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"What if the switcher finds out?" Belle asked when the carriage stopped and they stepped down to stand in front of Harriet"s mansion. She had never come across a switcher before which was why this whole ordeal was slightly making her nervous.
"Take this time to study," he said, helping her with his hand so that she got down, "Nothing can go wrong. The switcher doesn"t know you know it. Let"s play pretend," he smiled.
Belle exhaled and started to walk towards the entrance of the mansion where the maid stood waiting for them, "Good morning, Miss Belle, it"s been a long time."
"It has," Belle offered the girl a smile and then followed the maid inside the mansion, "Please take your seat here. Would you like to have something to drink?" asked the maid.
"No, I am full. Is Mr. and Mrs. Harriet in the house?" Belle asked the maid and had the young girl nod.
"Let me fetch madame," and the maid left for the daughter of the Harriet Jill appear through the door.
"Belle," Jill said and Belle who hadn"t taken a seat yet was hugged by the girl, "I am so sorry to hear what happened to your parents. How are you holding up?"
"I am doing alright. How are you? I didn"t see you yesterday at the soiree," she mentioned and the girl raised her eyebrows.
"I fell sick. I was at home resting," Belle nodded to hear the girl say, "Come walk with me. It"s been so long since we last spent time with each other," the girl smiled at her before her eyes fell on the butler as if judging and looking at him up and down.
They walked out of the room leaving Lucas behind while the girl named Jill put her hand around Belle"s hand, "I wanted to show you some of the dresses. Come."
Belle found it hard to believe that the actual girl had been killed and was replaced by a switcher. It was nothing less than summoning a spirit that had died to possess back the body only here the actual body was gone and this was a new one. The way Jill appeared, it was hard to think it wasn"t who she was and someone was impersonating her.
While Jill continued to show her clothes, Belle had been staring at the girl who noticed it and asked, "You have been very silent. Everything alright?" asked Jill.
Lucas had told her that the switchers took up the characteristics of the dead or whoever they s.h.i.+fted too, she doubted they picked up memories because the truth was she and Jill didn"t get along that well.
To test waters, Belle said, "You look different," the smile on the girl"s face faltered.
"Different?" She tilted her head and her expression was a mix of panic that she tried to hide and anger. She took a step forward in the room where it was only them and no one else.
Belle then quickly said, "It must be the fever that you fell sick to. Your complexion looks pale," Jill stopped walking towards her and her expression suddenly changed where she laughed. If Belle wouldn"t have spoken, there were chances where the switcher would have pounced on her.
"Not everyone can stay as pretty as you even after falling sick, Belle," Jill came and sat next to Belle. The girl suddenly got close to Belle and she said, "You do have beautiful skin and features. How I wish I had them, maybe next...time," she completed her words and Belle didn"t have to know that the switcher wanted to take her form. She felt uncomfortable with the thought of it.
"Not as beautiful as you, Jill," Belle smiled looking at the girl who stared at her unblinkingly as if time had frozen before she moved back and smiled.
According to Lucas, this was her training where she would have to learn about them. Though he knew about it, he wasn"t familiar with what they were capable of in the land of the living. Belle wanted to touch the switcher. She had been given not just the gift of seeing death but she had the ability to see part of memories, memories that were related to death. She wasn"t thrilled to have it but it was what she would have to live with.
Since her parents had been gone, there were times where Belle found herself wanting to go visit the land of the dead where now her parent"s souls resided. She missed them.
"What have you been doing?" Belle filled up the awkward silence so that Jill wouldn"t keep staring at her as if she were the next meat to be hunted, "I was expecting you to join the dance cla.s.s."
"The one in Grintch?" Jill"s words appeared more thoughtful as she said this, "I don"t like the place there. It"s too crowded."
"Really? There are fewer people now, you should try," Belle coaxed the creature, "Come with me," she said wanting to get the switcher out of this mansion.
"I don"t like to dance so I will pa.s.s," the creature appeared to be wanting to avoid speaking about the dance cla.s.s, "I have been going to prayers and visiting the villages."
"Villages?" asked Belle.
"There is nothing better than helping people who are in need," said the switcher with a smile that gave out an uneasy feeling, "I offer people food who don"t have enough to eat."
"That is very kind of you," Belle replied back apprehensively, "I am sure you will be repaid with the same kindness," and this time when Belle smiled, the switcher stared back at her for longer than two seconds and then smiled.
"You didn"t take anything to eat. Let"s have lunch together," the switcher offered but Belle shook her head.
"Some other day. I am going out to the Isle Valley. I thought to just drop by," Belle said to finally get up and she found the switcher hugging her who didn"t know that Belle knew who it was and she heard the switcher wince as if in pain.
When they pulled back, Belle saw the switcher smile but before leaving the room, she noticed how a mark had been formed on the neck of the switcher as if she had burned herself which wasn"t there a few seconds ago.