Shattered Souls

by Karice Bolton

  “Thank you, Beth. That’s all,” he said, eyeing her and then turned his attention to me.

  I walked further into his office, the space mimicking the lobby.

  “So you make very startling allegations,” he began, gesturing toward the chair in front of his desk. “Have a seat, please.”

  I nodded and sat down as he went to the window and stared through the glass for a minute, contemplating what to say. He walked toward his large desk chair and sat down.

  “Mr. Sanders—”

  “Call me Bill,” he interrupted.

  “Bill, I felt it was only the right to inform you of the waste that is going on,” I began.

  “I appreciate that. If I can trust what you’re alleging is true.” His hands cupped together as he leaned on the desk.

  “I have firsthand knowledge that neither company has the ingredient that they’ve implied.”

  “And how do you know this?” he asked.

  “Because I work for and am the daughter of the CEO of Praedivinus Industries. On my father’s passing, I inherited the company. And my aunt was the head of the Demonikers,” I replied, hoping those connections would imply enough inside knowledge.

  “Zelo has been pouring money into the development of…” Bill’s voice trailed off.

  “We are prepared to compensate you for the losses your company has incurred due to our negligence. On one condition.”

  Bill leaned back, his lip curved into a smile. “And what is that?”

  “That you hold the Demonikers to the same standard. They can’t provide you with the ingredient either, no matter their promises. You have my word on that. Pull your resources from their project and demand to be compensated under the faulty premise that they’ve presented,” I said.

  “So you’re telling me—”

  “That you can expect a check from us within thirty days. I don’t intend to do business the way the rest of my family did, and I’ll rectify where I can, when I can.”

  “Do I have your word that you will absolve our actions?” My brow arched.

  “Absolutely,” he said, extending his hand to mine.

  “And that you’ll cut ties with Ethan?”

  He nodded, releasing my hand.

  “Wonderful,” I said, standing up. “I’ll let myself out. It was a pleasure meeting you and if any legitimate business can be had between us, I hope you’ll give us a chance to restart our business relationship.”

  He stood and tipped his head, as I let myself out of his office.

  I wanted to laugh out loud at the thought of Ethan getting the call from Bill. I could feel the fury already and knew I could count on Ethan to show up wherever and whenever I requested after that stunt. He’d want to seek revenge. Now it was only a matter of picking the date and being prepared.

  I walked through the lobby and the receptionist was nowhere in sight as I continued walking right out the door. I hoped that everything would continue to fall into place before Logan and I headed back East.

  Chapter 26

  “What were you told? What did you find out?” I demanded. “Why are you pulling away from me?”

  “I need to leave tomorrow morning.” Logan’s voice was distant. The good news from my trip to Zelo quickly washed away, and I was left with emptiness.

  “What?” I yelled louder than I intended.

  “It’s only to get things ready. If we want to lead them back East then I need to start the trail. It’s going to take every second we have to get your dad’s place ready.”

  “And?” I asked, raising a brow. “I know there’s more.”

  He didn’t say anything. He didn’t move. The family room felt like a place I’d never stood before, like I was watching a scene unfold in someone else’s home, someone else’s life — again.

  “This doesn’t even feel real. The way you’re treating me. I need to know it’s you making this choice and not someone else. I feel like the fairies are controlling you.”

  “It’s not someone else, but it’s not my choice. It has to be done. I need to leave. But not because I want to.”

  “It’s a choice and you are making it.” My voice trembled as I watched him, hoping he’d make a move toward me, but he was still. “And being unkind while doing so.”

  “I’m not being unkind.” Logan said, his throat muscles constricting. “Do you think this is easy for me?”

  “Easy enough, if you’re willing to leave me like this.” I forced the lump back down. I was not going to cry, not in front of him. “We weren’t going to leave for back East until we were both ready and then we’d set the stage. You taking off like this throws everything for a loop.”

  “I love you, Triss. That’s the reason why I’m doing this.” His eyes darkened.

  “I don’t understand where this is coming from. You’re not honoring my wishes. You’re on the pursuit of something that might not even be a possibility, wasting time that we don’t even have. I would’ve thought you’d rather spend the time we have left together— together— rather than chasing some imaginary solution,” I said, almost shouting. I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall. To him, it probably looked like I was trying to back away from him when, in actuality, leaning against the wall was to prop myself up because at this moment, I didn’t think my legs could hold me any longer.

  “You think that’s why I’m leaving?” His eyes locked on mine. “To stop the curse?”

  “It’s the only thing I can think of and since you’re refusing to tell me anything my assumptions are all I have.”

  He narrowed his eyes, taking one step forward.

  “Before this moment, when have I ever gone against your wishes, expectations, hopes? Never,” his voice was calloused.

  “You’re doing it now. I don’t want you to leave. I need you here with me.” The hopelessness that was seeded in my abdomen began blooming through my entire body. There would be no talking him into staying. His eyes said everything.

  “I would’ve thought that you’d understand I’d only do this if I had no other choice. And with everything we’ve encountered so far and what we’re facing in the future, I wouldn’t leave unless it was absolutely necessary. It’s not like I’m trying to do this to hurt you, to keep a secret from you. This is killing me,” Logan’s voice broke.

  “Then why leave?”

  “I want to wake up from this nightmare as much as you do.” He averted his eyes from mine.

  “Show me you love me. Prove to me it’s you making this decision,” I whispered, closing my eyes to force away the tears.

  By the time I opened my eyes, Logan was already in front of me. One of his hands quickly grabbed the nape of my neck, his fingers pressing into my flesh. “You want to make sure it’s really me making the decision? Is that what this is about? Do you think I’m possessed or something?” His voice was aggressive, as he attempted to hide the hurt in his eyes.

  “I didn’t want to think it was you leaving me,” I whispered, feeling the warm trail of tears roll down my flesh. “I never wanted to believe you could do this to me.”

  “It’s to protect you. That’s the only reason I’d leave,” he whispered. “Our connection is so strong it’s allowing people to tap into your mind through me, and it’s too dangerous right now. I’m sure the fire, and the dream about our fictitious daughter, to name a couple, are all because of the nectunt we share. Your mind needs to be clear, and me being around is only making it worse. I can’t stand the thought of someone getting inside of you because of me. And I need to get back there and implement our plan.”

  “Who’s to say the distance will stop the damage from being done if the nectunt is already shared between us?”

  “I just know.”

  “I don’t understand where this is coming from,” I whispered.

  “Remember when Dace and Bakula wanted us to separate?”

  I nodded, turning my head away. “So you talked to them about this too?”

  “The dream of our daughter?” hi
s voice low. “The fire at the house? How much more are we going to risk?”

  “Mind warfare,” I whispered, turning my head to look at him once more.

  He nodded. “That’s what Ethan’s begun.”

  “We will be back together as soon as it’s safe,” his voice was deep, dark. The distance his tone applied scared me. “As soon as everything’s ready, you’ll meet me back there.”

  “What if that moment is too late?”

  His eyes flashed and he pressed me against the wall. His fingers intertwined with mine as he held them above my head.

  “Do you want to know what question haunts me every moment of my life?” he asked.

  My mouth became parched, and I looked away as the lump in my throat continued to form.

  “What’s that?” I whispered, refusing to look him in his eyes.

  “What if you aren’t waiting for me on the other side?” Logan asked, brushing the hair off my shoulder. “I’m scared to death that when I will finally leave this earth, you won’t be waiting for me. You won’t be there…”

  I had nothing to say because I worried about the same thing, which was what made me want him by my side at all times. Why couldn’t he understand that? Finding the strength inside of me, I looked up at him as he released my hands. I traced my finger along his jawbone, the muscles twitching as I trailed down to his shoulder.

  “That’s precisely why I don’t want you to leave me,” I said. “I want to act like everything will be fine, but I know it won’t be and any second you choose to be away from me is one less guarantee I have in this life.”

  “Then let’s not have another wasted moment,” he whispered, his body pressing up against mine.

  “You’re all I have been able to count on. I can’t lose that.”

  “Baby,” he crooned, “I’ll never—”

  “Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” I whispered, swallowing my tears.

  He held my gaze as he brought his lips close to mine. “I never would.” His breathing was ragged as he scooped me in his arms and carried me to the bed.

  “We’ve come too far to not push through this last bit,” he said, placing me on the bedspread. “It’ll require sacrifice, but it’ll be worth it.”

  His hands coiled my hair as I allowed myself to be in this moment and accept his answers for what they were— hopes we attempted to make a reality. That was all life was really. I shouldn’t hold our relationship up to any other standards. I smiled back at Logan, feeling the butterflies in my belly overtake my worries, as he peered down at me. He slid his knee between mine and brought his lips close to my ear. His warm breath tickled my neck as his mouth slowly ran down my throat.

  I ran my fingers through his hair as his lips traced down my collarbone, sending shivers to my toes.

  He sat back up, straddling me. Stripping his shirt off, he tossed it on the floor, and my heart skipped a beat. His shoulders broad, the string of muscles contracting as he bent to raise my shirt over my head. The cold air hit my flesh as his eyes scanned over me as if I was his possession and something about that excited me.

  Logan’s eyes connected with mine as his finger followed the outline of my nectunt, sending more shivers down my spine. “You are so beautiful, and you are mine.”

  “In this world and the next,” I whispered as he brought his lips down to mine.

  Chapter 27

  I woke up and he was already gone. I was secretly relieved because I didn’t think I’d be able to make it through a goodbye. This way there was no goodbye. The emptiness I felt in the bottom of my heart didn’t compare to the emptiness that now inhabited the nectunt. We weren’t going to contact each other through any direct methods. He would speak to his mom, my mom or Trevor, but that was it. I would have to depend on them to tell me everything about Logan and what he was doing.

  I quickly took a shower and left the house. I was headed over to my aunt’s where I’d meet up with Angela and Trevor. Today was the day. My aunt and mom had spoken with Maddie, and it was decided that the undercity was the best place to make the switch between us. I was in a completely unsettled place between having Logan gone and thinking I’d no longer be in the body I thought of as mine.

  When I reached my aunt’s house Trevor, Angela, and Jenny were already there. Angela gave me a big hug once she saw me. How was this girl not scared to death? I certainly was.

  “Are you really okay with this?” I asked her. Trevor was standing next to Angela, and a big smile spread across his lips as he slid his arm around her waist.

  “Yes. I know I should be nervous, but I’m just really excited. I guess ignorance really is bliss.” She laughed.

  “And your mom slipped her a little something,” Trevor said, chuckling.

  “She did?” Angela asked, her brow furrowed.

  “I guess we’re a tricky bunch,” I teased.

  I looked behind Angela at my mom and watched her release dust between her thumb and index finger into what I presumed would be my drink. I shook my head and laughed as Angela turned around to see my mom bringing me a cup of tea. I looked into the liquid and watched the remaining white speckles dissolve.

  “I’m not sure if I should say thanks or not,” I said to my mom, who was smiling at me.

  “It’s best for all involved,” my mom explained.

  “It’s not a painful process switching places,” Ellsy said. “It’s not something that I would call pleasant either.”

  Angela’s eyes widened, but the worry quickly vanished. Whatever she was on sounded really appealing. I brought the liquid to my lips and began sipping. It had a bitterness to it that I couldn’t place. It wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t great.

  “Can I have a glass of water too?” I asked.

  Trevor nodded and walked over to the sink.

  I looked over at Angela as I continued sipping the tea and within seconds, my body began to fall into a calm space. However, the taste worsened instantly.

  “How long does this last?” I asked my mom.

  “About twelve to sixteen hours,” she said. “The last time I had it was when I gave birth to you.”

  Even with the drink mixture, a faint sadness swept through me as my mom’s reference brought the images of something I wouldn’t be experiencing. If only I could shut it out, everything that I’d be missing...

  That thought shattered as soon as it entered my mind as the drink continued to work its magic on me. I gulped down the last of the mixture and was thankful to Trevor as he handed me the glass of water. The bitterness got worse on the last few swigs. I eagerly swallowed the water, but unfortunately it didn’t wash away the awful taste in my mouth.

  “The water didn’t help me either,” Angela said, twisting her mouth.

  “Thanks for letting me know.” I smiled, trying to untangle my lips from one another. I was feeling very odd.

  “I didn’t want to sway you in case the H20 worked for you.” She laughed. Obviously she was in the really happy state of this herbal concoction, but I could definitely tell that it didn’t matter what happy state I might land into next, I didn’t want to have to stomach that taste ever again. It wasn’t worth it, not at all.

  “We should probably head out to Maddie’s. Logan’s already texted that he was at the airport, so once he left from here traffic must not have been so bad,” Ellsy told us all. My stomach clenched into a ball and then immediately relaxed. This stuff was impressive. Even if I wanted to wallow around in my sorrow, I don’t think I could.

  “Logan came here this morning?” I asked.

  Ellsy nodded, looking bewildered. “He filled us in on everything and wanted to say goodbye. I thought you dropped him off.”

  I shook my head and attempted to be puzzled, but the feeling wore off immediately, leaving me empty.

  “It’s hard to believe he thinks he can get everything arranged in a couple of days,” Aunt Vieta said.

  I knew he was working this fast so we could be together again. A pang of something I d
idn’t recognize surfaced. God, I hated the stuff I just drank. I didn’t want to be immune to emotion. I wanted to live it… feel it…the highs and the lows.

  “Are you okay over there?” my mom asked. “The stuff should already be hitting.”

  “It is,” I confirmed. “I think that’s the problem.”

  Angela shook her head and threaded her arm through mine, hauling me toward the door. “I say it’s time we get this new adventure started.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at her ridiculousness. Her eyes didn’t seem to focus on much of anything, and her voice was a complete octave higher. As we got to the door, I thought about Logan waiting at the airport alone, and my heart almost sank. The level of agitation that was occurring with these half-baked emotions was beyond frustrating.

  Vieta, Ellsy, and my mom scooted by us and Jenny opened the front door. Trevor, Angela, and I passed through first. We were on our way. The cold air hit me, and it felt the most real out of anything I’d experienced in the last several minutes. At least some senses weren’t completely affected.

  “We’ll take two cars,” Vieta said, motioning for Trevor to drive Angela and me. I followed him to his car and slid in the backseat. My body felt sluggish, and my arms and legs weighted. I wanted to lie down. I buckled in and slouched into a comfortable position. I propped my head on the door and felt the gentle vibration as the car took off for downtown Seattle. Angela was talking endlessly and didn’t appear to have the negative side effects that I was experiencing. Every bump and dip we went over made my stomach slosh around endlessly.

  When Trevor pulled the car into the lot, I was so happy. I unbuckled and opened the door, hoping the cool, crisp air would help. My aunt pulled into a slot a few spaces down.

  My mom walked over and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. “You don’t look so hot right now,” she said.

  “That’s a good summation,” I confirmed.

  “There’s nothing to be nervous about if that’s what’s adding to your overall being…”