"Sibuna!"

Sibuna raises his head to look at me, his tawny eyes sharp and clear despite his graying appearance. His eyebrow is raised and he is holding a little speck of light in his hands, glowing faintly.

"One moment, Kaienan."

I nod and step back, letting him finish his work. The soul in his hand flickers merrily and he smiles at it, bending down to whisper. It glows brighter and brighter until it is almost too bright to look at and I have to turn my head away. The glow fades a moment later and I look towards Sibuna once more. The soul is gone from his hands, but I catch a fleeting glimpse of it sleeping through the floor to the Earth below. Sibuna snaps his fingers to catch my attention.

"What do you need, Kai. I'm busy."

I have to restrain my grin. Sibuna may pretend to be indifferent, but his eyes are sparkling with curiosity and amusement.

"Do you remember that you allowed me to save one soul from its human death?"

He nods. "Yes, but why are you asking me about this?"

I sigh. "Is Anu capable of stealing that soul back once I've saved it?"

Sibuna's brow furrows in confusion. "I don't see why my brother, cruel as he is, would-" His face clears. "You saved your bonded, didn't you?"

He doesn't need me to say it, he knows by my smile alone, but I answer anyways. "Yes, I did."

He beams. "Congratulations, Kai." His face sobers a moment later. "So my brother wants her soul back?"

"Yes. Can he do it? Can he steal her back."

Sibuna takes one look at my face, tense with worry and fear, and sighs. He has to tell me, but he doesn't want to. "He can't rip her soul out of her body. But if she dies before she gains immortal status, if he kills her . . . her soul is still mortal and he can touch it. So I would change her as quickly as possible, before he gets that chance."

I gulp. "I won't change her until she knows everything and accepts it. It has to be her choice."

"Then I would get Siera's help. She should make protection for your bonded."

I open my mouth to thank him for his advice, but I am hit by a pang of strong emotion. Fear. For a moment I am confused, before I remember that I can feel Calli's emotions too. What's happening to her?! I raise my panic-filled eyes to Sibuna's.

"Something's wrong."

"Go, Kaienan. I'll talk to Siera for you."

I give him a sharp nod and fade into nothing, transporting myself to Calli. I materialize into the pavement just outside the door to her grandmother's house. The door is wide open and I frown. Why is it open?Then I look again. The door isn't open, it's shattered. There is a man in dark red lying on the floor, blood pooling around him. My eyes widen, filled with panic. What happened? Calli is crouches against the back wall of the house, trembling, her eyes wide with fear. I am hit by the urge to spirit her away from her, to a place where she'll always be safe, but I push it away. That's not fair to her or her family. I step forward towards Calli, determined to comfort her and erase the fear from her face. Her grandmother hears my steps and whirls, her hand darting to the floor beside her, where a gun is sitting. I hold my hands up.

"I mean no harm."

Her grandmother narrows her eyes at me, her voice guarded. I inwardly smile at her resolve to protect her granddaughter. "Why are you here?"

My eyes turn to Calli. "I felt her fear. Calli, are you alright?"

Calli nods shakily, still trembling, even if it's less than she was when I arrived. Her dog looks up at her and whines, shoving her head into Calli's lap. I smile softly as I see Calli start to stroke her dog's fur, letting the motion ease her fear away.

She looks to me at last and answers. "I think so, my adrenaline is coming down at least."

I gives her a tiny comforting smile, and my own panic begins to fade slightly. "What happened? I got a sudden burst of emotion from you, intense fear. I'm going to assume it has to do with this one here."

I toe the dead body, but stop when I see Calli's trembling starts up again. Her grandmother runs her hands over Calli's shoulders, trying to soothe her. "Don't think about it Calli. It's alright, it's safe." She looks at me, her eyes sharp and questioning. "What do you know?"

I frown for a moment and create a barrier of air around the room, blocking any sound from escaping. "I know you and your family are the last of the Romanov family."

Calli's grandmother inhales sharply and shifts herself in front of Calli, her hand tightening around her gun. I really do admire her, even if she isn't as subtle as she is trying to be. She's very dedicated.

"What do you want from us?"

"Nothing." I steps forward only for Calli's grandmother to raise her gun, pointing it at me. Calli jerks forward slightly, her lips in a silent cry of desperation.

Her grandmother risks a glance back to her. "What is it Calli?"

"Don't hurt him. Please."

"Are you sure?"

"He saved my life, Babushka." Calli frowns. "At least, that's what I think he did." I almost raise my eyebrows, but I don't. It's not like I explicitly told her that I saved her life, it's just her own suspicions and educated guess.

Her grandmother lowers her gun, but leaves the safety on. "Tell me your story."

I smoothly lowers myself to the floor, folding my legs beneath me. "My name is Lord Kaienan." Her grandmother arches an eyebrow at that, but doesn't speak. "I help oversee the land of the dead, the midway point at least between this world and that one. I was there when Calli dies from her heart attack, but I only just got there in time to save her. I managed it all the same and she woke up, and I've been visiting her since then."

"Why are you so invested in her?"

I hesitate. Calli should know this first, before anyone else. "That's between Calli and myself."

Her grandmother purses her lips and I look towards Calli, a questioning look in my eyes. She nods at me, giving me permission to speak and I sigh before speaking.

"She is my soul-bonded."

Calli joins the conversation at last, still stroking her dog's fur with one hand. "What does that mean?"

I look at her directly, my eyes filled with hope and care. "It essentially means you're my soulmate."

Her grandmother scrambles to her feet, pulling Calli up with her. She shoves Calli behind her, but in her haste, she jostles the chest out of Calli's hands. She cries out as it tumbles towards the ground, but I don't let the chest but the ground. I catch it and rematerialize it at the same level as her chest. Calli reaches toward it, only for her grandmother to push Calli's hand back, her eyes wide.

"What is this?"

I smile. "Magic."

"Who are you?" I open his mouth, but her grandmother cuts me off. "Don't say that you're Lord Kaienan, give me a real answer."

I have to hide a laugh. That is a real answer. "I suppose I am akin to a god, that's the closest human definition to what I am. My people call ourselves Immortals, and we each have different gifts. Mine encompasses many invisible talents, so I was appointed the leader of my people long ago."

Calli speaks again, her voice barely audible.  "What do I have to do with any of this?"

"Light."

She frowns in confusion. "Excuse me?"

"Besides the bond, I can sense it inside of you. In time, you will become one of us, and you're gift will be light. There is a reason that egg has been waiting for you."
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Yes I know, this is the same thing that happened last chapter, relatively, but the bit with Sibuna is new! It's nice and long, too! What do you think of Sibuna and Anu being brothers? Who do you think Siera is? Who do you think Sibuna is? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading, and I'll see you next chapter!

~Goddess of Fate, signing out.