Just so you don't confused, after the stars it isn't Kayla's POV anymore. I didn't want to write it and give it away so I'm just saying now to avoid confusion. Happy reading!
I looked up slowly, processing what he just said. His green eyes met mine and held me there. The pounding in my skull, dull before, grew incessant. BANG. BANG. BANG. Like someone knocking on my head, demanding to be noticed.
“You can see her in my mind?”
I couldn’t look away from his eyes, something was holding me there. Was it him?
“She’s in there,” he said, quietly. “I can see her. She wants to come out but you’re stronger than her.”
He looked down and the hold on me was gone. I stood up quickly and ran to the bathroom. As soon as I was there I wanted to go back to him but I resisted again and looked in the mirror. What could he see that I couldn’t? I stared at my face. I looked normal. My skin still pale but flushed with panic and worry. My hair was in a mess from sleeping but still black in colour. My eyes were showing fear but still green. Wait. They weren’t the right shade of green. The difference, so subtle, people would overlook it. But not me. I knew my eyes. They were a dark green, a forest green. These eyes were a light green like apples. Bright eyes, vivid. Like Kyo’s eyes.
“No, no, no, no,” I whispered, pleading with my reflection. “It can’t be. Possessed by a dead woman? It’s impossible.”
I saw a gold flash behind my eyes. I backed away from the mirror, scared.
“It’s okay,” he said behind me. Kyo. He was eight years old. So young but so intelligent. I knew everything about him and I’ve only been in his company for half an hour. I knew that he preferred to read books than play video games. I knew that his favourite food was spaghetti bolognaise. I knew that at night he wouldn’t sleep unless I’d kissed him goodnight and tucked him into bed. No wait. It wasn’t me. I wasn’t his mother. I was Kayla.
“Mummy,” he said and wrapped his small arms around my waist. I felt a rush of love for this boy, so unexplainable and terrifying. He was so small compared to me, so young; I didn’t want to reject him. Something changed inside of me. I wasn’t sure what was happening. I couldn’t explain it. I felt confused and weak and something was surging forward in my mind. Taking over everything. And these emotions. I wanted to hold him, feel his heart beating against mine. I wanted to shield him from danger. I wanted to be his mother.
“I am your mother,” I said, my hand touching his hair, smoothing it down. I knew once his hair was washed, I would feel soft curls under my hand.
“Yes, you are,” he replied. “And nothing will change that. You will be my mother. For now and forever.”
And then I was gone.
************************
*Some time later, I was fully dressed and presentable. Kyo never left my side and I didn’t want him to. I could feel her at the back of my mind, still asleep. If I had done it right, she would remain asleep.
“Kyo seems to be fond of you,” Charlie said to me as I fixed Kyo a sandwich. I had given him a bath so I could feel his soft curls again.
“Why shouldn’t he be?” I demanded.
Charlie looked at me strangely. “I was just saying,” he said. His eyebrows creased together, deep in thought.
I handed Kyo his sandwich and he sat at the table, eating happily.
“Edward called while you were bathing Kyo,” Charlie told me, watching me carefully.
“Edward?” I asked, confused. Who was Edward? Oh wait, no, I remembered.
“You’re fiancé.” Charlie suddenly looked worried. “Your beloved? Your husband to be? You’re marrying him in twelve weeks.”
“Yes, yes, I remember,” I said, looking away to watch Ky. I didn’t want him to choke on that sandwich. I didn’t want to lose him again. The pain was so unbearable. My heart ripped out of my chest, a gaping empty hole left behind.
“Kayla, are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I said, dismissively. I sat across from Ky at the table. He smiled sweetly and my heart lifted. He was so adorable. How had I created him? This perfect baby.
“Zach will be back soon,” Charlie said, walking out of the kitchen.
Zach? I sat up straight. Oh Zach. I missed him too. I missed his smiles, his gentle touch, his kisses. Oh how I’d love for him to touch me again. His arms around me, holding me, keeping me safe.
“He’ll be here in a few minutes,” Ky said, sensing what I wanted. “You can wait that long.”
“I can,” I nodded but knowing I’d die if it was any longer.
“He’ll be happy to see you too,” Ky nodded, swallowing his last bite.
“You’re such a good boy.” I touched his cheek. “Taking care of me like this.”
“I didn’t want to lose you.” he held my hand to his cheek. “I want you to stay, mom. Forever.”
“I will,” I answered. “This girl, she will last forever. I can feel it.”
I heard Zach coming. He was walking up the path when I ran to him. He looked startled to see me coming towards him but I didn’t hesitate. I threw my arms around him and held him tight, breathing in his musky scent and feeling whole again.
“Michaela,” he stuttered, trying to unwrap my arms. “Please, this is not appropriate.”
“It’s me,” I whispered in his ear, my lips brushing against his skin. I looked at him, willing him to see me. Not this girl but me.
“Loretta?” He looked deep in my eyes, seeing to my soul. He could see the change in the girl I possessed. I hadn’t wanted to possess her but I couldn’t leave my family. I didn’t want to be separated from them. It was unbearable. The pain I felt. She could feel it too but thought she was grieving for my death. Silly girl. If only she paid more attention she would have felt the intrusion sooner. But I’m grateful she didn’t. I can be with my husband and my son again, even if it has to be in another body.
“You’re dead!” he said, touching my face with his gentle fingers. “I saw you die! In my arms! Kyo was there! It was the Shadow Hunters who killed you!”
“Shh.” I put a finger to his lips to calm him. He had so many questions he wanted answering when all I wanted was to kiss him once again.
He shook his head and pushed my hand away.
“I don’t understand. What’s going on?” he said. “You’re dead. You shouldn’t be here.”
His soft brown eyes were fearful. I should have anticipated this but I didn’t. I thought he would be happy that I was here. That I was alive again. We could be together again. Didn’t he want that?
“It was Kyo,” I answered. “I told you he was gifted, Zach. I followed you for days after I died. Couldn’t you feel me? My spirit near you, watching you. Kyo could.”
He ran a hand through his hair, looking worried. He looked past me, to Charlie’s house, watching in case someone came out.
“I thought you would be happy I was here,” I said, tears welling up. “I thought you wouldn’t care whose body it was as long as I was alive.”
“I would give anything to have you back, Lori,” he said to me, his face screwed up in pain. “Believe me but this isn’t any random body. This is Michaela Swan’s body.”
“So?” I said, feeling angry. “She’s just a girl.”
“She isn’t just any girl. Didn’t you listen to anything I said when we escaped the castle? She killed my uncle. Then he came back and Charlie killed him again.”
“I know that. The memories still haunt her.”
“You know he’ll come after her. You know he wants revenge. Eye for an eye.”
This complicated matters. I had only one chance at possession. After that I either roamed the world as a spirit or I would have to move on. I didn’t want to go through another death and I knew Michaela’s impending death would be painful. But I promised I wouldn’t leave Kyo. I may be stuck in this teenager’s body but I was his mother. I couldn’t leave him.
“What can I do?” I asked him. “If I leave this body I’m gone, Zach. Forever. I told Kyo I would stay.”
“But you can’t, Loretta!” he shouted, losing his patience with me. “You’re dead! Dead, dead, dead, dead, dead! Why would you even think of taking over this girl’s body?”
“I want to be with you! I’m not ready to die!”
Zach grabbed me and pulled me to his chest, holding me tightly. I hugged him resting my head above his heart. She had done this last night, to her fiancé. I watched her, waiting until she was asleep. She looked so peaceful when she was asleep. I hated to disturb her mind but she had done that already with that premonition of hers. Horrible things. I felt just as awful as she did.
“I wasn’t ready for you to die,” Zach whispered. “But you can’t stay here. It’s not right. She’s getting married and she’s only young.”
“I love you,” I cried. “I don’t want to go.”
Zach tilted my head up to look at him and he wiped away the tears on my cheeks.
“I love you too.”
I reached up to him, wanting our lips to touch, if it was the last time I’d see him when a car screeched loudly to a hasty stop. A car door slammed open and suddenly Zach was no longer in front of me. Instead was a bronze haired pale and lanky teenage boy. How dare he?!
“Kayla, what are you doing?!” the boy hissed at me. “Why are you in the arms of that man?!”
“It is none of your business!” I hissed back. “I can do as I please!”
Hurt crossed this boy’s face and I wondered who he was to the girl. His eyes, amber or gold in colour, held so much pain I had to take a step back. Who was he? I felt a sudden pounding on my skull. She had woken.
“None of my business?” He repeated, his voice forced to be steady. “You want to do as you please?”
“Yes,” I answered. “Now, please, go.”
BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG.
No, that’s Edward! she screamed in my head. That’s Edward!
Edward?
“If that’s what you want,” he said, quietly. He stepped away.
“No, that’s not what she wants,” Zach said, trying to stop him. “Edward, just wait. We need to explain.”
Edward, listen!
“There is no need for an explanation,” Edward said, looking down. “I can see for myself and I can also hear. You’re blocking your thoughts, Kayla. It must be exactly what I’m thinking.”
No, no, no, no!
“Wait,” I said. “I didn’t mean what I just said. I want you to stay.”
“Lies!” he shouted. “I am not stupid. I saw you with him! I saw what you were about to do! You’re blocking your thoughts, so I can’t read them. So I can’t read the truth!”
He was gone in a flash. I only heard the screech of his tyres again and he was driving at a great speed away from me.
“Edward!” the words tore from my lips in pained scream. “Edward, come back!”
They were not my words. They were hers. She was breaking free and soon I would be shoved to the back of her mind or expulsed permanently from her body.
I looked up slowly, processing what he just said. His green eyes met mine and held me there. The pounding in my skull, dull before, grew incessant. BANG. BANG. BANG. Like someone knocking on my head, demanding to be noticed.
“You can see her in my mind?”
I couldn’t look away from his eyes, something was holding me there. Was it him?
“She’s in there,” he said, quietly. “I can see her. She wants to come out but you’re stronger than her.”
He looked down and the hold on me was gone. I stood up quickly and ran to the bathroom. As soon as I was there I wanted to go back to him but I resisted again and looked in the mirror. What could he see that I couldn’t? I stared at my face. I looked normal. My skin still pale but flushed with panic and worry. My hair was in a mess from sleeping but still black in colour. My eyes were showing fear but still green. Wait. They weren’t the right shade of green. The difference, so subtle, people would overlook it. But not me. I knew my eyes. They were a dark green, a forest green. These eyes were a light green like apples. Bright eyes, vivid. Like Kyo’s eyes.
“No, no, no, no,” I whispered, pleading with my reflection. “It can’t be. Possessed by a dead woman? It’s impossible.”
I saw a gold flash behind my eyes. I backed away from the mirror, scared.
“It’s okay,” he said behind me. Kyo. He was eight years old. So young but so intelligent. I knew everything about him and I’ve only been in his company for half an hour. I knew that he preferred to read books than play video games. I knew that his favourite food was spaghetti bolognaise. I knew that at night he wouldn’t sleep unless I’d kissed him goodnight and tucked him into bed. No wait. It wasn’t me. I wasn’t his mother. I was Kayla.
“Mummy,” he said and wrapped his small arms around my waist. I felt a rush of love for this boy, so unexplainable and terrifying. He was so small compared to me, so young; I didn’t want to reject him. Something changed inside of me. I wasn’t sure what was happening. I couldn’t explain it. I felt confused and weak and something was surging forward in my mind. Taking over everything. And these emotions. I wanted to hold him, feel his heart beating against mine. I wanted to shield him from danger. I wanted to be his mother.
“I am your mother,” I said, my hand touching his hair, smoothing it down. I knew once his hair was washed, I would feel soft curls under my hand.
“Yes, you are,” he replied. “And nothing will change that. You will be my mother. For now and forever.”
And then I was gone.
************************
*Some time later, I was fully dressed and presentable. Kyo never left my side and I didn’t want him to. I could feel her at the back of my mind, still asleep. If I had done it right, she would remain asleep.
“Kyo seems to be fond of you,” Charlie said to me as I fixed Kyo a sandwich. I had given him a bath so I could feel his soft curls again.
“Why shouldn’t he be?” I demanded.
Charlie looked at me strangely. “I was just saying,” he said. His eyebrows creased together, deep in thought.
I handed Kyo his sandwich and he sat at the table, eating happily.
“Edward called while you were bathing Kyo,” Charlie told me, watching me carefully.
“Edward?” I asked, confused. Who was Edward? Oh wait, no, I remembered.
“You’re fiancé.” Charlie suddenly looked worried. “Your beloved? Your husband to be? You’re marrying him in twelve weeks.”
“Yes, yes, I remember,” I said, looking away to watch Ky. I didn’t want him to choke on that sandwich. I didn’t want to lose him again. The pain was so unbearable. My heart ripped out of my chest, a gaping empty hole left behind.
“Kayla, are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I said, dismissively. I sat across from Ky at the table. He smiled sweetly and my heart lifted. He was so adorable. How had I created him? This perfect baby.
“Zach will be back soon,” Charlie said, walking out of the kitchen.
Zach? I sat up straight. Oh Zach. I missed him too. I missed his smiles, his gentle touch, his kisses. Oh how I’d love for him to touch me again. His arms around me, holding me, keeping me safe.
“He’ll be here in a few minutes,” Ky said, sensing what I wanted. “You can wait that long.”
“I can,” I nodded but knowing I’d die if it was any longer.
“He’ll be happy to see you too,” Ky nodded, swallowing his last bite.
“You’re such a good boy.” I touched his cheek. “Taking care of me like this.”
“I didn’t want to lose you.” he held my hand to his cheek. “I want you to stay, mom. Forever.”
“I will,” I answered. “This girl, she will last forever. I can feel it.”
I heard Zach coming. He was walking up the path when I ran to him. He looked startled to see me coming towards him but I didn’t hesitate. I threw my arms around him and held him tight, breathing in his musky scent and feeling whole again.
“Michaela,” he stuttered, trying to unwrap my arms. “Please, this is not appropriate.”
“It’s me,” I whispered in his ear, my lips brushing against his skin. I looked at him, willing him to see me. Not this girl but me.
“Loretta?” He looked deep in my eyes, seeing to my soul. He could see the change in the girl I possessed. I hadn’t wanted to possess her but I couldn’t leave my family. I didn’t want to be separated from them. It was unbearable. The pain I felt. She could feel it too but thought she was grieving for my death. Silly girl. If only she paid more attention she would have felt the intrusion sooner. But I’m grateful she didn’t. I can be with my husband and my son again, even if it has to be in another body.
“You’re dead!” he said, touching my face with his gentle fingers. “I saw you die! In my arms! Kyo was there! It was the Shadow Hunters who killed you!”
“Shh.” I put a finger to his lips to calm him. He had so many questions he wanted answering when all I wanted was to kiss him once again.
He shook his head and pushed my hand away.
“I don’t understand. What’s going on?” he said. “You’re dead. You shouldn’t be here.”
His soft brown eyes were fearful. I should have anticipated this but I didn’t. I thought he would be happy that I was here. That I was alive again. We could be together again. Didn’t he want that?
“It was Kyo,” I answered. “I told you he was gifted, Zach. I followed you for days after I died. Couldn’t you feel me? My spirit near you, watching you. Kyo could.”
He ran a hand through his hair, looking worried. He looked past me, to Charlie’s house, watching in case someone came out.
“I thought you would be happy I was here,” I said, tears welling up. “I thought you wouldn’t care whose body it was as long as I was alive.”
“I would give anything to have you back, Lori,” he said to me, his face screwed up in pain. “Believe me but this isn’t any random body. This is Michaela Swan’s body.”
“So?” I said, feeling angry. “She’s just a girl.”
“She isn’t just any girl. Didn’t you listen to anything I said when we escaped the castle? She killed my uncle. Then he came back and Charlie killed him again.”
“I know that. The memories still haunt her.”
“You know he’ll come after her. You know he wants revenge. Eye for an eye.”
This complicated matters. I had only one chance at possession. After that I either roamed the world as a spirit or I would have to move on. I didn’t want to go through another death and I knew Michaela’s impending death would be painful. But I promised I wouldn’t leave Kyo. I may be stuck in this teenager’s body but I was his mother. I couldn’t leave him.
“What can I do?” I asked him. “If I leave this body I’m gone, Zach. Forever. I told Kyo I would stay.”
“But you can’t, Loretta!” he shouted, losing his patience with me. “You’re dead! Dead, dead, dead, dead, dead! Why would you even think of taking over this girl’s body?”
“I want to be with you! I’m not ready to die!”
Zach grabbed me and pulled me to his chest, holding me tightly. I hugged him resting my head above his heart. She had done this last night, to her fiancé. I watched her, waiting until she was asleep. She looked so peaceful when she was asleep. I hated to disturb her mind but she had done that already with that premonition of hers. Horrible things. I felt just as awful as she did.
“I wasn’t ready for you to die,” Zach whispered. “But you can’t stay here. It’s not right. She’s getting married and she’s only young.”
“I love you,” I cried. “I don’t want to go.”
Zach tilted my head up to look at him and he wiped away the tears on my cheeks.
“I love you too.”
I reached up to him, wanting our lips to touch, if it was the last time I’d see him when a car screeched loudly to a hasty stop. A car door slammed open and suddenly Zach was no longer in front of me. Instead was a bronze haired pale and lanky teenage boy. How dare he?!
“Kayla, what are you doing?!” the boy hissed at me. “Why are you in the arms of that man?!”
“It is none of your business!” I hissed back. “I can do as I please!”
Hurt crossed this boy’s face and I wondered who he was to the girl. His eyes, amber or gold in colour, held so much pain I had to take a step back. Who was he? I felt a sudden pounding on my skull. She had woken.
“None of my business?” He repeated, his voice forced to be steady. “You want to do as you please?”
“Yes,” I answered. “Now, please, go.”
BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG.
No, that’s Edward! she screamed in my head. That’s Edward!
Edward?
“If that’s what you want,” he said, quietly. He stepped away.
“No, that’s not what she wants,” Zach said, trying to stop him. “Edward, just wait. We need to explain.”
Edward, listen!
“There is no need for an explanation,” Edward said, looking down. “I can see for myself and I can also hear. You’re blocking your thoughts, Kayla. It must be exactly what I’m thinking.”
No, no, no, no!
“Wait,” I said. “I didn’t mean what I just said. I want you to stay.”
“Lies!” he shouted. “I am not stupid. I saw you with him! I saw what you were about to do! You’re blocking your thoughts, so I can’t read them. So I can’t read the truth!”
He was gone in a flash. I only heard the screech of his tyres again and he was driving at a great speed away from me.
“Edward!” the words tore from my lips in pained scream. “Edward, come back!”
They were not my words. They were hers. She was breaking free and soon I would be shoved to the back of her mind or expulsed permanently from her body.
