Free Heart Two Heart by Dyami Nukpana

huffed in agitation at my depleted magic.
Now looking back I realised the statue had been overkill. Hell, if
I’d just been swapped Taini into my body instead of the statue I
would have saved magic. Then I could have just killed the
human.
    Now, I am in a jam without even a little of
my magic I can't defend myself from the skinwalkers. I am strong
but they just keep coming. No matter where I hide they seem to find
me. If I had just a tad of my magic I could alter my scent just
enough to keep them off my trail.
    I heard a noise at the back of the alley and
realised the skinwalkers were closing in yet again. I looked behind
me and knew they had the advantage and that I was surrounded. I
growled out in frustration and used every bit of strength I’d to
jump to the nearest rooftop. Running from the skinwalkers was
becoming a full time occupation. Having this strong chupacabra body
was not working out. I needed a new plan.
XXII~~ Taini’s Perspective
    I have tried more times than I can count to
separate my conscious mind from the stone statue but nothing works.
My heart is throbbing with pain so intense I can no longer focus on
anything but the sheer agony. If I had eyes I would have been
crying. If I had a mouth I would have been screaming in agony. I am
resolute that this is my punishment for my many unpardonable crimes
against my eternal heart and the skinwalker people.
    My life is over. I am doomed to forever
suffer and I will never again be able to touch another being. My
body is lost to me, even if I break myself free from this stone
prison I will be a soul without a vessel. I know exactly what the
Vaettir bitch has done to me. I was housed with them during the war
and I saw what the Vaettir were capable of.
    I also knew that the very best I could hope
for was that my heart would finally give up and move from this
lifetime to the next. For now however there was nothing for me to
do but wait until my heart felt it had been punished enough for its
sins.
XXIII~~ Ulric's Perspective
    I felt the bed depress and I knew that
Seraphina was sitting on the edge. Her soft clean scent floated
towards me. I found myself enjoying her scent more than I have in
the past. Something about it just seemed to call to something deep
within me.
    I turned slowly to look at her. She was
wearing a light yellow sundress and her slightly wavy hair was
bouncing around her face. She looked more beautiful then I
remembered. Her skin all but glowed with an inner beauty that I
knew she possessed. I could tell she was forcing herself to keep a
calm expression on her face. Somehow, I just knew however that
Seraphina was anything but calm.
    She reached out and gently touched my face
with her fingertips. I'm not sure why but I suddenly felt tiny
little tingles everywhere her fingers touched me. Even my inner
animals perked up and took notice. I was surprised since I haven’t
felt any of my animals since we left California. Then I watched
Seraphina's reserve slip for just a moment before she forced a
small smile onto her face and finally said
    "Ulric, I need you to remain calm. I need to
tell you something but you have to promise me that you will be
calm. Do I have your word?"
    I wondered why Seraphina was all worked up. I
found myself listening to her heart race. I could hear the blood
pumping through her veins and I suddenly realised Seraphina was
scared to death. Something deep inside of me didn't like that she
was so distressed. It wanted to calm her and ease her suffering. I
reached out and placed my hand on her cheek in an attempt to
comfort her. Then I opened my senses to try and understand what had
her so afraid.
    I heard my mum, pop, Pau and Waylon in the
living room. Their voices seemed a bit strained and I could feel
anxiety pouring off of all of them. Then I heard a female’s voice
that I didn't recognize. The voice for some reason sent tingles
down my spine and my body had an almost visceral reaction. Without
even thinking about it, I found