Shattered Souls

by Karice Bolton

  I shook my head and looked at my mom. “Will you be okay seeing Maddie?”

  “Of course, honey. It wasn’t her fault. I volunteered. She didn’t force me,” she replied.

  I swung my head too quickly and the nausea won out. I leaned against the car to steady myself. I’m sure it looked like I’d had one too many to anyone who passed by, but I didn’t even care. I wanted my head to stop spinning and my stomach to become neutral. Taking a few deep breaths in, I nodded. I was ready. Angela began looking pretty green herself and leaned on Trevor as we walked down the sidewalk to the gum wall. There was no one in the alley and Vieta and Ellsy swooped us through the other side. Each lit their wands, and we began walking down the stairs. It was hard not to think about Logan and when we were here together, but my thoughts couldn’t stay focused for long. Reaching the bottom, I opened the door and ducked, walking through the smaller room.

  Maddie was already in the center of the room, which shocked me. I was expecting a moment to calm myself before we knocked on her door. I didn’t expect her to be waiting for us in the common room. She smiled at me but her face fell as she spied Trevor.

  “Hi there, Triss,” she said. Her voice was as calm and nice as the first time I’d met her, before she set us up.

  I nodded and focused on Angela as she continued to lean on Trevor. Maddie spotted him and began shaking her head. “I’m sorry. I can’t allow—”

  “I’m not going to deal with this again,” I interrupted, shaking my head. I looked at my mother, as anger began percolating through me once again. “She pulled this with Logan, and I’m not going to waste our time.”

  Angela glanced at me and then my mom before nodding her head. “I couldn’t agree more. Trevor and I found several spells that can achieve this. I heard the trouble you caused for Logan.”

  “Did you?” Maddie asked.

  “You promised you wouldn’t cause any issues,” my mom chided, wiggling her finger. “Now let us all in, and we’ll be out of your hair before you know it.”

  Maddie pressed her lips together and then nodded. “Alright.” She turned around and began walking toward the opening, and we followed behind.

  The room looked very similar to when Logan and I had been in it. There was a different painting that she was working on, but everything else seemed to be the same.

  She had a spread of cheese, crackers, and fruits laid out on the table. None of it seemed very appealing at the moment, but Trevor and Jenny quickly found a plate and began helping themselves. I sat down on the stool closest to me and Angela sat next to me.

  “My first question is how do we switch back? Do we need to come back to see you?” I asked.

  Maddie shook her head. “I’ll have an antidote for you both. The only trick is that you both drink it at relatively the same time.”

  “I’m really quite impressed with how quickly you’re mastering your abilities,” Maddie said. “Have you ever used my—”

  “Haven’t needed it, I guess. Things just started happening, and I’ve never had time to prepare it,” I said.

  “Well, doing it organically is much better than adding liquids and potions,” she confirmed. “It’s just that most of us depend on those liquids and potions. Okay, so are we ready?” She looked at Angela who looked at me, and I nodded.

  “I’ve got a much more comfortable arrangement in the living room,” Maddie chimed. “Just follow me through these doors.” She walked to the double doors in the far corner. I slid off my stool and waited for Angela before we followed Maddie.

  As understated as the room we just were in was, this room was the exact opposite. There were two large, red velvet couches in an L shape, and a black shag rug intersecting the couches.

  “If each of you want to take a couch that would be best,” Maddie said, pointing.

  “Good luck,” Angela said, hopping in place as she gave me a big hug.

  Trevor came over and wrapped his arms around her, and my heart dropped slightly. I wished Logan was here. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how one was to look at it, I didn’t really feel as horrible as I should.

  There were matching chaise lounges pushed against the wall, which was where my aunt, mom, Ellsy, Jenny, and Trevor sat down as Angela and I crawled onto the couches. I had to admit just how wonderful it felt stretching along the velvet upholstery.

  I turned onto my back and stared at the ceiling, which had several large wood beams interlocked. I began tracing the pattern with my gaze, but Maddie began speaking.

  “So what I’ll be asking of you is very little. I need you to listen to my voice and allow yourself to wrap into whatever is asked of you. There will come a point during this process where you will feel outside of yourself. At that point it is crucial that you do nothing to fight the feeling or the energy as your spirit is transferred from one shell to another.”

  A chill ran down my spine as she referred to our bodies as shells, but I suppose that was all they were. I glanced at my mom who was sitting against the wall, her elbows balancing on her knees, and her hands steepled together as she smiled at me.

  I turned my attention back to Maddie as she walked around the room, gathering candles and two pouches. She placed them on the coffee table that was in front of our couches.

  “It’s best to do this in the dark,” Maddie said, as the lights went dim. She worked quickly to light the candles in front of us, and once the flame attached to the wick I found myself breathing a sigh of relief. After my last encounter with her, I wasn’t fond of being in complete darkness around her. Although, being here with this many people had to work in our favor.

  The dance of the flames reflected in the mirror that was hanging behind my couch, and I let myself go into a slight trance as I watched the orange and reds intertwine.

  Maddie began humming, and I slowly turned my head toward her. My breathing quickened as I realized what Angela and I were about to do. I craned my head so I could see Angela one last time, the body I would be inhabiting. My eyes connected with Angela’s as she attempted to do the same. We exchanged smiles and turned our attention back to Maddie who continued to hum.

  She opened the pouches and emptied the contents out onto a silver tray. She had a small, clear glass bowl and a scoop smaller than a teaspoon that she moved next to the tray. Her humming changed to a long, drawn out chant. It wasn’t anything that I recognized. I watched her scoop a spoonful of each powder into the bowl. She added liquid and then lit it on fire.

  Maddie held the glass bowl that should have been far too hot to touch and began gliding around the room, releasing the smoke. The crescendos of Maddie’s voice coincided with her movements as I watched her come near Angela and me. She placed the glass bowl on the corner of the table as it continued to burn and sat down on her knees. She grabbed my hand and Angela’s hand. My breathing began to steady as I listened to the cadence in her voice as the beats became hypnotic. The deeper my breaths became, the more shared they became. I closed my eyes and let the song enter my mind as the feelings of an otherness drifted over me.

  I not only heard the pace of Angela’s breathing, I could feel it. The tempo of her heartbeat began to interfere with my own as Maddie’s voice drifted into my subconscious. The steady beats of our two hearts began colliding with one another. Unable to decipher who belonged to the timing of which, I let my mind empty of worry. It didn’t matter whose pulse was whose. Instead I let the new pattern emerge that bound us together.

  I no longer felt the burden of the shell I was in as my spirit drifted above my body. I looked down at the emptiness that was left and was shocked to see the lifeless me on the couch. A shock ran through me, which I realized I had to fight. Now was not the time to pontificate on anything other than the transition.

  My spirit guided itself along the ceiling. Seeing Maddie’s hands still intertwined with Angela’s and mine, I slowly drifted toward my new home. I was in no hurry, but I didn’t know how long it was taking either. There was no sense of time in this
realm, only action within its prescribed intent. Not being tied to certain specifications was a wondrous feeling. I wouldn’t say I was lackadaisical, but I certainly wasn’t that driven.

  As I got closer to Angela’s body, I felt a warmth and a pull that I wasn’t expecting. A current began sweeping me swiftly toward Angela and I had no control over it. I slinked along the couch until an electrical charge popped me into Angela unexpectedly.

  I opened my eyes and felt the heaviness of the flesh and bones that was entrapping me once more. I turned my head toward the wall, and there was no mirror behind me. I really had fled into Angela’s body. I took a deep breath in, and oddly enough, things smelled differently. I noticed the mustiness of the flooring, and the dust in the cushions beneath me. I did remember Angela often talking about allergies, but I’d never really thought about it much until now.

  A tickle in my nose surfaced and I scrunched my face, trying to avoid a sneeze. I sat up and looked over at Angela and gasped. Even though I knew I was expecting to see my body, there was no way to actually prepare for it. Angela sat up quickly and turned to face me.

  “Your nose is clear,” Angela said, and Trevor started laughing. “Do you know how amazing it is to breathe out of a clear nose?”

  “The things I took for granted.” I wiggled my nose again and realized exactly what she was referring to.

  “This is so crazy,” she said, hopping up.

  “Whoop. Not so fast there,” Maddie said, as Angela started to fall backward onto the couch. “Your balance isn’t as good as you think.”

  I looked over to where my mom had been sitting and the chaises were empty.

  “Where’d they go?” I asked, furrowing my brow.

  “They got hungry for dinner. We weren’t sure how long you’d be in the transitional phase so I told—”

  “Dinner?” I interrupted. “We got here in the morning. There was no way we were out for that many hours.”

  “No kidding,” Angela said, slipping her legs under her. “It felt like minutes, tops.”

  I nodded in agreement.

  “When did they leave?” I questioned, not really liking the idea of being alone with Maddie for all that long.

  “About an hour ago,” she said. “I’m sure they’ll be back soon. Besides you’re not ready to leave yet. Your new bodies haven’t completely acclimated to their new spirits or vice versa, and there are a few things you’ll want to read before you leave the undercity. I don’t want you coming back in pieces.”

  “That can happen?” Angela asked, her eyes widening.

  “It’s not the easiest of things to put back together,” Maddie replied grimly. “But as long as you follow these simple rules, there’s not a chance of that happening at all.” She walked over to a cabinet and grabbed a large book and brought it over to us. She placed it on the coffee table and smiled.

  “We have to read the entire thing?” I asked.

  “No, just the first chapter on the Transitus. That’s the type of spirit or body swap that you two managed to pull off,” she replied.

  I got up slowly and paced myself as I walked the couple of feet to sit next to Angela. I lowered myself onto the couch and gave Angela a big hug.

  “Thank you for doing this,” I whispered.

  “Are you kidding? This is the coolest,” she said, letting go.

  I had to look away quickly as her eyes locked onto mine, because they weren’t her eyes, they were mine. She was just borrowing them. This was going to be far more difficult to swallow than I realized. I wondered if she was experiencing the same level of possessiveness as me.

  “One other piece of advice,” Maddie said. “Don’t trust anyone going forward, except each other.”

  Chapter 28

  “I’m sorry! I just can’t do it,” Trevor said laughing, throwing up his hands at Angela.

  She scowled at him and pulled her arms into a tight formation across her chest. He tried to free her arms, but she wasn’t having it.

  I kind of saw his point and was thankful that he admitted there was a creepiness to this whole switcheroo. Not wanting to infuriate Angela anymore, I made sure no smile surfaced on my lips as she continued snuffing Trevor’s jokes.

  “You should be relieved I don’t want to get with you right now. Come on. I can’t help it. It’s just not right,” Trevor continued.

  “Not even one kiss?” she asked. “Why’s that a big deal? It’s still me. After all I’ve been through for you guys and you’re repulsed? I don’t know what that really means for our future.”

  Oh my Lord, Trevor had his hands full.

  “In all fairness, you should be happy he’s uncomfortable with it. Now you know there’s no deep seated desire to make out with me if he and I are ever alone.” I winked, laughing as I saw the crease in her frown begin to give way.

  Her hands dropped to her side, and she nodded. “Good point.”

  “See? That’s all I was getting at.” Trevor sighed, raising his finger to his temple, acting like he was pulling a trigger.

  Jenny stifled a giggle and glanced at Angela before sitting on the couch.

  “What was all that hullabaloo I heard?” A woman who looked close to my age stepped out from behind a green, velvet curtain. Her hair was dark brown, and her eyes were amber, catlike. “I was trying to practice and I finally had to give up.”

  She scanned me quickly but then let her gaze linger on Trevor, which made my skin prickle. Yep. I was definitely in Angela’s body.

  “I’m sorry. Who are you?” I asked, attempting to wrangle her attention away from Trevor.

  “I’m Sarah.” She took two steps toward us and extended her hand, letting it hover in between Trevor and me. I grabbed it instantly and shook it.

  “I’m Angela and this is Trevor,” I said and then I stopped myself. Maybe I should say I’m Triss right now. I didn’t really know.

  “I know who you are.” She smiled coyly. “So what was all that racket? It really messed up my day.”

  “Just getting used to things,” I said, not looking at her.

  “Whatever, Triss. There are more than just you three here. Be mindful of that,” Sarah scolded.

  “So you know we switched and I’m not really Angela?” I asked, ignoring her unpleasantness.

  “Yes, and I really don’t care,” she said.

  “We’ll try to be quieter,” Trevor said. I could tell he only wanted her to get out of here and so did I.

  “Good. Since I’m over here, I might as well go over what Maddie asked me to talk to you all about,” she said flatly.

  “Well, that sounds like it’ll be a treat,” Angela said, folding her arms across her chest again.

  Sarah shot her a scowl, but that didn’t slow her down. “Now I assume you know the kind of danger you’re facing by pulling this stunt.”

  “I’d like to think more thought went into it than a typical stunt. But yes, we’re very well aware of it,” I responded.

  She laughed a wicked laugh and shook her head.

  “You’ll be lucky to come out alive,” she said, waiting for a reaction.

  “Now. Now,” Maddie chimed in from down the hallway. She walked in with my mom, Ellsy, and Vieta and took a seat on the chaise lounge. “There’s no need for lecturing. And you really need to be more respectful to Triss.”

  My stomach knotted and the awkwardness in the room couldn’t be missed. I caught my mom’s glance as she attempted to hide a smile from Sarah.

  What did my mom know?

  “I apologize, Maddie,” Sarah said bowing her head slightly. “The guardians have long been the legend and myth which have guided our ways of life.”

  “Maybe I do need to be lectured,” I interrupted, twisting my lips into a frown. “But guardians of what in particular?”

  “The guardians of the natural world, of course,” Sarah replied, shifting her gaze from me to Maddie.

  “Your lineage points you directly to Artemis, Goddess of the hunt. Unfortunately, that title h
as been misunderstood for thousands of years, but judging by the stories we’ve heard about you in your younger years especially, you had natural abilities connecting with animals.” Sarah raised her brow at me. “Is that true?”

  I nodded.

  “Well, the Guardians never go far. They never leave our earth, but they aren’t always available as transitions begin, which can wreak havoc, and the transitions can last hundreds of years,” Sarah said, pressing her lips together.

  “Transitions?” I questioned.

  “The transition occurs when they’ve chosen a new dwelling for their powers,” Sarah replied.

  “A dwelling is a human,” Maddie said, clapping her hands. “Remember that dress you tried on where you suffocated?”

  I nodded.

  “Well, she was chosen as the first vessel for Artemis, but she was murdered before the transition occurred,” Maddie finished. “Artemis hasn’t found a suitable place since.”

  “Murdered by who?” I asked.

  “Someone who was onto it— the transition— I guess. We don’t really know. But the fairies were devastated. They had thought your relative was their savior to protect them and the natural world from destruction. Little did they know it was only going to get worse—”

  “Before it got better,” Sarah interrupted.

  “So what does this have to do with me?” I asked, my heart rate was racing.

  “Well, you’re more than your relative ever could have been, and from what we can tell, you have been chosen,” Maddie said.

  My world began spinning as I attempted to swallow what she was telling me. I looked at my aunt and my mom who both had tears streaming down their faces.

  “How do you know your guess is true?” I asked, glancing at Maddie.

  “Sarah’s studies are the natural worlds. She has dedicated her entire life to understanding these possibilities of spiritual and physical realms. The fairies have employed her for over ten decades.”

  My head whipped back over to Sarah’s young face. “There’s no way she’s a hundred.”

  “She’s a hundred and twenty, to be exact,” Maddie said. “The fairies should never be discounted.”