The Soul Eaters (The Thin Hex Line Book 1) by Gwyndolyn Russell (e reader txt) 📕

She shook her head. “It doesn’t make sense. His name... The name of his species... These are earth names.”

“What about our translators?”

“There would have to be something in the database for that, but there’s nothing about a valkyrie species. If he is speaking a different language, then we shouldn’t be able to understand it. The only thing recorded about valkyries is in ancient Norse mythology, which isn’t even practiced anymore. It hasn’t been practiced for over five hundred years at least! Even then, most tales from when it was a dominating religion were spoken, not written.”

“Everything we could possibly know is passed down by speech then?” I sighed. “What if he’s from earth?”

Reynolds looked at me like I was the craziest thing in the room. “That can’t be possible! Look at him! He’s obviously machine…” Her voice trailed off.

“Not machine.” Fenris said. His voice rattled through our bones. Reynolds pulled away from him. Shocked by the quake trembling through her body. His voice was filled with rasp, guttural, yet high pitched. His jaws didn’t even move. The way it echoed made it out like he were talking through a helmet, yet the sound carried deep enough we could feel the floor shake.

In fact, I wasn’t positive if I was actually hearing anything. It was like hearing my own voice as I talked. The sound vibrated through my bones and flesh, producing an internal sound that thumped the drums inside my ears. It was not like hearing Reynolds talk.

“W-what?” She swallowed.

“Fenris not machine.” He repeated. “Fenris valkyrie.”

Reynolds straightened herself. Busied her hands with fixing her hair. “Are you wearing armor?”

“Yes. No.” His head tilted to one side.

“Yes and no? It can’t be both!”

Fenris tapped on his chest. “Armor is Fenris.”

Reaper had done his research. Discovered that everything Ianisse said was true. The only thing that did not check out was how he looked. That meant almost nothing. Fleebeeron’s appearances changed over time. He was only a child in the last photo taken. Now he was a full-fledged adult, he just didn’t blossom the same as the others. He was traumatized. Seeking revenge. Reaper couldn’t blame him. He would go after them, too. How could he possibly deny the right for revenge? What happened to Ianisse was wrong. It never should have happened. Reaper could not do it for him, but he could give him a way. A safe way.

Reaper returned to Ianisse.

“I can’t in good conscience let you go.” He stated.

“We know.” Ianisse’s bird replied. “You humans hold a sense of duty above all else.”

“Which is why I’m taking a big risk in not turning you in.”

“What?” He stared up at him with wide eyes.

“I can only do it on one condition.” He held up a finger. “You stay here on the Syndicate. Join our team. I will do everything in my power to find the ravens that killed your family. What you do with that information is up to you.”

“We’ll do it!” Ianisse jumped up out of the seat.

Reaper smiled. “Fantastic! Let me show you to your room then. We actually have one that should suit you well.” He unlocked the cuffs and took them off the wilted flower.

“You do?”

Reaper held the door open for him to step out first. He led the way down the hall.

“Yes. We escorted Miss Fauriei not long ago, have changed little in there since.”

“F-Fauriei?! What were you doing with her?!”

“Oh, so you know her?”

“Of course! Who doesn’t know Fauriei? She’s the most popular fleebeeron in the galaxy! She’s endlessly praised and even idolized for her generosity, charity, and strength. We all wish to be as brave as her.”

“I had no idea she was so well known.”

It did not take long to make it up to the quarters. Just as they did, Fenris headed in the opposite direction.

“Hey, Fenris,” Reaper stopped in the middle of the hall, holding a hand out to the valkyrie. “I take it your examination went well?”

Ianisse stepped back to put the captain between him and the creature.

Fenris’ head tilted, looking to Ianisse in silence.

“Hmm... I’ll take that as a yes. Could you meet me in my office? I’ll be there in a minute.”

It nodded.

As Fenris walked by, Ianisse stepped around Reaper, hugging himself.

“Are you okay?” Reaper asked.

“Have you befriended that thing?”

“I think. Not sure yet.”

“You will never tame it. That is Astradon!”

“Astradon?”

“It’s the name of the black beast that comes for the souls of the impure.” The bird’s shoulders dropped in unison with Ianisse’s. “We always thought it was just a tale father told us to make sure we behaved, but now that I’ve seen it… That thing is a monster! It will eat everything it sees!”

Reaper’s lips pursed. He remembered how those in Empyree called him the World Devourer.

“It could just be chance that he matches that description.”

“Too perfect to be a chance.”

Reaper sighed. “Trust me, he won’t hurt you, or anyone else. I can promise you that. Come, you should rest up. It’s been a long night.” He placed a hand to Ianisse’s back to guide him down the hall. “After you’ve rested, feel free to eat as much as you’d like and since you seem to enjoy fighting, you can train with the others in the barracks. They’ll be happy to have you.”

“You don’t believe us, do you?”

“No. I believe you.” Reaper smiled, opening the door. “I believe that Astradon is a wicked creature. Fenris, on the other hand, has protected us.”

“Perhaps for now. It will turn on you in the future. It always does.”

Reaper could only keep up a smile. He saw the tale like one from the Bible. Just a story to keep the followers in line. He let the door shut and headed down the hall to meet Fenris in his office.

With a few brief stops to check on those he passed by, Reaper made it there in a few minutes. Fenris had been standing there in front of the desk like a statue. Even when Reaper entered, the creature did not