A Soul Collectors Love

Morgan

Ajax felt weary as the darkness receded to reveal soft colors along the horizon. He gave a sigh as he glanced over at Amanda. Her hair had dried into soft waves and the orange glow from the sun began to highlight the gold color. He shook his head. What was wrong with him? Wavy hair? He took a deep breath to quash those pesky emotions and felt the numbness descend. He slowed for their turn onto another gravel road. He was really making the rounds to abandoned buildings tonight. Amanda stirred, “Are we there?” He gave her a quick nod without removing his eyes from the road. He didn’t want to chance any of his emotions escaping. He pulled up to an old country style house with a wraparound porch. The house looked neatly kept with a white exterior and flower beds decorating each window. No one would suspect the powerful being inside this homey house. He unfolded his stiff body from the car and stretched before watching Amanda do exactly the same thing. The past two nights have been way too much fun. “Why are you still here? Why are you helping me?” Amanda asked abruptly. He looked into her eyes before running his hand through his hair. He turned back towards the house waiting for a few seconds before turning back to her. “Well you are a damsel in distress and clearly you need a dark knight”. He replied with a smirk. She scoffed and rolled her eyes, “I know you smirk to hide your emotions. So, drop the BS.” He was taken aback... no one, not even his father or torturer was able to guess his tell. He dropped the smirk immediately. “Because you are a dangerous supernatural with untrained abilities. Heck, you don’t even know your abilities. Someone needs to look out for the supernatural community.” She seemed to mull this over in her mind before nodding decidedly and accepting what he said. For some reason this irritated him. She didn’t even entertain the idea that he could be doing all of this altruistically. She shrugged and walked towards the unassuming farmhouse. He jogged to catch up with her but before either of them could knock, the door opened. An elderly woman with olive skin opened the door. She wore a plain white dress and had her long dark hair elegantly braided down her back. Her eyes roved over him and he knew without a doubt that she had sensed what he was before he pulled up the driveway. Her face was carefully blank before moving to Amanda where her eyes held a slight tinge of pride. She held out her hands and gave a full smile as if greeting her granddaughter. “Come closer Amanda let me take a look at you.” She said with a lilting accent. He watched this exchange with suspicion. He knew about this witch from what you would call his colleagues but he never met her before. She was said to be a hateful, prejudiced old hag. Amanda walked towards her with half a smile, “I’m sorry but do I know you?”. “Yes, child. We meet often but sadly you never remember our encounters. Although, I was looking forward to this one.” Amanda looked at him with confusion but followed the old witch into her home. He followed closely and closed the front door behind him. 

They made their way to the living room, where he took the only single chair. They sat facing each other on the two seater. Amanda still had a puzzled look marring her expression. “I don’t mean to be rude but what is your name?” Amanda asked hesitantly. “You may call me Morgan, child. I have known you since you were 3.” Amanda seemed shocked by this but nodded. “And...” She left the rest of the sentence hang in the air before turning to him. He shrugged, not knowing what she wanted to ask first. “I have seen this and I know you wish to know about what I have done but I believe you may not ask the right questions.” They looked at Morgan, Amanda with thoughtfulness and Ajax with suspicion. “You witches, always with your tricky word play.” He huffed before smirking at her. She looked at him matching his smirk with a seeming taunt ‘I know something you don’t know’ glint in her eyes. His face immediately fell and he barked out a what. “Will YOU ask the right questions?” She directed the question towards him but he was perplexed. “What would I need to ask you?” She tsked but still held her smile before turning her attention back towards Amanda. Morgan began straightening her already pristine dress before she looked up at Amanda. “I have removed your memories, abilities and knowledge about everything supernatural since you were little. The first time I met your parents, they were distraught and had a crying little girl that would describe vivid dreams about torture in hell.” He moved to the edge of his chair before looking at Amanda in a new light. “You were so small but your eyes looked ancient. The first time you arrived you spoke of a small boy but every time after that you explained the dreams as if they were your personal experience.” She quickly glanced at Ajax before carrying on her story. “You are angel and human but something else as well...” She left her sentence to hang in the air, trying to gauge if Amanda was ready for more information about her life and who she is. Amanda seemed interested but not shocked. This was surprising and this made Ajax think that maybe the little boy was him. He leaned forward but he knew that if he moved forward anymore he would face plant the living room floor. Morgan carried on, “You are also a witch. Actually, you are descended from my line. Your parents denied this piece of knowledge but I believe it is partly the reason you can view the horrors of hell and the views of heaven.” Ajax gasped before leaning back but that wasn’t enough. He stood up and began to pace because he wouldn’t be able to stay still a moment longer. “What do you mean ‘part of the reason’?” Amanda asked completely accepting of all this information while he felt the box he kept his emotions in beginning to slowly open. “Did your parents tell you the part that half angels get fated mates? We don’t know who designs the matches but that could be the other explanation.” She slowly looked at him again before smirking and returning her gaze to Amanda but Amanda had missed the exchange and was holding her head in her hands before beginning to chuckle. Oh no... the last time she laughed hysterically  she found out about the supernatural world. She looked back at Amanda before frowning again. She lifted her hands before showing bunny ears to emphasize her question, “So, you’re telling me that I have a ‘fated mate’ and said ‘fated mate’ is in hell? What is he? The devil himself? It would be just my luck”. She finished with an exasperated sigh. Morgan began to smile again and tilted her head, “You may only be mated to one of your kind. One with angel blood. He may have been in hell or heaven when you experienced your dreams but not even I can know the answer to that. I know you experienced all of this for a reason.” Before she continued she gave a small chuckle, “It may sound cliché but you have a destiny. There are things you need to do. You are made for greater things my beautiful great, great granddaughter.” Amanda softened at that and took the elder woman’s hand in her own, “You are the only family I recognize at the moment. You honoured my mother’s wishes by taking my memories and knowledge of my power but when I came to you on my own, you willingly gave me the information without me having to ask. Thank you great, great grandmother Morgan.” Amanda smiled with tears in her eyes. Ajax felt the need to hold her again but he felt his emotions threatening to explode. He took a deep breath searching for the calm and took hold of the comforting numbness. He opened his eyes not even realizing he had closed them. He glanced over to the women and noticed both were looking at him. Amanda with concern and Morgan with a knowing look. She nodded her head towards him as if acknowledging what he has done. “You are more. There is something your father is keeping from you but it is not mine to share. You have a journey a head of you. Be careful who you trust. Things will change but it depends on you whether they are good or not.” He looked at her, feeling himself pale. He has always suspected but no... it can’t be. Before she could say anything more to destroy his life, he stormed out of her house and got into the driver’s seat. He waited for Amanda but hell knew why. When she hugged the old hag and got into the car he reversed at a speed that would make most people lose it but Amanda was silent and he hated that. He sped away from the beautiful farm house trying to escape what they have just learned, while he saw the retreating figure of a beautiful, old witch that sported a knowing smirk.