be bouncing back and forth between the Xandra I fell in love with and the vixen who will turn to my cousin if I do not please her at the moment? That is probably not the most significant matter at the moment I know, but it tops my list of questions.
Tabitha takes a few more steps back until she is standing next to Grandmother. “How could her soul have been fractured?”
Tears are filling Xandra’s eyes. Regardless of what is to come, at this moment she is the Xandra I know and I am going to do what I can to comfort her. Hell, I would even if she was the vixen Xandra. I reach over and take her hand in mine and give hers a reassuring squeeze. The devastation that has taken up camp on her pale skin is heartbreaking. I move closer to her and she buries her face in the fabric of my t-shirt. I put my arm around her and hold her close.
I cannot make out the look on Grandmother’s face. “Is there anything that can be done?” I ask.
Grandmother ignores me and turns to Tabitha. How reassuring of her. “I do not think it is her soul that is fractured.”
Confusion is clear on Tabitha’s face. As it is mine. “What do you mean?”
“I am concerned that she picked up unwanted travelers during her journey.”
Tabitha gasps as she puts her hand over her mouth. “No, it could not be.”
“Grandmother, what are you saying?” I tighten my grip on Xandra as if keeping her close to me will make this all go away.
“I believe that while Xandra was in the Shadow realm, pieces of the souls of others attached themselves to hers.”
“It is possible,” Tabitha says as she sits on the couch again, looking none too pleased at the thought.
If one mixed a little horror in with a bunch of anger, guilt and shock, that may come close to how I look at the moment. “Would she not know that this occurred?” I ask.
Grandmother shakes her head. “No, if the pieces are small enough and do not try to affect her waking thoughts, I do not believe so. It seems that when her conscious mind is asleep, these pieces are able to take control of her body.” Turning to Tabitha, she says, “Will you please try again? Deeper this time to see if her soul remains intact.”
If her soul remains intact. Those words send a chill down my spine. Tabitha nods and places her hands on Xandra once again. Xandra wants to shrink back, but she bravely lets Tabitha do what she must.
It seems like forever before she opens her eyes. Her lips break out into a wide smile as she pats Xandra’s leg. “Your soul is fully intact. Isla is correct, you have picked up travelers.”
It takes Xandra a moment to respond. When she does, her face is a couple shades grayer than it was before. I understand. As good as the news of her soul being intact is the eeriness of sharing her body with bits of other souls is frightening I am sure. “Glad to hear that, I guess. Um, how do I get rid of them?”
I do not want to but I have to ask. “You are certain that it was these travelers that were responsible for her actions?” Xandra pushes away from me with a glare but the pinch from Tabitha is much more profound. I feel red creeping into my face as I rub the already bruising spot on my arm. “Ow.”
Tabitha is satisfied that she got the desired reaction from me. “You be nice to her. Of course it was not her misbehaving.” Turning to Xandra, she says, “You will need to give me time to discover how to disentangle these pieces without affecting your soul. I have a lot of research to do and I should get started.”
As she stands up, Xandra asks, “Tabitha, if I haven’t been in control of myself when I’ve slept, and only evil exists in the Shadow realm, do you think that I was the one who poisoned the tea and…and hit Zac?”
Is she serious? “No,” I say vehemently. “You may have behaved in ways
Tabitha takes a few more steps back until she is standing next to Grandmother. “How could her soul have been fractured?”
Tears are filling Xandra’s eyes. Regardless of what is to come, at this moment she is the Xandra I know and I am going to do what I can to comfort her. Hell, I would even if she was the vixen Xandra. I reach over and take her hand in mine and give hers a reassuring squeeze. The devastation that has taken up camp on her pale skin is heartbreaking. I move closer to her and she buries her face in the fabric of my t-shirt. I put my arm around her and hold her close.
I cannot make out the look on Grandmother’s face. “Is there anything that can be done?” I ask.
Grandmother ignores me and turns to Tabitha. How reassuring of her. “I do not think it is her soul that is fractured.”
Confusion is clear on Tabitha’s face. As it is mine. “What do you mean?”
“I am concerned that she picked up unwanted travelers during her journey.”
Tabitha gasps as she puts her hand over her mouth. “No, it could not be.”
“Grandmother, what are you saying?” I tighten my grip on Xandra as if keeping her close to me will make this all go away.
“I believe that while Xandra was in the Shadow realm, pieces of the souls of others attached themselves to hers.”
“It is possible,” Tabitha says as she sits on the couch again, looking none too pleased at the thought.
If one mixed a little horror in with a bunch of anger, guilt and shock, that may come close to how I look at the moment. “Would she not know that this occurred?” I ask.
Grandmother shakes her head. “No, if the pieces are small enough and do not try to affect her waking thoughts, I do not believe so. It seems that when her conscious mind is asleep, these pieces are able to take control of her body.” Turning to Tabitha, she says, “Will you please try again? Deeper this time to see if her soul remains intact.”
If her soul remains intact. Those words send a chill down my spine. Tabitha nods and places her hands on Xandra once again. Xandra wants to shrink back, but she bravely lets Tabitha do what she must.
It seems like forever before she opens her eyes. Her lips break out into a wide smile as she pats Xandra’s leg. “Your soul is fully intact. Isla is correct, you have picked up travelers.”
It takes Xandra a moment to respond. When she does, her face is a couple shades grayer than it was before. I understand. As good as the news of her soul being intact is the eeriness of sharing her body with bits of other souls is frightening I am sure. “Glad to hear that, I guess. Um, how do I get rid of them?”
I do not want to but I have to ask. “You are certain that it was these travelers that were responsible for her actions?” Xandra pushes away from me with a glare but the pinch from Tabitha is much more profound. I feel red creeping into my face as I rub the already bruising spot on my arm. “Ow.”
Tabitha is satisfied that she got the desired reaction from me. “You be nice to her. Of course it was not her misbehaving.” Turning to Xandra, she says, “You will need to give me time to discover how to disentangle these pieces without affecting your soul. I have a lot of research to do and I should get started.”
As she stands up, Xandra asks, “Tabitha, if I haven’t been in control of myself when I’ve slept, and only evil exists in the Shadow realm, do you think that I was the one who poisoned the tea and…and hit Zac?”
Is she serious? “No,” I say vehemently. “You may have behaved in ways
Similar Books
