Two Halves Series (41 page)

Their bodies were stolen before their last breath sounded and are being held captive. Their spirits remain hovering between the now and hereafter.

My focus shifted from my own troubles to my family.
We need to find them

That’s what has kept me so busy, and away from you. I’m sorry.
Looking for their bodies is not our priority now, Sarah. I thought I had to find them first to help you, but I’ve been wrong. We have to get you back first. We have to switch what’s been wronged. Hence, the evil-bender.
Eric squeezed my hand, most likely trying to ease the tension he must have seen on my face. I couldn’t control this face as well as my old one.

What you say is impossible.
I whispered in his mind.

Never say never.

Our conversation seemed like it lasted minutes, but the exchange of thoughts between us took seconds.

“Don’t be afraid, darling,” my mom said. “We cannot stay long in this form. It takes too much energy. We have to return to our realm.”

“Where are you?” I asked, taking a step closer. Eric held me by the elbow.

“We don’t know,” they answered together.

“Then how can I find you?”

“You can’t, not now. You have to get back to William first. Once you have him back and the witch is gone, you’ll know how to find us. We’ll deal with the witch then.” My mother’s spirit flickered, angered.

“How do I get back to William?”

“The ruby ring will show your true self. It’s the only way you can get them to see the real you,” Helen said, floating closer to my mother’s side.

“You have to be quick. The two of you don’t have a chance against the siblings and four vampires. Wear the ring and go see them, Sarah. They’ll recognize the real you.” My mom explained.

“We have to go, Saraphine.” Helen placed her hand on my mom’s shoulder.

“Not yet. Please!” I reached out, crying. “I need you.”

“You will always be here.” Mom pressed her hand to her chest.

“We believe in you,” my aunt encouraged me. “Remember, everyone has a purpose in life. You’re about to be tested.”

“Will I see you again?” I asked.

“I hope so.” My mother smiled and blew me a kiss. My forehead warmed.

Their ghostly figures disappeared like a fresh fog blown by the morning wind.

I sucked in a quick breath and plopped down on the bed. When my mother vanished I expected to feel empty, but I didn’t. Instead, she gave me hope beyond what I’d imagined. I no longer felt alone.

Chapter 25

“Have you vortexed before?” Eric asked.

“No. I just heard about it.” I lifted my head higher to seem brave, but nausea came to this body quicker than to my old one. The idea of travelling to another continent through a time hole sounded dangerous, but at least we were doing something to get my family back.

The past three days of resting, regaining strength, and learning how to use this body in its human form had been exhausting. I popped vitamins, gained five pounds, and fought the urge to use vampire skills I no longer had. It was like having a urinary tract infection: waking at night to pee, but when you tried, nothing came out. Only my infection was a human body I didn’t understand. Even when I had tried to suppress my vampire instincts, I had unknowingly used them. They had been responsible for the clarity of a mockingbird’s perfect pitch, the intense smell of Helen’s pancakes, and the crisp shapes of flower petals, leaves, and stems at my store. And all of it was gone, stolen by the witch.

“It will only take seconds. Don’t close your eyes or you’ll vomit,” Eric warned. “When the mist clears, we’ll be in front of the cabin’s remains. Don’t waste time—find the ring. You said in your sleep last night that they’re planning to visit the cabin to recover what they can. I’ll guard the front. Put the ring on as soon as you can. Ready?”

“No.” I snorted a laugh.

“That’s good. Xela would have been snobbish, too ashamed to say she’s afraid or nervous. Don’t worry, they’ll see the real you.”

“I hope you’re right.” A long breath escaped my lungs.

Eric squeezed my hand. I strained to keep my eyes open as the waterfall room began to spin, the liquid blending with the walls, the tapestries swirling into new patterns, the ceiling mixing with the floor until everything spun together and I couldn’t distinguish one piece of furniture from another. The blue and red tones of the room mingled into a purple mist that shifted toward green and gray.

The contours of our burned home came into view, with taller grass and ever-blooming orchids behind it. Seconds later, we stood on an overgrown lawn. The sun filtered through the canopy to speckle everything below with sunshine.
Beautiful.

“Go,” Eric ordered in a whisper.

I ran, wishing I could have my vampire speed—the ability I’d taken for granted when I had it. Every step took more effort, like running through solidifying tar.

Half-burnt stumps of the logs propped the remains of the cabin. Charred skeleton of our home cracked when a swift gust of wind blew. The smell of the smoke still overpowered the jungle’s natural scents. Finally, I made my way to the foyer. Nothing was spared, but I knew the fireproof door to the underground apartments had protected my parent’s room.

I punched in the four digit code, and the floor moved aside. Before going down the staircase, I looked at Eric, who stood still, his eyes half closed, listening to the sounds of the forest. No—he listened for any approach of two shapeshifters and two vampires.

Scampering down, I hit every second step in my rush to my parents’ room—a room I didn’t want to stay in when I first came here, and now I wished I could never leave. I leaned back against one of the walls and closed my eyes, inhaling, hoping to smell jasmine, rose, and lilac with a woodsy, musky undertone, but this new nose wasn’t sensitive enough to pick out the few particles I was sure floated in the air.

The drawer opened quietly, though I knew the ears I had lied. “There you are.” The ring shone, although not as brightly as I remembered. I pitied humans having to look at the world this way, missing its true beauty. Before I could put the ring on my finger, I heard voices. “Crap!” I tried to squeeze it on, but the band was too tight.

My gaze flew toward the stairs, and I ran.

Five steps before reaching the top, I froze and held my breath, afraid to release it.

“What are you doing here, Eric?” Mira’s voice.

“I’m here to make right what’s been wronged,” he answered.

“You can’t rebuild the cabin. Why would you? It’s none of your concern.”

“Not the cabin—Sarah.”

“He’s a shapeshifter. He could be working for Aseret,” Xela suggested.

“Shut up, witch!” Eric answered.

“Witch?” Xander sniffed the air, then growled. “She’s here.”

“Great, Eric. You don’t have time to make our relationship work, but you find the time to cozy up with the witch. How could you?”

“This has nothing to do with us, Mira. She’s good,” Eric answered.

“I loved you! I loved you, and you left me for a calling.”

I didn’t need my vampire abilities to hear the quaver in Mira’s voice.

“Nothing has changed between us, sugar,” Eric replied.

“There’s your lover-boy.” Xander laughed, then sniffed again. “A two-timing lover-boy hiding the witch in the basement.” The pain in Xander’s voice couldn’t be camouflaged by the vibrating snicker.

“You let her go downstairs?” William spoke for the first time. My heart pounded faster as if responding to his voice by itself.

“Do not move, Xander!” Eric warned.

“We can’t let her escape, not this time. I’ll kill her myself,” Mira growled.

“Put your feelings aside, Mira. Think about it. Why didn’t you kill her before?” Eric asked. “You couldn’t. Your oath to Ekim to protect his daughter was stronger than you could understand. That’s why you left the body in the woods.”

“Our oath has nothing to do with this, Eric. You should know.” The tone of Mira’s voice rose each time she spoke.

“Xander, listen to the memories of the past,” Eric said.

I peeked from the lowest step that placed my sight even with the floor. Xander turned his head to the left where Xela, posing as me, stood by William’s side.

“Don’t even go there, lover-boy,” he hissed with anguish.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to see them. They would see beyond the flesh. William would know. He’d read my face.
I’m coming out.

Stay there. They’re quicker than you think!

“I have to tell them.” I stepped out into a patch of sunlight shimmering on the footprints left in the ash on the marble floor.

“Keep her away from me!” Xela yelled. “She’ll curse us again, William!” The siblings rushed to stand in front of her.

William was quiet. He stared at my face. My heart beat harder and all I struggled to concentrate on the breathing through lungs which felt smaller with each inhale.

“Is it on?” Eric asked.

“It won’t fit,” I whispered.

“What won’t fit?” Xander asked.

I pulled out my fist and opened it. The ruby sparkled in the sun.

Don’t show them,
Eric said in my head.

Don’t worry; I know what I’m doing.

“It’s your ring.” William squeezed Xela’s hand. “I knew it had magic, just like this one.” He picked up Xela’s hand with the blue gem that had remained on my old hand. I assumed she wasn’t aware of its power. “That’s what the witch came for.”

I saw my body standing next to William and wished it was
me
but not with that soul. I couldn’t bear to look at the hate in my eyes.

Look at me, William. Look at my face.
To hope we’d still have our connection from the underworld was too much, but he did cup his elbow in his hand to chew on his thumb.
That’s right, William! You’re smart, figure it out. She switched our souls. You’ve felt it.

“Now you’re getting rings for the witch?” Mira asked Eric. “You’re not the jewellery kind of guy. What did you do to him?” she growled at me, looking as if she wanted to rip my heart through the freshly healed wound in my chest. I was sure she could do it—and that no one would stop her.

“Stand down, sugar. She will not harm you,” Eric warned. He concentrated on Mira’s eyes, as if communicating something. The tension in Mira’s shoulders softened. Eric looked as if he was hypnotizing her.

“Not this again.” Xander rolled his eyes, but he wasn’t standing in front of Xela any longer. He’d disappeared from her side and reappeared beside Eric, who had a blue glow emanating from his palm. But the glow wasn’t as bright in today’s daylight as it had been that day in the alley by the motel. He smashed Xander in the middle of his chest, but Xander didn’t move; he returned a blow.

Mira rolled her eyes. “Guys! This isn’t the right time for your testosterone peak.”

They moved so fast, I could only see a dust cloud speckle with shining blue lights flitting through it. I heard thunder, but there were no clouds. Each time Eric and Xander clashed, the roar of thunder became louder.

My eyes wandered back to William, who had released Xela’s hand. The witch’s gaze focused on my hands. She saw the magic in the ring that I had always seen; I saw lust for newfound power on her face. A strong wind blew my short hair. Ash swirled in the clearing, and when it settled, the ring was no longer in my palm.

“You will never get any power again!” Xela yelled.

Everyone stopped: Eric and Xander paused mid-swing, the dust drifting around their feet; William lowered his thumb from his mouth; Mira held impossibly still.

She put the ring on her finger as I knew she would.

Across the tall green grass, in the middle of the circular field where I first twirled with my head tipped up to the sky, stood a figure, identical to the body I wore.

Mira gasped. William’s eyes never left my face, and I thought I heard his heart skip a beat, and mine did as well. The pull toward him increased.

Don’t move, Sarah,
Eric cautioned.

He knows. William knows it’s me.

Not yet. He’s still confused. Don’t move. Let me do my job.

But—

“Why are you staring at me?” Xela asked. “Kill her! Kill her before she hurts us.”

“Shut up,” said William.

She needs to touch you, Sarah,
Eric whispered in my mind.
When she does, I’ll do my job.

“You’re so brave, come and get me yourself,” I taunted Xela under my breath. I knew she’d hear me. So did Mira, Xander and William, but they were in shock. My expression told William to stay where he was. His heart skipped a beat—he understood.

Mira and Xander stared at the extended inch-long spikes of flesh around Eric’s neck. “He’s bending,” Mira whispered with pride, covering her mouth.

Xela flew to my side, her arms reaching for me. Before she could tighten her choke hold, Eric froze us with his blue light. Gravity gave in, and I saw myself float above ground, except my feet still touched the ashen grass. Then I realized my soul hovered above the body. The body I’d just left had empty eyes. I remembered someone saying you can see a person’s soul through their eyes. Was that why they were blank? Was it because the body no longer had a soul?

“No!” Xela screamed. “William, help me!”

But William didn’t move. I felt his heartbeat quicken, getting louder with each second as my soul got closer to my body.

Sarah, you’ll need to push her soul out of your body. You’re on an even playing field. She cannot hurt you now, but she’ll fight.

A silhouette shimmered beneath my skin, and I grabbed it. Xela’s soul tightened its grip around the body’s limbs, not letting go, but when I touched my true body, I felt the strength of the forest come back to me. I regained the strength of a vampire.

Xela squeezed my neck with her hands. She wasn’t going to let me into either body. Her body stood limp.

You can do it, Sarah. I believe in you.
It wasn’t Eric’s voice I heard; it was William’s. It was exactly what I needed to pull Xela out of my body. The witch wasn’t surprised when she’d left my body, like she had done this before, and her ghosts hands grabbed my see-through neck. Could a soul die?