you sometimes.

And I don’t get you. I stuck my tongue out.

Becca and I had been best friends since she moved into St. Helen’s, and we’d shared a room since then. We were like chalk and cheese, but that’s what made it work.

Come on. We’ll get dressed, grab some breakfast, and head out.

I just shook my head. No point in arguing with her, not when she was in shopping mode. I grabbed my stuff and slung my bag over my shoulder. Then we strolled back to our room and got dressed.

So. Becca plonked in front of the mirror and began putting on her makeup.

So?

Last night, apart from the terrible punch and the hangover, how was it?

You were there, Becca. I shook my head.

I mean with Vaughn.

Realisation dawned, and my mouth gaped.

I mean, you’ve totally admitted it to me now, so you can’t act like it’s nothing. I know you like him, Ruby.

So I like him. That’s it.

And you’re telling me that dancing with him all night, without ever getting that kiss, wasn’t torture?

I dropped my head and was transported back to the dance, with his arms around my waist, holding me close. My arms draped over his shoulders, and the scent of his cologne drifting around me in a haze.

Yes, I admitted.

So why didn’t it happen?

Jeez, Becca, I don’t know. Maybe because he doesn’t like me.

Shut up. She fluttered her eyelashes as she applied mascara. It’s obvious he likes you, Ruby. What I don’t get is why he hasn’t made a move yet.

Well, there was a moment.

There was a moment?

I nodded. I thought he was going to kiss me.

And?

And then Jake came over.

She rolled her eyes. He’s such a dork sometimes.

I laughed. Yeah, but he’s a nice dork at least.

I’ll talk to him to make sure he’s on his best behaviour, or you two might never get it on. Anyway, let’s grab some breakfast. I’m starving.

Becca jumped up and grabbed her bag and coat, making it obvious that breakfast was just a pit stop before shopping. I did the same, then locked the door.

Downstairs, the place had livened in the hour that had passed, and as I took a sharp left into the dining hall, which smelled more delicious by the minute, I saw that most of the seats were taken. Eva sat next to Melody, who waved when I caught her eye. It was good to see her smiling again. She and Kirsty would never be best friends, but at least Melody had apologised and returned the stolen items to their owners or donated them to charity shops.

Glad to see she’s back to normal, Becca said, as we strolled towards the line.

Me, too.

Do you think she knew?

You mean, that she was being controlled by demonic impulses?

Becca nodded.

Maybe some part of her. I’ve tried to explain it away, but I think deep down she knew.

Wow, that would be awful. Becca shook her head and picked up a plate as we moved down the line.

Breakfast looked as delicious as it smelled, but I didn’t want to tempt fate, so I stuck to bacon, toast, and scrambled eggs, which was nothing compared to the heap that Becca put on her plate. We both grabbed a coffee at the end and then ambled towards the table.

Hey, guys, Melody said as we sat down.

Becca was opposite me and tucked into breakfast as soon as she sat down.

Hey, Melody, Eva. I nodded to them. Any plans today?

Melody shook her head. Nope. Chilling.

Must be nice. She’s dragging me shopping. I pointed at Becca.

Eva grinned. You could do with some new clothes.

Hey! I protested.

Becca and Eva high-fived.

Exactly, Becca said.

So Becca, when were you going to tell me this shopping trip was about me?

I wasn’t. She shrugged. Shopping is shopping to you no matter who it’s for. You’ll deal.

I shook my head. The nerve of my best friend was unreal.

Just then, Kirsty walked past, followed by Lisa. If looks could kill, Melody would’ve been stone dead right then. She sighed and dropped her head.

You okay? I nudged her.

She nodded. Yeah. I just don’t want to fight anymore, and I don’t know what else to do. I gave her phone back and said I was sorry.

Some people always hold a grudge, I said.

So you mean I’ve got to deal with this forever?

Probably until she grows up and moves out.

Great.

Becca leaned across the table, fixing her gaze on Melody. Don’t let it bother you. You don’t need someone like her in your life, anyway. You’ve got Eva.

Eva grinned. Damn right.

I enjoyed the rest of my meal, and the more I shovelled down, the better I felt. My stomach growled in appreciation, and as I swallowed the last piece of toast, I sank back, cradling my coffee.

I think I needed that. I patted my stomach.

Told you, Becca said.

I’ll just finish my coffee. Then we can head out.

Finally. I can’t wait to get in there.

Chapter Three

As we set off from St. Helen’s, the sun beat down on us and I was glad I’d had the foresight to wear a tank top. Though, I knew I’d still be scorching by the time we got to the mall because of my jeans. I tilted my face to the sky and soaked up the rays. The bag across my shoulder bounced against the top of my thigh, a constant reminder that nothing about my life was normal.

A beep sounded just as the mall came into view, and I fished into my bag, grabbed my phone and TAT. I checked The Agency device first. It had been radio silent since handing Greed over to Sheila. It baffled me that she could whisk away two demons into her possession without letting me know where they went. My questions were met with a brick wall, and even though I understood that I couldn’t have all of the information I wanted, I figured I had a right to some of it, considering I was at the centre of it all.

I dropped the TAT back into my bag