Body and Soul (The Chronicles of Light and Darkness Book 1)

by Jamie Loeak

pale shade of pink.

  “I don’t care,” Kate said. “That’s who you were, not who you are. The past doesn’t matter to me, Donovan.” Kate hoped her words comforted him instead of pushing him away, and she was happy when he nodded his head.

  “Adriana showed me that we are equals. We are two sides to the same coin, heads and tails. Over time, she showed me that I could live alongside humans. She proved to me that we could live in harmony and peace.

  I know that as a demon I cannot truly feel love the way humans can. My heartbeat doesn’t quicken and my palms don’t sweat. I’m not consumed by my thoughts of Adriana. I can’t let her presence weaken me. But I do know that deep down, we are soul mates.” Donovan bit his cheek and chuckled at his use of the word soul mate, his chocolate eyes sparkling. He shrugged and leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his fingers laced together, before finishing his life story.

  “We belong together for all of eternity, Adriana and I. I have spent my entire existence protecting her in her quest for good over evil. You see, most people would associate Light and his children with good, and Darkness and his children would be seen as evil. It’s portrayed like this in films and stories all the time. Adriana doesn’t see it that way. She sees the good and evil in both races.”

  “You do love her,” Kate interjected. “You might not think that you do, but I can see it. When you talk about her, you smile a real smile that reaches your eyes. I can hear it in your voice. When you say her name, you almost whisper it, like she’s a secret that you want to keep. Love isn’t all about sweaty palms and racing hearts. It’s seeing someone for who they are, inside and out, and embracing it. It’s laughter and fighting and making up. Love is all of that.” Kate drifted off, consumed by her thoughts.

  “It seems to me like you know quite a lot about love, Kate.”

  “I don’t,” she admitted. “I just watch a lot of movies and my mom and dad. I can tell that they love each other by the way they look at each other. You look at Adriana the same way.”

  Donovan watched Kate, contemplating the things that she was saying to him. He was mesmerized and confused. Kate had barely lived – sixteen wasn’t long at all – but she was wise for someone her age. Heck, she was even convincing Donovan that he could actually love Adriana, even though he knew that demons were void of that particular feeling. Yes, she really was wise, and yes, she had all the makings of the girl that would end Kern.

  “Thank you, Kate,” he said at last. “Your words have done more for me than you know. I’m not certain that I have succeeded in making it up to you, considering you have paid me back once more.”

  “You don’t owe me anything, Donovan. I’m just glad that you let me know who you are and what made you that way.” Kate yawned then, and Donovan helped her scoot down until she was lying against the rough pillows. He squeezed her hand and let himself out.

  As she lay there, Kate allowed her thoughts to drift over the story that Donovan told her. She imagined Adriana, wild in all black, chasing Kern around the world. She imagined Donovan in armor, fighting humans with a strength that would scare even the strongest man. At last, she imagined Donovan and the way he looked at Adriana. She knew that, somehow, demons were capable of love. She also knew that they didn’t know it.

  Kate never saw Rico in the hospital. Adriana came to visit, apologizing profusely for Donovan’s actions, smiling when Kate told her that he loved her, unshed tears shining in her dark eyes. Kate’s parents came to visit, although she was asleep most of the time. Even Mr. Evans stopped by, letting her know that the replacement plant was doing well.

  On the day that Kate was released from the hospital, she couldn’t wait to get back to the beach. When she stepped out onto the deck at her house, feeling the warmth of the sun and the breeze, she knew that she was home at last. This place, more than any other place that she had lived, was special. This was Kate’s home, and she loved it more than anything.

  That evening, Kate and her family went to grab dinner at The Beach House. Kate made sure that they all ordered something different this time; she didn’t want a repeat of last time. Plus, no one could try food from other’s plates if they all ordered the same thing. It was something they all loved to do.

  Throughout dinner, they joked and laughed, enjoying their time together now that Kate was home. Both of her parents decided to take off work for a couple days. They decided that the three of them would hang out at their beach house and travel somewhere when Kate felt a little better. Kate insisted that she felt better already, but she was still sleeping twelve hours each night so her parents decided that they would wait a day or two.

  As the family left the restaurant, with plenty of daylight - as requested by Kate - a familiar face waved to her. It was the man from the decaying house. Kate smiled and was ready to walk out the door but the man stood up and straightened his suit and tie. He walked up to the three of them, prepared to introduce himself.

  “Hi,” he said. “My name is Erik. I live up the street from you. I’m fixing up the worst house on the block to liven up this neighborhood.” He shook hands with Kate’s mother and father and nodded in Kate’s direction.

  “Yes, I’ve seen that house,” Kate’s father said after introducing his wife. “I’m glad that someone has found the time to fix it up. We truly appreciate it.”

  “No problem at all,” Erik said. “So this is your family. It’s quite lovely. I don’t happen to have one of my own. The woman I loved left me a while ago,” he added.

  “Oh, I’m very sorry Erik,” Kate’s mother chimed in. “And thank you for the comment about our small family.”

  “You’re welcome Mrs. Warren.” Erik nodded, but it was also accompanied by a small bow. It was an odd gesture for a man of this age.

  Blaire blushed and smiled over at Erik, kind and trusting. “Oh, please call me Blaire and feel free to call my husband by his first name as well. We aren’t strangers anymore.”

  “Thank you. I will,” Erik replied.

  Beside Kate, her father pulled himself straighter. He held his hand out, waiting for another handshake, a goodbye handshake. “Well Erik,” he said when Erik took his hand, “it was nice meeting you but we should be heading home. I’m certain Kate’s getting tired,” Aaron said as he turned toward the door.

  “What happened to Kate, Aaron?” Erik asked.

  Kate watched her father sign inwardly before turning around. “She was hit by a car a few days ago and she just got home today. She’s still recovering some, so we want to make sure she gets a good night’s rest. We’ll talk to you sometime soon. It was very nice meeting you.”

  Even though Kate’s dad had been short with him, Erik bowed and offered a kind smile to the small family. “It was nice meeting you as well,” he said with a nod and quick wave. “Actually, it was nice meeting all of you,” he clarified as he turned around and started to walk toward his lonely table.

  “Erik,” Blaire added, “I know that you’re alone in that decrepit house. Why don’t you come over for breakfast sometime? I’m sure it’ll be nice to eat a real home-cooked meal for a change.” She smiled warmly at him after glancing at her husband for assurance.

  Erik nodded and smiled once more, his light blue eyes shimmering. “Thank you, Blaire. I might have to take you up on that,” he said before heading back to finish his now cold dinner.

  With Erik’s departure, the small family turned and walked toward the wide double doors. Kate’s dad walked quickly, eager to leave the restaurant. Blaire and Kate both had to rush to keep up with his wide strides.

  “He’s a nice man,” Blaire said, slightly breathlessly, when the family stepped outside.

  “He does seem like a nice man,” Aaron added, although his tone indicated that he was agreeing with Blaire out of kindness, and Kate had to agree with her father; she was afraid that she might regret it if he came over for breakfast. He might never leave.

  The next morning, Kate was shocked to hear her parents say
that they could head for Orlando. She had successfully slept seven hours the night before, and her parents surprised her with three-day tickets to Disney World. Kate jumped up and down, eager to go on rides, wear mouse ears, and eat her fill of snacks like ice cream and popcorn.

  When Kate and her family arrived at the park, an overwhelming feeling of happiness and contentedness snuck up on her. She spent most of the day pointing at characters, reminding her parents of who they were and what movie they were in. Three days later, when the small family finally drove away from Disney World, Kate felt better than she had in a long time. However, she knew the feeling wouldn’t last for very long; reality was waiting for her back in Dolphin Bay, and it wouldn’t give her a break or take it’s time in returning. It would smash into her like the car had days earlier, and she feared that, this time, she would break.

  As expected, Kate opened her bedroom door to find that she had two guests. One sat on her bed, cross-legged, while the other paced her room.

  “Where have you been?” Adriana demanded. Her normally smooth, calm voice was high-pitched and quick. She stood up and rushed over to Kate in her demon speed, which was kind of like vampire speed to Kate. The thought made Kate smile to herself. She sobered up quickly, though, especially when Adriana gave her a stern look.

  Kate