body & soul
JAMIE LOEAK
Text Copyright © Jamie Loeak, 2014
All Rights Reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in print or electronic form without the prior written permission of the author.
First Digital Edition: August 2012
Second Digital Edition: 2014
This is a work of fiction. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious.
Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental, and not intended by the author.
Body and Soul; a novel / by Jamie Loeak – 1st ed.
Editing services provided by Mara Biggs and Stacy Loeak.
Cover Design services provided by Whit&Ware Design.
Summary:
A demon searches for the source of his humanity.
To those that believe that light conquers all things.
Don’t fear the light inside of you.
Let it shine.
1
The stifling summer heat seemed to caress Kate’s skin. It stuck to her, clinging to her like moist fingertips. The air tangled itself in her wild curls and trickled down her back. The eerie feeling made her shiver, despite the heat, and Kate ran her hands over her upper arms, trying to push the summer air away.
Just beyond Kate’s bubble of tropical temperatures, the cool night air swirled around her bedroom, pouring in through the open window and dancing just out of reach; it was mocking Kate’s misery. Inwardly, Kate cursed her parents for shutting off the air conditioner and rolled over to cool off the front of her body. She imagined her parents, sleeping in a room cooled by their ceiling fan, resting peacefully in their chilly night air, oblivious to Kate’s unyielding anguish. She grimaced at the idea that the heat was somehow “bearable”. Her mom had promised that the night air would cool Kate’s skin and that Kate would be able to fall asleep easily. She said that Kate wouldn’t feel the heat when she did fall asleep; she had been very wrong. This wasn’t one of those stick-your-leg-out-from-under-the-blankets kinds of moments; Kate would never cool down that way.
Kate sighed and rolled over for what felt like the hundredth time, and in a sudden fit of annoyance, sat up instead. She would never sleep like this. Never.
Kate sat there for a moment, her legs hanging over the edge of the bed, and formulated ideas. This was a new place; there wasn’t much for Kate to do in the middle of the night. Kate tapped her foot against the metal bed frame, sifting through her options. She could stay up here, go downstairs, or head outside. It was an obvious choice, and in one swift motion, Kate pushed herself off the bed, landing lightly on her bare feet. She padded downstairs to the kitchen.
In the kitchen, the tile floor was almost cold, and Kate moved across it slowly, enjoying the sensation. The air was cooler too. The space was open, letting the air flow across the room with ease. Kate stood in front of the open refrigerator, her curls pushed behind her shoulders while the cold air soothed her burning skin and relaxed her aching muscles. It was nice to lose the feeling of being trapped by the heat, and Kate decided to grab an ice cream before heading outside to the gulf. Once she had her hands on an ice cream sandwich, she grabbed a glass of water and turned toward the sliding glass doors. She maneuvered the ice cream, balancing it on top of the glass while she carefully opened the back door.
Kate squeezed out of the small opening and stepped onto the cherry deck. Shutting the door behind her, she moved quickly across the scratchy wood, finding the stairs easily. She made her way out to the dark surface of the ocean.
Out here, the wind rushed past her, instantly cooling her down. She paused and tilted her head back in order to relish in the feeling. The sand was smooth and rough beneath her feet, a contradiction that Kate had always liked, and she let herself sink into it. Kate took a small sip of her water, moved closer to the crashing waves, and sat on the harder sand that lay close to the water’s edge. She ate her snack, thinking about everything but the sticky heat that clung to the walls of her small bedroom.
Kate’s summer was just beginning, and she would be left lounging on the beach every day while her mom researched the ocean and her dad tried to win cases. Somehow, Kate couldn’t feel excited about being left alone all summer long. Sure, the sun would bronze her fair skin, and she could read every book that she had ever wanted to read with few interruptions. However, even though Kate would never admit it out loud, all she wanted was her mom.
Kate’s mom was always busy researching seaweed, manatees, or other sea creatures. She was always searching for a new grant to fund her research or new projects. Kate was so proud of the good her mom did, but sometimes she missed the cliche fights or ridiculous shopping sprees. Their relationship consisted of forced conversations and awkward silences. Kate was tired of it; she wanted something more, something else. She sighed, in spite of herself, and began drawing patterns in the sand. It would at least take her mind from this.
It wasn’t long before Kate found herself in a trance, not knowing what she was drawing, and when she awoke she found that she had sketched what appeared to be waves or flames. They clung to the surface of a circle that seemed to be half-consumed by the swirling images. It was kind of weird, the way it was a perfect circle, and Kate gaped at the picture for a moment. The flames were a mess of swirls and straight edges. Kate shook her head to erase her tired thoughts and turned to face the ocean again. Tears threatened to disarm her, and she breathed deeply to calm herself. She could not allow herself to break this early in the summer, and definitely not on her first night here.
Kate sat back and let the crashing of the waves calm the uneasy feeling that had wrapped around her like a blanket. She watched the twinkling of the stars, the slow crawl of the clouds as they slid across the sky. She watched as the dark sky lit with streaks of grey and navy. Kate leaned back on her elbows and watched the heavens change colors, creating new images like a twisting kaleidoscope. She stayed like that for a while, watching the sun crawl over the horizon, admiring the change from violet to tangerine to canary.
When the sun had fully risen, Kate rose too. She trudged back up the sandy expanse, not eager to see the day starting. She found her mom in the kitchen, mixing something in a metal bowl, and her dad sat at the table with a steaming cup of coffee in his hands, his laptop in front of him. He glanced up at Kate when she walked in and smiled up at her. She offered one in return, but it wasn’t as real, considering the night she’d had.
Her father’s smile faltered and he set his coffee down on the wooden table. “What’s wrong, Kate?” he asked as he closed his laptop, showing her that she had his undivided attention. It was a nice gesture, considering this was his first day at his new job, but Kate knew that he would always be there for her. His corporate law career was as demanding, if not more so, at times, than Kate’s mom’s, but he had always managed to be there. Kate hated to admit the truth, because kids weren’t really supposed to have favorites, but she loved her father most.
Kate sat down next to her father and poured herself a cup of coffee. He raised an eyebrow and watched her take a careful sip of the steaming, black liquid. When she made a face at the bitterness, he pushed the sugar and cream over. Kate took them and poured small amounts of each into the coffee until it was a warm, caramel color. After taking another, larger sip, she looked up, taking in her dad’s concerned features. He looked older than usual this morning; his usual sparkling gaze looked hollow, his green eyes dull and tired. He must not have slept too much last night either.
Kate took a moment to glance at her mother,
Blaire, who was humming while she made pancakes. Blaire had already showered, her chestnut curls drying around her shoulders, frizzing in the humidity of the morning. She was wearing her typical clothing: ripped jeans and a scruffy button-up top. Her sneakers were worn but told a tale that promised adventure and discovery. She had a way of looking put together and disheveled all at the same time. Part of Kate was envious and part of her felt shame.
“Honey, I asked you what was wrong,” Kate heard her dad say, real concern evident in his tone. His deep voice rumbled in his chest, vibrating in Kate’s ears like a buzzing alarm. It pulled Kate’s attention from her mom.
Kate focused on her Dad. “I’m sorry,” she said as her eyes darted to her coffee. She looked back up. “I couldn’t sleep last night so I went out and sat on the beach. I guess I’m still tired from the move and stuff.” Kate looked down at the glossy surface of the wood table before continuing. She didn’t much like conversations that could lead to trouble, but this was necessary. “I know you guys think that it’s okay to sleep with the windows open, but I don’t think I can do that. I didn’t sleep,” she said as she pulled her hand from the hot mug, opting to trace the floral pattern on the handle instead. She looked up, hope brimming in her