Scattered Souls

Chapter 22 - Cryptic Fuck Up

I was finally able to open my eyes. My mind still felt a little groggy. All of that definitely had to be a dream. There was no way for any of it to possibly be real. Or was there?

I groaned when I realized that Jordan was still very much in my room. Which meant that I hadn't been dreaming. Xypher was actually somehow in Jordan's body. Even thinking about something like that felt so weird. I mean the mind boggling aspect was how can he be in Jordan's body in the first place? This felt like I was trapped in one of those B grade horror movies, where such things are a common occurrence. This was real life. My life! And it was turning into one giant cryptic fuck up.

"Are you okay, love?" Jordan, well more like Xypher, asked.  The familiar concern for me was as present as ever.

"Yes I am." I tried my best to assure him, with a faint smile on my lips. "Still trying to wrap my head around how all of this is even possible though." I admitted.

"Trust me, it came as a surprise to me too." he said.

"How do I know that it's really you though?" I questioned. "And that all of this isn't some sort of twisted prank?"

"Robyn, you know me. I know you felt what I felt when we kissed. When my soul was still trapped inside that teapot." he grasped my shoulders with his hands. "It's me, Robyn. It's me."

The electricity I felt surging through my body when he touched me, confirmed that it was him. Only Xypher could give me that feeling,  regardless of wherever his soul was.

"I believe you. " I think I surprised the both of us by saying. "So if your soul is now in Jordan's body... Then where is Jordan's soul?"

"I'm still piecing everything together, love.  However, I'm assuming he's now trapped in the darkness." there was a sad look on his face as he said that.

"Oh no." I wouldn't wish that kind of darkness on anyone, not even someone like Jordan.

"Does that mean that his soul will now be appearing from the teapot, instead of yours?" I wondered out loud.

"I'm afraid I'm not sure, there were a few other factors at play for me to be able to appear."  he said as he stared at the floor.

"Factors like?" I questioned. I have to admit that this felt like I was piecing together some kind of murder mystery.

"Well, I was cursed." his eyes still not leaving the floor. "That's how I was able to appear from the teapot."

"If you were cursed then how were you able to grant wishes?"

"Or rather, make deals?" I corrected myself. 

"Do you remember the connections I mentioned?"

I nodded in response.

"Those are actually powerful forces that are present in the darkness. "

"So they helped you?"

"I bargained with them until I became powerful enough to make such deals."

"There's still forces that are more powerful than I am." he added,  probably noticing the awe on my face.

"You really are a genie." I teased.

"I'm no genie." he said firmly. "I did it for revenge. I was hell bent on seeking revenge. Until..."

"Until?" I questioned him pausing.

"Until you set me free." he beamed.

"I set you free?" I asked, perplexed. "How would I do that? I don't think that's possible."

"It has to be. " he declared.

"It has to be you." he repeated. "When you wished that I was like Jordan after our kiss the other night. That's when you set me free. That has to be it."

I thought back to the words I said after our kiss the other night. When I was still intoxicated from the high of our lips dancing together. I had wished quite adamantly for Xypher to be real. For him to be like Jordan. Is that really what set his soul free?  Was it really my unintentional wish that helped set his soul free?  Talk about taking things literally.

"Supposing your theory is correct. " I started. "Why would it take three entire days to come into effect?"

"Wouldn't it have happened immediately?" I wondered. "If it was my wish that set things into motion, then how come this is only happening now?"

"Well it happened that very same night." he admitted sheepishly. "After I returned to the darkness, it's like I literally woke up in Jordan's body instantaneously."

"It happened days ago?" I screamed out.

His eyes widened.

"Why are you only telling me now?" I demanded.

"Well I didn't know how you'd react." he was looking at the floor again.

I hated when he did that. He was tugging at my heart strings. On one hand I'd be upset about something, on the other hand when he looked so disheartened, it was as if my heart ached for him. Ached to take away any sadness or discomfort he was feeling.

"I handled your appearance from the teapot pretty well. I'd say I can handle anything." I teased.

"You passed out before though." he pointed out.

"And your initial wish was to be free of Jordan pestering you. I highly doubted you wanted more of him around." he added, after my lack of a response.

"Well this is you in his body.  Completely different, as bizarre as it may sound."

"I did come to check up on you occasionally in the night though." he looked unsure, as if he didn't know whether he should be telling me that or not.

"I knew it!" I exclaimed. "I knew I could sense you."

"You could?" now he was confused.

"Yeah, I woke up a few times, but went back to sleep after I couldn't see anyone. I thought it was all in my head." I admitted.