Chapter 15

Latest chapter

• Secret Soul (Himitsu no Tamashi)   Chapter 20

  The afternoon air is crisp and cold, dancing along a tiny girl's bare shoulders as she rolls down the windows. She shivers slightly as the air turns into a rushing wind, slapping at her cheeks.Angered by its sudden force, she rolls up the window quickly, lunging at her beautiful mother for comfort."Now, now, sweet child, calm down," the goddess says, the words melting like butter through her lips.Her hair was a deep ruby red, her eyes as green as a meadow on a bright summer day. Her daughter has the same features, sharing almost no likeness with her dad.However, the girl is blessed with her father's enchanting, hearty laugh and quiet personality.The girl is sniffling in the woman's embrace, reveling in the warmth the lady gives. Now she is not crying because of the ferocious wind, but because of the foreboding laced through the air, the foreboding only she can sense.It brings

• Secret Soul (Himitsu no Tamashi)   Chapter 19

  His eyes widen at my cheek, stained ruby red with blood, pain, and tears."What happened?" he asks, somehow compelling me to betray the truth."Ms. Lim, uh, slapped me," I finish in a whisper, choked gasps escaping me as a fresh wave of pain enters my body.I can still feel them, the nails as they dug into my cheek. My hand throbs also, but it nothing against this blinding terror, coupled with the agony."If I don't finish cleaning the entire orphanage tomorrow, which I won't, then she will deprive me of food for the next week! And I only have about three or four dollars in my account at school.""That's all?" he asks suspiciously, and I gaze into his emerald eyes without a word.He nods, taking my hand in his, staring at the bruise that was starting to form."I'll help you out of this, Shaba," he determines, swirling his soothing fingers around the purple splotch,

• Secret Soul (Himitsu no Tamashi)   Chapter 18

  "Oh, he's just like this because he's the youngest and he hasn't developed his Talent yet."Jim tries to wave it off, "He's probably jealous of you because you have everything he doesn't; the best Talent, looks, and position in the pack.""But we don't need jealousy," Kiyaya laments, his voice rough and full of anguish, "We need loyalty.""Now, now Kiyaya," James smiles, patting him on the back slightly."We're a family. It is good for families to have little disagreements every once and a while. It helps us grow closer."Kiyaya looks at them both, his eyes fierce. I gaze at him, drinking in his startling blue hair and enticing eyes, his lips as he forms his next words. It is all—his face, his body, his every movement—perfect.There must be something wrong with me."I wouldn't exactly call this a little disagreement," he murmurs, then whirls to face me.

• Secret Soul (Himitsu no Tamashi)   Chapter 17

  When we finally reach the garden, four miraculous figures come to meet us, each handsome in their own unique way. Jim stares at me, his gaze of concern."What happened, Kiyaya?" he questions the man beside me, drinking in his face of weariness."A Shifter," he narrows his eyes, "was on our property."The stunning men all rear back in surprise, pure disgust lacing through their features."Here?" James erupts, his voice furious.Akim shakes his head, Lee looking at the perfectly manicured lawn near his feet. I breathe a quick sigh of relief; I hadn't exited the grounds. Now Kiyaya can't get mad at me."Why didn't you just stay in the garden?" he turns to me, his expression of anger, "if I hadn't look out of the window and seen that gigantic tree, you would have died!"Obviously I thought too soon. Kiyaya can get mad at me for anything.My eyes narrow,

• Secret Soul (Himitsu no Tamashi)   Chapter 16

  This tree is taller than the others by far, stretching to reach the clouds. I am fervently wishing for the werewolves to see it, but they are probably consumed with whatever they are talking about.It sounded important when I tried to earesdrop, though I didn't quite understand their topic.It is Akim's fault, I think feverishly, for casting me out of their meeting room. He probably knew I would find some trouble to involve myself in.But I can't truly blame it on him. It is my fault for taking those first steps towards the dangerous road. It is my fault for not sticking to the beautiful garden.And now, I am going to pay.The tree totters, swaying in that rough wind. My dress presses against me, forced back by the terrible gales. The force of the wind increases, nearly pushing me to the ground as the tree reaches full height and strength.It ripples with energy, the bright red crac

• Secret Soul (Himitsu no Tamashi)   Chapter 15

  "Now I guess you've met all of us, Shaba," Jim says loudly."This is our pack. We used to call it the 'pack of players', but now that Kiyaya is settled, we can't exactly say that anymore.""No girls?" I question, only to see four faces shaking their heads no."We like to be free of all women," James grinned, "Love 'em and leave 'em, I always say.""You people are terrible," I laugh, instantly feeling at home with these handsome men.After a second, I nearly jump in alarm at the realization that I can barely recognize myself. The old Shaba would have run away by now.The old Shaba would have never fallen for these wily werewolves' tricks. It must be those strange feelings James was talking about.Akim just stares at me, a forbidding expression on his face."She needs to leave for a minute while we have our meeting," he says, his voice rough and completely unlike Kiyaya's."Come on," Jim protests, "She's not doing