The Price For Body-Snatching

The Price For Body-Snatching
"I'm sorry." I said quietly as a small voice in the back of my head began screaming danger. "It won't happen again." Moving forward, I slowly lifted a hand to touch Vladimier's cheek. For now, I needed to calm him down. If things kept progressing, I wasn't sure what would happen. "It meant nothing." I continued gently, meeting his still-outraged gaze. "Next time, I won't let any man touch me if he isn't you."

I could feel my heart beginning to hammer in my chest as I spoke. To be honest, I didn't know how he would react or if my soothing words would work. However, I needed to try.

As I watched Vladimier's face slowly begin to untense before finally a sigh escaped his lips and I knew the worst was over.

"I'm sorry." He murmured, finally releasing my arm. "However, you will receive punishment for your actions."

"Punishment?" I squeaked, feeling my heart drop. Was this man truly the man I once knew? "What punishment?"

As I tried to think of what he could do, many scenarios flashed through my mind. Would he really do something that would hurt me after claiming he loved me?

"You won't be able to freely roam without an escort that I hand-pick for you." He announced, seeming proud of his idea. "I will send him to you tomorrow."

Biting back my remark, I tried to process what the man in front of me was saying.

"I'm getting a babysitter." I asked slowly.

"Escort." Vladimier corrected. 

Feeling my irritation flare, I tried to remain calm. He could call it an escort till he was blue in the face, but that didn't change the fact that he would be a babysitter to spy on me.

"Should I say thank you for this?" I asked, keeping my voice neutral.

"It should have been done from the very beginning." He responded, seeming unphased by my defiance. "And there is good news in regards to your escort."

Frowning, I tried to think of what could possibly be good about having someone follow me around at all times.

"He will also be your tutor," he continued, beaming. "That should make you happy, right?"

"Tutor?" Now I was confused. "For what?"

"Don't you want to reconnect with your magic?" Vladimier asked, seeming slightly surprised. "I was sure that you would be thrilled when I told you."

Eyes growing wide, I took in his response. I was so overwhelmed with everything that I hadn't even had the chance to think about it. But now, just at the thought of being able to reclaim my magic that I had forgotten, I grew excited.

"Do you mean it?" I asked, throwing my arms around him. "I'll get to practice again."

"Of course." He chuckled, pulling me close. "I want you to feel complete, and that involves reclaiming everything you once had."

Even though I knew I should still be angry about the way this man treated me, hell, I should have even been concerned about the stark difference in him. However, just the thought of connecting with my elemental abilities again had my heart thrumming with joy. Deep inside of me, I could feel a small tingle of energy coming alive. I knew in that instant that it was my magic waking up again now that I was acknowledging it.

Smiling, I let myself reminisce on the days I was a strong mage. The power I felt each time I performed a spell or ritual—how alive my body became as I became one with the earth! Just that alone lit a small fire of determination in me.

The next day, I quickly changed and prepared for the day. All my annoyance at having a babysitter was gone, and in its place was excitement over getting to relearn magic. Satisfied with my appearance, I hurried out into the hall and towards Vladimier's office, where I promised to meet him and my new tutor. When I arrived, I could hear talking from within. It looked like he and my tutor were having a serious discussion, given the rise and fall of the voices.

Lifting my hand, I gently knocked on the door, not wanting to disturb whatever was going on inside. Moments later, a jade green eye peered out at me from a crack that was slowly forming.

Stepping back, I watched as the crack grew bigger, revealing a round face with bottle glasses that rested against much too large ears.

"Hello." I tried as my tutor came into full focus, studying me with a narrowed gaze. "Sorry if I'm disturbing..."

"You aren't disturbing anything." Vladimier announced, getting up from his desk and making his way towards me. "We were done with our discussion, right?"

Nodding, my tutor looked from him to me again. From the frown that was on his face, it was clear that he wasn't impressed with me.

"This is the one you spoke of?" He asked Vladimier coldly. "She barely has any power."

"Geofrey," Vladimier said calmly. "Her powers are locked deep within due to her reincarnation."

"Reincarnate?" Geofrey repeated, his eyes widening in shock. "She reincarnated?"

"That's right." Vladimier confirmed, as I remained silent. Something about the way my tutor was reacting to the news of my reincarnation was beginning to put me on edge. "Valerie will be your student from today on, understood."

"Y-yes." He responded, instantly startled. "It will be my pleasure to teach her."

"Thank you." I said quietly, still feeling slightly off about the sudden change in him.

"Now, I leave you to it." Vladimier announced, clapping Geofrey on the shoulder. "I have business to attend to."

Turning Vladimier gave me a swift kiss on the lips before brushing a hand along my cheek. Smiling, he turned and headed back into his office, slamming the door shut behind him.

Now alone with my tutor, I tried to plaster a smile on my face to show that I meant no harm, given the hostility and now repose I was getting from him.

"Nice to meet you, Geofrey. I'm Valerie." I offered, holding up a hand.

"How did you do it?" Geofrey asked instead, leaning closer to me and narrowing his gaze. "How did you manage to be reborn?"

"What do you mean?" I asked in confusion. "I didn't do anything. Well, except I died in my previous life due to a fucking freak."

Images of Kevin causing me to fall down the stairs flashed in my mind, sending wave after wave of disgust through me. In a way, I wish that I never remembered my life on earth. All that met me was pain and suffering.

"But how were you born into an already existing body?" He demanded. "Does this mean a piece of your soul already existed in this woman to begin with?"

Confused, I tried to keep up with what was being said. By what he was saying, it was almost as if I stole the body of an already existing person. But was that even possible? It couldn't be. Right?

"You don't know anything?" Geofrey continued to push, not seeming fully convinced. "Then let me tell you exactly what you are."

"What am I?" I demanded, beginning to grow defensive at his accusatory tone.

"You're a body snatcher!" He announced, looking smug. "Do you know what happens to souls that body snatch?"

"Clearly, I don't even know what that is. How in the hell would I know the answer?" I asked, beginning to feel like the earth beneath me was going to disappear.

"You'll eventually die again." Geofrey said simply, with a huff. "Your soul never belonged there to begin with. Therefore, it will eventually be rejected, and you will cease to exist entirely.”