A dead soul

Van Raven read the entire chapter. When he finished, he reread the last paragraph written in the ancient language.

[To my predecessors, it is a deep regret of mine to leave you with this terrible fate. I pray, and I believe that the blessing of our ancestors, Callisto, my beloved father, will accompany you throughout your journey.]

[D' Callisto]

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

"Grandma, I will be the one to extricate the regret in our family. I'll protect her without fail," he vowed with solemnity. His eyes shone in determination for something he had set his mind into.

...

Five days had passed since Anna discovered the journal that belonged to the previous Anna. In those five days, she spent most of her time wandering around the mansion, searching for any clues that could explain Anna's journal. However, there was nothing that aroused her suspicion, only facts related to Anna, such as her daily routine and schedules.

Much to her surprise, the previous Anna was the owner of a famous restaurant called Cityscape, which was located at the heart of Weammont city. At a young age of twenty, she had made her name well-known in the food and beverage industry. That wasn't an easy feat!

She was curious about how she did it. Therefore, she conveyed her intention to go to the restaurant to Avery. Yet, the other sternly warned her not to go anywhere until she was fully recovered.

When she expressed her worry about how the restaurant could be in trouble due to her recent disappearance, Avery gave her a look of incredulity before laughing her head off. Only then did she explain that nothing could go wrong even if she went missing for a month.

When she talked about the 'what if she had died?' Avery didn't restrain herself from scolding her.

But, what if she did die? Surely there would be consequences. That was what she thought until she found out that the Gunnars had kept her accident a secret to the outside world.

"Well, in the end, I'm just an outsider," Anna let out a soft chuckle. She stared at the vast land in front of her and the barricade of gardens that separate the estate and the wildland.

Few people were walking around the garden, and occasionally, they would stop at certain flowers before continuing. Anna recognized those people. They were the flower arrangement team for the thanksgiving party that would be held in two days.

Due to the incident at the airport, Mr. Gunnar had to cancel the press conference. To appease the public, he had invited all the press to a thanksgiving party that would be held in the mansion a week later. The short notice for such a big event brought chaos into the estate.

As for Avery, since she was the highlight of the event, Mrs. Gunnar had arranged a strict beauty regime customized for her. Avery could only purse her lips as she did what she was told.

Anna shook her head when she recalled all the rules and procedures Avery had to follow in such a short time. Her schedule was so packed that she rarely had time to chat with Anna. Not that it mattered, but this world offered a lot of tools to hide one's imperfection. For Avery, who was already a beauty, what was there to worry about?

'Soulmate...'

The sudden voice inside her head cut Anna's train of thought.

'You're here again,' she thought. This was also something that she had been doing most of the time—talking with the voice inside her head.

Five days ago, this voice had saved her from being devoured by the evilness inside her. She was thankful but knowing that someone could enter her mind freely was terrifying, especially when she couldn't do anything to block his entry.

She thought it was a mere coincidence, but when he reappeared two days ago, everything turned upside down. The scariest part was the part of her that believed this was meant to be.

'True, my love. It's because we're destined to be, which allowed me to talk to you telepathically. Wait until you're awakened, and you'll understand everything,' Anna bit her lower lip. It happened again. He was responding to her thoughts.

'What exactly do you mean by 'awakened'?' she asked. It bothered her.

'You'll know when your twenty-first birthday comes,' he replied, and Anna frowned the instant she heard it. He had given her a clue.

A twenty-first birthday was the day a person who inherited a powerful bloodline awakened their power. So, in other words, 'she' could be a descendent of a powerful heritage?! The frown in Anna's forehead deepened.

'Sweetheart, you'll age faster if you frowned like that.'

'Shut up!' Anna sent an image of her scowling, and the man laughed at her quick rebuttal.

'Don't overthink it. Right now, it would be best if you nursed yourself to health. Your body is too weak. It will not be able to hold your power once your bloodline power is awakened,' he advised, and Anna raised an eyebrow in response. He just agreed to her thoughts! Her heart drummed wildly, but she forced herself not to investigate the issue as it would only give away her true identity.

'You seem to know a lot,' Anna said with a hint of sarcasm, and he didn't deny it. 'Yes,' he said, rendering her speechless.

'At least tell me your name,' she implored. She hated herself for being led astray by a man whose name she didn't know.

'I can't. I've told you this. My name will only put you in danger,' he replied. His voice was low and husky. It was warm and comforting. Her rationale told her that she was exposing herself to possible danger, and she should run away before it was too late, but the foolish part inside her refused to see him gone. It was depressing because she wanted to want him out of her mind.

'Soulmate, you do know I could read your thoughts,' Anna frowned when she heard the sad tone in his voice. She was aware of it, which was another reason for her to stop diving further into this rabbit hole. Heaven knew how embarrassing it was to know that someone could read your thoughts!

'Since you are the invader, you have to be ready for all consequences. You said you know my past. But do you really know who I am?' she asked. She could hear him sighing in return, probably tired of listening to the same question every time they communicate.

However, what followed after the sigh brought her to her feet.

'I know everything about you, Emma.'

He said, gentle but firm. The name he called her with echoed in her thoughts.

Emma. He actually called her with her real name!

'Y-you…' Anna felt her body wobbled. She immediately held the edge of the table to avoid falling. How did he know who she was?

Anna's mind was in a tremulous state, which prevented her from thinking properly. Sensing the fluctuation in her mind, the man called for her. When ignored, he called even louder. His tone was urgent and full of worry.

'Anna, calm down.'

'My love, please calm down.'

He called for her name, again and again, trying to get her to listen to him.

Anna suddenly felt her chest tightened as her heartbeat started to beat heavily. It brought clarity into her mind.

'Sweetheart, please…' she heard his desperate voice. She understood now, the exasperation she felt was this man's current feeling.

Taking a deep breath, Anna calmed herself down. Slowly, she pulled the chair up and sat on it.

'Tell me how did you know who I am,' she demanded, sternly.

'I can't,' he quickly replied. 'I can't because if I do, someone else might hear,' he explained. His voice was calm and unafraid, but Anna felt a chill at the nape of her neck. What was he saying… exactly?

'You're a person of luck. You, yourself, is the cure of your curse. That's all I can say. There's a lot more, but I can only reveal them once you're powerful enough. Right now the knowledge will only put you in danger.'

'My—curse?' Anna muttered as she swallowed the nonexistent saliva in her throat. 'Are you saying that 'Anna' is the cure of my curse?' she asked, swallowing again.

'It's a possibility,' he replied. Although his word choice was one of uncertainty, his tone was confident.

'Give me one reason to believe you.' Anna bit her lips. She might say this, but she found herself believing him.

There was a moment of silence before she heard his voice again. 'Have you ever doubted the process of your reincarnation?' he asked.

A crease emerged on Anna's face as she thought about his question.

Doubt? Yes, she had. But what did it has to do with her curse? Moreover, the only doubt she had was whether she had forcefully taken the body from its previous own-

'Exactly.'

"What?!" Anna once again caused the poor chair she sat on to fall backward. Her real voice was so loud that it attracted the attention of the people who were in the garden. She immediately waved at them with a smile on her face and walked into her bedroom.

'Please, explain properly,' she said, almost sounded like she was pleading.

'Her soul is sealed somewhere inside your body. That's the reason why you can't have her memories,' his voice resounded inside her head.

Anna inhaled and felt her body shaking at the news. She walked towards her bed and climbed on top of it. Then, she covered herself with a thick blanket, hoping that it would calm her down.

'It's okay. Her soul is no longer alive.'

'A dead soul?' she mumbled the words out. When she heard him affirm her doubt, her hands grabbed the bedsheet with all her might.

She knew of a dead soul. It was something yearned by everyone born with a powerful bloodline. For it enhanced their power at a terrifying speed and outcome. Based on an ancient book she read, someone who managed to refine a soul to a dead soul and merge it with their soul, he or she would become unrivaled! Not even a pureblood could fight them.

However, it was a taboo and was no longer in practice. Yet, here she was entangled in such a sinister plot!

'Don't worry. Right now, the person who refined her soul is still in the dark. However, you must be very careful, the Gunnars might be involved in this,' he said each word carefully, afraid that his tone might startle her, again.

Unexpectedly, Anna was calm. Finally, she got the answers she wanted to know the most. Whether it was true or not, the possibility was high because the gift of reincarnation granted by her ancestor to the inheritor of the family curse was not an incomplete package like a memory loss.

'Do you know who that person is?' she asked. This was a serious matter. Her own life would be in danger if that person knew about the dead soul inside her. He or she might kill her for messing with their plan.

'No. You being alive means the refinement was a failure to him. But, he might come after you. That's why please be very careful.'

Anna found herself nodding after listening to his reminder.

'Soulmate,' Anna frowned for the nth time when she heard him called her as such.

'What is it?' she asked, ignoring the sweetness evoked by the title he used to call her.

'I have to go. My power couldn't hold the link any longer.'

Anna felt her heart skip a beat. She forgot that the man was using his power to communicate with her. Then, why would he do it if he knew the risk?

'I'm close by. That's why I could communicate with you without expending a lot of my power,' he clarified, providing details that caused Anna's eyes to widen in surprise. A small smile appeared on her face, but she erased it as soon as she realized what she was doing.

'How about we meet? Wouldn't it be better to talk face to face rather than suffering?' she suggested.

There was a pause which followed by a mischievous laugh.

'Soulmate, you don't know what you asked for. Sigh, that is a very tempting offer, but sorry. Let's meet during your twenty-first birthday,' he chuckled, and Anna could imagine him grinning as he said this. She rolled her eyes at him despite not fully understanding what he said. For a moment, his laughing face flashed inside her head. Sadly, it wasn't enough for Anna to have an accurate image of him.

'Till then, my soulmate. Take care.'

As soon as the voice faded, Anna felt an emptiness inside her. This was the feeling she had every time he left her mind. A void that led to longingness.

Anna pulled the blanket over her head as she looked at the darkness it brought. Her mind recalled their conversation earlier.

'If it's true, must I fight? Or run away and wait until the day I die?' she thought, feeling helpless. She was tired of fighting. That was the story of her past eight lives, and she had enough of that.

One could argue that fighting was something she couldn't avoid, because, as a curse inheritor, she was in a constant fight with her demon. However, a worldly conflict wasn't as straightforward as fighting her own monster. Simply because humans could be more evil than the devil itself, and her past life was proof of such irony...