Wayward Soul Read online

  A horrified gasp arose from the Sentries. Spirit guides were only supposed to take on a physical form if it was absolutely necessary to ensure the safety of the person they safeguarded. That she had used it for personal reasons was almost as bad as interfering with destiny.

  Esen directed her next words to Zanna. “If your charge had died, his soul would have started a new life with a new spirit guide. You would have lost him, so you made the conscious decision to keep him alive.”

  “No,” Zanna whispered. Her feelings for Owen might have clouded her judgment, but she would never stoop to sacrificing others for her own selfish desires. Would she? She had been having a hard time coming to terms with losing Owen. Had she unconsciously prevented his death?

  “You deserve no less than death,” Jakub sneered.

  Esen slammed her staff against the floor, sending vibrations through Zanna’s body. “The minute vampires, shape shifters, and werewolves started roaming the earth upsetting the balance between good and evil, we should have destroyed them—”

  She turned to Jakub. “No offense meant to you personally, Guide Logan.”

  “None taken.”

  Esen continued. “But the four of you disagreed. You decided to restore balance by bestowing deserving humans and spirit guides with psychic powers, healing powers, and any other kind of white powers you could.”

  One of the Sentries gave Esen an apologetic look. “We truly believed it was the best course of action. Esen’s right. Total annihilation is now our only option. We can—”

  Everyone turned at the sound of Kell clearing his throat.

  “I’m afraid that’s not an option, Sentries. We vowed never to resort to such desperate measures again.”

  Zanna exhaled; thankful her actions wouldn’t cause mankind’s destruction.

  Outraged frustration rose from the Sentries.

  “But, Master Kell, this is already way out of hand,” Esen said.

  “There’s every possibility this will have a negative effect on all,” another Sentry said.

  “We can’t stand by and do nothing,” a third said.

  “I understand your concerns, Sentries. I also have no intention of letting innocent people die because of the careless actions of one,” Kell shot Zanna a reproachful look.

  “Master Kell, how do we correct the situation?”

  “First things first. Sentry Esen, didn’t you say Owen Nash’s soul was supposed to return to earth?”

  “Yes, Master Kell.”

  “Go and send the soul of Guide Logan’s charge instead.”

  “But, Master Kell, switching souls will scare the person. He or she won’t understand what happened or why everything’s unfamiliar.”

  “It’s better than the alternative.”

  Esen bowed her head. “Of course. Forgive such disrespect. I will make any changes and adjustments I can.”

  “Excellent. The other Sentries will accompany you and help.”

  “Great One, my charge’s life wasn’t supposed to end. He still had unfinished business. Can’t his soul return to earth?” Jakub asked.

  Kell shook his head. “I’m sorry, Guide Logan, it’s too late for that.”

  His lips curled up forming a hideous grin. “What about her charge? I’ll gladly be his spirit guide.”

  Knots clutched Zanna’s stomach. Letting the bloodthirsty lycan replace her would sign Owen’s death warrant.

  “Considering the circumstances, I must refuse. Unfortunately for you, your services aren’t needed until the birth of your next charge. I hope you understand.”

  Jakub rounded on her, deadly rage in his eyes. “See what you’ve done? Death is too good for you.” The raspy, guttural sounds were closer to growls than words. A murderous expression crossed the lycan’s face. His nostrils flared and his face turned crimson, causing chills to run up and down Zanna’s spine. Fury replaced his self-control, making it impossible for him to maintain human form. She watched in shock as he altered and stretched, transforming into a werewolf.

  Kell held a protective hand up in front of her, using his other to point his staff at the lycan. “Guide Logan, I demand you leave the Chamber immediately.”

  Jakub took an aggressive step toward the pair, hackles raised. He gave a low, menacing snarl, baring his yellow teeth.

  Kell stood his ground. “It’s not your place to punish Guide Seoul. You did your duty by bringing her renegade actions to our attention. You have no further business here.”

  The lycan threw his head back and let out a ferocious howl, filling the Chamber with an eerie echo. Finally, he relented and bounded through one of the Chamber’s doorways.

  Dread filled Zanna, her guilt steadily turning to fear. The lycan wanted revenge, and he would target Owen. Someway, somehow, she had to stop him.

  “Look at me, Guide Seoul.”

  Zanna lifted her eyes to meet Kell’s.

  “Do you have anything to say for yourself?”

  Tears welled in her eyes. “I don’t even know where to begin. I accept whatever fate you feel I deserve.”

  “And does everyone else deserve the fate you have forced upon them?”

  “No.”

  “Sadly, your regret isn’t enough,” Kell said.

  “I know. I only asked you not to punish Owen because of my carelessness. The lycan is probably on his way to finish him off as we speak. Please protect him.”

  “What happens to him no longer concerns you.”

  Zanna cringed. “I’m sorry.”

  “So am I. Zanna Seoul, you are hereby stripped of your position as a spirit guide and of your immortality. You are banished to earth where you will live and die as a mortal.” Kell thrust his hand at her sending her reeling.

  Zanna’s body slammed and jolted as it fell. She fought and kicked trying to stop from pitching and tumbling in every direction. The violent whipping and thrashing caused waves of nausea to assail her senses.

  Owen. What have I done? I love you. Please be safe.

  Chapter Three

  The raven-haired beauty drove Owen mad with the sensual way she moved her hips in time to the music. Laughter shined in her green eyes as she danced circles around him. She raised her arms up and tossed her head, sending her long hair swinging in his direction, tickling his arm. When he could stand it no longer, he stood and took her by the hand, leading her to a dark corner. He interlaced his hands in her hair and brought her lips to his for a devouring kiss. She wrapped her arms—

  The shrill beeping of the alarm snapped Owen out of his dream. The obnoxious noise sent shooting pain through his throbbing head. He turned and opened one eye. The red display blinked seven thirty. Only two hours since he’d come home from the bar. Crap. He slammed his hand down on the clock. Pulling the comforter over his head, he prayed his dream would pick up where it left off.

  The buzzer sounded a second time.

  Cursing, he picked up the clock, jerked the cord from the outlet, and threw it across the room. He flopped over onto his stomach and pounded the pillow with his fist before letting his head drop.

  Now, instead of dreaming of a beautiful woman, the sickening images of a dead body and crime scene tape filled his mind. To top it off, the smell of fermented beer and cigarette smoke seeped through his pores causing his stomach to lurch. Why had he let his partner talk him into going out drinking? He hated the so-noisy-you-couldn’t-hear-yourself-think bars his coworkers frequented. The dirty, smoke-filled beer joints were not his idea of a good time. He preferred playing Uno or Guitar Hero with his son, Jamie.

  To be fair, it hadn’t taken much convincing. He hadn’t been ready to go home to an empty house, where nothing could distract him from the fact that he now had blood on his hands. No Jamie jumping up and down after beating him at cards. No loud music from the video game.

  A raw ache had pressed against his chest at the thought of returning to the quiet, empty shell of darkness that had greeted him since his divorce. He missed his son. Seeing him for a couple of
hours through the week and every other weekend wasn’t enough. He wanted to hear the sound of Jamie’s laughter echoing through the house every day, to have to step over small toys on his way to the bathroom, and hear cartoon theme songs running through his head all day at work.

  He put the pillow over his head and hoped to drift back off. He wanted to forget for a little while longer that he had taken a man’s life. After going through such an ordeal, he wasn’t ready for a day of solitude. If he was lucky, he would sleep through the next three days of required administrative leave.

  “Owen!”

  He jerked his head up. Did he hear someone calling to him, or was he dreaming?

  “Did you hear me, Owen? You need to get up.” There was a loud slam.

  He definitely heard that. He turned over onto his back, alert, hand gripping the revolver he kept under his pillow. He scanned the dark bedroom and saw a woman jerk open the dresser drawers, rummage around, and then slam them shut. He relaxed, realizing she was the woman with long, black hair from his dream.

  He leaned up on one elbow, yawned, and ran his free hand through his auburn hair. Apparently, he hadn’t been dreaming. She certainly didn’t look like a dream. Her snug blue jeans emphasized slim hips and long legs. He would have to thank his partner for dragging him out. It looked like he’d gotten lucky.

  She slammed another drawer, sending a sharp pain through his head.

  “I have a better idea. Why don’t you come back to bed and we can pick up where we left off.”

  The woman stiffened. She turned around, giving him an accusing look. “Have you been drinking?”

  He sat up, hackles raised. “What are you, my mother?” He swung out of bed and pulled on the jeans and t-shirt he’d worn the night before. He picked up his revolver and stuck it in the waistband of his jeans. His whole body tensed into a rigid line when he noticed the closet door was open and several of his shirts and some of his jeans had been pulled down off the hangers. His gun box had been taken off the shelf and was sitting out in the middle of the floor, open. “What do you think you’re doing going through my stuff?” He grabbed his shoes and jerked them on.

  Ignoring him, she walked over and peered out the window. His houseguest had worn out her welcome and he was going to show her the door. He saw a flash of red and silver in her hand. Was she holding his kitchen fire extinguisher? He shook his head. He knew how to pick ‘em.

  He stomped to the woman and grabbed her arm. She looked up at him, her green eyes wild with fear. “We need to leave right now.”

  “You’re half right. One of us definitely needs to go. I think you need to—”

  He broke off as the sound of breaking glass and splintering wood vibrated through the house.

  “That’s Jakub. He broke the back door. He’s coming this way.” The woman was on the brink of hysteria, her voice shaky.

  “Who’s that? Your partner? What’d you do, forget to leave the back door unlocked for him? You just crossed the line. I was going to let you leave and forget this ever happened, but now you and your friend are going to jail.” Pushed to his limit, Owen took her by the arm and headed for the bedroom door.

  She jerked free and backed toward the window, tears streaming down her face. “No, we have to go out the window. If we don’t leave now, you’ll be dead.”

  Those words put the annoyed cop on full alert. He pulled his gun from the waistband of his jeans. “Stay here.”

  The thud of pounding feet echoed off the walls and floor, growing louder as the intruder approached the bedroom. The closer the assailant got, the more the sound reminded Owen of the clicking noise a dog’s toenails made on hardwood.

  The girl paled. “It’s too late. I’m so sorry, Owen.”

  “Sorry for wh—” Owen broke off as a massive brown dog charged into the room; lips curled back exposing long yellow teeth. Hadn’t the lady said someone named Jakub was coming? The creature hunkered down preparing to attack, its burnt orange eyes darting back and forth between Owen and the woman.

  Staring at the gruesome animal made all traces of Owen’s hangover melt away. He aimed his gun. It let out a menacing growl and rushed toward him, teeth still bared.

  Before he could shoot, the woman whipped the fire extinguisher around and sprayed the animal. It fell over yelping and whimpering, rolling around like it had been scalded. She took a few steps closer, spraying until the canister was empty. Owen took advantage of the dog’s position and shot it in the side of the head. It screamed in protest. Screamed?

  Owen stood in stunned silence as he watched the thing’s front legs start to grow longer. The paws extended and turned into hands that gripped the side of its head. The animal’s face contorted and Owen would have sworn it was human.

  The sound of shattering glass shook him back to reality. He turned to see the woman using his gun case to snap off the remaining glass shards sticking out around the broken window. His empty gun case. She hauled a duffle bag onto her shoulder and started out the window.

  Owen caught her by the arm. “Not so fast.”

  She tried to pull him with her. “We have to go now.”

  “I don’t think so. You’re going to tell me what’s go—”

  Out of the corner of his eye, Owen saw the dog lift its head. A head that now had skin taking the place of matted brown hair. Hadn’t there been pointy ears when he shot it? He didn’t need further incentive. He dove out the window and ran to his car. The sight of the moon shining bright against the heavy, dark clouds of the night sky surprised him. Had he slept all day and into the evening? It appeared so. He skidded to a stop and jerked on the door handle. The door was locked.

  “Crap.”

  The woman tossed his car keys to him. “Here.”

  Owen didn’t know whether to say thanks or add it the list of stolen property he was devising. Glancing at the house, images of the vicious dog, or man, or whatever it was, on the floor still fresh in his mind, he decided to let the car keys slide. He rammed the car into gear and catapulted off. The cruiser fishtailed down the street leaving skid marks.

  “Who was that? What is going on?” He threw up his hand. “Never mind. Don’t answer that. I’m still dreaming, only now it’s turned into a nightmare.” Owen’s heart pounded.

  “I’m so sorry, Owen. I wish this was a bad dream. Try and stay calm.”

  “That’s easy for you to say. I was just attacked in my home by a…I don’t even know what that thing was.”

  “He’s a lycanthropy.”

  Owen’s mouth fell open and his eyes bugged out. The woman must be crazy. “A like-a-who?”

  She shook her head. She was turned sideways in the seat, glancing out the back window. Her face was pasty white, and her eyes were wide and wild. “No. A lycanthropy. It means he can turn into a wolf—a werewolf.”

  Owen’s jaw moved, but he couldn’t say anything. Common sense was telling him that she was crazy or on something or both, but his mind couldn’t ignore what he had seen on his bedroom floor. That thing had started changing. Was it human? He shook his head, his mind rejecting the notion.

  The woman rubbed his arm. “Calm down. You’re safe now and—”

  He jerked his arm away. “Don’t touch me. Don’t tell me to calm down. I just had to shoot something, or someone, for the second time in two days. For all I know, he’s your buddy, and you two had more in mind than just robbing me.”

  She looked like he had just slapped her. Her eyes filled with tears. “I…I…I—”

  “Quit your babbling and spit it out.”

  She stiffened and sat up straighter. She narrowed her eyes at him. “I don’t have time to explain. Get this car moving. We need to go to thirteen-thirteen Elmwood Lane.”

  Owens insides were turning flip flops, and he was sure his heart was going to jump out of his chest. “You’re unbelievable. First you rob me, then your boyfriend tries to kill me, and now you want me to be your chauffer.”

  “Believe it or not, I’m on your side. I swear
, I will explain everything to you. Please. A woman’s life is in danger. If we don’t go help her, that lycan will kill her.”

  “Ha, not likely since I pretty much shot the thing at point blank range. Which is more than I can say for you, considering you have my other gun? The only thing you did was give it a bath.”

  She gave him a tense smile, her face still tight with worry. “Fire extinguishers have aluminum sulfate. Silver.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Of course. That makes perfect sense given that the intruder was a werewolf.”

  “Well, do fire extinguishers usually cause people to roll around on the floor in excruciating pain?”

  “No, but it would scare the crap out of a dog and cause it to overreact.”

  Before she could answer, he slammed on the breaks, causing her to jet forward and crash against the dashboard, smacking her head on the windshield.

  The woman grunted and rubbed the side of her head, then righted herself and twisted around to look out the passenger window. “What are you doing? We need to get to Elmwood Lane this in—”

  Owen slapped cuffs on her wrist. “Lady, you’re under arrest.”

  Chapter Four

  He didn’t remember her. The woman he had had known and loved for more than six months. Less than twenty-four hours ago, she had been kissing him goodbye when he left for work. Now, he thought she was a con and a thief. How could all the time they had spent together be gone? Erased from his memory? Zanna didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

  Owen—her Owen—was dragging her into the police station in handcuffs.

  What did she expect? For all intents and purposes, Owen’s subconscious, the part of him that Zanna monitored during his existence on earth, had pretty much disappeared. Sure, he could make decisions, reason, have an opinion, and function like always. But there was no “little voice” in the back of his mind or “gut instinct” giving him a feeling for which decisions he should make. He didn’t even have a chart to follow since, technically, he was supposed to be dead.