Borrowed Souls (Soul Charmer #1)(18)
The aging mug with its chipped handle was a relic of better times with Josh, a souvenir from the Gem City Zoo, and one of the best days of her life. She’d been eleven, and any school field trip should have filled her with excitement, except she’d spent much of the fifth grade hiding the fact that she didn’t have much of an “immediate family.” The other kids’ moms dropped them off at school with kisses on the cheek and lunchboxes filled with snack packs. Her mom had missed every parent-teacher conference for the prior three years.
At the time, Zara, Callie’s mother, had been working three jobs. Later, as an adult, Callie understood. Mostly. Her mom hadn’t been around because she needed to wait tables or stock shelves to make sure there was enough money to cover her bills. It was normal for Callie to go days without seeing her, and the lead-up to that field trip was no different. She’d left the permission form on the kitchen table one night and it was signed the next morning when she got up. Per usual the box regarding volunteers was unchecked.
The other kids’ parents had been nice enough to her. She’d grown accustomed to latching on to a chaperone and pretending no one noticed she didn’t have her own. Only the trip to Gem City Zoo was different. That glorious sunny day, Josh had come through. As they stood in line to board the bus, her sixteen-year-old brother darted up beside her.
“Sorry I’m late, kiddo.” Back then he’d been like a god to her. Their five-year age gap meant so much more when they were little.
“You’re coming with us?” She remembered staring up at him. He’d had a growth spurt the previous month, and was already edging toward six feet tall.
He’d scuffed his knuckles in her hair. “Like I’d miss the chance to go to the zoo with you.”
“Mom know?” she’d asked, scared about the answer.
“Don’t start worrying on me. Your teacher’s cool with it, so we’re good.” Even then, she’d fretted over consequences. Josh hadn’t, but at sixteen he was better about coming through for her.
He had, too. She had the cool older brother who wanted to spend time with her. He’d stayed at her side, and explained how the chimpanzees’ shoulders worked to let them swing. He’d then demonstrated on a lamppost to the delight of her friends, too. For once, she had family others envied. Her chances to relish in the sin of pride had been scarce at that age, and she’d reveled it. Probably best she wasn’t rich. That shit could get out of control.
Josh had bought her the mug, and wouldn’t let her worry about where the money came from. The penguins had been her favorite, and for the last nine years she’d used the penguin mug whenever she was sick. It was the feel-better mug.
It might not have the power to pull her out of the hole she’d dug herself into with the Soul Charmer, though. Josh was worth it, even if he’d hurt her as they’d both gotten older. His mistakes didn’t negate the fact he was the one who looked after her until she was in high school, when their roles began to reverse. Committing a crime on her big brother’s behalf was a new low for her. She’d said it was the farthest she’d ever go, but when she’d made those promises to Josh (and to Ford) she hadn’t realized just how much this would taint her.
She poured the fresh coffee into her cup. The Soul Charmer had a reputation, but magic was still the unspoken new evil in her world. Its prevalence during the last ten years didn’t make it less mysterious. She’d only spent one day as part of the Soul Charmer’s team, but already felt like he had changed her. True, her fingers were no longer glowing, and her skin wasn’t tingling. That didn’t stop her stomach from fluttering. Two weeks of souls and magic had sounded simple. Now she knew better.
She needed to fight to stay the same Callie. She might not want to know this world, but she was a part of it now. She wrapped her hands around the hot mug, appreciating its warmth. She needed to put Derek in his place tomorrow. An ally would sure as shit help her get through the job, but he’d failed pretty miserably there at the shop, and he needed to know that. She sipped the coffee. She’d find strength to do it all, for Josh. Stubbornness had gotten her this far in life. If she could keep the steel in her spine from melting every time she was near soul magic, she might have a chance.
Callie muddled through the breakfast shift at the retirement home the next morning, dishing up the eggs, toast, and occasional slice of bacon at a pace more akin to the home’s residents than her usual speed. If any of the clients complained, it didn’t make it to her ears, though she wasn’t exactly giving them much attention. A collective two and a half hours sleep the previous night wasn’t enough, especially when it came in twenty-minute intervals.
She grabbed the list for the special diets and began filling the trays accordingly.
“You’re slamming those things in the rack with some force,” Louisa said, not missing a beat as she diced a handful of green onions.
Callie glanced at the rolling metal rack. It had scooted back a couple inches from when she’d started loading it, but all the food was still secured under the lids. “Sorry for my bad mood.” She meant it to be a genuine apology.
“Do I need to slip a couple fingers into your coffee?” Louisa’s tone was light, but Callie knew the woman was dead serious; she stashed a couple bottles—tequila and whiskey—in the drawer beneath the aluminum foil.