Twin Flames: Soul Memory (11 page)

She rubbed her temples at those words. Was this the type of
conversation they’d had throughout her life? If so, she was glad
she couldn’t remember.

“
Don’t let her bother you, Joy. You know
how she gets. Even Dad can’t get her to listen.”
A brother approached
her and rolled his eyes.

It appeared other family members shared the talent of
telepathy. The action was easy and natural, as if they had done it
often being siblings. The newest tidbit did nothing to stop her
mind from evaluating the differences in her parents.

She wondered how they could love each other and be two so
completely different people. Not only that contrast, but also their
spiritual beliefs were at the opposite ends of the
spectrum.

“
Has she always been this way, or is it
just me?”
She
crossed her arms as he leaned his shoulder against
hers.

“
No, she believes her prayers to her god
saved you from that bastard.”
He dipped his head toward hers.
“
She’s upset
Dad is visiting the islands this summer and he’s going even though
she’s refused to step foot on them.”

Islands? What islands is he talking about?
She glanced at him
to see if he heard her. When he didn’t respond she breathed
easier.

“
Are they Twin Flames, Chaz?”
She laid her head
against his. Her heart ached again.

“
I believe so. But Mom struggles with Dad’s
differences.”
He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Their mother’s arguments were the same as always. A small part
of Joy didn’t want to remember her past. Not because she wasn’t
ready, but more to the fact what would she learn?

“
You can’t worry about whether Mom will
condone your relationships, Joy. You’re the one who has to be
happy, not her. It’s your life.”
He squeezed her shoulder and walked into
the living room.

Her jaw dropped, he thought she was sad over an association
and their mother not being accepting. If the older woman wasn’t
still going on, she’d laugh.

If he only knew! A relationship is the least of my worries
these days.

“
Are you even listening to me, Joy?” Her mother faced her,
something hissed in her ear.

This is…familiar.

“
I am.” She lifted a shoulder. Had this played out before?
Déjà vu?

“
You better.” She shook a wooden spoon in her direction and
Joy bit the inside of her cheek. Nothing had changed. “This is the
real world. Once you realize that the better off you’ll
be.”

Nothing had changed?
Where in the hell did that come from? Shock turned
into melancholy, replaced with flash-fire anger.

How dare she tout on about the real world when she has not
lived through what I have? Who gives her the right?

“
I’m serious.” Her mother approached and Joy stiffened. “I
won’t have you spouting nonsensical gibberish to your siblings.
It’s not logical.”

Her canines lengthened and she clenched her jaw. The woman
wasn’t a hybrid and Joy feared losing control over the
animal.

Where’s this knowledge coming from?

Joy’s gaze locked to the older woman’s, refusing to bend. What
had she done to deserve this sort of treatment, because she was a
shifter and not full human?

“
Whatever.” She shrugged and turned to walk away.

“
I mean it Joy Machelle.” A thwack sounded as the spoon
connected with her shoulder blade. “You will listen and abide by my
rules concerning the younger ones.”

Air hissed through clenched teeth, she swung her arm and her
fingers connected with the utensil. The wood sailed across the room
and then her mother’s hand struck her cheek. Blood rushed to the
injured area as her brothers and father rushed into the kitchen,
their eyes wide. Their shock rolled her stomach.

A decision needed to be made, either she closed herself off
and shut down or exploded in fury. What had she done to deserve the
hit? Was she everything her ex accused her of being? Did she ask to
be struck?

Where is all this coming from?

An icy calm traveled along her nerves and reached out to her
veins, numb. Lifting her chin, she glared, silent. There’s nothing
more to say, her mother’s action spoke loud and clear.

“
Joy—” Her father stood between his wife and
daughter.

Her temper gone now. Too much fluttered around in her mind,
she couldn’t grasp it.

“
I’m outta here.” She brushed passed them.

“
Don’t let her leave this house!” her mother yelled and a
scuffle sounded behind her.

“
Leave it be, dear.” Her father’s words were tense. “You have
to let her go. She’s her own person and your demands are
unreasonable.”

“
You shouldn’t have struck her, Mom.” Her sister’s voice
reached her ears as she shoved the screen door open. “I hope she
doesn’t go back to that…asshole.”

She rolled her eyes but kept walking.
Who is this asshole? The ex I
left?

“
Hey, Joy.” Her brother Chaz grabbed her upper arm and stopped
her tirade across the front yard, “Don’t let Mom’s actions bother
you.”

“
I won’t.” She shrugged to release his hand. “But I’m not
staying here either.” She turned to the car parked in the driveway.
A gift from their grandparents for her birthday, no pain came with
the emergence of the memory.

“
Joy—” Chaz leaned a hand against the hood of the
vehicle.

“
It’s all right. I’ll be fine.” She opened the driver’s door
and slid in. “Tell Dad I’ll call him later.”

“
Okay.” He stepped back as the engine roared to life. “Just be
careful.”

“
I always am.” She grinned, winked, and waved as she pushed
the gearshift.

“
Yeah, whatever!”

Too much information came in about a past she’d forgotten. She
needed to get home and relax before the headaches
started.

What she really required was…the thread went dead. It
wasn’t
what
,
but
who
.

“
Jairo…”

Tears gathered in her eyes and she punched the steering
wheel.

Dammit!

Hey Joy,

I don’t know why you aren’t answering your cell or calling me
back so I am trying this route.

My brother was in an accident after leaving the cabin, part of
the road gave way. The water level had dropped so his truck stayed
where it landed and did not float downstream. But he suffered a
knock to his head and now is in a coma. I know this is asking a
lot, but can you fly to Calanthia as soon as possible? My family
believes you are the only one who can reach Jay in this sleep-state
he’s in. Please?

The doctor can’t understand why he’s not waking up. His
concussion wasn’t severe. What we need you to do may be far
fetching, but it’s worth a try.

Call me as soon as you get this.

Thanks,

Jezzaray

Joy stared at the computer screen, worrying her bottom
lip.

She remembered him fully now. Sometime after she’d left her
parents’ house she pieced the episodes together in their right
order. Certain memories she couldn’t place, but eventually she’d
have them in their respective spots.

Events revolving around Jairo stood out more than the others
did.

The message from the woman she befriended and who later
introduced her to her
Twin Flame
stole her breath.

Joy didn’t know what to do.

Jezzaray wanted her to fly to their home on the island nation
of Calanthia. She vaguely recalled a conversation about where Jairo
lived. She hadn’t considered visiting his home country, just like
she hadn’t contemplated the two of them ever physically meeting.
Contemplation flew out the window as what transpired at the cabin
filtered through her mind. Her cheeks warmed.

Those images were bright and in full color. Somehow, she just
knew they were real and very recent.

Was that why her doctors found nothing wrong with her, because
it wasn’t her?

Joy
had
hit her head while in Miami, which the experts agreed could
cause the short-term memory loss. They couldn’t find a source for
the migraines. Once the contusion healed, they said she should not
have any more paralyzing painful ones. Yet she did. Only recently
had those lessened in intensity, but they still brought her to her
knees.

She glanced at the phone on the desk and for the first time
since arriving noticed the message light. She pressed the
button.

The playback revealed Jairo’s voice. He called the day they
left the cabin and went their separate ways. They wouldn’t remain
apart, he had things to attend to and so did she.

“
Te amo. Siempre te amare. Tu eres mi vida,
mi ser.
”

I love you. I will always love you. You are my life, my
being.

Tears filled her eyes as more memories fell into
place.

The ringing by her laptop drew her blurred gaze. The ID
said…
Jezzaray
.

Joy stiffened. The sound echoing around her, she couldn’t
bring herself to answer. Part of her wanted to hear about Jairo and
the other feared the dreaded words.

He was gone.

She stared at the phone until the voicemail clicked
on.

“
Hey, Joy. Jezz here, did you get my
email?” Pause and a sigh. “Listen I need you to come to the
hospital. My family and I believe you are the only one Jay’ll hear
in his unconscious state. Please? If I have to beg I will, but the
effect won’t be the same over the phone.
Call me back
. I’ll make all the arrangements for
your flight. We need you here. For Jay…”

A click and the line went dead.

She reached for the device and stopped. The words her mother
said reverberating through her mind…

“
You have got to stop living in the dream world. It’s not
healthy. In the end, you’ll only get hurt. I should’ve never let
your grandparents fill your head with that fantasy gibberish.
They’re nothing but make-believe childish fairy tales.”

Were they nothing but a fantasy? The lump came
back.

Logical thinking said it wasn’t possible for them to know each
other. Yet they did. Instantly, leaving no doubt to what flowed
between them.

She had been branded by the fire. They had knowledge about
each other no one else did. They shared thoughts. They
are
one soul.

“
This is the real world. Once you realize that the better off
you’ll be.”

Gripping her head between her hands, Joy tried to block her
mother’s lectures completely. They kept rolling over and over
inside her mind. She ground her teeth and focused on what she
sensed deep within herself, the place where their connection
dwelled.

She and Jairo had known each other long before ever meeting in
the physical world. She closed her eyes. The exercise didn’t
eliminate the words completely, only quieted them.

Why couldn’t her mother accept her? Why was she always trying
to change her? She wanted to scream at the injustice from a
parent.

Part of Joy wished to do what her mother demanded. She
couldn’t bring herself to walk away from Jairo though. If he chose
to leave, fine, but she refused to do so on the terms of
uncertainty, fear of change, and being scared of the
unknown.

How many other people have given up a relationship like theirs
because of the difference in belief systems? Or they feared the
intensity and were afraid of the unexplained?

She’d gone the route her mother desired once and tried to
ignore who and what she was. It led to pain and habits that took
years to overcome. She refused to take that way again.

She knew what existed between her and Jairo was beautiful,
even if they did end up in each other’s faces sometimes. He never
raised a hand to her…although he’d paddled her ass because she
socked him in the jaw.

She giggled and tears spilled forth as the image came to the
forefront.

Well, he did piss me off.

Somewhere along the way, they ended up naked and making
love.

Joy could never be her mother. For the simple fact of not
being full human. She saw things differently and believed the
complete opposite of the woman who gave birth to her. They weren’t
even close to being the same person.

This time no anger speared her, just a deep seated sadness.
People like her mother would only ever get to experience one
dimension in life. To them there was nothing else.