He is the Bad Wolf

SOUL RING

After breakfast the trio dispersed, Silver announced that he would be going to collect supplies on the other side of town along with his team and would like the opportunity to chat more with Sia. Silver was a kind, funny and very articulate boy who appeared to be in his early twenties. There was a freshness in the way he walked, moved, and smiled. A freshness that Caden did not possess, the poor man seemed to be holding the weight of the world on his broad shoulders. "Are you going out too?" Sia asked as they watched Silver leave.

Caden led her to the bottom of the stairs. "Yes, I have rounds in an hour." His eyes scanned everyone who came down and up the stairs. "You better go back to your room. I'll find you later."

“Rounds? What are those?”

“I just go for a walk and make sure everything is okay.”

Sia leaned casually against the railing, suddenly interested in learning more about the rounds. Lately everything seemed interesting and new to her after being nothing more than a corpse for five hundred years. “And you also go out with a team?”

He frowned. "No ..." then he licked his lips as if nervous. "I'm going on my own."

“Oh.”

“Oh? What is it?”

Now it was she who was licking her lips nervously. This was a good chance for her to see what the world was like now. She knew it would be different without a doubt and it would be a big shock, but it was better to know now. "I was wondering, if you wouldn't mind, that I accompany you on your rounds." He said nothing. Caden blinked rapidly as if trying to process what she had told him. Had Sia spoken in another language? "If you don't want company, I understand. It's just that ... I'm bored and all I do is be in that huge room accompanied by silence." Maybe she shouldn't talk so much but she continued as she felt more animated, "It was a breath of fresh air to be able to talk to someone else today."

“I see.” He said simply. He didn’t seem too inclined to bring her along.

“Well, I realize now that it was a mistake to have told you this. See you later I guess.”

Slowly she pivoted on the first step and began to climb, she had already gone five steps when she heard Caden say her name. It was so strange. Usually he addressed her as a girl or a witch. Sia stopped and turned again to face him. “Go freshen up and I'll pick you up in half an hour. There is something I have to do first.”

She nodded enthusiastically and hurried up the stairs, colliding with some wolves by accident. When she entered her room, she almost had a heart attack when she saw The Countess standing in the middle with her hands behind her back. She was wearing a long black velvet dress that she dragged across the floor elegantly. Sia couldn't help but notice how sophisticated this woman looked all the time.

“Hello, child.”

“Hello…”

The Countess took a seat in the ostentatious chair by the window, folding both hands in her lap. "Are you going out with Caden?" How did she know that? She was not near them when they were talking about the rounds moments ago. "Don't be alarmed, I wasn't spying on you two." The mocking giggle that escaped her sent Sia chills down her spine "There is something you should know before you get the wrong ideas. I can delve into Caden's thoughts when he's not careful. Usually I find it a bit difficult as he is a very private person and enjoys an enviable control." Had she read Caden's thoughts then? How was that possible? "I noticed that Caden had dropped his guard, so I took the opportunity to see what that little head of his was harboring."

Suddenly Sia couldn't contain the wave of anger that took over her. "That is intrusive. People's thoughts are private."

“Take it easy honey, Caden knows exactly what can happen if he's not careful with his mind. I have not committed any crime or sin; I just enjoy the benefits of our deep connection.”

“So, he knows what you do behind his back?”

“Of course." Sia had to be very careful about the things she might talk to Caden about then.

“I see.” She sighed. She backed against the door then. “Why are you here? What can I do for you?”

“I come for my answer.” She said in an all business tone.

“I don’t have it.”

“Lies.”

“If you know the answer already why come here unannounced like this?”

“I like to receive direct responses. Don't make me waste my time and little patience that I still have and just tell me what I want to hear.”

“My answer is yes. I will help you as long as you help me.” Sia was agreeing more than anything out of sheer curiosity. The truth was that as long as her powers did not return to fullness, she would have to depend on the help and resources that this woman could provide during the deal.

“Perfect!” The Countess stood up and in the blink of an eye she materialized right in front of Sia. What the hell? What was this woman? Wolves could not appear in the middle of nowhere. “I have something for you then.” Next, she produced a small velvety red box. “This is for you.”

“What is it?” Sia asked as she took the floating box between her palms.

“I believe you would be familiarized with the term soul ring.”

A soul ring was an object that served to protect the soul of the individual in question. Normally it was used by sorcerers who made deals with humans, if the human could not fulfill his part of the deal the sorcerer would steal the soul of the human and place it inside an enchanted ring. The sorcerer would have control over the victim’s soul until they got bored of controlling them or until they decided to free them. “You must think I’m a fool if you think I’ll let you control me like a puppet.”

“Control you?”

“Did you revive me with the intention of using me with this thing?”

“You’ve gotten it all wrong, child.” What bothered her the most was seeing how this woman had the nerve to seem offended by Sia's mistrust. “Let me tell you that you will not survive for long without this ring.”

“Excuse me? What does that mean?”

“You are not complete. I couldn't get your heart back because you didn't die with it. Gideon still has your heart.”

“That is not... How? H-he used it for the ritual. You’re mistaken.” Sia put a hand on her chest and waited to feel her heartbeat but she felt absolutely nothing. It was empty. “Then how am I still alive?”

“The magic I have conjured is powerful enough to allow you to move, and thanks to it you would have at least five more days. The ring would allow you to live until you can get your heart back.”

Until she could get her heart back? So, she had died in vain? Gideon had been the thief who took everything from her for no purpose. Damn him and all his filthy pack! A sharp scream emanated from deep within her, forcing her to fall to her knees. Sia couldn't shed any more tears. She couldn't waste any more of her on Gideon. Without thinking twice, she destroyed the small box until only the ring remained. A gold band with an inscription with strange letters. Runes? Sia put on the ring and waited until she felt different. For a few moments nothing happened and she thought that maybe this ring was not working but suddenly ... the color of her skin changed -seeming more alive-, she felt a warmth ignite inside her and a light draft enveloped her for a few moments before disappearing.

“How do you feel?” The Countess asked with a timid little voice.

“Better.” Sia stood up feeling much better than before, even more than five hundred years ago. "You say this ring will keep me alive until I get my heart back? Are you sure?" The woman nodded stiffly. “What do I have to do?”

“We will discuss the details of our agreement later, for now focus on not losing the ring during your walk with Caden.”