Soul Protector

by Amanda Leigh Cowley

  “Dan, who else is the Soul Protector in your family, is it your mum or dad?”

  “Both.”

  “Both? That must be one hell of a coincidence.”

  I could sense his smile by the lightness in his voice. “Not really. They met at the Office”.

  Well done, Gracie. Try to keep up.

  He picked up another stone. “Come on, Gracie, your turn.”

  I plucked the stone out of his hand and rolled it around my fingers the same way he had. I was rubbish at skimming stones. I think my all time high was two skims.

  “Have your mum and dad made a career out of it, like you and Tom?”

  “Yeah, but neither of them are interested in monitoring. They’re both Professional Soul Protectors. They work all over the place – travelling round the world to whichever war-torn or famine-stricken area needs a helping hand the most; Africa, South America, it doesn’t matter how remote.”

  “Have they done that ever since you guys left home?

  “No, they started well before we left home; ever since we were little. Wherever Mum and Dad went, Tom, me and our little sister Natalie came too. ‘Course, as kids we had no idea what they were really doing. We thought they were aid workers, which is their cover story.”

  “And they sat you all down one day and blew your minds away with the truth?”

  “Only me and Tom... Mum and Dad realised Natalie hadn’t inherited the gift. Apparently they made plenty of hints over our teenage years, but only Tom and I picked up on them. Usually it’s only one sibling that inherits the gene anyway, but as Tom and I are identical twins, we both inherited it. Natalie, however, is completely normal.” He exaggerated the last word and it made me chuckle.

  I rolled the stone again in my hands, took a deep breath and tried to mimic Dan’s actions as I flicked it out towards the lake. We both listened for the sound of it hitting the water, and heard the unmistakeable sound of it plopping through the surface, once.

  “Oops, I think I need more practice.”

  I looked towards Dan, expecting to see him laughing, but he was just looking at me. His expression had gone all serious; it was the same look he’d given me when we were at my house after the switch. He reached his hand out and I felt strong fingers intertwine with my own as he we started walking again. I took some deep breaths and tried to act as natural as I could.

  “Sounds like a pretty cool childhood you had, travelling the world?” I thought of the happy family unit sticking together on their adventures, in complete contrast to my own childhood, running away from Dad.

  “It didn’t seem cool at the time, Gracie. To be honest, I hated it. There was so much hardship everywhere. Each time we came back to the UK, it got tougher to leave. I missed my mates, my football, even my bed. And all the time I was being told by my parents how selfish I was to think like that. I mean, I know that’s right now, but I really resented it at the time. I just wanted a normal life. And then when I found out about the whole Soul Protector thing, I hated that too. I didn’t want to give up my life like Mum and Dad had. I just wanted to be my own person, doing the things I enjoyed.”

  “Oh right, I didn’t think of it like that.”

  “And I hated lying to my sister. Me and Nat were really close once, but then my world changed and I couldn’t tell her anything. After, when Tom and I knew what we were, it was never the same between us. I think she could sense something was different, or maybe it was all in my head, but anyway we lost our close brother/sister bond. She’s not in touch with any of us now.”

  He looked sad as he spoke, and I resisted a strong pull to hug him.

  “That must really hurt.”

  He nodded. His face softened as he changed the subject. “So, what do you do for kicks, Gracie Reynolds?”

  My mind whirred into action. Out of all the things I loved doing, what would sound the most exciting? That I liked shopping? Going out for meals? Watching movies?

  “Oh God, Dan, I’m boring compared to you.”

  He stopped walking and looked at me.

  “You are definitely not boring. Come on. Tell me what you do for fun – you and your mates.”

  I couldn’t see how he was going to find it interesting, but as he’d asked...

  “Well, there are three of us who go out together quite a bit. Kerry, she’s my oldest friend, and then there’s Lydia… She’s the one I was changed into when you nabbed me off the street.” It still made me cringe when I thought about it.

  “Ah yes, Lydia. Has she forgiven you for not letting her in your flat the other day?”

  “No not yet. I know she will eventually, but she’ll enjoy making me suffer in the meantime.”

  “Sounds like you’ve got past experience. Do you have to do a lot of apologising to this Lydia?”

  “No. But then normally I’d never refuse to see her. It’s not the sort of thing you do to Lydia. She calls the shots – she’s like the Queen Bee, and we all kind of fuss around her. Well, I do anyway.”

  Dan pulled a face at me and I laughed.

  “I don’t mind, I’ve known her for years and it’s always been that way, since we were kids.”

  “Well, she sounds like a great friend.”

  “She is. I’m making it all sound worse than it is; she’s got good points too. She’s fun to be around, she’s very generous and believe it or not, she does have a big heart buried inside that tough exterior. It’s just that...”

  “You’re the B-list friend and she’s the A-list?

  I stopped talking and grinned at him. “I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there. You know, I’ve often wondered what it would be like to be Lydia. She breezes through life with no effort. Good things just fall in her lap and she never seems to struggle like everyone else.”

  Dan was really easy to talk to. I hadn’t meant to get into deep and meaningful topics with him just yet.

  “And does she seem happy to you? I mean deep down, genuinely happy?”

  I stopped walking and chewed my lip.

  “No not really. Actually, she’s probably the least happy person I know. I mean, she’s got everything most people want, but she spends a lot of time moaning about all the little things. It’s like nothing’s quite good enough.”

  “Doesn’t add up does it?”

  “I do love her, but I’ve always thought underneath her perfect exterior, she’s a little ruined on the inside. It’s not her fault. I think she’s just had everything too easy.”

  “Beautiful on the outside only?”

  “Dan, it sounds really bad when you put it like that. She’s beautiful on the outside, and… I don’t know, cool on the inside.”

  Dan raised his eyebrows.

  “I bet she’s not half as cool as you think. Everyone, even Lydia, has their inner geek just waiting to burst out.”

  “Well if that’s true, some people manage to keep theirs better hidden than others,” I said, thinking how lucky my inner geek was to be given such free reign.

  “You’d be amazed what people hide.” The volume of his sentence dipped as a couple walked past in the opposite direction. “I’ve swapped with loads of people who appear fine on the surface, but inside they’re crippled by insecurity.”

  “Seriously?”

  He nodded. “The image people project isn’t always a true reflection of their inner self. Once you understand you’re not the only person who sometimes feels awkward, anxious or insecure, you feel a whole lot better about yourself. We’re all just human after all.”

  “I guess so.”

  “It really is the best job in the world, Gracie.” His face was expectant as he looked at me.

  “Oh, not that again, I told you my answer, and it’s a definite nooo.”

  He took a deep sigh. “Okay. No pressure. But if you ever change your mind...”

  “…I know where to find you.” I finished for him. “Actually Dan, I have no idea where to find you. You’re a man of mystery.”

  He reached into his j
acket pocket and pulled out a business card which he flipped to me. I caught it and scanned the text. No company name, no logo, just his name, address and mobile number. That was all I needed. I tucked it deep inside my pocket. There was no way I was going to lose it.

  Up ahead was a wooden bridge. We walked onto it and stopped in the middle to gaze out over the lake. The view from that angle was magical. I let go of Dan’s hand and hopped up onto a low bench beside the barrier to get a better glimpse of the city lights being reflected in the water.

  “That’s where Tom and I live,” Dan said, pointing out towards the west of the city. I followed the direction of his finger, squinting towards the lights in the distance, but it was impossible to pick out streets, let alone houses.

  As I stood there enjoying the scenery and breathing in the cool night air, I became aware of him moving closer behind me. And even though he was barely touching me, I felt the heat of his body through his clothes. I held my breath. Everything seemed to stop; the breeze, the hum of traffic, everything.

  His fingers began to gently rake through my hair, making me shiver as they grazed the back of my neck. He gathered my hair into a loose ponytail and swept it to one side, causing my heart to pick up an unsteady rhythm. I held onto the wooden rail for support and lowered my head.

  He leant forward and began to kiss the exposed skin; his lips and breath were deliciously warm. When I was completely under his spell, he placed his hands on my shoulders and slowly, so I didn’t fall off the bench, he turned me round to face him.

  “Hey, you’re trembling,” he said, his voice all husky. “Are you cold?”

  I nodded, glad to have an excuse. No one had ever made me feel like that, just from a few kisses.

  He took off his jacket and placed it round my shoulders. It was about ten sizes too big for me, and still warm from the heat of his body.

  Stood up there on the bench, I was almost as tall as him. I dared to hold his gaze, and saw his expression had gone all serious and brooding. He put one hand up to my face and ran his fingers downwards, tracing my jaw line, before gently tilting my chin towards him. I was overwhelmed by all the sensations flooding my system; his closeness, the spicy warmth of his aftershave, the electricity of his touch. It was a heady mixture and I was completely lost in him. I leaned forward to close the gap.

  This time, he didn’t back off. He took control and started kissing me slowly, teasingly, unleashing my wild side. I ran my hands over his shirt, tracing his hard, firm muscles, loving the way they contrasted against the soft material.

  We broke the kiss, and looked at each other, panting.

  “Wow,” I gasped, almost falling off the bench.

  He caught me, and gently deposited me back on the bridge.

  “Oh, that good, huh?”

  My heartbeat gradually slowed down to a healthier rate and I could feel warmth spread across my cheeks. Why do I always have to ruin the moment? I looked up at him and nodded sheepishly.

  To my relief, he wrapped his strong arms around me, drawing me into his chest. “I’ve never met anyone quite like you before, Gracie Reynolds.”

  I pressed myself into his warm, firm body. I didn’t think it was possible to feel any happier than I did right then.

  An urgent beeping sound from his mobile phone cut through the moment. Sighing, he released his grip on me and reached into the jacket pocket that I was still wearing, and pulled out his phone. As he listened to the caller, his face fell into a frown. He answered with just four words, “I’m on my way.”

  My shoulders sagged as he explained he had to go on another shout.

  All too soon, he was dropping me back at the entrance to my flat.

  “Sorry for the speedy exit, Gracie. I’ve really enjoyed being with you. I’ll be in touch, okay.”

  I leant up hoping for another kiss like before, but he hastily kissed the top of my head, the same way my Mum would have done.

  “I’ve got to go. Sorry.” With that, he practically ran back to his car and sped off.

  I felt deflated as I reached into my pocket and pulled out his business card. I rubbed my fingers across the top, and stroked the embossed blue lettering which spelled out his name. He said was going to be in touch. I dared to believe him.

  ~~~

  CHAPTER 12

  .

  Meanwhile, Back at the Mill…

  .

  I heard Donald’s raised voice as soon as the lift shuddered to a halt. As I made my way over to my workspace, I noticed everyone who had come in early had their heads down, pretending not to hear. I had to walk right past Donald’s door, and the ferocity in his voice made me flinch. I knew I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t help glancing in. Donald was stood by the door, red in the face, balling out Camille. Unfortunately he looked up at the exact same moment and I caught his eye. Damn. I looked away, cringing as I heard him slam the door shut.

  I hurried over to my desk and Arthur’s head appeared above the privacy board between our work areas. A smile was playing on his lips.

  “Blimey, what’s up with Donald?” I asked.

  Arthur gestured for me to move closer so he didn’t have to raise his voice.

  “From what I can make out, the lovely Camille submitted a feature and, to quote dear old Donald, ‘it’s not fit to wipe his backside with.”

  “Oh that’s just great. I guess we’re all going to suffer then.”

  Arthur nodded, and turned his attention back to his work. I glanced back to Donald’s office and saw he was still going for it and I actually felt sorry for Camille. It took a lot for Donald to lose his temper, but when he did he made up for lost time. I slipped off my jacket, sat down and began rifling through my in-tray. This was definitely a day for keeping your head down and staying out of trouble.

  After about ten minutes, Donald’s door clicked open. There were a couple of nervous coughs from around the open plan area as Camille walked out. I sneaked a quick peak and saw she was all hot and bothered. My heart sank as she made a beeline for my desk.

  “Gracie, in my office, NOW!” she bellowed.

  I felt my cheeks start to redden, half from the nerve of her talking to me like that, and half from the embarrassment of everyone else listening.

  I took a deep breath, stood up and smoothed down my skirt. After making an ‘aargh’ face at Arthur, I followed her into the office.

  When I got in, she gestured for me to shut the door.

  “What’s up Camille?” I asked, thinking now was not a good time to remind her about manners.

  “Did you hear that?” she practically spat out.

  “I think everyone did.”

  “Well, Don called me in early this morning for the biggest bawling out of my life. And it’s your fault, Gracie.”

  I gulped. “Me? What did I do?”

  “That report… err… what was it called…Woman in Work. Donald said it was absolute rubbish. There’s no way he can use it in this month’s edition.”

  “Oh.” I couldn’t think of anything else to say. I certainly couldn’t defend it. All I had was a vague memory of what was in it, because I’d been switched when my primary body typed it and handed it in.

  “Donald is absolutely livid. The print deadline is today, and he’s got no article to submit. As I’m your supervisor, he’s blaming me.”

  I looked at the floor. “I’m sorry, Camille.

  “Well sorry doesn’t help, Gracie.”

  We stood there in silence for a few seconds. My mind was thinking back to the night ‘Gracie’ did the report.

  “I handed that feature in a week ago, right? Didn’t you read it before you gave it to him?”

  “Oh for God’s sake, Gracie, I’ve got better things to do than double-check all your work. I’m too busy to do your job as well as mine. This is your problem and you need to sort it out, fast.”

  “Okay, okay. I’ll fix it. Where’s the old article?”

  “We’re erm, we’re scrapping that subject now. You’ll have to do a
filler instead. Don suggested something about making a living from eBay.”

  “And you need it by when?”

  “Lunchtime. Go on, go do it.”

  Shell-shocked, I disappeared out of her office, and quickly sat down at my own desk, turning on my PC.

  Arthur’s head popped up over the privacy board again. “Everything alright, love?”

  I looked up at him and shook my head slowly. “No, it’s not. I’ve made a mess of things, Arthur. The article that’s not fit to be published is one of mine.”

  “Oh, ouch,” he said, gritting his teeth.

  “So, the reason Donald blew a fuse this morning is down to me.” I inhaled a deep breath. “Oh God, I think I can kiss goodbye to any chance of getting that promotion.”

  I looked forwards as my PC screen flashed to life.

  “You don’t know that love. You’ve knocked out some of the best articles in this place, that’s got to count for something. Don’t you give up, you’re not beaten yet.”

  I puffed out all the air in my cheeks. He was right. I had to give the promotion my best shot. If I was going to salvage the situation, I had to perform a small miracle. The eBay article had to be head and shoulders above all the rest.

  The morning passed in a blur. I scanned eBay’s website and got in touch with some of their power sellers, managing to persuade a few of them to part with their tips for success. One middle-aged lady had packed up her cleaning job and was making a fortune buying china tea sets and selling them on to the US market. She was so inspiring, I made a mental note to try it myself when I had more time.

  Not everyone was willing to pass on their secrets of success. A couple hung up on me and one man told me where I could shove my article.

  Undeterred, I carried on researching as much as I could and managed to get a decent feature pulled together in record time. After a bit of polishing, I was quite proud of the finished article and handed it to Camille feeling quietly confident. She grabbed it off me without comment and after the morning’s debacle, I was surprised to see her rush it straight into Donald’s office without double-checking it herself. I sagged into my chair, praying Donald was going to approve.