Soul Protector by Amanda Leigh Cowley Read Free Book Online Page A

body.”
    “But you said you can switch
for longer. How do you do it without your body going into
shock?”
    “It is possible to teach your
mind and body to cope for longer. You know you’re safe when your
aura goes yellow instead of dark orange. But even monitors can’t go
to the red stage.”
    “So would it be possible to
teach me to cope for longer?” I asked, biting my lip.
    As Dan looked at me, I saw only
pity left in his eyes.
    “No, not without intensive
training, it takes months for your body to adjust.”
    “Oh, right.” I managed to sound
calm but inside I was in turmoil.
    We spent the next couple of
minutes in the car deciding on how to get rid of Lydia as fast as
possible after the switch-back. Dan said there would be no time for
lengthy explanations. I would just have to be blatantly rude and
tell her I didn’t have time to see her. He was going to sneak into
my flat through the fire exit at the back, so he would be ready to
help me the minute my body went into shock.
    For the last part of the
journey, Dan coached me how to erase the kidnap from Lydia’s mind.
I had to go back to the memory immediately before I was bundled
into the car. I thought back to the man with the orange aura,
glaring at me while on his phone. Dan said I should bring this
image to the forefront as vividly as possible. Then, I had to think
of the kidnap in a light-hearted way, not easy when you’ve been
scared to within an inch of your life, and convince Lydia’s mind it
was all in her imagination, an image she conjured to pass the time
of day. I did as I was told, but was sceptical about it
working.
     
     
    ~~~
     
     

CHAPTER 5
    .
    The Recovery
    .
    As we pulled up outside my
flat, Dan grabbed his backpack and we climbed out of the car.
    “Good luck, Gracie,” Steve
said, putting the car into gear. The look he gave me was far from
confident and as I watched him pull away, I felt a fresh sense of
doom.
    Dan came and stood next to me,
putting his hands on my shoulders. I had to crane my neck to meet
his eyes. He was a good six foot one I’d guess.
    “Gracie, I’m going to get you
through this. Can you trust me?”
    I gulped, and nodded firmly. I
had to trust him. I was in way over my head.
    After giving him some inside
information about breaking into my flat, he gave me a parting wink
and shot off round the back of the building.
    I took some deep breaths,
walked up to the intercom and buzzed my flat.
    “Hel-lo,” there was my voice
again, but the other Gracie was using it.
    Good, she was home. I blew out
a shaky breath.
    “Hi, Gracie, it’s me, erm,
Lydia. Can you let me in?”
    I heard a click as the door
unlocked. I opened it and practically ran up the familiar
stairwell, stopping outside flat 3. I knocked on the door, and
‘Gracie’ opened it. It was so surreal. Without giving her a chance
to talk, I reached forward and embraced her, remembering to wish I
could switch back.
    After the familiar giddy
sensation, I was back in my own body and immediately could tell I
was in trouble. I opened my eyes to be faced with Lydia who was
staring into space. I felt shaky and weak, ready to collapse, but I
had to act fast to get rid of her. I gripped hold of the door
handle hard, aware I was losing the feeling in my legs.
    “Lydia, I’m sorry I’m really
busy right now,” I blurted out. “I can’t talk, but I’ll catch up
with you tomorrow.”
    I felt myself spiralling out of
control, and had to slam the door in her face. I knew she’d be
livid, but I had no choice. As soon as it closed, I crashed to the
floor. I had a blinding headache and felt unbearably hot. Sweat was
pouring off me. I was vaguely aware of Dan appearing at my side,
but I couldn’t speak to him.
    He slid his arms underneath me,
picked me up and carried me until he found my bedroom. He gently
deposited me on the bed and disappeared in the direction of the
bathroom. I was scared and didn’t want him to leave, so it was a
relief to see him reappear