Glass Souls (Reflection Book 1)

by Clairisa Campbell

  "Ah, yes, now we need to see what's going on here." Then he sighed and glanced at Isha. “Isha, I know what you're thinking."

  "If you do, then can't you see the possibility that she could be Luna?"

  "I can see where you would think that. The similarities are uncanny at best, but remember, as far as Miss Rayne knows, she was raised as Rayne Higgins. Unless there are Luna’s memories in her head, we can't tell. I have looked and hadn’t seen anything myself. There could be some other help but—”

  But? We all looked at him. Chase cleared his throat.

  "But I’ll deal with that later. Now, the big question is what to do. Rayne cannot stay here. This shield maybe strong but sending her to the other side would be safer so no one is alerted about her link with Luna’s body."

  Isha looked down and nodded reluctantly.

  "So, Rayne. Did you do anything before you woke up here?" Chase asked me.

  "No, I just fell asleep. That's it.”

  Chase thought for a moment, and then nodded. "That must be it. When you fall asleep, it sends you to your other body. It's possible that you no longer have a link to either body. A dangerous concept."

  "Dangerous? Link?"

  "Normally, it's hard to travel the worlds. It takes years of training to even attempt the trip. When we travel our mind, body, and soul goes through. Sending all aspects of us through is a tough process. In the case of you, Rayne,” Chase looked at me, “your soul is the only thing traveling. A soul isn't supposed to leave its body until the link is severed by death. It seems being shot by that bullet severed your link early. This is dangerous because a soul is very sensitive. It can easily vanish, or even shatter on the way between worlds."

  My heart stopped. I swallowed and tried to blink. My breathing became raspy. I held it in trying not to panic again. I shut my eyes, trying to lock myself in my own head. My soul was leaving my body and entering another. Was I dead? Was this all just a dream that took over? My heart was racing, that felt real. So, I was alive… My body ached and shook. Pain meant this had to be real, right?

  Sound around me echoed louder. I opened my eyes, and everyone was still looking at me as if I was an escaped zoo animal. Special but in a dangerous way.

  Chase cleared his throat and continued. "There's a way we can get you through safely.”

  “How?”

  “Keep calm and listen to us."

  An odd certainty filled me. I felt like I could trust them. They had done all they could to help me. Or was it to help Luna? Either way, I was safe.

  "What do I have to do?"

  “Just keep this on you at all times.” He handed me a small, sparkling stone, similar to the one he gave Loic earlier. “It should re-establish the link you have to your original body, and it should protect you from any chance of paradoxing.

  Loic interjected, Yeah, how is it she can have contact with Luna's body? Shouldn’t she shatter?"

  I squeaked. Chase glared at Loic. “A paradox happens when two Souls are in contact, stupid boy. Not bodies. Luna...." Chase paused. The look on his face, the pained expression he held before scrubbing his hand over it. Regret? That seemed right. If I could go into Luna’s body and not vanish touching her soul, that would mean she was gone. Would she be dead? I didn’t blame Chase for not wanting to say it. "Luna's soul is not here. So, she should be safe from a paradox but I’m not sure. This has never happened before."

  "Never?” Loic sounded skeptical.

  “Not in any history books I've read on this side nor over there."

  He put the stone from before around my neck. The stone was light, almost unnoticeable, only held up by a thin leather cord. It felt warm, like a heartbeat. Loic looked over at me. His disappointed face didn’t change much. The small changes involved his eyebrows shifting to look more annoyed. Towards me? I couldn’t tell. Once he saw I was looking back, he turned his gaze away from me.

  “This stone will guide you back to your body while we keep Luna’s safe here. Now, each time you sleep you may travel back and forth, but we'll deal with that problem when we get you back. Loic will meet you on the other side."

  Loic nodded. He left my view and went to the far corner of the room. I heard joints creak. I turned to look at him. His outline blocked a frame of what looked like a large, freestanding mirror. The frame didn't trigger anything. Since I couldn't see the mirror itself, I only felt a slim sense of dread. Loic turned to see me looking at him. Then, without another word, he continued to leave, but when he touched the mirror, he froze.

  "Chase, hold off on sending her. I sense Formless in the museum."

  Alarm showed on the older man’s face. “Wait. How?"

  “I’m not sure, but they are there. At least in the lobby area."

  "What about Rayne’s body?"

  "I don't think they found it yet, but I'm not sure. I'll go check it out.”

  Light surrounded the frame of the mirror and Loic was pulled into it. The blinding blue colored light hid the actual form of the mirror from me until he was fully inside. The light followed him and vanished, leaving rainbow-colored lights on the surface. Like looking through a soap bubble. Once Loic vanished, Chase went to a drawer and pulled out a small hand mirror. He tapped it, using it as a looking glass of sorts. I could see some art from the mirror before turning away in fear. He was watching Loic in the museum.

  “Would we be able to tell if they found her other body?" Isha asked.

  “As I said, this has never happened before. I would assume not. Rayne would probably be stuck in between if she fell asleep without any other body to go to. If she would be stuck between too long, she would die."

  Die. The word increased my fear.

  “What do you mean, in-between?" I asked.

  "It has to do with the curse on our worlds. There's a realm in between our two. We don't know much about it, except that it exists and that it’s deadly. Imagine it to be like an ocean with no bottom and no surface.”

  I was imagining it, from my dreams. The terrible, mysterious water with shadows. From what I had already seen of this in-between world, I didn’t want to see it any further.

  No top and no bottom. Having nothing to grab to pull myself out, having no hope to fight for and no end, no destination to give into. Instinctively trying to hold in a breath that would never be replaced or reach for a hand that couldn’t ever hope to reach you. The light fading into pure black. My internal warmth to cool to ice as I became one with the water.

  Isha watched Chase closely. Her face looking more worried each moment.

  “so how can you see them…. with mirrors?” I asked nervously.

  “our worlds are linked by mirrors not much can hide from them, formless are tricky it has the be at just the right angle for us…” He adjusted the mirror, his fists clenching, and he cussed under his breath. Maybe he didn’t find that right ‘angle?’ that wasn’t the best answer, but he seemed preoccupied with the situation, so I couldn’t blame him.

  Isha bit her lip again and rubbed her hands together. I found myself joining her. My breath became deeper and I felt my fingers fidgeting with the cloth of my dress. I was worried as well. About the feeling of those around me, about the status of my body sleeping in another world. Now I was worried about those monsters waiting for Loic in the museum.

  I caught a glimpse of the mirror and shuddered. Even though I only looked for a moment, in my head, I clearly saw what was shown. Loic was surrounded by three of those Formless creatures, but he looked around, unable to see them. Chase frowned at me.

  "Rayne can you see what's in there...?"

  "Yes—yes. I see three creatures: all black, changing shape. They all have some kind of red spot on them."

  He panicked, hearing the sound of crushing wood and shattered glass. We both looked at the glass to see Loic get thrown against the mirror. It shattered. Our view suddenly vanished.

  "Damn, Loic!” Chase cursed. He tapped the mirror, and nothing hap
pened. "I can't get through. That was the only mirror."

  Isha stood. "What about Loic?"

  "He's in trouble. If Rayne was describing the monsters correctly, they're high level Formless."

  "High level?" I asked.

  “Formless come in different levels. Red-spotted ones are powerful. The strongest we have ever found. In fact, taking down one is hard enough for our best warriors. Loic is very skilled, but he is still in danger. He has issues handling one. Three is near impossible alone."

  My heartbeat wildly. Loic was going to get killed. He was putting himself in danger because of my body being in the museum. It would be my fault. He saved me once already, and now he was going to get killed saving me a second time. I’d never thanked him properly. Worry, regret, terror, and guilt writhed in my stomach, mixing into a soup that hurt every fiber of my being. Through the spinning mixture, there was a pulse from my core. A pulse that stopped the spinning and put everything into perspective.

  I could help him. I could get to him.

  I just had to figure out what I could actually do.

  I thought about my options. Maybe I could help Loic by seeing the monsters for him, but how would I fight against monsters that even he couldn’t handle?

  But then if I didn’t, death was assured for Loic. And What would happen to my body? I stood and looked at Chase. He returned my gaze. I knew I had beaten him at his own idea.

  "Mr. Holland, send me back."

  "Rayne?"

  "You—you said I don't need a mir—mirror to go back,” I stuttered. “Loic needs help. Even if I can’t fight maybe I could at least get him to a closet or basement somewhere to hide."

  Isha looked back and forth between the two of us, her mouth set into a firm line.

  “Rayne, you can’t do this! Chase, tell her this is a stupid plan. What would she really be able to do?”

  Chase sighed... The doubts in my mind swirled with a strange drive to help.

  ‘Go back help him.’ The words repeated over and over. Why I was suddenly feeling brave was beyond me. But Chase only gave me a knowing look.

  "I see you're determined to do this."

  To be honest I wasn’t sure why I felt this way. I had just met these people, but I did owe them. I had never fought in my life, but I could see the monsters so that was at least something. I was beyond terrified. But that feeling in my core told me to do this. That I could do this, That I had to do this.

  I stood my ground, facing down Chase’s stern expression. Every thought of doubt was parried by the pulse. Setting everything back into that new brave status quo again.

  Chase must have seen the truth. “I’ll give you some tools.”

  “Chase!” Isha protested.

  “It will be fine, Isha.”

  “How? How is it a good idea to send an unarmed girl to face three Formless when even one of our strongest knights stands no chance?”

  “I’m not asking her to fight them. Just to give me an opening.”

  He handed me a small pouch. Inside was a vile of silver liquid and a silver ribbon.

  “Rayne listen closely. These tools are important. The ribbon is a special weapon. On this side, it can turn itself into several objects. In this case, try a repel shell. It won’t last as long on that side, but it should be enough time for you to do this. It will protect all of you for a short time. Get Loic near you, then pour this liquid on the floor inside the shield. It will create a passage for me to get through. Do you understand?"

  My heart pounded in terror. I could hear it beating in my ears. I had to focus. I clenched my fists and took a deep breath. Once I exhaled, I nodded back to him and answered.

  "Y... yes but how do these..."

  “Go back with you? Here this will help."

  He closed my hand around the objects. Isha took over for him and moved my hands close to my chest. The items turned into light and vanished. “These tools are bound to one’s soul. Since it’s your soul that travels, you will have them when you need them." Disapproval lingered in Ishas tone.

  “All right,” Chase breathed out. "I know you're scared, but all you need to do is get me there. I can take care of the Formless. Now, to get you over there." He looked down and looked at me apologetically. "Forgive me for this dear."

  He came up to me and touched my temples. In a flash, my head throbbed. Everything in me weakened. I had been taught about pressure points but never experienced them—especially, not like this. I heard Isha gasp, but then my world became black. I was drowning, sinking deeper into darkness. I tried to rise, but I couldn't move. Soon, there was a warm hand on my wrist, and I gasped. My vision returned.

  I first looked at the bag in my hand. I saw my hand was against blankets that were dotted in black tar and burnt holes. This was the bed in the museum. I had made it back. Relief flooded me until I looked up to see Loic leaning over me, shielding me as a Formless hovered above him. Its claws clung to Loic’s back. Blood trickled from Loic’s mouth as he looked at me. His mismatched eyes, once so strong and confident, were growing weaker as he forced himself to stay awake. Wounds covering his body, large gashes with cuts so deep I was wondering how he stayed upright. His flesh was cut and turning black around the wounds. The small sections of untouched skin had a blue glow to it almost like a shell that flickered in and out of existence. It felt warm against me. Magic protecting him? The defense had so many gaps in it that it seemed close to useless. How hard had he been fighting just in the time between him leaving and now? At most it felt like ten minutes!

  He had gotten hurt by the mirror in the lobby as well. Glass was embedded just as deep as his other wounds, suggesting may he was slammed down more than once. The pain on his face was clear. Every twitch of his muscles made him flinch and bite his lips. Alarm flooded me. All of this pain, and he had made it all the way to protect me? The way his clothes were torn, I would have guessed he crawled here.

  "Y-you made it back," He huffed. “I thought Chase would-"

  He winced, unable to finish.

  “LOIC!” I jumped up. My shoulder sent a shot of pain through my arm, and I grimaced. I had forgotten about this. How was I supposed to do anything when we were both hurt?

  “You need…to leave… “

  “We’re both getting out of here.” I spoke through my teeth.

  “You idiot...”

  He passed out. At first, he fell forward but the Formless behind him lifted its claws out of Loic’s back, lifting him almost a foot over me. Then the monster freed its claws, dropping Loic off the bed and onto the floor. The Formless was now looking directly at me.

  Getting a good look at the evil creature did not help my situation or nerves. This one was snake-like. Its long body sporting large, talon-shaped claws with three toes each. Its head kept the snake form but with four bright red eyes glaring at me. It opened its mouth to reveal, not fangs, but bubbling tar that seemed to shift and froth up.

  In one quick motion, I threw the bag off the bed. Then I rolled to the floor, thankfully landing on my good arm, and fell beside Loic, who was out cold. Even his pained expression from earlier fell limp. He only looked as if he were sleeping. I saw his chest rise and fall so he was still alive somehow.

  But for how long?

  I grabbed Loic’s arm with my free hand, remembering my other arm was still in the sling. and I pulled him closer, using my legs to do most of the work. I had barely moved a few inches before the beast swung its talons above us, throwing the bed across the room. Then it looked down at us, seemingly staring at its handy work.

  I froze. I looked to see the bag sitting in the sling. It was snuggly tucked between the crook of my elbow and my chest. The bag was tipped over so that the top was now being grasped by my sore hand. How did it get here? Didn’t I throw it off the bed?

  The answer dawned on me. Isha had put the pouch inside my soul. She had said it would appear when I needed it. Here it was. I looked at the bag, and my hand was tight. My
fear made me unable to release my hand from the closed bag.

  I shook my head. No time to fight for that right now. I fumbled back, dragging Loic with me. He was heavy, and I could only slowly scoot back along the floor, my legs pushing us little by little. My feet slipping on the blood coating the floor and soaking my clothes.

  Looking at the room again I couldn’t help but wonder what had happened. Was all of this blood Loic’s? Did Formless bleed at all? And where were the other ones I had seen before?

  His heavy body made my arm ache. I tested my injured arm quickly. It didn’t hurt as bad to pull on it a little bit. Maybe the adrenaline had something to do with that. I adjusted my sling to loop around his arm, so I was able to use my strong arm in tandem with my legs. It gave me a little extra speed. Not by much but enough. My attempts had brought me out the door of the room and out to the hall. My options before me was to drag us to the office we were in or down the stairs to the lobby. sadly, the choice was made for me as the Formless lunged and I pulled on Loic hard and I managed to turn the corner of the staircase as it passed us. I took the chance to continue down near what would have been the front counter of the museum, the beast doubled back around and followed my path, scanning the environment like it had lost our trail, as I kept trying to pull Loic away. I got close enough to the counter to grab its leg to try and pull us a greater distance. The counters leg squeaked against the floor, echoing through the lobby and the beast looked directly at us with more intensity. Had it not seen us move before?

  Fear ripped through me like a box cutter through tape. It released a slew of new ideas into my mind. I released the bag, reached in, and grabbed the ribbon. It began to glow. What had Isha said to say?

  "S- shield!" I yelled.

  The ribbon first twitched in my hands, then began to spin around us. Spiraling around on the floor, cutting through the blood. The other end started spinning above us as well and the center of the ribbon spun, covering every direction.

  The Formless continued its advance and attempted to strike again. The ribbon repelled its claws, speeding up perfectly to block each strike A faint blue aura emanated from the ribbon, getting brighter when it repelled the beast.