The Soul Keeper (In progress)

A child’s voice drifted by like a whisper on the wind. A whisper ever so soft and innocent, it sent chills down the Keeper’s spine. The voice was so siren, it beckoned him to come, to see. In a swirl of brilliant white light the Keeper appeared at the child’s window. He knew he would not be disturbed, for no one could see him. No one except those who have been damned. 1

He peered through the glass, desiring a closer look as the child begun to weave her prayers. Her voice was like a melody softly rising to form a crescendo until the final note broke the spell the prayer had on the Keeper. Her words echoed within the realms of his mind like a plague, taunting him with a taste of something he could never deserve. 2

“Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.” the child had murmured. 3

With a sigh, the Keeper pulled away from the window nervously fingering the small drawstring bag at his side. He knew he should not waste time on such things, not when he had many miles to travel tonight. 4

He had been guided here for some purpose, and sighed contentedly as his eyes lit upon the child’s father seated in their living room. The keeper reached one hand into his cloak and retrieved a list. At the top of the list scrawled in cursive was the man’s name, Jim Thurman. The Keeper unconsciously shook his head at the man’s biography, noting the: adultery, battery, excessive gambling, stealing, and neglect for his own daughter that was listed below the name. The keeper’s lip curled upwards in disgust. 5

“This is one human I will happily collect for you Lucifer.” The keeper whispered to himself as he floated towards the house. He groaned softly as he passed through the front wall, noting that each time he did it became harder to do. 6

Maybe I’m getting too old for this job. The Keeper thought as he reached for the satchel that dangled patiently by his side. He glided effortlessly towards the man and hovered over the chair he was carelessly perched in. His mouth hung open as he slept, deep in the throws of his drunken stupor. 7

As if subconsciously sensing the Keeper's presence Jim woke confused and startled. 8

"You! Who are you? What are you doing in my house?" Jim asked, slurring his words as if his tongue was too big for his mouth. 9

"I have come for you Jim." The Keeper said in reply, recognizing the repeating pattern that occurs multiple times a night. "You have sinned, you have forgotten your faith, and now God has denied you entry to Heaven." A sympathetic smile appeared on the Keeper's face. "You belong to Lucifer now."10


Jim frantically shook his head trying to get a grip on reality. "You are not real." he mumbled, and pointed a stubby finger in the Keeper's direction. Jim tried to stand on his wobbly legs and tripped over his own feet landing just in front of the Keeper. 11

Jim stuck his hand out to grab the Keeper's robes, and was amazed as his hand fell through thin air, only to watch it reform seconds later as the robes. The Keeper sighed aloud, he knew what was coming next, he could see the question forming in Jim's eyes. 12

"Are you...are you an angel?" Jim asked, no longer denying the Keeper's existence on his alcohol level. 13

In response to Jim's question, the Keeper lowered the hood on his robe revealing his face. He knew what he must look like to the humans. His hair spilled over his elegant shoulders like a curtain of golden silk. He had a delicately carved face with emerald green eyes, and a friendly smile. The clothes he bore on his body even shown as if he contained some inner light, constantly shimmering, and shifting as if the particles were alive. 14

"Jim I am not an angel," The keeper said bitterly, "I am forsworn; one of the fallen. I am The Soul Keeper, bound to ancient damnation for I am a most wicked fiend here to possess your soul."15

Jim fell to his hands and knees sobbing openly. "What about my wife? My daughter? Tell me you are not here for them as well!" he pleaded with his eyes as tears trailed down his face. 16

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