Soul Stone

The door to the house opened in front of them as Gabriel urged Megan inside with a hand on her back. Megan's steps were reluctant, and she tried to see who had opened the door, but they were alone in the foyer. A grand staircase with an intricate dark wood banister ascended to the upper floor above them. The floors were tiled in dark red and grey stone. The walls were paneled in dark wood with intricate molding in the same shade. 

To the left was an open living area with a roaring fire in a large stone fireplace. There were large overstuffed brown suede furniture arranged comfortably around the room. There were extra pillows and throw blankets on various furniture and two lamps were lit. There were iron and stained glass lamps on either side of a large sofa. 

"Not bad at all." A man's voice came from behind Megan causing her to spin around startled. 

With a hand to her throat, and assuming this man had opened the door, Megan asked. "Who are you?" 

Gabriel caught Megan's attention. "This is my man, Afton. He is my bodyguard and closest friend. He is going to stay with you while I take care of a personal matter." 

Gabriel turned to Afton. "I need to make a call. I will have some wine and snacks sent to the living room here." 

"Of course, we will be here." Afton quickly took Megan's arm and propelled her to the large sofa in front of the fireplace. 

Gabriel watched as Megan sat down gingerly on the sofa. He was impressed with the interior upgrade. It wasn't that far removed from his own personal preferences. He remembered the time his second wife had first walked into the house. It had been marble, gold, and mirrors everywhere. He should have known right then that he had made a mistake in his choice of bride. 

After watching Megan sit back and start to relax Gabriel headed deeper into the house to his study. He knew this room hadn't changed. The room was dark with heavy wooden furniture, blue velvet drapes, and dim lamp lights. There was a fireplace across from the desk that burned with a low fire. Behind the center set of pulled drapes were double French doors that led outside. 

Gabriel sat down at the desk and opened the center drawer and pulled out a black stone that was somewhere between a river rock and a black crystal. He sat the rock on the desk surface. He pulled a small needle from the desk drawer as well and set it beside the rock. Pouring a glass of wine from the sideboard behind him, he took a long drink before topping the glass back up. 

Gabriel took the needle puncturing his finger and drew a small symbol on the stone with the drop of blood that had formed. The rock was known as a soul stone to his people and allowed him to communicate with a person whose stone was paired by the same symbol. He couldn't exactly use a cell phone to call home from here. The stone began to emit a faint blue light. 

Putting the needle away Gabriel grabbed a tissue and held it to his finger with pressure for a moment until it stopped bleeding. After a moment he heard a noise in from the stone. 

"Sire?" A voice questioned. 

"Brother Shelton. It is good to hear your voice. How are things at home?" 

There was a sound of clothes rustling and then the creek of a chair. "Things are going as well as can be expected here, sire. What has you calling?" 

"I felt the claim." Gabriel said quietly. 

"Then you have found the one, your soulmate." Brother Shelton said excitedly. 

"How do I know for sure. I have never felt this before. How can I be sure?" Gabriel asked, trying to be rational about the situation. 

Brother Shelton made a humming noise. "Tell me exactly what happened and what you felt." 

"I took a bride today and when the officiant said I could kiss my bride, I couldn't help myself even though I usually don't. I kissed her. As soon as her skin touched mine, I felt a jolt and an electric tingling sensation. As my lips were on hers, I could feel my teeth sharpening. My mouth filled with saliva, and I felt an overwhelming urge to mark her and claim her. I felt possessive and animalistic, and I had to fight against myself to let go of her." Gabriel explained the whole situation in a rush. 

Brother Shelton exclaimed excitedly. "Then you have found her. Claim her soon before anyone hears of this and comes after the two of you while she is so weak. I know you have never felt this before. I have told you many times to not try to force the claim, that it is natural and either exists or it doesn't." 

"She hates me." Gabriel said with a heavy sigh. "I had to buy her and marry her by force, and she hates me." 

"Then you must convince her otherwise. It's very important that you are joined to your soulmate. Brother Shelton reminded him. 

"Of course, I know this." Gabriel groaned. 

There was a light knock on the door to the study. Startled Gabriel walked over and cracked it open. Afton stood on the other side turned to look down the hall toward the living room. 

Gabriel looked at his old friend strangely. It wasn't like him to leave his post. "What is it?" 

"Mrs. North was startled by the shadowling, Mim when it dropped off the wine. She didn't fully see but she seemed to catch the movement." Afton told him incredulously. 

"That's not possible. Humans can't see shadowlings. I will speak to Brother Shelton about it. We will need to trace her family tree. Maybe there are strong psychics in her family. Get back to her. I will be there shortly." Gabriel told him. When Afton nodded, heading back to the sitting room; Gabriel closed his study door and headed back to the glowing rock. 

"Brother Shelton, are you still there?" Gabriel asked. 

"Yes, sire. Is there a problem?" The monk asked him. 

"Megan was startled by a shadowling. She couldn't see it but felt something was there." Gabriel said unnerved by the news. 

"Interesting, is she not full human?" The monk questioned. 

"I have seen nothing to imply otherwise. Her father was definitely human. I never met her mother, but Megan seems full human." Gabriel replied unsure. 

"A psychic perhaps." Brother Shelton inferred with interest. 

Gabriel sighed, "perhaps but she would have to be an exceptionally strong one and I have seen no sign of that either." 

"I would investigate it Gabriel but don't let the mystery distract you from your primary goal. You must claim your soulmate immediately. You have only twenty-five days left." Brother Shelton sounded like he was walking down a stone hallway. 

"I haven't forgotten. I will call you when I have something else to report." Gabriel told the monk before running his thumb across the surface of the stone and wiping away the symbol. The light blue light disappeared, and he put the stone back in the drawer. 

Gabriel finished his glass of wine and left the study. He walked purposefully back to the sitting room finding Afton and Megan laughing about movie quote. As soon as Megan saw him her face turned from a smile into a deep scowl. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked away from his out a black window. 

"Thank you, Afton. Can I speak with you before you head out, please?" Gabriel waived the other man into the hallway. 

Afton joined Gabriel. "You want me on watch tonight in case she runs, right? It's not like I will be sleeping anyway." Afton grinned at him. 

"If you would please. I am unsure what she might try tonight." Gabriel replied. 

"Perhaps you should show her to her room. It is getting late." Afton prompted sensing that Gabriel felt unsure about how to proceed. 

Gabriel had always used the bridal suite for his wives in the past so they would have a space of their own, but he felt disinclined to be separated from Megan for such a long period of time. How would she take being forced to stay at his side through the night? 

Gabriel nodded at Afton absently. He was undecided on how to proceed, which felt odd. Gabriel was known for his decisiveness. When it came to Megan, he felt slightly off-center. He groaned running a hand through his hair. Gabriel wanted Megan in his arms and that made him uncomfortable. He had never felt anything as strong as his urge to be near her before. 

Gabriel walked into the living room and stopped in front of Megan who sat nursing a glass of wine. She refused to look at him. 

"Megan, are you getting tired? Are you ready for sleep?" Gabriel asked softly. Megan glanced at him alarmed before draining her glass. 

"I am only asking about sleep, Megan. We are both quite tired I think and could use the rest." Gabriel explained in understanding of her fear. 

"Yes, I am getting tired." Megan's voice was nearly a whisper. 

"Then let's get some sleep." Gabriel told her with a small smile. She didn't smile but stood and prepared to follow him.