"Physically, maybe, but that's it. Are you here for any reason?" she asked suspiciously. "You always appear when something bad is about to happen."
"Keep that in mind," he said wisely. "I brought you something." He reached into his pocket and held out his hand. In it was a green soul, glowing faintly like an emerald under a jeweler's lamp.
"Omigod. Whose is that?" she asked, stepping back.
"Let's just say, you're going to need this," he replied. "When the time is right, you'll know what to do with it."
She almost refused but something about the look on his face made her hesitate. Cringing, she held out her hand. The only other soul she'd touched had told her its life story in a blink of the eye, terrifying her.
Fate deposited it into her hand. Nothing happened. She released her breath and placed it in the small pocket of her dress.
"I'm still waiting for my love tap. Or a bite," Fate said, winking. "Darkyn's not the only one who likes it rough."
Deidre shook her head and spun away, fed up with deities for the day. She didn't wait to see if he stayed or went but walked out of her room. Darkyn had mentioned Selyn. Curious to see how the girl was, Deidre walked three doors down and paused.
Her palms were sweaty at the thought of seeing Darkyn's daughter, but she wasn't certain why. Maybe because it made her stay here feel more permanent. Selyn was now a part of her world, her warped family.
She knocked. After a moment, the door cracked open. Selyn peeked out from the two inches she'd opened the door, her dark eyes identical to her father's.
"Hi," Deidre said awkwardly. "I, um, just came to -"
The teen's face lit up. Selyn wrenched the door open fast enough to startle Deidre. She motioned for Deidre to enter then closed the door and locked it as soon as she did.
Deidre stayed by the door, uncertain. Selyn hurried across the room to a pad of paper and pen that Wynn had clearly left behind, if his tight writing on the back cover was any indication. Carefully, Selyn wrote out something then passed it to Deidre.
"I can't really read … demon," Deidre said, staring blankly at the geometric writing.
Selyn's face fell.
"Is this how you talk to your father?" Deidre asked curiously.
The teen shook her head then tapped her temple.
"He reads your mind. I should've known." Deidre smiled. "Can you do that?"
Another shake of her head.
"Did Wynn say if you'll be able to talk again?"
Selyn nodded then blew out a breath. She pressed her hands together then pulled them apart about a foot.