''I know, Granny told me that our bodies are similar, so your soul might end up fitting perfectly with mine, so it's best for her to find out how to make you have more control of your actions when you are using my body''
Leo looked at Nicole as she spoke to the person he couldn't see. Instead of being afraid like he always was, he was rather intrigued and kept staring at Nicole.
''Now that Leo believes you, I should go and get Granny to train me. Leo is here with you; I will leave you with him''
''En, sure. Hurry up and return. I will be waiting for you'' Nicole waved her hand at Lizzy who smiled before disappearing from her sight.
Nicole turned and saw Leo looking at her, ''ah, sorry. I forgot I wasn't alone''
''That was Lizzy, right? Why didn't she want to meet me?''
''She still needs to do something before that. You will be able to see her soon''
''Okay. The porridge will get cold'' he said and started feeding her again.
Nicole saw the bracelet on his wrist and looked at the one on her wrist.
''The bracelet is yours, right? I will give it back to you'' Leo said after seeing the way she looked at it.
''No, you don't have to. You can keep it'' Nicole wanted the bracelet back but she couldn't bring herself to take it again after hearing what Granny told her.
''This bracelet has been a lucky charm for me. Since the day I wore it, I've been encountering good things alone''
''That's what it was made to do. It was made to bring its owner good luck and protection. You should keep it well'' Nicole smiled and the room became quiet again.
###
Nicks bar
''Ray, you should have seen how protective he was off the bracelet. Leo is seeing someone Ray; a woman to be precise'' Priscy said certain of her deductions. Since the day Leo asked her to leave his house, she hadn't been at peace. Things have become awkward between them and she felt she was losing him.
''Are you sure? The bracelet might just be something Lizzy left behind'' Ray sipped his whisky as he looked at the shelves of bottles of different drinks behind the counter.
Priscy gulped down her whisky and pushed the glass towards the bartender who was busy mixing a drink with his back turned to them.
''Bartender'' Ray called the bartender and he turned to them. ''Another glass'' he said to him and the bartender on duty that day nodded before filling their glasses up.
''He was holding unto that bracelet so dearly, that damn bracelet''
''What if it belonged to Lizzy? You know how Leo is. He doesn't fall for just anyone that easily''
''That is why I'm worried Ray, he doesn't fall for anyone that easily but once he does; he never changes his mind. It was the same thing that happened with Lizzy. He suddenly informed us that he was in love and we didn't take him serious only for him to appear with her and introduced her to us as his girlfriend''
''First of all, stop being anxious. The more anxious you are the more Leo will create a distance between the two of you. You know what he hates the most is being pressured, right? You should apologise to him and earn his trust again. as for that mystery girl, whether she exist or not, we will find out soon''
''Whoever she is, I don't care. But I need to rid of her fast, Ray. I will not let another Lizzy stand in my way again. Not this time'' Priscy looked at the glass in front of her coldly.
…..
Leo pulled over in front of Nicole's apartment and got down. he went over to open the front seat door for Nicole and held her get out of the car. they opened the small gate of her apartment and saw Detective Gail at her door waiting. He kept glancing at his watch as he waited. When he saw them approaching, he went over.
''Nicole, what happened to you? I was worried when your phone wasn't going through'' he asked worriedly and looked at Leo.
''I'm fine Detective Gail''
''Are you alright? You look sick''
''I am fine. What do you want?'' Nicole's voice sounded indifferent as she looked at him with a burning gaze.
''I told you I would come and check on you. I was busy the whole day and only got time to come this even but after ringing the bell for a while, I realised you weren't inside. What are you doing with him?'' he looked at Leo who held unto Nicole's hand while his other hand held the flask bag and medicine they got from the hospital after her discharge.
''Leo, can you leave us alone. Wait inside for me'' Nicole went forward to open the door.
''Call me if you need anything'' Leo said to her before going inside. Detective Gail looked at Nicole suspiciously.
''Nicole, what's wrong? You seem a little cold to me. did I do something wrong?'' he asked her.
''How long did you plan on keeping me in the dark? You lied to me''
''I don't understand''
''Why did you do that to my friend? Detective Gail, do I look stupid to you? You lied to me from the very beginning, right? You thought I could never find out about your true identity''
''What did she tell you?'' Detective Gail didn't feign ignorance anymore. He looked at Nicole in the eyes.
''You are now revealing your true self to me. I wonder why you lied to me in the beginning?''
''I didn't intend to lie to you. I'm sorry for that but, I didn't befriend you with ill intentions. The first day I saw you at the station, I saw a black cloud following you. It is the kind that only follows people who are either dead or about to die''
Nicole furrowed her brows looking at him as he pointed behind her.
''Even now, that black cloud is still following you''
Nicole turned slightly to look at her back but she couldn't see anything.
''I am the only one who can see it because I am an exorcist. I was worried the first day I saw you, so I decided to find you. That was when I saw that you were the medium that I once met during the school bus case. Nicole Benson, I've been looking for you all these years since that year''
''Can you see my past, present and future?'' Nicole asked him.
''I can see your past and your present but the black cloud is covering your future, so I can't see anything. That is why I am scared that those ghosts you are helping might swallow you up one day''
''You are the one. The shaman and exorcist that psychic told me to be wary about, right?'' Looking at him, Nicole recalled the first year she became a medium. She had met a psychic who warned her that there was someone in her future who will be able to see her past, present and future which was clouded by a thick black hollow. She had forgotten of it because it happened a long time ago but hearing him say those things to her suddenly made her remember what that psychic said that year.
''You know Azar?'' Detective Gail asked and Nicole's eyes fluttered as she looked at him.
''Just who are you?'' she stepped back, fear clearly in her eyes. ''Are you here to kill me?''
''Nicole, I am not here to harm you''
''No, you… leave this place. I don't want to see you'' Nicole leaned against the door.
''You've totally misunderstood me, Nicole. I am not that kind of exorcist who kill mediums''
''But, you will when I become possessed by a strong spirit one day. That is your duty. You call people like me a 'curse'. It's that why you were been nice to me? You were luring me in, right? To earn my trust first''
''Calm down, Nicole. I can explain. You are wrong about me''
The door opened and Leo walked out and stood in front of Nicole.
''What are you doing?'' Detective Gail asked him in an irritated tone.
''I think that is enough for today. She just got out of the hospital. She doesn't look like she is ready to continue this conversation with you''
''Who are you?''
''I am the one responsible for her as of now'' Leo said looking at Detective Gail.
''What?''
''Nicole, do you want to speak to him or do you want to go inside with me?'' Leo ignored Detective Gail and turned to face Nicole.
''Detective Gail, leave my house. I don't want to continue this conversation anymore'' Nicole voiced out as she hid behind Leo.
''Nicole, you really misunderstood me''
''Let's talk another time, please''
''You heard her. please leave detective''
''I will call you tomorrow. You and I need each other'' he said and walked away.
''Let's go inside'' Leo held her hand, taking her inside.