James felt Jamie walk in more circles and complicated patterns as she searched the complex. He was about to try and focus his sight on her when someone started tapping his shoulder. Pulling back, he found the kitsune next to him.

"Yes?"

Poking him again, she asked, "what exactly are you doing?"

Humoring her, he led her over to the bed and sat down next to her. "I'm spreading out my soul so that I can focus my senses on the people that I need to. Since Jamie is doing her mission, I was about to check on her more thoroughly."

"How does that work exactly?"

Scratching his cheek, he thought over his response for a few moments. "The soul is powerful. Very powerful. When I first started, it was hardly more than an ember, but you can feel the power I have now, can't you?"

Nodding, she rested her hand on his leg. Holding her gaze rather than focus on that, he added, "The stronger you get, the more you can do. Spreading out your soul to focus your senses takes time and practice. Once you have it though, you can do a lot. You can also learn different elements. I can summon water whenever I need. Luna has wind. The Elson brothers have earth."

"I think I understand." Rubbing the bridge of her nose, she asked, "what about the curse?"

"There's one primary curse. Hunger. When you first change, there's an inexplicable hunger that drives you crazy. You'll eat anything around you that has flesh. Once your reserves are full, you don't need to eat for a while. But if you are injured bad enough or killed, your reserves will heal you and you'll be ravenous again. The stronger you are, the worse it is. But that's only one of the curse. Each of us have an aura that does different things. Mine makes everyone fear me, but I have it pulled in right now. Jamie is practically invisible. People don't process that she's there. Amber has the ability that everyone tells her the truth and their true thoughts. Each of us are different. If we around each other, the aura is cancelled. Apart from mine."

Eyes wide, Zenaria moved her mouth several times, trying to find the words she needed. Finally, she said, "you feel unusually comfortable to be around. Like I'm being shielded from the world."

"I've heard that before," he said softly. "The third curse is our weapons. My Soul Sword makes it hard for me to dodge and I want to rush blindly into my fights."

"What about the others?"

Smiling, he got up and moved back to his chair. Spreading out his senses again, he found Jamie descending underground. She pushed her soul against his, warning him that she was nervous. Searching further, he found an unusually strong soul underground with her. One that was protected by a silver sheen.

Eyes wide, he jumped up. "I have to go!"

"What should I do?" Zenaria asked.

"Follow from a distance. The compound is trapped and I don't think you'll make it through it."

Nodding, she blended back into the shadows as he hurried out the door. He pushed caution into Jamie, urging her to stop. When she pushed back and continued, he growled and practically flew out of the building.

***

Jamie felt James's urgency and fear as he hurried toward her. She didn't know exactly why he was coming to her, but she felt that her Soul Senses couldn't penetrate the compound the further she went down. It was unsettling to suddenly be cut off from the senses she had been using so much recently.

Swallowing hard, she descended the steps, far further than she expected. Several minutes passed as she walked slowly, counting the enchantments on each step. A variety of effects dominated the stairwell; from lightning, spike traps, freezing traps, and even a few that encased a target in stone. They were all varied and masterfully done.

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What's down here? What am I walking into?

Reaching the landing, she stopped. A single door was waiting for her that was covered in enchantments. The key she carried didn't match the design and she frowned. For some reason, she was starting to sweat as she approached the door. Her target would be beyond the door, and all she had to do was erase a few runes. So why was she so nervous?

Stopping outside the door, she was about to get started when it creaked open. Eyes wide, she met the gaze of an albino human with red eyes. His eyes were barely at her level, but he was rippling with muscle under a loose vest that was open in the front. Loose pants matched his black sandals as he held out his hand.

"Welcome," he said in a voice so smooth, it sent shivers down her spine.

Prodding him with her soul, she felt her heart skip a beat. He had a nascent soul that was stronger than the elders she was used to. She was only level five and far below him in strength. They had severely underestimated what she would be walking into.

Reaching out, she took his hand and was promptly led into an opulent living quarters. Lounges in blood red and black dominated a carpeted living room. Small tables rested between chairs and couches, while a single daybed rested against the side of the stone walls. Two doors separated the area further, while a tray of snacks were waiting next to the largest lounge.

"Take a seat," the man said softly.

Swallowing hard, she nodded and moved to one of the chairs.

"I applaud you for making it this far." Picking a grape, he popped it into his mouth. "Learning of my location and getting past my traps is no easy feat, I assure you that."

"They were weak," she stated. "Even my master will be able to overcome them."

"The assassin's guild doesn't have anyone that can get past them. At least until you came along."

"Not that master," James said coldly. "My brother."

"The one known as James," he said with a coy smile. "How is it he is your master when he holds no power?"

She almost betrayed herself when she heard that. She knew James had been holding in his soul tightly, but did it truly look like he had no power?

"He is our mastermind," Jamie said after a moment. "He is the one that spreads us out as needed."

"Ahh…I see. So that is his use. And is it true that he is sleeping with the skunk and nekorian? I find that to be quite the odd dynamic."

Frowning, she shook her head. "Only the skunk." Buying time, she could feel James getting closer. He couldn't rush through the city and lose control around the populace. She only needed a few more minutes.

"And yet, he is in love with the nekorian."

"He is," she admitted. "They have put a pause on their relationship for the time being."

Getting up, the man cracked his neck. "I suppose the Fenrir will come save you soon. I should get started."

Jamie shook in fear as the man approached her. She felt the air around her solidify, stopped her in her tracks as she tried to get up. The Qi was moving around her as a solid force that she couldn't escape.

Grabbed her wrist, the man squeezed tight enough that the bones shattered. She tried to scream, but her mouth was held shut and only tears could escape her.

"That's one hand down," the man said softly. "I do believe you have another."

Whimpering, Jamie felt her other wrist shatter as he held her. With her arms held out, she couldn't fight back as he used a blade of wind to cut open her shirt.

"You have a magnificent body. It's hard to believe that you aren't into men."

Tears dripped from her chin as he removed the rest of her shirt before cupping her breasts in his hands. She glared as hard as she could and sent out a plea for help to James.

When the man started cutting through her pants, she closed her eyes. James will be here soon. I only need another minute.

***

James felt Jamie's anguish and fear as he reached the compound. The front gate was closed and he could feel dozens of souls on the other side. He didn't know if they were innocent or not, but he didn't slow as he rammed into the gate.

Wood and irons shattered and sprayed over the group on the other side. Several of the souls winked out as enchantments struck James and burned his clothes. The cloth fabric he was wearing was nearly shredded as he scanned the area.

Dozens of guards had their weapons drawn and he only panned his gaze over them once. With a flicker of his soul, he grabbed onto all of them and pulled. Their flames soared into him in an instant as their bodies crumpled to the ground.

"Don't follow me."

The shadow by the gate was filled with fear as she acknowledged him.

"I'll explain everything after I save my sister. Wait for me," he told Zenaria before rushing to the door of the compound.

The solid wood and iron door was destroyed as he rammed into it. More enchantments ripped into his clothes, removing sections as he scanned the space. More souls were rushing toward him from nearby halls and he quickly ripped them apart. With a growl of rage, he locked onto Jamie underground.

Moving toward her, it only took a moment to find the hidden staircase. Punching through the metal, he ripped the door from its hinges and descended down the stairs. He was a blur as he reached the bottom and ripped the next door from the wall. Enchantments blasted him, but failed to do anything but annoy him.

He could hear Jamie whimpering as he took in the scene before him. An albino man had Jamie on the couch and was in the process of removing his clothes. His sister was naked and it only took a moment to put together what was happening.

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