SOULRIDER
The young woman, little more than just a teenager, stood at the bridge looking towards the horizon without really seeing anything. If anyone had been close enough, they would have been shocked to see her eyes. They were completely white, no pupil, no iris. Her long black hair waved in the wind, as she climbed the railing. She stood there for a moment, before she spread out her arms and allowed gravity to bring her down, breaking the surface of the water. As she slowly sank towards the bottom, a mysterious sign appeared on her forehead, like it had been burned in her skin.
Neya was lying in her bed, desperately trying to stop shaking. She had just woken up from another nightmare, scared and trembling. She got up and made a cup of coffee. She knew, that people normally avoided coffee when trying to calm down enough to fall asleep, but she had never had a problem with caffeine keeping her awake. Maybe she was just too used to it, considering the amount of coffee she consumed every day. She brought the mug of coffee and a book back to the bed. Reading usually took her mind off of things, when she was lost in speculation. Not long after she fell asleep, the book still in her hand.
She was lying in bed sleeping, when she was awakened by the softest kiss on her cheek. "Wake up, sleepyhead, I´ve missed you so" a voice whispered in her ear. Her body recognized him at once, welcomed him, burning, aching for his touch. She could feel his breath on her ear, as he kissed her neck just below the ear. He showered her in kisses along her jawline, till he finally reached her lips. At first his kiss was as light as a feather, but as he felt her reacting to him, he made the kiss deeper. He ran his hand slowly, teasingly from her thigh up her hip, till he rested it below her breast, his thumb just touching the outside of it. She pressed her body harder against him, wanting, needing to get closer. He laughed silently against the corner of her mouth "Always so impatient. All good comes to those who wait, you know". Her only response was to pull him even closer, wrapping her legs around his waist and running her hands up his back. "Oh my, you do know how to make a guy feel welcome" "shut up and kiss me" she demanded, and so he did, and when he finally penetrated her she pulled him even tighter, was there with him all the way till the world exploded and she fell spinning to the ground. She gently ran her thumb over his lips, and she knew he was the most important person in her life. "Please stay" she whispered, and tears welled in her eyes, as he started to fade, like he always did, until he was gone and she felt more deserted and alone than ever.
She cried so hard she woke herself up. She curled up, and wrapping her arms around her knees, she cried herself back to sleep.
The Soulrider floated through the air. It was searching for a new Host, sensing the souls underneath it, as little dots of light. It was searching for a specific human. It had heard whispers and rumors, and hoped to find this particular female. The timing of the rumors and the sudden death of its previous Host could not be a coincidence. The Soulrider had been in existence for too long to believe in coincidences. Experience had taught it, that everything happened for a reason. The Soulrider was becoming impatient. Though it could exist without a Host for a very long time, it´s immense powers were almost useless when not attached to a human. Things were in motion that needed to be fought. There had been signs here and there, whispers of a rising of an evil not seen in this realm since the very beginning. Suddenly a soul underneath was lighting up like a beacon. The Soulrider froze, it felt how it was being drawn towards the soul. It sensed her latent powers, as she had not yet come to realize her Gift, or the extent of it. It zoomed in on the still unknowing Seer, Dreamer of Dreams, with all of it´s being and began the decent to her soul.
The next day Neya was in a hurry to get to work. She was late for her afternoon shift at the café. She was tired, since she hadn´t slept without waking up from the most disturbing dreams for weeks. Some were violent and diabolic, extreme nightmares. But the others. The other dreams, were definitely the most disturbing of them all. Full of sensuality and passion, and very erotic. The demonic nightmares scared her, but the other dreams freaked her out completely. He had come to her in her dreams every night for weeks, and by now she knew every inch of his body, every scar, every tattoo from his neck to his toes. She had never seen his face, hidden as it always was, in the shadows of the night. She only knew the feeling of his full lips against hers. She knew his scent, the taste of his skin, the feel of his strong muscular body pressed against hers, how it felt when he moved inside her, the pleasure when they reached their destination. And, sadly, she knew how she felt afterwards, when he started to fade away, leaving her to feel more alone than ever. It was not unusual for her to wake up to find herself crying, even screaming, when she realized it was all just a dream.
When she crossed the street in front of the café, she was suddenly hit by a headache so strong it gave her a flush of dizziness. Then it was gone, leaving only a weak sense of nausea. She opened the door to the café and stepped inside, just as the grey sky opened and sent down a heavy rain. Adam, her colleague who she was working with today, looked up from the counter. "Hi there, I was starting to worry. You´re usually never late." He smiled, genuinely happy to see her. She had only been working at the café for a few months, but Adam had soon become a close friend. He was so easy to be around, always looking at the positive and rarely complaining. And he was so funny. He could always cheer her up when she was feeling sad. In return she had listened for hours and hours when his girlfriend dumped him. She had even allowed him to call her in the middle of the night when his broken heart was keeping him awake. Lately he had met someone new, and now the topic had changed to how to win the heart of this new goddess. Neya didn´t mind, it took her mind off her own worries. "Sorry" she told him. "Another bad night. I didn´t get any proper sleep till after dawn." "Still having nightmares?" "Yes, I´m afraid I´ll never run out of unbelievable stuff to dream about."
As the afternoon progressed, so did the weather. It resembled autumn, with the cold chill and heavy rain, although it was the beginning of April. Not many people ventured out in this weather on a Saturday, so not many costumers came to keep them busy. Neya was cleaning the counter to keep herself occupied, when the door opened and four young people in their early twenties came in. Neya frowned when she saw who it was. The group of people were friends of Adams, and used to hang out at the café all the time. She had hoped that the weather would have kept them away today, but apparently, she was in no such luck. She didn´t feel up to having to deal with them today, not after the night she´d had. To be honest, she really liked most of them, they were funny and very friendly. All except one of the guys. He clearly didn´t like her, whenever he spoke to her he would mock her and be sarcastic, causing her to feel stupid. Sometimes when he was really being an ass, his friends would scold him and once Adam even threatened to ban him from the café. They meant well, but it only made her feel like an even bigger idiot, needing them to keep him in check. They came in, and went straight for their usual booth. Since there was only one other costumer in the café, Adam went to join them at their table. As they sat there, Neya watched them undetected through the glass counter she was cleaning. They were relaxed, laughing and having a good time. She couldn´t help feeling a little envious. Growing up at an orphanage, she had never really had any close friends. She had learned early, that people were in and out of her life so fast it didn´t make sense to get too close. So, Adam was actually the first real friend she´d had, and that was mostly due to his persistence. He had just treated her like his new best friend from the first time they met, and slowly she found herself opening up to him. Now she watched him with his friends, and she longed to feel like she was part of something similar, to feel she belonged somewhere. She looked at them individually. Of course, there was Adam, her best friend. He was a little above average height, muscular from the hours he spend at the gym. He had dark, almost black hair and grey eyes. He was really good looking, but then they all were. They were all good looking, muscular, and with an air of knowing their own worth. There was only one woman in the group, and she was stunning. She was, like the guys, tall and muscular. She had long, red curly hair, big blue eyes and fair skin. She had an air of playfulness about her that was really charming. Then there were the twins. Two identical guys, dark haired and with hazel eyes. And finally, there was HIM. The guy she disliked and tried her best to avoid, because of the way he made her feel. He was good looking too, but in a very different league. He was tall, with a body like an athlete. Wide muscular chest, that showed through the tight t shirts he always wore, narrow hips and long legs wrapped in tight fitted jeans with a low waistline. Women were always throwing themselves at him, batting their eyes and slipping him their phone number. She had to admit, that he was gorgeous to look at. His face was just as breathtaking, the face of an angel. His blonde hair was cut short at the sides and neck, but long at the top of his head. His dark green eyes sparkled when he spoke. Elegant cheekbones, a strong jawline and a crocked smile on his full lips. The result was overwhelming. Just too bad he was such an idiot.
Neya had just finished cleaning the counter, when she saw him slowly rise and walk towards her. He moved like a predator, long, lazy, elegant moves. For a second she saw the flash image of a lynx. When he reached her, he leaned on the counter with both his arms. "Adam seems to forget he is actually at work, so I guess you´ll have to honor us with your service today." He said with a melodious voice. She faked a smile. "Sure, what will you have?" "Well, Sera wants Latte, but just ordinary black coffee for the rest of us. Unless, of course, you wish to tempt me with something else?" He sent her that crocked smile of his, his green eyes sparkled. Neya felt warm and uneasy, she hated how he always managed to say something ambiguous. It made her feel like an idiot, because she never knew the right way to respond. She knew he wasn´t actually flirting with her, it was just the way he treated all females. So usually she just ignored it. Today, tired and annoyed as she was, she just looked him straight in the eyes and said, "I have no wish to tempt you, nor do I have anything that could!" He gave her the elevator look, pausing a second at her chest. "I wouldn´t be so sure about that" he said, "But if you insist, I´ll just have to settle for coffee like the others then." "I´ll bring it down." She said, ignoring his words. He shrugged his shoulders. "Fine, whatever" then he turned and walked back to the others. "Ouch! Did she ignore your flirting again? Why don´t you just realize she isn´t interested, and give it up?" Adam said as he returned to the table. "I wasn´t flirting with her, I just ordered our coffee." He said dismissively. "Sure" Adam said with a knowing smile, but wisely didn´t pursue it further. A moment later Neya arrived with their orders, and placed it at the table. "I still say we should go out!" the young woman insisted. "No" said one of the twins. "Sera, we´ve been going out every weekend for a long time. I say we stay home and have a game marathon." The young woman who Neya now knew was named Sera answered. "Alright, we can stay home, but let´s have a movie night instead. You know, with lots of movies, food and snacks." There was a general agreement to this plan. "How about you, would you like to join us?" Sera asked Neya. "It would be great not to be the only girl. Please?" Neya smiled at her. "It´s really nice of you to ask, but I´ve already made other plans. But thanks anyway." "Oh, then maybe next time." Sera said. "Yeah, maybe."
Finally, they reached closing time, and as Adam and Neya closed up the café, Adams friends went to the drugstore next door to get some supplies for the movie night they had just planned. "So, what are your big plans for tonight? Do you have a date or a party you´re going to?" Adam asked her as they cleaned up. "No, not really. I´m planning to spend the night on my couch with a blanket and a book." She answered. "That doesn´t sound like a Saturday night for a young woman. I thought you said you had other plans? He sighed theatrically. "Then, my dear, it´s my sacred duty to take you to hang out at our place. I cannot have you on your couch on a Saturday night at your age. NO!" He declared, as she was about to protest. "I will not take no for an answer! I absolutely insist. I will even promise to bring you home whenever you want." They closed the door to the café behind them as they went outside and locked the door and set the alarm. "No, Adam. It´s a really bad idea. Don´t get me wrong, I like hanging out with you, and I really like most of your friends. They seem really cool. Except for that annoying blonde guy. He dislikes me, and he take every opportunity to make me feel stupid and uneasy, and I honestly don´t want to spend any more time around him than I have to." Adam turned and looked at her. "What is it with you and Angel? I´ve never seen him have that effect on anyone else. Women usually love him, I even heard one woman say he was the kind of guy that could make catholic schoolgirls want to sin. So how come you don´t find him attractive?" Neya looked at him. He was genuinely curious. "Well," she said "First of all, I´m not a catholic, or a schoolgirl. But honestly, I just don´t like the way he acts. Maybe if he pulled his head out of his rear and stopped behaving like an idiot, I might like him. "Well, I think…." Adam said, as the streetlights suddenly went out. He cursed. "Why are you cursing Adam? It´s just a power blackout." "No," he said gloomily. "It´s something far worse. Listen." And then she heard it. It sounded like the flapping of wings, and she could have sworn she´d heard a squeaky scream. "What the…" that was all she had time to say, before she felt someone grabbing her arm. "Get behind me, quickly!" she heard someone demand. "Adam?" she asked, "Not exactly" she heard someone say with a mocking laugh. Her heart sank. Suddenly there was bright shining lights coming from both the white stone in her ring, and from the blades worn by Adam, the twins, Sera and Angel, who she now realized was the one who had ordered her behind him. And in the light, she saw the most terrifying creature, she had ever seen. It was huge, with horns and wings, claws and a spiked tail. Its skin was a grayish green, its eyes red. The air was thick with the stench of sulfur. And then the creature spoke, its voice a mere growl. "Give up the Seer, Nephilim! My Master demands her, and he will not let a pack of halfbreeds stand in his way. Give her up!" "Never!" Adam sneered. "You can tell your Master that she is under our protection. He will never have her!" Angel declared. The creature imitated a laugh, but it was little more than a snort. "So be it, you have chosen your death." It said, as it lashed it´s spiked tail at Angel, only to be attacked by all three blade carriers. Neya was terrified, but also fascinated by what she saw. The five of them were amazing to watch. They looked like dancers, as they moved, struck, retreated and attacked. It was obvious they were used to fighting side by side, they always seemed to know exactly where everyone else was at any time. Finally, Adam and Sera pinned the creature to the ground. Angel stepped forward rising his blade high above his head, before sending it straight down to the creature's chest. A black tar like substance ran from the wound as Angel withdrew his blade. Then it began to tremble and shake, before it finally turned to black dust and disappeared. Slowly Neya slid to the ground, her knees were shaking so violently she couldn´t stand up. Her mind was desperately trying to grasp at reality, when the next shock hit her. They were checking each other for wounds, when she saw Angel pull off his t shirt to check a gash on his chest caused by one of the creature's claws. What instantly caught her attention, was the tattoo on his side, stretching from his hip to his arm. She knew that tattoo! How often had she traced it´s swirls and lines with her finger? Even the gash on his chest, she recognized. Only, in her dreams it was a scar. But how could that be? How was that possible, unless…. She looked at him, desperately trying to deny the obvious. "No!" she whispered. "No, it´s impossible! It can´t be. No, no, no, no…..." the others gathered around her, clearly convinced her outburst being about the foul creature attacking them. "Hey, it´s okay" Adam said. "Everyone is fine, only flesh wounds, nothing serious." She didn´t seem to hear or see him, she was staring at Angel, who was kneeling in front of her, by Adams side. "Look, I know it´s all very scary and confusing, but we can´t linger here. We need to get away. Can you walk?" She just stared at him, trying to force her mind to work. But all she said was "It was you all along. How can that be? Why did it have to be you?" Then her mind finally gave in, and she passed out.
Neya heard an annoying buzzing. It dragged her towards the surface of waking up, when she would much rather have stayed buried in the numbness of unconsciousness. As she felt she was being pulled closer to reality, the buzzing slowly transformed into lowered voices. "Why is she still not awake then?" she heard Angel say. "I told you, she passed out from shock. Her mind closed down to protect her sanity, she will wake up when she´s ready to deal with what happened." An unfamiliar female voice answered. It sounded tired, as though it had been through this conversation over and over. Suddenly it all came back to her. The creature attacking, Adam and his friends fighting it off and killing it with bright shining swords and daggers. And finally, how she had discovered how Angel turned out to be the one she had been having all the erotic dreams about. She gasped for breath, as she bolted up into sitting position. All she could think about, was how he could never find out, he could never know she had been having such dreams about him. The room was spinning, and so she put her head in her hands and closed her eyes. "Here, drink this. It will make the dizziness go away." She looked at the person who had spoken. It was a middle-aged woman, who she had never seen before. She was tall and slim, with white hair and piercing blue eyes. She was holding a cup with a steaming hot liquid, that smelled like flowers and herbs. Neya took the cup. "Thank you." She said, as she started to sip. It tasted just as good as it smelled, and she soon felt stronger and clear in her head. The woman smiled at her. "I´m Magdalena, but everyone calls me Mags. If you´re feeling strong enough, I suggest we all go sit in the kitchen. You must have a lot of questions, my dear, as do I. But I do believe we´ll be better seated at the kitchen table. Besides, my guess is you´re all hungry." There was a general agreeing to that. Neya slowly got on her feet and followed the rest to the kitchen, where they found their places at the huge table. A chair was being offered to her, and she sat down. She found herself seated between Adam and one of the twins, and across from Sera and Angel. Mags was seated at the end of the table, closest to the cooking area. While everyone was finding their seats, Mags had been setting the table, that was now full of fruit, sandwiches and pies. "First, we eat. Then we talk." Mags said, as she sat down.
