Existence 2.5 - Leif

changed fate and then decided to play with a world that is not yours. You stepped out of your realm and took another soul not under your rule. Now I give you a choice Ghede . We close this portal today as well as the ones found in Africa and Haiti where the warriors are now standing guard and we seal them for all eternity. Voodoo power will end right here. Right now. You crossed a line.” The gauntlet had been thrown. Dankmar held the power.

“Or you let Pagan’s soul go. Free of any restitution. You stay clear of her and her family for all eternity and remain as you are. But I warn you , if I see your son, you or any of your spirits again remotely close to Pagan I will end this religion. There will be no second chances. It’s your choice.”

Father turned and stared back at me. I could feel his eyes boring into me as I studied Pagan. This was it. I would have to let her go now. It was the only way. She was never meant to b e mine. Even though in my heart, she always would be.

“Let her go.” I replied. Then I dropped my eyes from her gaze and turned to walk away. Back into the castle , where my future would never be complete. I’d lost the key to my happiness.

14 . “ I’m nothing like my father ” – Leif

A mix of emotions churned violently inside me. I couldn’t decide if despair, anger, loss, or hate was the most powerful. How had I failed so easily? Why hadn’t I moved in sooner and won her heart?

“Um, hey you… uh Leif, I think,” a familiar voice broke into my inner turmoil and I jerked my head around to glare at the intruder when I met the startled expression of Sabine. I’d forgotten about her. Shit. I wasn’t in the frame of mind to help anyone right now. Someone needed to help me.

“Oh my. Um, I take it things didn’t go so well with the girl,” she said softly.

“Obvious, is it?” I snapped .

Her big brown eyes widened. “I’m sorry.”

The sincerity in her voice was my undoing. The emotions inside me all stepped back to let sorrow take the leading role as tears filled my eyes.

“She didn’t choose me,” I managed to say without chocking up.

“Oh. Wow. Well, uh, maybe that is for the… best?”

I wanted to roar that it wasn’t for the best. It would never be for the best. How could the fact I’d lost everything impor tant to me ever be for the best? Stalking toward my bedroom without replying I stopped and touched the cold doorknob then paused. Her scent would be in there. Her clothes. My pillow would smell of her. I’d see her there on my bed. I wasn’t that strong yet. Instead, I turned and walked back to the room I’d been sleeping in since Pagan had been here.

Sabine still stood in the hallway watching me anxiously. I knew she wanted my help , but right now, I couldn’t bring myself to care.

“You could come in and talk about it. If that would help,” Sabine paused and wrung her hands, “It always helps me to talk about things and I’m a really good listener.”

Damn she was nice. I didn’t need to be around nice right now. I was anything but nice at the moment. “No thanks. I need to be alone,” I replied as politely as I could manage before opening the door to my temporary roo m.

“If you go in that room , I will find my si ster alone. I’m sorry that you’ re upset but I’m not standing around and waiting on you any longer. I need to find Rosella. She’s been gone too long already. I’m in a hurry.”

Telling Sabine to go ahead and try was so tempting. The only thing that kept me from walking away from her was the fact she would never make it out of here alive. I was the only chance she had. Those damn big innocent eyes of hers were pulling on my human side. The part of me that felt compassion and r emorse, the part that had been molded by my love for Pagan.

“Fine, I’ll help you. But I’m not in the mood for a hassle. Listen to me. Do what I say and we will get along just fine. Understood?

“Yeah, captain, I got it.” She drawled in a sexy southern accent I hadn’t paid much attention to earlier.

Nodding, my thoughts went back to Pagan. Was she happy now? What was she doing? Would she miss me at all?

I needed to see her one last time. Could I get away with going to check on her or would Dankmar make good on his threat? Forcing thoughts of Pagan aside I focused on the girl standing in front of me. The one who needed me.

“I’ll go find your sister now. You stay here in your room.”

Sabine began shaking her