A Body Displaced (Lansin Island 2)

by Andrew Butcher

  Austin snorted with contempt. ‘Well I do say, that sounds like a beautiful deal! Where do I sign?’

  Only the tension in Nick’s body stopped him from pouncing forward and smacking Austin around the face. I punched Alex Campbell for sleeping with Kerra, but so far I haven’t laid a finger on you for KILLING her! With a mountain of restraint, he looked to James.

  The half-elf shook his head wearily, ashen curls jiggling. ‘Okay. So I’m going to tell you how it is, Austin—’

  ‘Actually,’ Nick interjected, ‘there is something itching at me …’ He realised already that he wanted to know the lamest thing, but something about it just didn’t add up. ‘Why did you take that key from my dad’s house?’ He pointed over to it, and Juliet and James both gave a glance. ‘It could have been a key for anything. Why did you go to my dad’s house at all?’

  One of Austin’s short, sudden laughs escaped him. ‘I just went to snoop about. Find out more about you and your family. But then your monster of a brother, the Hulk, became suspicious of me and told me to get out. I snatched the key on the way. I figured whatever it was a key to would be useful somehow. Tried out your dad’s house later, but it didn’t work. Turned out it belonged to your pleasant little shithole.’

  He likes his derogatory comments … Another question popped into Nick’s head. ‘Why haven’t you tried to kill me since we last saw you?’

  ‘Maybe I have tried.’ Austin made his face deadly serious, before cracking a short laugh. ‘The look on your face … Priceless.’

  Quite the joker, aren’t you? Nick’s fingers squirmed with violent intent. ‘Just answer the question.’

  The necromancer frowned. ‘You’re not better than me, you know that?’ he said. It was so unexpected that Nick frowned himself, confused. Austin finally answered, ‘It does take a little planning, you know? Killing people. I’ve failed to kill you enough times already.’

  ‘The person you work for still wants me dead, then?’

  ‘Very dead. Anyway, how do you know I’m working for someone?’ Austin seemed genuinely perplexed. His eyes swept from Nick to James. ‘Ah … the half-elf told you.’

  James became impatient. ‘Nicolas, have you asked him everything now?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Good.’ He fixed his colourful eyes on Austin. Even though he was sitting on the sofa cushions, his head was as high up as Nick’s, though Nick was elevated on the armrest. ‘Austin. What’s going to happen is … you will free Kerra Evans’s spirit and return her body to us, and then you’ll come with me for questioning. If you cooperate, then there may be a way for you to have a life beyond this, provided you leave Nicolas and Juliet alone.’

  Nick saw a glimmer of something flash across Austin’s eyes, maybe a fragment of hope, but then the necromancer pushed out his plump lips into a sour face. He parted them to say, ‘There is no walking away for me. I’m not just soulless like Juliet … I didn’t lose my soul in an accident; I traded it for my power, with the person I work for. He owns my soul.’

  That was a haunting thought. It sent shivers over Nick’s body. There was a moment where he sensed Austin’s vulnerability; he saw that the necromancer wanted a way out, that maybe he was in too deep and would accept their help. He should be locked away for what he’s done, thought Nick, but he realised showing some empathy could benefit them here. And maybe it would have, if sulky James hadn’t said to Austin, ‘Regardless, I still need to take you and question you,’ and snuffed out that vulnerability.

  Austin’s face turned indignant fast. He squinted, tilting his head and lifting his shoulders, and pulled a fake thinking expression. ‘Hmmm, in that case … screw this.’ He threw out a hand.

  CRACK! Kerra popped out of the chest like a zombie jack-in-the-box. From the shock of it, Juliet screamed and James yelped. Nick would have shouted too, if Austin hadn’t shot up and kicked him in the stomach. He flew backwards off the sofa’s arm and went thud on the floor. Wheezing and coughing, he felt like he was about to puke up his insides.

  Dizziness blinded him momentarily. He heard bangs and a loud clack and then shouting. Rain still drummed the ceiling, thousands of little feet dancing on the roof. His vision returning, white swirls and dots retreating, he saw the lodge door sway open. He connected the sounds and the sight, and realised the door had been slammed and was rebounding.

  The sound of a vehicle starting up vibrated through the wooden floor. Through a low window panel, Nick glimpsed the van speeding past, Austin peering back and catching his eyes. The necromancer sneered. Then he was gone.

  Why is nobody stopping him? shouted Nick’s mind, wondering where James and Juliet were.

  But it was too late. Austin had escaped. Again.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  IT ALL HAPPENED so fast. Juliet had avoided looking at Austin, wanting nothing to do with him anymore, but she’d still paid attention to the conversation. And for a moment it seemed they were getting somewhere, until this …

  Kerra’s corpse vaulted out of the chest and charged the half-elf, Austin high-kicked Nick across the room and escaped, and now Juliet was using her ability in an attempt to help James.

  The dead body must have been strong. It pinned the half-elf down on the sofa, making him drop his short sword in the process, and pressed one hand down on his mouth and nose, the other on his chest. Although Juliet hadn’t planned on using it, she quickly searched for the sword, but couldn’t see it anywhere.

  Moaning and rolling over on the floor, Nick was of no help. Juliet sent out her power, aiming it at the spirit in the corpse. She could feel Austin’s grip on it weakening, his control slipping as he presumably drove farther away. Juliet forced her control in its place. She willed Kerra’s spirit to relax, to cease attack, but it seemed to do no good. James’s face was turning purple under the pale hand. The fear in his eyes struck something inside Juliet.

  Again, she tried to calm the spirit. This time Austin’s force was only a whisper. Juliet ratcheted up her own ability to a shout that obliterated his control. The body slumped suddenly, falling limp on top of James. The half-elf gasped, sucking in air … and relief, too, most likely. He shoved the corpse off himself and it thunked onto the floor in a way that soured Juliet’s stomach.

  Luckily Nick was still down, looking blurry-eyed and holding his belly, and didn’t witness the ungraceful handling of his dead ex. James remained on the sofa, appearing more haggard than when he’d arrived. With Kerra stopped, Juliet could afford a moment of respite. She composed her body, her emotions, her mind.

  The rain was falling heavier on the roof. Juliet manoeuvred around the body to help Nick to his feet, and when she did she held onto him, knowing he was about to see Kerra’s throatless corpse again.

  ‘Wha-what happened?’ he asked in a raspy voice full of pain.

  Juliet explained everything, then waited.

  ‘Is … Kerra still in there?’ His eyes went from Juliet’s to the floor, briefly looking at the corpse before flicking away.

  ‘She is. But I’ve managed to calm her for now. I think Austin’s gone too far away to control her.’

  Nick gazed about jaggedly as if he didn’t want to see any of his surroundings. Eventually he said to James, ‘Are you alright? Should we be going after Austin?’ He grimaced, pushing down on his stomach as he spoke.

  The half-elf sounded as battered as Nick. ‘We were too slow. I would pursue him … but I’m too worn out after travelling here earlier.’

  How did he travel here? Juliet tried to imagine a mode of transport that would leave him in such a state but also get him here so fast, considering Tamara still hadn’t shown up. Nick must have been thinking the same, because he asked it outright.

  ‘I told you when we were at the witch’s house …’ James moaned and squeezed his eyes shut. ‘Stronger magic takes a toll on me in this world.’

  Juliet remained quiet, expecting an expansion on the answer, and Nick didn’t reply either. No expansion. Realising that was the b
est explanation they’d get, she turned her attention to Nick. There was a possibility that Austin would come back; it was unwise to leave his best weapon in the state she was, limp on the floor but ready to jump at the necromancer’s return. ‘Nicolas … I’ll try to release Kerra’s spirit now, if you’re ready.’

  Through the pattering came noises from the bridge, not the lighter clunks of someone walking across it, but thicker sounds, indicating something heavier making its way across. Juliet went to the nearest window and spotted a purple Beetle driving towards them. Tamara’s orange hair was as clear through the windscreen as it could be on this dour day. Rain pelted her vehicle.

  ‘Tamara’s here.’

  ‘Good,’ James said instantly. ‘She can restore some of my energy.’

  It took little time before Tamara hurried inside, her bright hair a wet and frizzy tangle, her olive robe dotted with rain. Sprightly, she marched straight towards them, her craggy stick of a wand already in hand. ‘Where’s Austin?’ But then she stopped and appeared to assess the situation.

  ‘He escaped,’ said Juliet, watching the witch’s expression shift from vigilant to a mixture of shocked, sad, and troubled.

  Tamara’s gaze fixed on Kerra’s body, her eyelids narrowing her vision. ‘This poor girl … No one should die this way. No one should be defiled as she has been.’ Her words came across considerate and sincere, hinting that she was experienced at dealing with difficult situations like this. She would have to be, Juliet supposed, considering her profession. ‘I’m sorry you are going through this, Nicolas.’ Tamara reached out and touched his elbow, then turned to Juliet after a respectful pause. ‘Is her spirit at rest?’

  ‘Not yet. Austin forced her to attack us while he escaped, but I took away his control. I was about to let her spirit out of the body when you arrived. Or I was going to try, at least.’

  Tamara nodded in a business-like manner. ‘You have learnt a lot in our sessions. Remember everything I have taught you, and you will be able to do this.’ She touched Juliet’s hand, then turned her voice to the half-elf. ‘James,’ she snapped. ‘What are you doing lying down? Get up!’ She bounced her hands about, similar to how someone would scare off a flock of birds. ‘You failed to restrain Austin. I assume he was in the van that sped past me on my way in.’

  ‘Yes, that would have been him.’ James pushed himself upright on the sofa. His arm shook as he did. ‘I’m weak from travelling here. You need to heal me, Tamara, else I’ll be of no help.’

  Tamara gave him a shocked look that read, And you’ve been of help already, have you? but she made no such comment. ‘Come on, then,’ she stressed to James, then said to the other two, ‘I’ll tend to him in another room. That should give you the time and privacy you need.’ She smiled empathetically at Nick before shoving James towards the back of the lodge.

  ‘Wait,’ said Juliet, ‘where’s your weapon, James?’

  He turned back, his eyebrows rising on his wan face, and pointed at the floor. Juliet looked down, but there was nothing there. ‘It’s hidden by glamour,’ he explained. He trudged towards the spot and then bent down, grabbing at nothing. But as he reached out, a short sword flickered into existence in his hand.

  In awe, Juliet started thinking of magicians and illusionists she’d seen on television, wondering if any of them concealed lethal weapons in what should have been plain sight. Maybe they’re half-elves too? Or half-somethings … Then she blinked hard, tensed her hands. Quite frankly, the last thing she wanted to think about now was the possibility of other beings.

  Tamara cleared her throat impatiently, and James hurried in her direction. A handle creaked, a door clicked shut.

  The pressure was on. I have to get this right. What if I try, but can’t set her free? She saw the heavy sadness in Nick’s face; he was waiting but wouldn’t say anything, like he was putting it off. Juliet closed her eyes. Believe in my ability, believe in what I can do.

  ‘If you’re ready, I’ll do it now.’ She gave her eyes to him. Without a word, he nodded.

  The wall came down. Juliet was smacked by the presence of the spirits in the jar across the room. Their awful combined anguish had been overwhelming when she first discovered them. She tried something new by attempting to block only the jar-spirits out while keeping awareness on Kerra’s. It was like balancing a scale, applying weight to each side—half blocking, half allowing.

  With her guard half up, she devoted the rest of her attention to the body … the cage Kerra’s spirit was screaming to break out of. The thought that Juliet could inflict this upon a ghost herself disgusted her. Austin had managed to indefinitely trap these spirits inside inanimate objects; even though he was at a distance now, the dead were still imprisoned.

  Juliet tried imagery. She pictured herself chipping away at the shell of the body, cracking its casing and punching through. She thought of herself sawing through the bars of a cell before kicking and snapping them. She imagined being inside the cocoon with Kerra’s spirit, grabbing Kerra’s hand and then smashing out and into daylight.

  The spirit was gone. Confused, Juliet sent her power inside the body. It was empty. Where is she?

  ‘What happened?’ asked Nick. His face was slack, but his eyes searched Juliet’s face frantically.

  ‘She’s not in the body anymore, but I don’t know—’ There was a churn in the air behind her. And a coldness. She pivoted.

  The spirit stood upright, but her head was tilted, face drooped and dulled. Unlike the body counterpart on the floor, this Kerra wasn’t missing a boot, and her multicoloured outfit was clean and fresh, as opposed to muddy and bloody. She’s a beautiful woman, thought Juliet, focusing on the ghost’s cheekbones and angular face.

  ‘Kerra’s here.’ Juliet put a hand in the spirit’s direction and turned back to Nick. His eyes widened. He stepped forward, inspecting what would look like an empty space to him.

  ‘Is she okay?’ he said weakly. ‘Is she saying anything?’ Apparently he wasn’t comfortable addressing Kerra directly.

  Juliet returned her attention to the spirit, hoping Nick’s questions would be answered. The first thing the spirit said, though, was, ‘I never thought I’d suffer more in the afterlife than in life.’ Her ghostly voice was dreary. ‘When he killed me, my spirit was free for a short time. In flashes I saw events, connections, peoples, links. I saw you. I tried to go to you, Juliet, to warn you of it all … but … you pushed me away.’ Her eyes were terrible to see, fixed in place, and ripped of emotion. ‘Then it was too late … Austin summoned me and forced me back into my body.’

  I pushed you away? thought Juliet. When was that?

  ‘You were at the witch’s home,’ said the spirit.

  That was two things answered; Juliet had suspected spirits could read thoughts, and now she was certain, but also she’d figured out that Kerra was the ghost she blocked out in that session with Tamara a short while ago, when she finally took control of her power. That was you? Horrified, she remembered the flash of blood she’d glimpsed.

  ‘You couldn’t have known,’ said Kerra. ‘Don’t tell Nick about it. It wasn’t your fault.’ Her words were so empty, haunting; she spoke like someone on the verge of suicide. ‘Tell Nick I love him.’

  Juliet twisted towards him. ‘Kerra says she loves you.’

  ‘Tell her’—his face screwed up, his lips shaking—‘tell her I love her …’ Then he peered towards the spirit, aiming his eyes with eerie accuracy. ‘I love you, Kerra.’

  Too much emotion floated about, dazing Juliet. She didn’t know what to say or do. Kerra’s voice came to her. ‘He doesn’t,’ she said. ‘He loves me in many ways, but not the one way he thinks. He loved me that way once, but I ruined it for him. He gave me my second chance, though … and it was wonderful.’ Her tone didn’t reflect the wonder. ‘But I see now that I could never have made him happy.’

  Juliet felt uncomfortable and unsure how to proceed. ‘Is there anything you want us to do for you?’

 
; ‘I … I’m tired.’ Kerra flickered, disappearing momentarily. ‘Seeing things … doorways. Windows. Dark windows.’

  Not again. Why did this happen to spirits? They started talking gibberish. It was like they all shared a mental illness. ‘Kerra?’

  Kerra was motionless. She stared as blankly as before. ‘My family need closure. Please make sure my body is found.’

  ‘We will make sure your body is found,’ Juliet promised aloud for Nick’s sake. She tried not to doubt it for a second, knowing the spirit would hear.

  As if it was relevant, Kerra added, ‘Nick thought of you when I told him I loved him.’

  The words hung in the air.

  Juliet’s mouth dried up. She didn’t know how to feel, what to think, how to act, what to do.

  ‘Release the other spirits, please,’ said Kerra, and Juliet was glad the conversation had taken a different route. ‘They’ve suffered worse than I have.’

  ‘I’ll release them.’ She glanced over at the jar. ‘Who are they?’

  ‘People Austin despised.’

  Nicolas and I could have ended up in there. The thought lingered in her mind, until she realised it was indecent worrying over it when someone who’d actually suffered it was in front of her. ‘Are you ready to move on?’ she asked Kerra, and looked to Nick to ensure he was up to speed.

  ‘Yes. You should release the others now. They’re desperate to move on. I will go with them.’

  Juliet explained to Nick what she was doing before going to collect the jar, and Nick stood there teary-eyed and struggling to respond. When Juliet returned, she said, ‘Kerra’s going to move on now.’

  ‘Can she hear me like’—Nick’s voice faltered, but he picked it up—‘like she hears you?’

  ‘Yes.’

  As he did before, he faced the spot where Kerra was. ‘Goodbye, Kerra. I’m sorry I wasn’t there when he …’ His tone pinched tight and nasal. ‘I … I’m sorry I couldn’t … protect you.’ Now he cried. Hearing his final words to Kerra twisted Juliet’s heart.