He was truly an outcast. Most people treated him with what seemed to be the minimum amount of decency required by any other human. John wouldn't know because he hadn't treated anyone with decency in his life. Strangely, Valencia treated him the best, but he didn't know if it was because of her duty or if it was because of her moral character, possibly both. As of now his duties lied in the kitchen, scrubbing dishes, taking out the trash, and mopping the floors. The lowest of the low; he had to get down on his knees every day. This made him angry, and frustrated. This brought back the darkness that he still held inside. This soul he had...wasn't his. This resulted in certain consequences. He had flashbacks, of a life that he never lived. He saw himself the way one would see someone else. It was messing with his mind. He was still trying to sort through all of his own problems, and he didn't need additional issues.

The soul is a mystery to all. Many people are skeptical of its existence, while others struggle to define it. We often wonder if it is where compassion resides, which is why we often refer to those who do unspeakable things as 'souless'. That's where you would be wrong. While I understand this train of thought, the soul is not responsible for your actions. You are. Your soul is what connects you to this world, it is what makes you uniquely human. I'm not willing to debate whether animals have them or not. Let's say for the sake of this argument that they don't. Your soul does not determine whether you are good or evil, only whether you are alive. You may be questioning how John was alive without his soul. Good question. I don't know. But perhaps it is related to his ancestry. The point is John was, essentially dead, a corpse if you will. Now he is alive, with a soul that is not his own. Souls can retain memory from the occupant, hence the ghosts and flashbacks. So, perhaps all of this guilt is an illusion and none of it is his own. I don't pretend to know everything. I'm just theorizing here. You might wonder why I haven't revealed myself until now. It's simple, this story isn't mine, I am just a narrator. you don't need to know who I am or where I come from. Besides I learned my lesson last time. Back to the story...

John had these questions in his mind as well. He grappled with reality. He struggled to know that the soul inside his body was not his. He questioned If a soul was even made for him if there was even one out there. He wondered if there was some kind of mistake that he'd never gotten one. He shook all of these thoughts away. He shouldn't feel sorry for himself.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

" Hey, Bekk! I am talking to you" Valencia shouted

" What?" He replied.

Today she was wearing a dress. It was a beautiful piece of green fabric, that folded and fell over her perfectly. Her red hair was fell loose in cascading ringlets.

" What?!" She said harshly causing him to blush.

" Sorry its just..."

" What, you've never seen a woman before?"

She had her hands on her hips.

John supposed he hadn't thought of him that way because she didn't act like a traditional lady.

" So why are you..."

" Humiliating myself? Dressed as a clown? Good question. There is a wedding today. Do you pay attention at all?"

" Wait who is getting married?"

Valencia rolled her eyes " Me." she said.

John felt shocked, how did he not know?!

"Wait, how old are you?"

" Sixteen, what does that matter, you need to get dressed!"

Valencia insisted that Jacob fix him up again.

He wondered who she was getting married to...

When he was done, he was guided to a large room. It was reminiscent of a beautiful field. The groom, john recognized to be Aiden, who had been the guard at the front door when he first arrived. Aiden was very tall and muscular and resembled a bear. It was all very intimidating.

Valencia appeared, She wore a crown of flowers on her head.

She made her way to the groom on her own. John wondered why she was getting married so young. The answer: She believed this was her only chance. She had mixed heritage, which was looked down on in this sect. In addition to this, she had no living parents left, so no dowry. She also had a difficult spirit and refused to be left in the background.

It was a tradition in this sect for the man to make his commitment first.

" Valencia, I wish you happiness and goodwill in this life. I hope to provide for you and comfort you. I give you this blood, as a symbol of my life being tied to yours."

It was a blood oath of sorts, next it was Valencia's turn. She refused to be subservient.

" Aiden, I wish joy and goodwill to you. I pray that I can grant you happiness and support. I hope to be true as long as we shall live together, I give you this blood as the sign of my devotion."

There was something about her tone, it was different than Aidens. John somehow knew it was Love that Aiden held for Valencia. Valencia respected Aiden, there was no doubt about that, loved him even. Still, her voice didn't hold the same passion as his, and when she spoke it wasn't a quiet promise. It was an obligation.

This bothered John for some reason...