The Soulkeepers

  Chapter 34

  Fired

  “You worthless human. What did you do?” Dr. Silva spat in his face. She said the word human like it was something vile.

  Jacob dangled from her grip. The fingers around his neck contracted like talons, crushing his windpipe and pinning him up against the house. He struggled with everything he had, but Dr. Silva’s arm was as unflinching as iron. Utter disgust twisted her expression and, as beautiful as he’d once thought she was, at this moment she was equally terrifying.

  “Do you know what you’re dealing with? Do you understand the kind of evil you might have unleashed? Do you have any idea the cost of your stupidity?”

  Jacob tried to speak but the crushing force on his neck stopped any air from coming through. She narrowed her eyes and threw him to the ground like he weighed nothing.

  “Wha … what did I do?” he gasped, staying on all fours and rubbing his neck.

  “You broke the rules. You went through the tree without me.” She paced in front of his crumpled form. “Just tell me one thing, how the hell did you make it back? It would have served you right to get stuck somewhere—painful.” She kicked him in the ribs as if to prove her point. The kick hurt but he knew she was holding back. His ribs weren’t broken.

  “I … didn’t go through. I touched the tree but I stopped. I pulled my hand away.”

  “Why?”

  “I wanted to go home. I wanted to find my mom.”

  “Not why did you want to go. Why did you pull your hand away?”

  “I changed my mind,” Jacob started, but decided to keep what happened with Malini to himself. Something told him that he was in real trouble. Dr. Silva looked like she might kill him at any moment. He wanted none of that fury to fall on Malini.

  “You changed your puny, arrogant, mind, huh? Well, you left the gate open!”

  “I didn’t. I locked it!”

  “I found it open and guess what, Jacob? The key is enchanted; only you or I can turn it. Unless you did something stupid and invited someone else into the garden, it was you.”

  “I must have forgotten.”

  “You will want to forget if something came through. You will be begging to forget your pitiful life.”

  The dark expression on her face was not at all human. It was the face of a killer, and so close he could feel her breath. He tried his best not to pee his pants and hugged himself to stop from shaking.

  “You know, never mind, this is a stupid waste of time. You’re not ready. You’re not ready for the responsibility of who you are and I’m done trying to help you. Go back to your stupid, meaningless, shallow life and forget who you are.”

  With that she picked him up by the scruff of his neck and dragged him around the front of the house. When they were within eyesight of the Laudners, she put him on his feet and gave him a shove forward. She followed as he walked across the street to the front door of the cheery yellow house but, when he reached for the doorknob to let himself in, she slapped his hand away. Instead, she rang the doorbell.

  After a moment’s pause the door swung open. “Oh … Hello.” Uncle John’s voice sounded surprised. His eyes darted to Dr. Silva and then to Jacob.

  “Hello, John,” Dr. Silva began, her voice honey sweet. The striking, crooked smile had replaced the terrifying scowl. “I just wanted to let you know that Jacob has completely worked off his debt for my window. I will not be in need of his services anymore.”

  John nodded. There was a look of confusion on his face but he said nothing. Dr. Silva turned to Jacob, her eyes conveying a warning although her face stayed soft.

  “Jacob, thank you for your help these last few months. You are free to go about your business. I won’t be seeing you near my house again, will I?”

  It wasn’t really a question; it was a threat.

  “No,” he replied.

  “Good.” And with that she gave a little wave to John and crossed the street.