A True Soul

Sadie and Spencer took a longer trip than I had expected. They returned in late January. Sadie was irritated and wouldn’t talk to anyone for a couple days. She stuffed herself in her cottage and sulked. Spencer said that on the last few days of spent in London, their mother had said something to Sadie along the lines of, ‘What she was going through was just a phase and eventually she would settle down with a nice man, and live a normal life away from the palace.’

I sat with Faux and Spencer by the lake. Sadie was sitting a hundred or so feet away, curled next to a tree. I still wasn’t used to how hot it was. This was January and I was used to the cold and snow and sleet, not rain almost every day, and the over 100 degree heat.

Faux was resting her chin on her knees. She wasn’t in the best of moods either; her father wasn’t getting any better. Every day he slipped further and further away from her.

Spencer took a bite of an apple, and passed one to me. “Well, we’re all a cheery bunch.” He said sarcastically. “Common now, mates; it’s the last Saturday of the month, smile.”

“I’m exhausted. Jack’s been making me work on my psychical training. He’s having me phase multiple times in one session, with all these different exercises. I feel burned out. I’m happy it’s the weekend at least.” I sighed. The apple had been juicy and delicious.

Faux cocked her head sideways, and looked in Sadie’s direction. “She’ll get out of this rut, right?”

“You should know that this isn’t the first time she’s been like this. Just give her some time. Clarisse has always been hard on her. I mean, our parents rejected us both in their own ways. We chose the animal world over their human world. But, I fell in love with a girl, and so did Sadie. They don’t understand and they don’t want to. I accepted it a long time ago, but Sadie hasn’t come to terms with their rejection yet. I mean we’re adults not children, but feeling like your parents don’t love you never gets easier.”

We all turned our heads in Sadie’s direction. “We’ll just back off, and give her a little time. It doesn’t seem like Sadie to stay in a bad mood for long.” I said.

“Not anymore it’s not,” Spencer told me.

Monday night I got to spend some quality time in the secret library again. I decided it was time to take a look in Spencer’s and Sadie’s folders.

Spencer’s picture showed him with a case of extremely bad bed head, and a lopsided smile. His glasses had fallen halfway down the bridge of his nose, but his eyes were the same icy blue.

Current Date: 2/08/1999

Date of Birth: 05/30/1987

Last Name: Peirce

First Name: Spencer

Middle Name: Henry

Animal Type: Wolf

Markings: All Black

Height: 5’0’’

Weight: 105

Status: Guardian in training

Father: Gerald Peirce

Mother: Clarisse Peirce

Sibling (s): Sadie Peirce

Nominated as a candidate of guardian for the True Soul

It looked like the twins had been nominated to be my guardians as well. Like the others I flipped through the file till I found something that would help me figure out what had happened. The answer lied in the middle of Spencer’s folder, in a hand written note from an unexpected source.

Date: 09/01/1998

As Head Guardian, it is my responsibility to make sure those the need help receive it, which is why in the case of the Peirce twins I intervened.

Gerald Peirce is the CEO of Peirce Banking and Accounting. Clarisse Peirce has her own law company. Both their companies have branches in the U.S., Canada, and Great Britain.

After several incidences at school, the last one involving Queen Mubaka to implant selective memories in humans who witnessed the event, I convinced Gerald and Clarisse to let the twins permanently attend the academy here at the palace. I know Spencer’s and Sadie’s connection with the animal world is strong. They truly want to accept and control that part of them. So, I have taken the liberty of enrolling them in the Guardianship program.

I have high hopes that they will do well here. At the moment Spencer seems more open to the changes, while Sadie is unsure. They hardly go anywhere without each other, I wonder if this will change as they grow more accustom to being here at the academy.

A copy of this entry will also be place in Ms. Pierce’s academic folder.

Head Guardian

Ember Silverwood

It was my mother who had brought the twins to the palace. She had also help Dax deal with the absents of his parents. I was putting the pieces of the past together; somehow everything had been interwoven together. My mom was connected with all of it.

I put Spencer’s file with in the drawer with the rest of them and opened Sadie’s manila folder.

Even though I knew it was Sadie I almost hadn’t recognized her. Sadie had kept her golden hair long even back then. She had put in it a ponytail that dangled off the side of her shoulder. The hood of her jacket was pulled over her head, and her eyes had averted the camera.

Current Date: 2/08/1999

Date of Birth: 05/30/1987

Last Name: Peirce

First Name: Sadie

Middle Name: Marie

Animal Type: Wolf

Markings: Golden blonde fur

Height: 5’0’’

Weight: 103

Status: Guardian in training

Father: Gerald Peirce

Mother: Clarisse Peirce

Sibling (s): Spencer Peirce

Nominated as a candidate of guardian for the True Soul

The same note from my mother had been copy and placed into Sadie’s folder. However, there were also a several notes from an old guidance consular that worked at the academy. I didn’t recognize his name.

Date: 10/13/1996

Mrs. Silverwood recommends that Sadie Pierce see me once a week for the remainder of the semester. She seems shut in, and slightly depressed. At our first meeting, I asked her what might cause her to feel alone, as she described it. Her response was that she felt different from the other students here. She also felt like the only one who had accepted her was twin brother, Spencer. I will continue to work with her, and see with the help of Mrs. Silverwood, if we can try to get her to open up.

Consular

Dean Norton

Date: 12/01/1996

Ms. Pierce has made remarkable progress in the past two weeks. I’m not sure I completely understand this turn around, but Mrs. Silverwood insistence that Sadie’s finally accepted who she is. Sadie has even confirmed that she has made a friend other than her brother, with miss Juniper Rivera. We will meet two more times before the semester ends, after that it is up to her whether or not to continue these therapy sessions.

Consular

Dean Norton

I closed her file. These files had been laid out for me to read, but I almost felt like I was invading their privacy.

“Find anything interesting?” I jumped. Jack was standing on the curved stairway; he had been holding something in his hand.

“My mom was connected to all their lives. I never knew she was the Head Guardian. Did she quit her job because of me?” I turned to face Jack.

“No. She didn’t agree with where Mubaka wanted to program to go, after the twin’s first semester here she left to go back to the States with your father, but she wanted to have you at the palace. Despite the fact that she wasn’t found of Mubaka, she knew you would be safe here. But she never came back to lead the guardian program,” Jack explained. He made his way across the room and sat on the old couch.

“Ok, what did you bring tonight? More history lessons?” I asked Jack.

“I brought you something,” he said and held one of the items in his hands. It was more folders. “I wanted to wait to give you these. Here’s Cain’s academic folder.” It was rubber banded together, so he was able to toss it lightly to me. I grabbed it and sat he folder next to the others. “And this, this is the folder that your mother started for you.” He didn’t toss me my folder; he had just sat there silently.

I looked at him for a moment, but he hadn’t looked me in the eyes. Jack had been avoiding my gaze. “You shouldn’t read this until you’re ready. There are a few other subjects you should learn before you’ll be ready to read this.”

“Ready of what? Why am I not ready to read what’s in my own folder?” I asked him.

“To hate me. You need to be ready to truly hate me for what I did. This is something I can never take back.

“Before you read this.” He made his way to the edge of one of the bookshelves. “Before you read this, you need to read these books over guardians, and True Souls.” He picked up two books, neither one very thick, but both were vintage looking. “Even if you don’t read the books all the way at least look through them, before you read what’s in your folder.”

“Why would I hate you for what I’ll read in there?” I was getting nervous. “What exactly is in there?”

“The truth, child. I still have much I can teach you, if you still want me to.”

“What in the world could possibly make me hate you? Wouldn’t all of this be easier if you just told me?”

“Because of all the evil that I’ve done. Like I said before my child, there are things that you have to find out on your own,” Jack explained to me.

“I promise I won’t hate you. I mean you didn’t kill my mother, so there’s no reason for me to hate you,” I told him.

“I’ll leave that for you to decide after you read your folder. Take your time, there’s no rush,” Jack said as he stood.

“Are you leaving?”

“For now, it’s past my bed time. Good night and good luck,” he said.

“Good night,” I told him as he once again climbed the spiral staircase. Jack was a tall, thin man, but that day he looked small.

“Oh, and Angie, I truly hope that afterwards you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me.”

“There’s nothing I have to forgive you for, you’re a good man Jack.” I smiled at him, but his return smile was weak and unsure.

I took the books with me to my bedroom, after the conversation with Jack, I hadn’t wanted to stay there.

I was about to open the first book, the one about True Souls. But, the ringing of my cell phone made me jump. I never got reception in there, but for whatever reason that night, at one o clock in the morning I heard my phone ring.

“Hello?” I asked. Who the hell?

“Angie?” The familiar voice soothed me. I wish I didn’t miss the sound so much.

“Dax! You’re not gonna pop outta my closet are something are you?” I smiled to myself.

“No, no, sorry to disappoint you, girly. I’m actually calling to make sure you’re ok.” His voice sounded off.

“Yeah Dax, why wouldn’t I be?” I sat upright on my bed, his tone had made me nervous.

“Girly, I…” That was one of those times when I could picture his face and see him running his fingers through his hair. I could feel the frustration in his voice. “I found Cain again…. I mean, I found the hotel his was staying at, but by time I got there, he had fled. But I know I got him this time, girly, I promise. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“Dax, I’m fine really. Nothing’s going on here. When are you coming back?” I asked him.

“As soon as I end this, girly, I’ll come back,” he paused, “I miss you.”

I smiled, a small worried smile, his voice concerned me. For whatever reason I was glad to hear that he missed me. “Dax, I miss you too.”

“See you soon girly?” Dax made it seem more like a question than a statement. An uncertain question.

“Of course as soon as you get back.” I said and I’d hoped he couldn’t hear the strain in my voice.

“Ok, get some sleep.”

“You too Dax.” I heard the phone click.

I laid my head back on one of the many pillows that filled my bed. I didn’t known when I’d see Dax and again, and the phone call had only added to my worries. I closed my eyes but it had been several hours before I was able to fall asleep.

Classes drugged on the next day, not only because I hadn’t slept the night before, but I hadn’t been able to shake the feeling that things weren’t ok with Dax.

I grabbed my books, and steadily walked towards the medical ward. I decided to go and see Faux. She had spent the night with her father. I knocked on the wall outside of the room William Rivera was in. The curtain pulled back, Faux’s eyebrows were furrowed. She looked like she was deep in thought.

“Did you get any sleep?” I looked around the room, there were tubes and I.V.’s pumping some type of fluids in him. There had been recliner that was pulled out with blankets thrown haphazardly on it.

She smiled, but it hadn’t quiet reached her eyes. “I’m sure I did. Do you mind if we walk?”

“Not at all, lead the way.” We walked back through the glass hall. Faux paused and looked out at the lake. It was pouring out and the sky was a stunning navy blue color. Even in this downpour it was truly a beautiful sight.

“This hallway, the dining hall, library, and the medical center all had to be rebuilt after the fire,” Faux explained.

“This was the part of the castle that my mom died in?” I asked, unsure of my voice.

“This hallway didn’t use to be here. This used to be wear the weapons were held for the guardians. That room got moved to the second floor and they built a longer hallway to attach the library and the medical center to the main part of the castle,” Faux continued.

“But why didn’t the room get rebuilt here? What made them move it?” Deep down I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answer to this question.

“Mubaka’s advisor told her that rebuilding the weapons room here wouldn’t be tasteful, that something more peaceful should take its place.”

“This is where my mother died isn’t?” Suddenly the beauty of the glass hallway had taken a different meaning for me.

She placed her hand on one of the glass windows and pushed it open. It locked into place and let some rain drops spill onto the floor. Faux nodded and pulled me into hug that was needed for both of us.

When I left Faux that evening, I made my way to Blair’s chambers. The guards knocked on Blair’s door. After a few seconds she answered. Blair was bare foot as usual. She had her hair pulled up. The dress she was wearing was connected around her neck by a silver band and had a completely open back. “Angie, come in.” She pulled me through the door. “I can feel how stressed you are, is it your classes?” We both sank on one of the auburn colored couches.

“I need to talk to you about something, but you’re not going to like it,” I told her.

“Angie, you know you can talk to me about anything.” Blair turned her body more towards me.

“I need to know how your father died, and if there’s any way to stop Faux’s father from suffering the same fate?” I asked her blatantly, but tried not to be too harsh.

Blair sighed and her back stiffened before she made her way to the balcony. After a few minutes I joined her.

“I’m sorry Blair; I wasn’t trying to upset you.” I turned and looked out to the jungle she was staring at.

“I’m not upset. Have you read those files yet?”

I jumped, “How, how did you know about those?”

“Jack told me about them. I didn’t force him to, but he’s worried.”

“I’ll get to them. Faux’s dad is more important right now.”

“Angie, it’s all connected. Something really twisted happen and Jack wouldn’t tell me everything. I’m not sure I even want to know. I know that there were experiments done on Natural Born s, my father and William being two of the many, and most of them died. I’ve never been able to find a reversal for what’s happened.” Her breath was shaky and she seemed unsettled.

“So there’s nothing we can do? Mr. Rivera is just going to die? That’s it?” I was frustrated and balled my fists together.

“I-I… There isn’t any way to save him. All I can do is make him as comfortable as possible.” She hung her head and grasped onto the balcany railing almost as if she was in pain herself; knowing how strong her connection was to her subjects I didn’t doubted it.

“There has to be some way to save him. If it’s all connected then maybe I can find something to stop whatever it is that’s killing him.”

“I truly hope you can. Angie, I believe if anyone can figure it out, it’s you.”

“I already promised no one else would die for no reason, I can’t let Mr. Rivera suffer like this.”

I endured another sleepless nights, with troubling thoughts consuming my wakeful hours. Nightmares of pain and fire tormenting my shut eyes.

The next morning I dragged myself out of bed, determined to find some type of answer. After class the next day I hurried to my room with Cain’s file tucked under my arm.

Current Date: 2/08/1999

Date of Birth: 1/25/1987

Last Name: LeSage

First Name: Cain

Middle Name: Josiah

Animal Type: Wolf/Husky mix

Markings: Black/Grey/White

Height: 5’2’’

Weight: 112

Status: Guardian in training

Father: Russell LeSage

Mother: Charsie LeSage

Sibling (s): None

The picture was of a kid with brown hair that hung past by his earlobes, it curled at the end. In this picture I could see how much Dax and Cain actually looked related, but Cain had deep blue eyes. His head was cocked to the side, and he was smiling. What could have made him turn so evil?

I flipped through his carts, nothing really popped out. I flipped through it again, and pulled out a half sheet of paper that I had missed the first time.

Upon the death of Russell and Charsie LeSage, Cain LeSage, their only child has been left an orphan. As Queen I feel it’s best for him to continue his education with other Natural Born s. He is not eligible for the guardianship program at any of the schools, but Cain will be attending one of our sister schools in the United States, located in California.

That was it, that was all the note said. I tossed the folder on the floor of my bedroom in frustration. Nothing about Cain was easy. Of course his folder would leave me with more questions than answers.

I opened the book on guardians next, it was thin, but the writing was small. The book went over the rules and regulations of the Guardians. There was also a list of the different types of Guardians. The third level was the personal body guards, also known as the people who stood outside of my doors. The second level, were the Guardians like Spencer, Sadie, and Dax. These Guardians were also broken into different sub-groups. It was the first level that floored me. This level of guardians was labeled spies/assassins. This scared me a little. Why would we need assassins? And where were they?

I skimmed through the text, to get a quick over view of each of the levels.

The Personal Body Guards: Precisely trained to keep one specific person safe from dangerous situations, from humans, Natural Borns, or other animals that should wish to harm them. They are trained to do twelve hour intervals a day for up to as many days as they are needed. The body guards are trained in partners over a period of several years to make sure that they work well as a team before being sent on missions. They, like all over guardians are trained in several types of martial arts and weapons classes.

Guardians: These guardians are also trained to help individuals but on a more intricate level than Body Guards.

Sometimes they work from afar and only intervene when truly necessary. This first type tended to lean more towards a body guard, however, they are supposed to take a keen interest in the daily lives of the Natural Born they are charged with. They are always on duty, until they are dismissed. Type I is normally dismissed by the Head Guardian of the area when they feel that the Natural Born under protection is no longer in need of a guardian. Most Natural Borns with this type of Guardian do not know that they are being protected.

II. Other Guardians are directed to take a different approach. This means that the Guardians can interact with their charge on a daily basis, training and protecting them. They are put in charge of Natural Born s that need extra guidance and care. They are trained even more intensively than some of the body guards. They can work both in teams and as individuals. There are several ways that guardians can be dismissed, but it’s most common for the Natural Born they are charged with to dismiss them. If it is felt that a charge is in dire need of protection Guardians have to do their part to insure that no harm comes to the charge. This could involve tracking down the personal danger or consulting with the Queen or Head Guardian for further instructions. In rare cases more than one Guardian is needed for protection of a charge.

III. This group has worked in the past to help keep the King or Queen out of danger. They are used mostly as a Natural Born army which was needed in the past wars between the Natural Born communities. They have not been needed in the past century, but a few select members are still trained and put on reserve in case they are needed.

Head Guardian: This person in charge of running the training programs at the palace or one of the several sister schools for Natural Born s. They make sure everyone is up to date on weapons, physical, and mental training. They evaluate each Guardian candidate before he or she is allowed into the program. They can teach classes themselves, as well as supervising multiple classes taught by other professors in the Guardian training field.

Spies/Assassins: These are the top elite of the ranking guardians. These people are never fully dismissed and are kept on guard at the palace at all times, often hidden. However, they have not been called on in quiet sometime for their designed purpose. They are mainly used for the King or Queens protection. They report directly to the King or Queen themselves, not necessarily to the Head Guardian.

I placed the book on the night stand, and looked at my clock, the day had already past me by. But I was too invested to quit yet; I grabbed the next book. The letters of the title were golden and raised, but I couldn’t read them. The words were in some ancient language. My best guess was that they were Greek. How the hell was this supposed to help me? I should have noticed this before! I flipped through the pages, all in the same unreadable print. Aggravated I throw the book on the floor. As it fell I watch a paper slide out of it and hit the wall.

I dragged myself off the bed and grabbed the paper. I unfolded the it. There was writing on both sides, the first side was the same text as the book, but when I turned it over I saw that the back side had been translated into English.

In Blair’s hand writing it read:

My Dearest Angelique,

It pains me to know that you will never know who I am, but at the same time I look at it as a blessing from the true gods. Our family has been corrupted by power and it is time for their rule to come to an end. Your grandfather, the Phoenix, has proclaimed himself as Zeus and has been using his power over the weather to decide who is worthy to live. He is not the only one, all True Souls have taken it upon themselves to rule over those they deem inferior. As your grandfather’s only child I am the only one who can stop this. I alone have the power to curse our corrupted people. All the True Souls will take their last breath tonight once I get done with the ceremony. But with my last breath I will give you what’s left of my soul so that you will live.

You are the last of our kind, a new breed of True Souls. Your father was human, and I believe this will make you stronger than all of us. My dearest you are our last hope, it is you that will redeem us. I know it. Whether it is in this life or the next you have the power to make us a new. Good Bye my lovely daughter.

With all my Love,

Your Mother, Natalyah

I was shaking at the end of this letter. I folded the letter again and placed it back in the book. I had an uneasy feeling I couldn’t get rid of.

I placed both books and Cain’s file on my night stand, but I hesitated for a moment before grabbing the folder with my name plastered a crossed it.

My breathing was heavy; I tried to prepared myself for whatever was in that folder. However, no amount of preparation could ready me for what I was about to discover.

Current Date: 07/27/1997

Date of Birth: 04/07/1997

Last Name: Silverwood

First Name: Angela

Middle Name: May

Animal Type: True Soul

Markings: Unkown

Height: 23 inches long

Weight: 12.5 pounds

Status: none

Father: Julian Lee Silverwood

Mother: Ember Augustine Sileverwood

Sibling (s): none

And there was me. As a baby. I untapped this picture from where my mother had placed it. She was holding me in her arms with my father’s arms wrapped around her. It was the only picture of the three of us together. I placed it inside of the night stand.

After my profile information there was only three more papers in my file; one was a copy of my birth certificate.

The first paper listed several blood test that had been done just days after my birth. I hadn’t understood what any of that information meant. I flipped it over, but it was blank on the back side.

I grabbed the last paper of my thin file and read.

After several tests it has been confirmed that the DNA and antibodies, that were given to the mother, Ember Silverwood, have successfully been transferred into her daughter. With the approval of the queen I, doctor Freddie Lance, took DNA and multiple blood sample of the control patient, Jack Bowen, and injected them into approved patients. Ember and her twin sister were approved for this treatment. However, while the daughter of Eve survived, the experiment was unsuccessful. Neither the DNA or the antibodies that would allow a True Soul to be created transferred into the Eve’s child.

It is my conclusion that infant Silverwood is a True Soul. We have successfully created the first non natural True Soul in existence. We did this two years before the 100 year cycle was complete for a normal True Soul to be born. The Queen would like to keep the baby were we can monitor her growing processes to see if there are any complications.

Freddie Lance, MD

My heart was pounding hard against my chest. I wiped my forehead against the back of my hand. I was sweating, my breathing was shallow.

I had been an experiment.

I had been an experiment.

I was an experiment!

I am an experiment!

What the hell am I?

I threw the file a crossed the room. At the moment all I wanted to do was get outside. I flung open my doorway, pasts my guards, and didn’t stop until I reached the shrine.

He was sitting there with his hands over his head. Looking as mild and weak as I had ever seen him. He was nothing like the fun, comical, easy going poodle I’d met at Taco Tico just a few months before. And at that moment looking at him, I hated him. I despised him.

“YOU!” I screamed. “You turned me into an experiment. How dare you inject my mother with god knows what! You are sick and twisted and a horrible, horrible human!”

He slowly looked at me. I fell to my knees and wrapped my arms around my chest while I hyperventilated.

“You’re right... I’m a horrible person. I’ve done horrible things. And now you know.” Freddie slid off the bench he was sitting on. He looked lost and miserable. I should have felt bad. I yelled at a man who’d been dying on the inside for far too long. But I couldn’t wrapped my mind around what I’d just found out.

There was quick foot steps behind me. I moved my hands from my chest to hide my face.

The footsteps stopped.

“Blair, they’re fine.” It was Jack.

“No, no they’re not. There’s so much pain.” I saw Jack grab Blair’s shoulder. Blair was standing behind me, clutching her chest. I forgot that she could feel the pain of others and how it must hurt to not know how to fully control that power yet.

“It’s a pain that you’re going to have to learn to control.” Jack tried to sooth Blair, but his voice only angered me.

“Jack why? Why?” I turned my face towards him, and spat the words out at him. My rage was just as directed at him as it was at Freddie.

“Angela, child,” he kneeled next to me. “Yes, it was an experiment. But I want you to know something. There was never another True Soul born.” He stood. “I want this to be known. Everyone already knows that there is not another True Soul out there. Blair you would have felt something if they were hiding. Angela broke the cycle. She’s the only one born with True Soul DNA. She’s the real deal, experiment or not. She’s the one who will end all of this.”

“Did my mom know?” I asked.

“No, not at first,” Freddie responded. “Mubaka forbid it. She didn’t want anyone to know exactly what the experiments were for. They guessed at what it was, but Mubaka would only vaguely give them the answer.”

“And people just followed the queen blindly?” I looked at them bewildered.

Blair got on her knees in front of me. “Angie, I had no idea. I really didn’t know that our mothers were part of an experiment forced by Chloe’s hand. Jack just informed me tonight, after he told Freddie that he gave you your file.”

“I know it doesn’t fix anything, but as soon as I found out Ember was pregnant with you, I told her the truth. I never thought she’d get pregnant,” Freddie informed me. “I’m not trying to persuade you to forgive, but I am deeply sorry.”

I was still pulsing with anger, I didn’t want to look at him, and I didn’t want to see the pain reflected in his eyes. But deep down I knew Freddie was a good man.

Blair put her hand on my shoulder. “I can make this promise, under my care no one will ever be experimented on again.”

“What about Mubaka?” My rage was burning for revenge. For punishment. And for the first time I knew where I’d start in redeeming True Souls.

They could see the rage reflected in my eyes as they stared at me, and they could not break away.