The Soul Collector - By Tamela Quijas Page 0,76

his fervent vow to return home, to her, his beloved youngest sibling.

“Reese.” �

His name quivered past her lips, filled with the tears she tried to restrain. She heard her brother's voice flowing through her, firm and urgent, lacking the formerly disjointed phrases.

…don't be afraid, Evie. Call the bastard! Get his attention! We’ve to get him away from Lucien.

Filled with a fierce determination, she rose to her frozen feet. Her fear evaporated, vanishing as swiftly as the mist filling the dungeon. A blinding brilliance of intense light flooded the chamber, illuminating the towering walls and arched ceiling.

“Look at me, Julian!” �

She shouted, and drew the crimson eyes to her. Awe and a dawning comprehension filled the scarred and distorted features. Julian drifted back to the ground, his feet landing heavily. Eva lifted her chin, staring at him unflinchingly while he approached, his hands outstretched.

“I'm the Angel's Fire!” She realized the glow illuminating the chamber came from her. She lifted her hands, palms upright, and bright ribbon-like streaks of light shot from her fingers. “I'm the angel of prophecy!” �

She ignored Lucien's muffled cry as Julian walked toward her. Purposely, she stepped further back, the vividness of her flesh dancing in wild glee over the crumbled rocks littering the floor.

“You are the Angel's Fire.” Confusion was rampant in the gleaming depths of Julian's eyes, coupled with a dawning sense of joy.

Absently, he repeated the age-old whisper of the curse forever damning the D'Angel blood. �

“Evangeline, no!” �

She refused to flinch at Lucien's cry of dismay. Instead, she smiled as sweetly as a temptress at Julian, the expression in her warm eyes urging him onwards.

“For your salvation, offer me power,” she whispered huskily.

“I offer you all the power you desire.” Julian vowed fervently, each step bringing him nearer.

“Offer me fortune.” �

“I promise.” �

She smelled the stench rising from him when he stretched his arms toward her, intending to gather her close and envelop her in his embrace. Her lids lowered over her eyes, hiding her disgust, while she continued to whisper her seductive plea.

“Offer me fame, Julian.” �

“All you shall ever want,” he responded throatily, his expression ecstatic.

“Offer me eternity.” �

“Forever.” �

He released the vow on a long sigh and his arms slid about her. She felt the burning intensity of his flesh but smiled enchantingly up at him. She forced herself to stay calm, listening to the ever-present hum of Reese's voice in her mind.

Eva placed her lips to the stinking flesh of Julian's jaw before she turned about in his arms. Lucien stared at her with pain-filled eyes, unable to comprehend her actions.

“Please don’t.” He whispered and rose to his feet, blood seeping copiously from his mouth and forehead.

“Offer me everything I crave, Julian,” she continued loudly, ignoring the horror in Lucien's eyes.

“I will grant you everything you wish, my Queen of Fire.” He breathed fervently into her tumbled hair.

She sighed long and deep. “Allow me to say my farewells to your brother, before I join you.” �

“It is as he so deserves.” He chuckled wickedly. “I will still his woman, then his life.”

Her pleading eyes searched Lucien's torment gaze. In her mind, Reese's voice fell conspicuously silent. Her thoughts slowed, and she watched unshed tears fill the obsidian depths of the eyes of the man she loved.

“I don't wish to be a single spirit.” She remarked with firm determination. Her words rang as loud and clear in the cavernous dungeon. The comment had the desired effect as his arms tightened about her.

“I shall be at your side and we shall rule for all eternity.” His voice was eager with anticipation and unspoken glory. “Bid my brother farewell, Fire of the Angels.” �

“I shall know my enemies, Lucien.” �

Eva repeated the very words that haunted the man. She prayed the meaning would remain lost on the man holding her and hoped the words branding Lucien for all eternity would come to his aide.

Breathlessly, she continued, “I shall not be a spirit alone, unable to perform what needs to be done. I shall know my enemies as I know my friends.” �

A deep frown furrowed Lucien's brow before a dawning comprehension filled his face. He pulled himself upright, despite the pain flooding his now human body, and graced her with the smallest nod of his head.

“I shall know my enemies…”��

His repetition of the tormenting phrase was loud and firm as he lifted his bare hands. At first, it appeared he was pushing an unseen force aside. He closed his eyes and clenched