Glass Souls (Reflection Book 1)

by Clairisa Campbell

  ~

  I woke up to Loic’s voice.

  "Rayne? Rayne are you okay?"

  I blinked. Loic stood over me inside Isha’s home in Mirror Image.

  “lo-ic.” I gasped. Once I caught my breath I continued. “oh, thank god…” relief flooding from my words.

  "Hey. I'm glad you're okay." Loic said. He exhaled a large breath. Relief? He shifted, and I saw his eyes shine with happiness. His smile warmed my heart. It seemed he was as relieved to see me as I was to see him. What had happened while I was out? Was he okay? Putting on a front?

  I pushed myself into a sitting position. "What happened to me?"

  "You hit your head in the club. You passed out."

  "The Formless…” I shuddered. What happened?"

  "We beat them. The men who they possessed don't remember a thing."

  "So, they're okay?"

  He nodded. "Yeah, they are. I did rough them up a bit, though. Remember that drink they offered you at the bar? Lance told me it was drugged, so they deserved a little punishment."

  Loic grinned.

  His hands were covered in blood and I jumped. Loic winced and moved them from my view.

  “Where’s the blood from?”

  "From your wound. But It's okay. it wasn’t as bad as it would look, your head split a little on the other side, but I fixed you up. You'll be okay."

  I was glad. My smile returned, and warmth flooded my body. I was just happy that we made it through the night. Loic stared at me, and I stared back. The heat from the gaze we had at the bar the first time came back. I was lost in his eyes. We were alive. Loic broke the gaze first. He stood up and walked over to the mirror by the wall.

  "Chase asked us to come back to the museum when we got the chance."

  That was a quick subject change. He wouldn’t look at me directly. Was he avoiding me? Why? Was the concern he had just for his ‘princess’ being safe? Did he not think of me as someone he could talk to? The fact I felt like I was starting to like him, did he not feel the same?

  “Loic, are you okay?”

  “I’m fine…” He didn’t sound very confident. “Just curious about what the old man wants.”

  "Oh, okay. What do you think it would be?”

  "He wouldn't say. I figured I'd wait until you woke up."

  He still avoided looking at me. Irritation spiked in my heart...

  “Loic.”

  “What, Princess?” He smirked. “not ready to start the day yet?”

  I sighed. “You’re avoiding looking at me.”

  He jolted slightly and ran his fingers through his hair again. This time he lingered in mid-stroke as if thinking about something.

  “It’s not that important, I’ll update you later, when you’re well.”

  That was a red flag. What did he want to tell me that he couldn’t tell me here? Just because I was in Luna’s body didn’t mean I was any different. Although, maybe it would be hard to talk about while staring at the face of your dead princess. When we shared a moment, did he even really see me? Rayne?

  "All right." I yawned. “I'm kind of tired anyway. I'll head over now." I settled back on the bed.

  "Hey, slow down there, Princess. He strode over to me. “You're not supposed to sleep with a head injury. Chase can wait a few seconds."

  But my head was hit on the other side. Wasn't I already sleeping then? I felt so tired I just wanted to curl up and recover but then I’d feel my head and remembered that I was in Lunas body now, not the one asleep with a head injury right now. I did wonder how that worked would I be okay when I woke up? Then if I was okay what did chase want? I never thought I’d actually be going back to the museum. Maybe it was important enough to bring me back.

  I frowned. "What if it's important?"

  "I told you he can wait. Here, follow my finger."

  I did. Loic sighed, seeing I was okay. At least he was looking at me now. Getting the cold shoulder from him hurt more than it should.

  "Loic, I'm fine. This body wouldn't be affected anyway, right?"

  "We don't know that. Just let me cover all the bases. I’ll check you on that side too, when we get there."

  He kept checking on me, and I passed each test.

  "Loic, I'm fine. I've never seen you so worried."

  He pressed his lips together. "I just want you to be okay. You went through a lot in such a short time.”

  I laughed a little. “You basically just explained my entire week.”

  “I’m still worried about the poison. On top of a head injury."

  "But that wasn’t your fault.," I insisted. “And I drank all that stuff.”

  "Yeah, it has side effects. Think alcohol poisoning if you take in too much. It can have the equivalent to drinking a full bottle of vodka. You already worried me since it took you a while to get back from the in-between.”

  “How long?”

  his face pinched, “you were gone for almost 30 minutes and you were getting cold. That’s a worrying sign.”

  I did linger there a while this time. Was that because I was going numb to any pain?

  What even happened while I was there? It only felt like being in water. The deep end of a pool not knowing where the bottom was. In a pool I’d never make it 30 minutes, maybe 1 if I was lucky…maybe because I was just a soul? But I still had to hold breath and I felt like id drown if I didn’t was that just a habit? Would that affect my soul? Is that why I saw that woman? Was she helping me somehow? I did start feeling better while she was there.

  “Are you sure you're okay?” Why didn’t he believe anything I said? But then I took in his worried face, and I sighed.

  "Yeah, I'm fine.” I gave him a reassuring smile. “I just need to rest."

  Loic nodded reluctantly.

  “And I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have made you fight.”

  I sat up, astonished. How could he say that? “You didn’t make me do anything. You sharing those skills probably saved our lives. You’ve actually saved me so many times today. I should be saying thank you.” My smile got bigger and before I even thought about it, I hugged him. He stiffened, and I let him go. His eyes were wide, with surprise. Had he not expected me to thank him for that? Had he done this for someone before and gotten the reaction he expected?

  I stared at him firmly. “Don’t say sorry for saving me. Yeah, it was a risk but one that is understandable in taking. You shouldn’t have to fight everything alone. I’m alive, we’re alive, and for that I’m glad. Pain is better than being numb and lost. I know that feeling all too well.”

  Being a child who didn’t know who they were or who anyone was around them, being unable to feel the emotional connection I should have with people who were close to me. Now I clung to emotions and pain. Before all this magic stuff I avoided anything that put me in too much danger, but I would use the hurt I suffered now to remake what I had lost.

  Loic turned and sighed snorting back a small laugh, looking away from me to shuffle his hair again. His eye squinted and I almost saw them get lighter. Like a glow of some sort to the color, especially the gold eye as he turned away.

  "Okay, I'll keep an eye on you. Just don't rush anything. If you feel strange at all: coldness, dizziness, stomach issues anything like that, let me know. Okay?"

  "I will. Thanks for worrying, Loic." I smiled at him, and he gave me a small smile back.

  He was still acting standoffish but at least he wasn’t ignoring me entirely. He also seemed to be softening up around me. The tough, snark-spewing punk had been melting away into an actual knight.

  I laid back down and faded to sleep. Water surrounded me again. I didn’t see either the woman or the shadow this time. I just reached up and felt a hand grab my wrist. The hand pulled me up to the light. I stretched my fingers out above me but once I did, I felt like I was frozen, locked into place. Then darkness and pain fell over me.

  I woke up with a start. My arm held up above me, feel
ing disoriented as soon as I saw it come back into view. Loic sat in a chair at my side, jolting at my sudden movement. His hand was wrapped around my wrist and he wasn’t fully sitting in the chair, like he had fallen back into it somehow. “Loic? Am I home?”

  He put his hands on my shoulders, holding me back from sitting up on my own. My head was spinning.

  "Hey, take it easy, all right. I told you to slow down, didn't I?"

  He helped me sit up slowly. We were at my apartment. The window was open a crack and everything was eerily silent. So that was his way in. one that worked since none of the neighbors had been at my door yet. I spun myself around putting my feet on the floor, but before I could attempt to stand, he hugged me. I felt so much worse here. My mind was fuzzy and pained. My face tightened with each throb. I winced and held my head steady, but the agony didn’t stop. The pounding was stronger when I tried to look at anything. I hadn’t felt any of the effects in Luna’s body. My hopes of being completely fine were dashed.

  "You had me scared,” he said softly. “I thought you wouldn't make it here."

  "Wait, what?"

  "You don't remember? I just pulled you from the In-between. You couldn't get through. I was worried something like that would happen."

  It’s not that I couldn’t get out. I did linger a bit, but I had to check that I wasn’t alone. If the shadow came back again, maybe I could learn from him? Or was that a bad idea? Who was the shadow? Enemy or bystander?

  Loic checked my expression again. His hand ran through my hair and stopped at the direct back of my head. It stung but after a second, I felt that warm tingle like when the woman was there in the in-between. The sharp pain faded, and the throbbing in my head stopped little by little. Then the tingle stopped, and he pulled me from being an arm’s length from him into a hug. Not a full hug but close enough.

  “There. That should help a little,” He whispered.

  I smiled and hugged him back. I felt him twitch. It felt like he was planning to pull away, but he lingered there for a bit, not moving at all. His arms tightened around me.

  I wanted to speak but no words formed in my head. What had I even wanted to say in the first place? My intent faded as soon as I took in the atmosphere around us. It was warm and gentle, but awkward in a way. Had I misunderstood something? Did Loic not like me in that way?

  Then Loic stood up and looked away from me. He cleared his throat.

  "Chase wanted to see us when you woke up. It sounded important. I'm going to check you over first. follow my finger.”

  He did the same tests as he did on the other side, and I passed each one. My head pounded this time and felt heavy. Loic kneeled down to my level.

  “Head still hurt?”

  “I’m going to be sick,” I admitted.

  He held his hand on my temple, and I felt warm magic against my skin. Everything seemed to melt a bit, and I nearly fell asleep. Loic moved his hand away from me and the cold air hitting my skin woke me up again. After a little bit, the pain began to fade. He looked relieved.

  “Sorry I can’t do much. I can only numb some of the pain. Not the most effective type of magic. But it will do the trick. I’ll have Chase check you over.”

  “It’s fine. Everything you do helps a little.” I smiled at him and he shifted his gaze away.

  “Yeah sure.” He muttered. “So, are you okay to leave right away?"

  "Yeah, you said that already."

  "Oh yeah, I did."

  "Is something wrong, Loic? You don’t seem like yourself."

  "No, I'm fine. Let’s go."

  Something was off. The way he wouldn’t say anything at Isha’s. Now he wasn’t saying anything here. Was there something wrong with me? Why wouldn’t he just say what was getting to him? I clenched my hands and tried to calm the frustrations building up within me.

  He helped me stand. Then I headed to the bathroom and changed my clothes. My old ones still smelled of tar and poison. I cleaned up and got out of the shower, feeling a sudden returning pulse slam against me. My chest felt tight, and I had to gain my footing. Was this the result of hitting my head? No. I didn't remember this happening when I woke up in Mirror Image. Isha said I was fine once I woke up. Was this that drink? Or maybe I still had some Formless poison still in me? I shoved on clothes and went to exit the bathroom, almost slipping on the tile. I must have yelped because I heard the door handle shake.

  “Rayne?”

  “Don’t come,” I yelled. “I’m fine. I swear!”

  He didn't answer back. I stepped out of the bathroom. Loic seemed to look at me every chance he got, then looked away as I turned to him.

  Something was wrong. Not just with Loic. Something just felt wrong. Maybe that's why Loic was worried. Maybe he felt it too. My chest felt warm and tight like something was trying to break free. Then suddenly, my stomach heaved. I barely made it to the small sink in my apartment’s kitchen. The pulsing intensified, like it was trying to warn me about something. Only reacting when I thought about how I felt. I calmed my thoughts, and the pulsing started to subside.

  I cleaned myself up. Loic’s eyes looked alert and worried. He reached for me, then pulled back as I smiled at him. Scratching his head to seem like that reaching for me wasn’t his intention. He still seemed off. Add this awkwardness to the list of reasons he was acting weird.

  “I’m fine.” I spat.

  “Is my concern that obvious?”

  He looked like a scared child. Did his worry have something to do with his past? Maybe with his mother's death? Was it Luna? He did feel responsible for what happened to her after all. He said he would protect me, so he probably felt responsible for me too. That had to be it. He didn’t really like me as more than someone he had to protect. That was all.

  “Yeah,” I huffed. “Don’t worry, okay?”

  “All right.”

  With that, he opened the door and waited for me. His body tensed as he watched my steps. I felt steady, but I’m sure he was worried about my feeling dizzy. After everything that happened, I couldn’t blame him.

  ~

  He led the way through Venice to the ferry. I took the time to sit and relax on the way to the museum. The saltwater seemed to help me regain some balance in my mind. I paced around mid-way through the trip and felt like my dizziness had gone away. I passed by where Loic was sitting. He looked out to the water, seemingly lost in thought. He didn’t seem to notice me, and he took out a hand mirror from his pocket.

  "What are you doing?" I turned away staring at the water to avoid looking at the mirror. Trying to address him while not looking at him. “Loic?”

  He moved his hand over the cover of the mirror, hiding it from my view. I relaxed a little. Knowing it was there still made me nervous. I breathed in and out, focusing on just calming my mind and taking in the salt air.

  “won stel ees.” He whispered to himself mirrored.

  I blinked at him, planning to find out what he said and before I could open my mouth, He covered his mouth with his finger to let me know to be quiet and he focused back on the glass.

  He kept his finger on his mouth as we stepped off the boat, stepping on to the island. Loic cut in front of me, hiding the mirror with his body as he listened.

  I heard pages flipping like someone was frantically looking through a book, then Chase’s voice.

  "Yes, it has to be it. Nothing else makes sense."

  "What could you be thinking, Chase?" Loic whispered.

  "Loic?"

  He stayed silent for a bit. He wasn’t actively trying to talk to Chase, just listen in on him. Was something going on that I had missed? Loic was scowling. What was Chase talking about? Was this what had been bothering Loic all this time?

  Everything swirled together. It was only in this moment I realized my thoughts had cause me to lag behind. I heard dirt scooting and turned to see Loic stopped waiting up for me.

  "I'm sure it's nothing. Catch up, Princess." His
tone got serious.

  Loic looked at the mirror, then put it away and continued. I could see the magic dome that covered the museum area from the dock at the edge of the island now. As we walked through the dome, I could feel the magic brushing against me. My chest was tight, and my lungs burned. It felt different than when I passed through it. I stopped and looked back at the dome. It didn’t seem any different at all. Could it have been me that changed somehow?

  The feeling only got worse as we entered the inner gate of the museum. My muscles locked up. I stumbled over and hit the carpet with my knees. Loic whirled around.

  “Rayne!”

  He put his hand on my cheek. His palm felt cold against me. Was I that warm? The coolness vanished, and Loic ran off. Something weighed me down, and the pulse I felt earlier returned. Along with a voice, ringing through my head.

  ‘He knows.’ the voice echoed.

  Who knows? And what does he know?

  Loic came back with a white flower. The petals stood against bright yellow pollen, but the tips of the petal were translucent like a piece of wet paper. He held the flower in one hand and gently lifted my head to look at him with the other.

  He plucked a petal from the flower and handed it to me.

  “Rayne, suck on this. Don’t eat it, though.”

  I placed the petal in my mouth. The petal itself was large, about two inches long and an inch wide. Some of it stuck out between the edges of my lips. It started to glow a little. I felt better. The sick feeling seemed to be drawn to the petal. I could taste the poison again, but then it vanished being replaced with a sweet rose water taste.

  Everything seemed clearer for the moment. I could still hear murmurs of the voice from before, but it wasn’t nearly as loud as it was when I had collapsed.

  Loic watched, his face still worried. After a minute he took the petal back. It had nearly turned black.

  “Rayne, I’m sorry. Seems we didn’t catch all of it after all.” He averted his gaze and grimaced.

  “It’s not your fault.”

  I didn’t feel perfect, but most magic was a painkiller, so we could keep going. He handed me the remainder of the flower.