Two Halves Box Set

by Marta Szemik

  Crystal picked an orchid from her father’s basket, its yellow petals shining in her hand. “This one’s potent.” She handed the flower to Willow.

  “I may need to hire you, darling.” My mother-in-law kissed Crystal’s forehead.

  Crystal smiled. “After we get rid of Aseret.”

  “It’s all right,” Eric said, calming the alarm on my family’s faces. “Their training is progressing well. It won’t be long before it’s time.”

  “Time?” William asked.

  “Nothing to worry about yet, my friend, but yes, it will happen soon.”

  The children sat down and resumed their balancing lesson. No one ever asked why Crystal and Ayer decided to train in their leisure time, for we knew they controlled their own destiny.

  William’s eyes wandered to the chair where I sat. “Is Sarah here?” he asked.

  “No, she’s still at Mrs. G’s,” Eric answered.

  William’s gaze fell. He put his hands in his pockets, fiddling. No one else but I would detect the hidden frown. William knew something the others didn’t. His eyes glossed over, and head low, he bit his lip.

  “I can go check on her if you’d like,” Eric offered.

  “No, I’m sure she’s fine.” William looked in my direction again, though he couldn’t see me. “Xander’s probably with her.” He pulled a bandana from around his neck and used it to wipe the sweat off his forehead.

  At that moment, Xela and Xander rushed through the front door, laughing.

  Xander held Xela’s hand, their fingers intertwined, lost in a conversation about magic she’d like to use on his body. They stared at each other, oblivious to anyone around them—love-struck.

  I rose from the chair. What the hell?

  Someone growled a threat.

  Chapter 10

  Xela’s gaze flew to William, who braced his body against the doorframe. She released Xander’s hand as if she’d been burned. My husband’s face flushed for less than a second. She took the matching bandanna off her head—my bandanna.

  I remembered the earlier growl and struggled to figure out where it had come from. I’d never heard William release such a fierce sound, though it did come from his direction. Now, his casual posture added to the mystery.

  “Hi!” Xela smiled with my smile. It faded as her gaze fell to his hand. I hadn’t noticed when William took the ring out of his pocket.

  No! It’s a trick! I tried to show myself to warn her, but something prevented my ghost’s transformation, as if someone blocked me.

  “What’s this?” William displayed my ruby on his forefinger.

  I looked at the fake one on Xela’s hand.

  “Where did you get that?” she asked, taking an involuntary step back.

  “Crystal’s jewel box fell off the night table. Put it on.” He took a step closer.

  “No.” She shook her head.

  “Why not?”

  “Because it’s a fake. I have my ring on. I know who I am.”

  “I’m not sure I do.” He narrowed his brows, looking from Xander to Xela. “If it’s a fake, then you have nothing to worry about, do you?”

  “Look, William . . .”

  “I’ve had enough of this! Who the hell are you? Where is my wife?” He dashed across the room until he was tightening his fingers around Xela’s throat.

  He knew! He’d finally figured out it wasn’t me.

  She pushed him off.

  Xander moved in front of his witch, face tinted green. “Do not touch her again.” His forehead furrowed, and his upper lip quivered.

  Willow peeked from within the lab. “Let them settle this,” she whispered to Ekim and Atram.

  “Why in the world do you people keep choking me?” Xela backed up, rubbing her throat.

  “Where. Is. Sarah!” William bared his fangs, taking a calculated step forward with each word.

  “Sarah?” Warily scanning the cabin, Xela paced backward, until her back pressed against the wall. She held her palms flat against the wall, like she was ready to run.

  Our fathers and Willow braved to emerge out of the lab, obviously drawn by the commotion. Xander began shifting, first into a wolf, then a vampire, then a bear and last, a combination of all mammals.

  William didn’t hesitate. “You don’t scare me, shifter.”

  Xander continued the shifting until he settled on a vampire’s form—a worthy opponent for William.

  “Sarah?” Xela called out again, her voice shaking. “They’re going to kill each other.”

  I wasn’t sure I should show. Would William be mad? Of course he would, but at least he’d know the truth. Didn’t I owe him that much?

  I should have never kept this from William. I thought she said I couldn’t show myself to him, I said to Eric.

  The children continued their training, lost in their spheres as if nothing had happened. I noticed a grin on Ayer’s face and knew his share of power played a role in the commotion.

  Your choice. Eric smiled grimly. But Xander is strong and a lot has happened since Xela told you to stay put.

  Believe me, I know. But you underestimate my husband’s fierce nature.

  A blue light appeared under Xander’s feet. His gaze flew to Eric. “Take it off!” he growled.

  “Don’t look at me, I didn’t do it.” Eric put his hands up, grinning.

  William smirked at our kids and proceeded toward Xela.

  “You touch her and I will kill you!” Xander warned.

  William passed just beyond his reach. My father and Atram’s shoulder’s tensed.

  The same light appeared under Willow, Ekim, and Atram when they tried to interfere.

  “She’s fine, William. Sarah’s fine. She knows about this,” Xela said. I was as fast as William, but Xela didn’t know him the way I did. He’d read her face, know where she’d want to go before she took a step. Though she had my abilities, she didn’t know how to use them, the same way I hadn’t before I met William.

  “What exactly does she know about?”

  Three steps and William’s grip would find its way back to Xela’s throat. I had no choice; I had to help her even though it meant he’d know I’d betrayed his trust and given up my soul without telling him. It wouldn’t matter that I’d had no choice when it happened.

  Our plan to exclude William so he could help the children and not be distracted was ruined. It was a wrong plan in the first place. The more I thought about it, the more it bothered me that I hadn’t been honest with him. Miranda fooled us all when she stole my body, and I couldn’t hold a grudge any longer. All I wanted was to be with William, always. And now, we lived our lives further apart than I could have ever imagined.

  I couldn’t leave Xela, either. Between William’s strength and with her unfamiliarity with my supernatural abilities, she had no chance.

  “Sarah. Now would be a good time—”

  William grabbed her throat and squeezed. If I let him, he’d kill her. He’d kill the body we needed to get me back into.

  Come on! Fight him off! I yelled.

  Xander growled and howled, reaching toward William, his hands swiping empty air. My family, frozen in the blue light, stared helplessly.

  Somehow, my father didn’t panic; he kept looking from me to Xela, though I was sure he couldn’t see me.

  She tried using my vampire strength to shake William off, but his determination won out. He would not let go. I knew he wasn’t killing me; so did he. Xela’s pale skin turned gray. Her pupils disappeared as her eyes rolled back.

  Let her go, William, you have to let her go! I tried again, but he couldn’t hear me. Shit! Eric? What do I do?

  I can’t get involved in this one, he said. I need to leave. Your mother is in distress. With that he disappeared into a vortex.

  Xela’s hands flopped limply to her sides.

  I finally showed my ghost. “William, stop!”

  He eased his grip. Xela coughed and dropped to crouch on the floor. “It’s true,” he whispe
red.

  “What in the world . . . ?” Willow plopped into the wicker chair as the blue glow disappeared from under her, Ekim, and Atram.

  “Sarah?” My father stared at my ghost, perplexed.

  “Yes, it’s me.” I shrugged, looking at William, who stood frozen.

  “How? Why?” My father collapsed to the floor and braced himself up on his arms.

  The blue light faded from under Xander’s feet as well; he ran to help Xela up.

  “It was the only way to get rid of Aseret,” I explained.

  “By giving up your body without telling me?”

  “I had no choice. I made a mistake. I’m sorry.”

  “We always have a choice, Sarah.” The sadness I saw in his eyes devastated my spirit. I wanted to cry, but my ghost wasn’t capable of shedding tears.

  By this time, Crystal and Ayer had taken up their nap positions at the end of the wicker sofa in the sun room, drained. Their eyes closed, and the twins fell asleep.

  William composed himself and shook off the confusion as if he were trying to get rid of a nightmare. Pain covered his face. My heart broke when I read William’s expression, recognizing his sorrow in the curves of his cheeks and his hollow eyes. That was what I must have looked like when I lived back in Pinedale, before I accepted myself, before I knew my true purpose; when I was waiting for William to come for me, and he did. He saved me from a life of loneliness and misery. He taught me how to love and fight for those I cared about.

  How come I couldn’t see it before? William had fought for me since the day we’d met, trying to reach me at a depth only he knew, but I’d been too selfish, trying to deal with my problems, instead of our problems. All he’d asked for was honesty, and I’d failed him. I betrayed our trust and the promise that we could work together instead of separately. We were much better as two equals, rather than two halves.

  “Watch the children,” he said to his parents and my father.

  “William, wait!” I cried as he stormed out.

  My father and Atram sat down by the twins. I read my father’s frustration on his face. I’d lied not only to William, but my entire family.

  “Sarah, what’s going on?” he asked.

  “Are you disappointed?” My ghostly figure trembled.

  My father rose and stepped forward. “Surprised, yes. Disappointed, no.” He shook his head. “I do wish I could hug you.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I had no time and can’t explain now. You need to guard the children. I have to get William.” The door still swung open after my husband had pushed it.

  “Honey, give him some time. Please.” Willow’s eyes begged me to stay.

  I pointed to the witch in my body. “Xela will get you caught up. You can trust her.”

  “Trust Xela?” My father’s head swung from me to the witch. “No time to tell us you switched bodies? Whose body do you have?”

  “I . . . I don’t have a body.”

  “What?” My father pointed to me. “What maddness has driven you to do this? I can’t lose you. Not again.” The sorrow in his voice pained me.

  “I need to find William.” I floated toward Willow, but my ghost began to drop closer to the floor, as if weighted. “Willow, I should have told you.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “You’re a smart woman, and you did what you needed to do. Don’t doubt your choices.”

  “But I deceived you.”

  “You protected us. It’s time you begin thinking about yourself first. Go, find your husband.”

  I concentrated on the outside trying to pinpoint where my husband had gone.

  “Hold on, Sarah.” My father tried to grab my wrist but failed. “Where are you going? He may be far away by now.”

  “I’ll find him. Please, guard them.” I nodded toward my children.

  “Find yourself as well.” He eyed me from top to bottom. Yes, my father knew how to find humor in grave times. “The anger you hold onto will destroy you if you don’t,” he warned.

  “I will fix it. I promise.”

  He leaned forward to give my cheek a peck, and I thought I’d felt the cool warmth of his lips.

  I tried to leave through the wall and instead bumped into it. Stunned, I used the front door to let my ghost exit.

  “Going somewhere?”

  On the other side of the clearing, the warden leaned against the trunk of the fallen tree. With his black hooded cloak covering his head, the grumpy man reminded me of a demon. The hump in his back was gone, but the tick in his left eye was as disturbing as when I’d first met him. Gold embroidery on his garment reflected the sunlight that slipped under the late afternoon clouds hanging above the treetops. The cover on his head fell to his nose, concealing his eyes under a shadow.

  I tried to make my ghost disappear as I moved toward the left end of the clearing.

  The demon tracked my movements. “Not so easy to hide when you cannot disappear.” He laughed.

  I recognized the cackling, but not as the warden’s. It belonged to someone I dreaded seeing and wondered how he’d found us. Was it him?

  “Having trouble in this shape?” he asked as if he’d known I couldn’t disappear or float through tangible objects. “The witch still has her touch, even without a body.” He yelped wildly, slurping saliva between the words and laughter.

  Miranda. She cursed me to stay visible in the moment I chose to be so.

  “Why are you here?” I asked as I considered how to overcome my predicament. My ghost couldn’t disappear nor float through objects. He’d follow me if I ran, but running wasn’t my priority; my unguarded family was.

  “You got rid of my top two trainers, sending their souls to be refurbished, but you cannot get rid of me.”

  The freezer and the mover from the prison’s parking lot.

  “That’s right. I know what happened, and your little ones will pay for it.” Now, the laugh reminded me of the warden’s, but it’s yelping belonged to someone else.

  “You will not touch my children.” The threat vibrated in my vocal chords.

  “Ah, but I already have.” He cackled from the back of his throat.

  The sound sent chills down my back, something I found odd as a ghost without a body. The familiarity of this demon was striking nerves in my spirit. The warden’s odd personality transformed each time he spoke.

  I floated to the side of the clearing, just beyond where Ayer had blown up the tree, drawing the demon’s gaze away from the cabin. He followed with a step to the side. The way he carried his weight didn’t remind me of the warden’s wobble, but of someone floating above the ground.

  “Liar!” I shouted, then thought, Eric! I need you!

  “Ah, silly Sarah. It’s difficult to recognize me in this body, isn’t it?” my foe hissed in a slow drawl, pausing between each word as if to draw breath. “Yesss, I can see why. Silly Sarah. Silly half-breed.”

  If I could, I’d have had a difficult time swallowing the lump that had formed in my tight throat. Aseret, I thought. In the warden’s body. My ghost trembled.

  “That’sss right. I’m sssomeone you should fear. Your mother’s esssence is quite potent. Yours shall be, too.”

  I took another step to the side, but the warlock mirrored my move.

  “Ah-ah-ah, not thisss time,” he said in mocking disapproval.

  If I could get him to follow me, at least I’d take him away from the children and my family; I was certain they’d been listening intently to our conversation.

  “You stole the warden’s body,” I accused, hoping Eric would show up soon. I knew Xander wouldn’t leave the children, so unless my evil-bender heard me, I was on my own. Mira was probably helping Eric. And what had happened to William? He must have left before Aseret showed up—I hoped.

  “No losss compared to what you’ve lossst.” He smirked at my ghostly figure. “You should have joined me when you had a chance.”

  “To hell with you.”

  “Ah, and soon it shall
be with you, too.”

  “How did you find me?” I asked to buy time.

  “You’ve gotten sssloppy, sssilly creature. GPSss tracking is younger than our kind, but much more effective than traced magic.”

  I remembered the electronic thank you card Willow found in last week’s mail package. He tracked a shipment from one of the plants.

  “That’sss right. Not as bright as you thought you were. It won’t be long before you have no thoughtsss at all.”

  The wind swayed the tops of the trees. I wondered why Aseret hid within the warden’s body. He hadn’t attacked or used magic to strike at me. Did he still fear me that much? Why? Would he have been careless enough to leave his body in the underworld? Was his body stuck there?

  I pointed at my translucent chest. “You cannot use this body.”

  “No, but it won’t stop me from getting the children, will it?” He stepped closer to the cabin.

  “Ha!” I mocked, straining to not seem protective.

  The warlock took another stride toward my home, but I remained in the same spot. What could I, as a ghost, do anyway?

  Aseret resumed his original spot across from me. I moved away from the cabin again. He mimicked my motion. “I will get both you and your children.”

  “If you’re such a powerful warlock, then why don’t you listen for their heartbeats? They’re not here.” I smirked.

  Aseret’s gaze flew to the house, then back to me. He gritted his jaw in frustration.

  It worked, I gloated. Either he didn’t have his powers and couldn’t sense the kids, so he believed me, or he didn’t hear their heartbeats because my children had left this realm.

  “Hmm.” He cocked his head to the right and levitated toward me. The wind whistled between crevices and nooks in the forest, picking up stray blades of grass as it crossed the clearing; William had cut it yesterday.

  William. Where are you? I prayed he was safe but feared Aseret had him. The warlock hadn’t mentioned my husband.

  As Aseret approached, I wondered whether he would strike me with a hot stream of fire. His palms twitched, but I held my ground, though my translucent legs wanted to run.

  “You can’t get me.” I laughed, squeezing confidence into a voice that had betrayed me earlier.