Read Online Marked: A Two Halves Novella by Marta Szemik - Free Book Online Page A

snake’s.
    “What will be over?”
    “The hereafterrr will be opennn.”
    “What is he talking about?” I asked Xela.
    “Come on, Xela, tell himmm what I told you,” Aseret urged.
    “You can stop him, Xander, if you get the sphere—but not
without it. He’ll open the portal where souls linger before passing to heaven
or hell. He’ll imprison them so they won’t be able to reconnect with their
bodies for their last breath that decides their fate.”
    “Why?”
    “Spirits have endless energy. Unclaimed, they stray in the
hereafter forever. The keepers will make sure you’re busy while Aseret roams,
stealing their essence, turning it into energy.”
    Pop had mentioned us being watchers of the dead. Did the
keepers know this was going to happen?
    “Well done, Xela.” Aseret applauded as if she’d just won a
prize, but Xela kept her head down. “She doesss exactly what I wannt each
timmme.” He was succeeding in infuriating me, but I didn’t succumb to his
tactics.
    “You trying to make my job easy, Aseret?” I asked, my chin
lowered as I absorbed what Xela had said. I finally looked at him from below my
lashes. Aseret’s stretched eyes narrowed, and it seemed like he waited for my
attention like a cautious burglar in a jewelry store.
    “No, of courssse not. I wouldn’t darrre.” He placed his
white palm in the middle of his chest. “Let go of your frussstrationsss,
Xanderrr. We don’t have to fight, we don’t need more scratchesss.” He glanced
toward the left side of his neck, where the orange gash glowed. The sound of
his voice was like a spell that kept his words lingering in the air. The
seekers in the hall seemed to disappear as Aseret stood in front of the fire
pit, his eyes fixed on me. “You’re a winnerrr, Xander. Join the ssside that
will inevitably rrrule.”
    “What’s your motive, Aseret?” I demanded.
    “You’re ssstrong and unclaimed. I need creaturesss like you,
who know what to do with powerrr when they have it. Not like these zombiesss.”
He waved a hand at the unfazed seekers. “Once marrrked, you will have
ssstrength beyond what you know. No one will be able to harm you. You can have
herrr. She will be yoursss forever,” he cooed, seeing my gaze find Xela again.
    My witch tried to speak, but when she opened her mouth, no
sound escaped. Her lips trembled. The words stuck in her throat—Aseret wasn’t
allowing them to leave her mouth, or was it someone else? Her eyes told me what
she’d wanted to say: It’s not your calling, Xander. I am yours already.
    “I knew you would commme. Feel the heat inssside you. It’s
alrrready a part of you.” Aseret raised his arms as if embracing the heat of
the entire fire pit.
    He was trying to sway me, knowing I felt comfortable in the
underworld because of Xela. Aseret used my need to be with Xela and my desire
to be marked against me. But I knew my nature better than he did. I wasn’t a
coward or a failure. I would not disappoint my sister, or Ma, or the humans and
other species depending on someone like me.
    “I was going to stop by today anyway, with my sister.” I
smirked.
     Aseret didn’t flinch. His usual expressionless face gave a
sardonic smile.  Xela’s apologetic eyes glossed over.
    “You told him,” I whispered, fear suddenly creeping into my
body. Aseret was expecting Mira to come. I was fine here, without her, but
having Mira bound to the wall with magic ropes again—or worse—was the last
thing I wanted. Our element of surprise was gone. I looked at Xela, who lowered
her head.
    “Good, two for the prrrice of one. What do you sssay we
greet your family properrrly?”
    “What do you want, Aseret?” I said flatly.
    “Xanderrr, I can give you everything. All thisss,” he waved
his hand around the room full of eager orange pupils, “can be yourrrsss. And
mossst of all, she can be yours asss well.”
    I didn’t want everything he offered, only Xela. “How?”
    “Let me marrrk you.”
    “It needs to be