Soul Connection (Chapter 2)

"Avery!" Magdalena called as she reached the giant Oak. 1

"Hello Magda, it has been a long time," said a small golden haired figure from up in the tree. He jumped down from the tree and embraced Magdalena, "how are you my old friend?"2

Magdalena had known Avery for most of her life. She had met him when she was a small child roaming the woods with her mother. Avery was a forest spirit, and had been acquainted with Magdalena's mother's family for generations.3

"I am well. It is good to see you."4

"Shall we take a walk through the woods like old times?"5

"Yes, that would be nice."6

The two friends chatted about what had happened since they had last met, about a year ago, when Avery asked, "How does your quest to discover what happened to your family fare?"7

Magdalena's expression became solemn. "Not well. I have learned nothing of their whereabouts. There are so many places they could have been taken and I don't even know where to begin. Besides, I pledged my sword to King Emory and until he releases me from service, I cannot leave."8

"It pains me to see you so sad Magda, but I think I can bring you a bit of hope. You see, though I did wish to see you, I was also sent by the Fairy Queen Tana to give you a message. You must convince King Emory to attack and take into possession the Iron mines of Korso. It will be a valuable resource to his campaign, and you may even find something you are looking for at the same time."9

"What do you mean?"10

"That I cannot tell you. Tis better to wait and find out when the time is right."11

"Why must you always avoid my inqueries? Very well, I shall convince King Emory to do this. Even if I do not find anything, the iron will prove very useful."12

"Yes, that is a good attitude to take Magda. And now I must depart though you know I loathe to do so. I hope you will have less of a burden when next we meet."13

Magdalena hugged her friend and watched him fade into the forest. Then she headed back to camp, pondering how best to persuade Emory to capture the mines.14

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Louise looked at her sister sitting next to her in the cart. Valeska was still sobbing into her hands and shaking from time to time. Louise's tears had long since dried, leaving streaks on her dusty face. She was too busy now going over her sister's and her current predicament to just sit there and cry. 16

"At least Val and I still have each other," she thought, "poor mother, we don't even know where they will take her, or even if we will ever be reunited. At least we got to stay together for as long as we did." They had been separated from their father from the very beginning, and from their oldest sister as well. Louise did not know what had become of her but she dearly hoped Magda had eluded capture and was living free and perhaps one day she would find and save them, but that was wishful thinking.17

Valeska, on the other hand, continued her sobbing, and thought only of how awful her life had become in the past few years. She had no hope left, and now that her family had been even further broken up, she began to despair more than ever and wished for her life to end. She then felt her sister put her arm around her.18

"At least we are still together," said Louise.19

"I should be the one comforting Louise" thought Valeska "not the other way around for I am the oldest now." But she was glad to be comforted nonetheless. The cart jolted to a stop and both girls looked up to see a huge marble villa, the home of Lord Evald and their new home so long as he chose to own them.20

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Loki could not clear his mind of what he had seen at the slave auction, and it troubled him greatly that he was unable to do so. Even watching the drunken fools back at the Copper Hog had given him no satisfaction. "It would be best to go back to the Demon Realm," he thought. He pulled out a purplish black orb which emitted a dark cloud that split down the middle to show a black void, which Loki stepped into.22

Once back in the Demon Realm, Loki proceeded to his home where he lived with his Uncle and cousins. Loki hated his Uncle with the fiercest kind of hatred possible, but that was no surprise considering demons are supposed to hate everyone.23

"Why so gloomy Loki?" sneered Kali, his youngest cousin, "did you not find an adequate number of souls to torment today?" Loki only shot her an annoyed look and went to the kitchen to find something to eat. Kali followed him. "I went to a mass execution today. It was quite gruesome, impalement, nasty way to die. Then I went to a battle. It provided a lovely blood feast afterwards." Kali licked her lips and Loki felt his stomach churn, he didn't much care for blood, something his relations thought very strange indeed.24

"That's enough Kali, you know I do not enjoy the taste of blood."25

"You would acquire the taste if you would drink it more often. Why don't you come to an execution with me tomorrow."26

"I have better things to do," he replied.27

"What, like sit on rooftops and watch drunken idiots stumble out of bars? That is a waste of time."28

"Shut up and leave me alone."29

Kali huffed and stalked out of the room. Loki conjured up some whisky hopeing to clear his head before his Uncle came home and plagued him just as Kali had. It was always the same, nothing ever changed. 30