Dark Spirits by Rebekkah Ford Page B

that eventually I’d have to kill as well. But killing a child had never crossed my mind, and I seriously didn’t think I could do it. I took several small breaths, trying to think of something else to calm myself . . .
    Carrie had once asked me how an immortal could tell if the human a dark spirit possessed had a soul. It was simple. A soul gave off a vibration that immortals could hear, and each soul had a different or similar vibration. If a person was genuine, sweet, and caring, the soul inside gave off a warm, soothing sound, like gentle waves in an ocean. If a person had those qualities, but was also ornery and silly–like she and Tree–the vibration sounded like tinkling bells. The sound, though, happened to be very low, probably because the energy in this world slowed the soul’s high vibration to a snail-like pace. At least, that was my theory. But an immortal had to really listen to hear it.
    Finally the nausea subsided. I straightened my back, mumbled thanks to Nathan, and stepped in the truck. I stared out the window, not bothering looking at him when he got behind the wheel. He put the key in the ignition and turned to me. I kept staring out the window.
    “I’m sorry you had to experience that,” he said in a low voice. “I’m also sorry for never mentioning that some dark spirits like to inhabit little kids.”
    “Why didn’t you ever tell me that?” I harshly asked, facing him. He jerked his head back, surprised at my outburst. “And how can you snap a little girl’s neck like it’s no big deal?”
    “I didn’t tell you because, honestly, I never thought about it. Like I had told you before, there would be things you’d discover along the way.” He looked down and blew out an unsteady breath, then lifted his eyes back on mine. “As for killing a child, I take no pleasure in doing it, but sometimes there are no other options. Just like when I have to kill an adult.” He paused, his face now strained. “I don’t like it, Paige, and I’m well aware these soulless humans have people who love them and my actions give them a devastating blow. But that’s the cross we bear in order to protect humanity and this world.”
    I glanced down, twisting my fingers in my lap. He was right. I knew what I had signed up for when I’d decided to become immortal. There were things in life we didn’t like to do, but had to because it was the right thing. But killing a child was something I didn’t think I could do. I wondered if that made me weak and quickly decided it did.
    “You know what scares me?” Nathan asked, breaking the brief silence. I looked up to a sad smile on his face. “You think I’m a monster.”
    I shook my head and placed my hand in his. “I don’t think you’re a monster. I just wonder how you can do it without having any reservations.”
     “I used to have a major problem with it.” He stared at our hands, interlocking our fingers. “But as I grew into my immortality per se, I’d realized what I did was for the higher good. Of course it took me years to get to that point, but tracking, watching, and seeing what the dark spirits were capable of doing, eventually made me numb to it. The objective became clear. Take out the dark spirit, even if that meant killing a soulless person.”
    I nodded. “I understand now. I just wonder if I’ll ever be able to kill a child that is one.” Just the very thought made me sick to my stomach again. I let go of his hand and tucked a lock of hair behind my ears, swallowing against the bile rising in my throat. For a second I thought another retching fit was coming on, but then Nathan handed me some water. I unscrewed the cap and took a couple sips which helped.
    I sat for a moment until the nausea passed. “Thank you,” I said, placing the bottle in the cup holder on the console.
    The corner of his mouth curled. “Anytime,” he said, reminding me of the time when we first met and the other time when we were in the grocery store and