The Soul Stealer

By Jasmine Bordelon

The sun sets, and wispy clouds above me glow a faint orange. This means I now have ’til the break of dawn to find the creature who stole my mother’s soul.

And kill it.

If I fail to reunite her body and soul before the creature returns to its realm with the first ray of sunlight, she will remain its captive for eternity.

A slight rumble shakes the ground. My chest tightens, and I crouch lower behind a bush, ducking beneath the leaves that shimmer like jewels in the moonlight. The Soul Stealer is near. Its haunting presence sends chills over my skin as it scours the forest in search of its next victim.

The songs of wildlife create a symphony of melodic sounds around me. Yet I am only aware of my thunderous heartbeat. I fight to control my ragged breathing. Morning is mere hours away.

A gentle breeze ruffles my hair. It carries the faint scent of roses, my mother’s favorite flower. Grief tears through me, the floral smell reminding me of my mother’s warm presence.

I will save you, Mom, even if it kills me.

Peering through the bushes and clustered leaves, I search the jade-colored trees wrapped in cerulean vines. Tall grasses among the bushes provide another layer of shelter but sting to the touch. I am careful to avoid the blade-like edges as I crawl forward. My muscles strain with the effort.

Where are you, Soul Stealer?

Something stirs in the tangle of trees, shrouded by vines. The smell of roses becomes nauseating. Every muscle in my body tenses as the leaves rustle and the trees tremble. I gasp when a creature emerges from the forest’s shadowed depths.

The Soul Stealer is almost deer-like in the shape of its body, covered in glowing, teal scales. Its eyes are a piercing white, and giant antlers spread like branches from its crown. The creature’s face is veiled in flowing tendrils of blue fur that remind me of cascading waterfalls, hiding the true horror beneath. Now I know why my mother wasn’t afraid of the Soul Stealer. It doesn’t appear to be threatening at all.

I lick my dry lips and shake my head, reminding myself why I am here. My mother’s screams as this creature took hold of her, her mangled body left at my feet, eyes dark pools of nothing where life had once been. Fiery hatred brims within me, burning away my awe.

I reach a shaky hand for the bow slung over my shoulder, soundless as I notch an arrow tipped with the luminescent poison that will release the creature’s captive souls and kill it forever.

Echoes of twigs snapping under the Soul Stealer’s hooves intermix with the hum of wildlife as I steady my bow, aiming for the creature’s chest.

The Soul Stealer releases an ear-splitting screech that cuts through the air.

Ice shoots through my veins, and my entire body goes numb. I bite down on the inside of my cheek, the metallic tang of blood filling my mouth. The bow and arrow slip from my fingertips, falling to the forest floor.

Fear grips me like a vice as the Soul Stealer turns its head in my direction, taking calculated steps toward me. Sweat gathers around my temples.

This can’t be happening.

All it would take is one look in the creature’s eyes for it to steal my soul, and then there would be no hope for my mother to return.

I scream for my body to respond, but it is frozen in place. The Soul Stealer is a mere arm’s length from me as it bends its head down, the spirals of blue peeling away from its face. I squeeze my eyes shut in a futile attempt to fight against its power, but a part of me knows it is pointless. My mother died with no fear, and so will I.

Prying my eyes open, I meet the creature’s blinding white eyes, waiting for my soul to be severed from my body.

I don’t want to hurt you.

I stare—the only movement my body manages is my heart thudding against my frozen ribs. It’s my mother’s voice, speaking through the Soul Stealer. Surprisingly a mangled cry escapes my lips.

The vivid memory of the last day I spent with my mother, picking roses on the edge of the woods, careful to evade the thorns, overwhelms me. Tears sting my eyes as longing roils through me, grief slashing my soul apart like a thousand knives.

Strange and foreign visions then flash through my mind. They’re of the creature’s kin losing their lives to ruthless hunters over a millennium until only one remains, consumed with loneliness and mourning. The Soul Stealer accidentally discovered its ability to steal souls when it first attempted to quench its pain by befriending humanity.

I don’t want to be alone anymore. Your mother isn’t gone. She is with me.

I understand then. The creature takes souls only for the company they give it, and nor does it steal them intentionally.

It never destroys the souls.

Wouldn’t I do the same thing if I could?

The feeling returns to my body as golden sunlight filters through the trees, and the Soul Stealer’s body turns translucent, meeting my gaze one last time before vanishing into its realm with an eerie, yet oddly comforting silence.

As much as it hurts, I know my mother isn’t dead. She will live forever with what I thought was my enemy, the Soul Stealer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jasmine Bordelon enjoys anything to do with outer space, a good twisty book, hiking the Adirondack mountains, and spending time with her beloved animal companions. She loves stories that aren’t afraid of the darkness we all face, and aspires to write stories that help others see hope and light in unexpected places.

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