Wayward Soul Read online

  Wayward Soul

  By Kim Bowman

  Published by Astraea Press, LLC

  www.AstraeaPress.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.

  WAYWARD SOUL BY KIM BOWMAN

  Copyright © 2011 KIM BOWMAN

  ISBN 978-1-936852-08-6

  Cover Art Designed By Elaina Lee

  Edited By Stephanie Taylor and Jane Paxson

  I dedicate this book to my wonderful husband and love of my life, Tony. Thank you for supporting me and never complaining when you’re stuck eating frozen pizza for dinner because I’m glued to the computer.

  To my sister, Michele, thank you for always believing in me and being my best friend.

  I also want to say a special thank you to author Christine Bell for her support, encouragement, and advice. You are truly a class act and I’m honored to know you.

  And last but not least, thank you to Stephanie and the staff at Astraea Press for all you’ve done to help me.

  Chapter One

  “Owen, please don’t go to work today.”

  Zanna slapped a hand over her mouth. Did she just say that out loud? What the heck was she trying to do? She was Owen’s spirit guide for goodness sake. Her job was to make sure he followed his charted course while living on Earth. To be the invisible force that directed him toward which decision to make. She knew better than to try and change fate. If his chart said he was supposed to die, that was that. His life had already been mapped out from beginning to end before he was born and it was pretty much set in stone. Unfortunately, right now she wasn’t his spirit guide, but the woman who loved him.

  “Did you say something?” Owen asked from the kitchen.

  Zanna stiffened. If she hadn’t already been sitting on his sofa, she would have fallen to the floor. Had Owen heard her? “No, nothing.” Yes. Please don’t go to work. Stay here. Stay safe.

  “Do you need me to drive you home? I appreciate you staying here last night with Jamie and getting him off to school,” Owen said, walking back to the living room with two cups of coffee. He sat down on the coffee table and handed her a cup.

  “No, I’ll be fine,” Zanna said. I need to go look at your chart on the other side and see if there’s any way to stop you from dying.

  “If you keep staring at me like that, I’m gonna to be late for work.” He smiled, revealing the dimple in his right cheek.

  Inspiration struck. Maybe she was forbidden from telling Owen to stay home, but if he made the choice on his own…

  “Well, we can’t have that, Lieutenant Nash.” She leaned forward, sat the coffee down, and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him on the couch with her.

  Desire flashed in Owen’s eyes. “Forget work. I spent all night chasing the bad guy.” His mouth captured hers, urging her lips to part. The minute they did, he deepened the kiss and her conscience receded to a distant part of her mind. Zanna ran her fingers down Owen’s sides and around his back, pulling him closer, her hands dipping lower.

  Breathless, Owen broke the kiss to ask, “Are you sure? I mean, I know you want to wait…”

  Was she sure? As one of the few spirit guides who had never lived on earth as a human before, she didn’t have a lot of experience in the romantic depart. Slowly, she emerged from the blissful daydream where she was trying to find a place to hide from the impossible dilemma she faced.

  Do my job and let Owen die or save him and risk causing bedlam on Earth. Why did it have to be written in his chart that he had to die? Would it really be so disastrous if he lived?

  “Earth to Zanna,” Owen said.

  “I’m sorry. Did you say something?”

  Owen furrowed his eyebrows. “Yeah, I asked if you wanted to stop. I’m sorry. I freaked you out, didn’t I?”

  Zanna took his face in her hands. “No, you didn’t scare me at all. It’s just—”

  “It’s fine, I get it. I’m sorry.” Owen pushed back off the couch and moved to the door. “I gotta go to work.” He grabbed his gun and badge off the shelf by the door and turned the handle.

  He released the handle and raked his hand through his hair. With a loud sigh, he removed the gun and put it back on the shelf and then walked back to Zanna. He took both her hands in his and placed a tender kiss on her lips. Tears of relief streamed down her cheek.

  “Please don’t cry. I hate it when you cry. I was a jerk.”

  “I didn’t mean…It’s not you…It’s just…It’s just…” It’s just that if you go to work, you’ll be killed and I’ll lose you.

  He caressed her face with his thumbs. “Why don’t I call and have Smitty bring me the reports I need to finish, and we can spend the day doing whatever you want,” Owen offered.

  Zanna’s heart sang with joy. “Yes!”

  Owen gave her a sheepish smile. “Okay. Let me call work and then I’ll be all yours.” He opened his phone and dialed.

  Zanna fell back on the couch, relief washing through her. Her mind reeled trying to figure out how this was possible. How had it been so easy to keep Owen from going to work, when his chart said he would end up being shot and killed in the line of duty today?

  “Zanna.”

  His voice had taken on a somber note. The laughter completely gone. The way he said her name sent cold shivers up and down her spine. She couldn’t look up, didn’t want to see the solemn expression on his face. She started to tremble and beads of perspiration broke out on her temple. If she didn’t get a grip, she wouldn’t be able to maintain her physical body and it would be cast back to the spirit side. Owen would then drop dead from shock at watching her disappear.

  He sat beside her on the sofa and placed his hand on her forehead. “Are you o—”

  His cell phone started chirping. Cursing under his breath, he answered. “Nash.”

  Zanna couldn’t hear what the caller was saying, but from the way Owen’s jaw tightened and the vein on the side of his neck throbbed, it wasn’t good.

  “I’m on my way.” He snapped the phone closed then tossed in on the table. “I’m so sorry, Zanna. We have a really good lead on the guy we think’s been killing all these young girls. I have to follow it. Why don’t you stay here and wait for me.”

  Her throat was so tight she couldn’t speak, so she just gave him a tight smile and nodded.

  “Don’t hate me. You know I wouldn’t go if I didn’t have to.”

  “I love you, Owen,” she said, her eyes intent.

  He pressed his lips to her brow. “Why, I don’t know, but I’m glad you do. I love you, too. Wait for me.”

  A few minutes later, she was alone in Owen’s house. Frozen in place, hoping time would stand still.

  I can’t lose him. I don’t care what his fate is supposed to be! Think, think, think. There has to be a way to stop Owen from dying without causing chaos and destruction to ensue.

  Now Zanna understood why spirit guides were only permitted to take on a physical form to help a charge as a last resort. Why too much interaction between a life director and the human they helped protect was forbidden. The temptation to rewrite a person’s destiny, which in turn would cause pandemonium, was too great.

  She picked a pillow up off the couch and screamed into it, loud. There was nothing she could do to save Owen.

  Chapter Two

  Zanna awok
e gasping for air. At first, she thought it was the impact of her spirit body returning to her physical body. The force of the two slamming back together after astral travel was uncomfortable. She expected the heavy pressure on her chest, the elevated heart rate, and the momentary paralysis reentry caused, but she’d never been breathless.

  Fear took over when the weight increased, crushing her ribcage. Zanna’s hands flew to her throat where they encountered fingers wrapped around her neck, squeezing the life out of her.

  She blinked many times before her burning pupils adjusted to the bright overhead lights. The swirling white beacons made her eyes water, blurring her vision. Tears streamed down her face and her empty lungs screamed.

  Panicked, she placed her feet on the floor and bucked. She clawed at the hands around her neck desperate to loosen their grip. The vice-like hold only intensified, continuing to push down until she was sure her neck would break. Biting pain stung her smashed windpipe and deflated lungs.

  “Cease,” a male voice ordered. The authoritative sound resonated all around the space.

  Her attacker’s lethal hands fell away. Her compressed arteries opened, sending blood coursing through her veins so fast her head spun. She took a deep breath. The air stuck in her crushed throat made her gag and cough. She rolled into a ball, clutching her chest. Several agonizing moments passed before her aching lungs filled with oxygen.

  As her physical pain subsided, the dam in her mind broke, flooding her senses with the sound of gunfire, the smell of burning gunpowder, and the sight of blood spraying. Her heart cried out in grief as the horrible memories assaulted her mind. The man she loved was dead.

  “You deserve much worse, you murderous witch.”

  The contemptuous voice raked across her tormented soul, turning her dazed anguish to blazing wrath. Zanna came up swinging. The lycan didn’t move fast enough to avoid her. She raked her nails down both sides of his face drawing blood. Her fingers clawed and scratched, digging so deep a nail broke. He stumbled back a few steps, screaming and cursing, and then he rammed his hands against her chest sending her sprawling on the floor.

  “Enough,” a female voice laden with authority commanded.

  Sick with failure and loss, Zanna ignored her and charged again. Only to be brought up short when the woman landed in front of her, thrusting the sharp point of a staff in her face.

  “I said stop.” The woman jabbed the tip of her staff against Zanna’s shoulder forcing her back.

  Zanna recognized the woman as Esen, one of the angels known as a Sentry responsible for guarding the passage between Earth and Heaven called the Chamber of Astral Light. Behind Esen stood the Chamber’s unending wall of doors used to travel between the spiritual and physical worlds. Opposite of the doors was the gate that led to heaven. Bookshelves lined the rest of the room as far up and down as one could see. They held scrolls containing every thought, feeling, event, and action experienced; things already past and things yet to occur.

  The other Sentries joined Esen, staffs at the ready, five pairs of golden eyes pinning her to the spot. They were breathtaking in their long, black velvet tunics and chain mantles. All five guards had long, flowing blonde hair caught at the nape of their neck in a silver band. Humans often made comments about the beauty of an angel being a sight to behold, even made a good attempt to capture the essence of that splendor in paintings. Zanna appreciated the sentiment, but it didn’t do justice to the celestial beings. Their bronzed skin was flawless, the features of their faces sharp and distinct, yet elegant.

  Zanna pushed her unruly black hair off her face, and looked down at her torn jeans and dirt-smeared shirt. Heat crept up her neck toward her face.

  Unlike her, the lycan wore the blue and white robes required when visiting the Chamber. The fury already running rampant through her body spewed into boiling lava when she raised her eyes to his face and saw him regarding her in mocking silence, his lips twisted in a cynical smile. Even the sight of the golden scythe pressed against his neck didn’t appease her. She vowed to make him pay for humiliating her in front of the Sentries.

  “Stand down, Sentries,” the male voice from earlier said.

  Zanna glanced up to see a majestic man dressed in the same black velvet tunic and chain mantle approaching.

  All five guards took a few steps back but continued to watch the outsiders.

  “I’m Kell, Ruler of the Sentries. You must be the life guide Zanna Seoul.”

  “Yes, Great One.”

  “Who is the human you protect?”

  “My human charge is Owen Nash.” It felt cheap to refer to him as simply the person she guarded while he lived on the earth. He was so much more.

  “And you’re the life guide Jakub Logan?”

  “I am, Master Kell,” the lycan answered.

  “Who is your charge?”

  “I protect the human Tom Butler, Great One.”

  It amazed Zanna that the Sentries allowed a werewolf, even a half werewolf, to be assigned to watch over a human during his life on earth.

  “What is the reason for such conduct in the Chamber of Astral Light?” Kell asked.

  Zanna’s emerald green eyes shot daggers at Jakub. “I’m sorry. The lycan attacked me on Earth and hurled me back to this plane.”

  “Because she murdered my charge,” he shot back.

  The lycan’s accusation made her loathing for him intensify to a level of hatred Zanna didn’t know she possessed. How dare he say such a thing, such an untruth.

  “If anyone’s a murderer, it’s you and your charge.” Zanna lunged for him spurring the Sentries back into action. They surrounded her, rods aimed at her chest.

  “You will control yourself,” Esen warned, pushing Zanna back several steps.

  “Forgive me, but the lycan lies,” Zanna said.

  “We will make that decision.”

  “Zanna Seoul has maintained an impeccable reputation as a life guide for more than two thousand years. Explain why you have made such an accusation,” Kell said.

  “Spirit guides are allowed full access to the records of our charges. She abused this privileged by taking the information and using it to prevent her charge from dying.”

  “I did no such thing, you evil fiend.” Zanna trembled all over. How dare the lycan make such an accusation when his destructive charge shot her beloved Owen in the back.

  Jakub’s black eyes turned red. “Then explain how your charge still lives when his chart has ended.”

  Relief and joy washed over Zanna. Owen was safe. It was hard to contain her happiness and excitement. She hadn’t lost the love of her life. He was still alive. Maybe she had misunderstood his life record. Maybe it said he received severe injuries, but didn’t die.

  “There’s been a life force returned to Astral Light for every finished chart. How can that be if Guide Seoul’s human is still on earth?” Kell asked.

  “Her charge was supposed to receive a fatal gunshot wound from mine. Instead, my charge died because she started screaming for hers to turn around and shoot,” Jakub said.

  Zanna’s spirits plummeted. She felt like someone had splashed her with ice cold water. Is that why Owen was alive? Had he heard her frantic cries even though she was in spirit form? Had her actions caused the death of Mr. Butler?

  All five Sentries leveled their gaze on her. Kell stepped forward.

  “Does Guide Logan speak the truth?”

  “I—”

  “Don’t take my word for it, check the records.”

  “Watch your tone. I will go check the life maps to see if what you say is true.” Esen headed off to locate the records.

  The silence stretched on like an eternity. Something shattered inside her with each passing minute. No matter what Esen found, she had lost Owen. They would find out she had been dating him and remove her as his guide. That was bad enough, but if she had committed the unforgivable sin of interfering with a life chart…

  Zanna hugged herself, trying to tap down her rising
hysteria. The looks of disdain from the Sentries said they already thought she was guilty. She wanted to smack the smug, self-satisfied smile off the lycan’s face.

  Finally, she turned to see Esen approaching, a solemn expression marred her beautiful face. “Forgive my delay. I had to console some distressed guides. It seems Guide Seoul’s actions have already caused serious problems. One life guide is panicking because her next charge won’t return to earth on schedule.”

  The Sentries gaped at Esen.

  “Already? How is that possible?” Kell asked, alarmed.

  “The life guide’s charge should have received the soul of Owen Nash.”

  “And since he still lives on earth that can’t happen,” Kell finished.

  “Exactly. Some of the changes have the potential to be just as detrimental if not rectified. People who were never supposed to cross paths will and vice versa. As a matter of fact, the chart of Guide Logan’s charge indicates he had two other victims that were supposed to die.”

  Every word Esen spoke filled Zanna with remorse. “I’m so sorry for being the reason everyone faces such a dire situation. My interference was unintentional.”

  “You’re only sorry you got caught,” Jakub said.

  “You have set off a chain of events already proving catastrophic to everyone and all you can say is you’re sorry,” Kell snapped.

  “There’s more.”

  All eyes turned back to Esen.

  “What more could there possibly be?”

  Esen leveled an icy gaze on Zanna. “It seems Guide Seoul is a talented astral projector who can go to the physical plane without using the doorways here in the Chamber.”

  Kell shrugged. “So can most guides.”

  “That’s true, but Guide Seoul can project her physical body…” Esen trailed off, giving Kell and the other Sentries a chance to digest this information.

  “Why would she do that?” Kell asked.

  “Because it was the only way to continue her romantic involvement with her charge,” Esen said.