Chapter Six

C allum felt like he was floating in his chair as he waited for Samuel to end class and return to his office. He was here, holding Sorcha's hand. Sophia's hand. He wasn't sure who was who. Had Sorcha possessed Sophia's body, or did Sophia share Sorcha's soul? Were they two women, or were they one in the same?

He'd seen and heard a lot of strange tales about the cave, of time travel, and even souls living multiple lives. He even shared Ronan's soul, or so he had been told several times. But just nine weeks ago, Sorcha's soul had been trapped in that basement. Now, she was here, and though it made sense, once he tried to understand it, the whole thing made no sense at all.

"Callum?" Sophia whispered as she rested her head on his shoulder. Already, it was as if they'd known each other their entire lives, just as it had felt in that basement. "I'm scared."

"We will figure this out. Ye have me now. I willnae let anything happen to ye ever again." She nuzzled into his side, and contentment wrapped around him like a blanket.

"Callum?" Murielle's voice floated to him, snapping him out of his thoughts. Sophia lifted her head from his shoulder, and Murielle gasped. "Sorcha?" Murielle ran over to them and pulled Sophia into her arms. Samuel stood behind Murielle with confusion morphing his features.

"Murielle!" Sophia cried, hugging a friend she recognized from so very long ago.

"How are ye here?" Murielle asked. "Ye died! I've missed ye terribly. I had wondered if yer soul existed in this time. How did ye find us?"

Samuel stepped forward to unlock his office as students flooded the halls now that classes were ending. "Let's go into my office," he said calmly, pushing the door open. They filtered in, and Samuel closed it behind him.

Callum had Sophia sit in one of the seats and addressed Samuel. "I'm sorry we missed our first lecture, Professor Sullivan. Ye know how much this program means to me. But, as ye can see, we have a bit of a situation."

"So, I see," he said, sitting behind his desk, looking at the woman who settled beside Callum curiously. "I assume your name is not Sorcha in this time?"

She shook her head. "My name is Sophia Nelson."

From there, she and Callum took turns explaining the entire situation to Samuel and Murielle, hoping they could help explain the situation.

"Sorcha—I mean, Sophia." Callum turned to look at her beseechingly. "I want ye to know that, after our night together in the basement, I wanted to go back in time to save ye from yer fate, but Murielle told me ye were already gone. I had no way to save ye."

Murielle wiped a tear away and moved to stand beside Samuel. "My heart. It verra well may burst. I cannae believe my beloved Sorcha is here with us. I think I understand what happened, but I cannae be certain."

"I also have an idea, but I'd love to hear yours, Love, and see if it matches mine," Samuel said, looking up at his wife with a pure love shining in his eyes that Callum understood for the first time in his life, for he felt the same overwhelming emotion every time he looked at Sophia.

"Well," Murielle said, scratching her head. "I believe Sorcha and Ronan's—or Sophia and Callum's—souls were meant to be together, but she was stuck in the in between for so long that her soul couldnae move on. Sophia looks nearly identical to Sorcha, much as Callum looks nearly identical to Ronan. Ronan's soul moved on, but hers couldnae until she finished whatever business she had. That, and she needed a body. Most souls inhabit a body at birth."

"But Sorcha couldn't occupy Sophia's body because she was stuck," Callum added.

Murielle nodded. "Precisely. But it all happened exactly the way it was meant to. Callum didn't see Sorcha until Sophia was in her car wreck at nine o'clock when her soul was preparing to cross over. That's when Sorcha became temporarily stronger. Her soul was preparing to transition into Sophia's body. That's how Callum was finally able to see her. And she disappeared when Sophia was declared dead at midnight. Callum spent those three hours with Sorcha, neither of them knowing that Sophia's soul was weakening as Sorcha grew stronger. Sorcha could finally move on because Callum—or Ronan—was Sorcha's unfinished business. Just when he fell in love with her, Sophia died, and Sorcha was pulled into her body."

Sadness gripped Callum as he listened, gripping Sophia's hand. "But Sophia had to die for Sorcha to live. I'm so sorry, Sophia. Your soul, it—"

"It was temporary, Callum. It didn't make me who I am. I am still me. I am still Sophia. I have all my memories, ideas, passions, opinions, and personality. I'm just now who I was always meant to be. I'm whole now. I feel it. It's all right. Please, do not mourn for what I lost, for I have gained so much more."

"And her Aunt Thelma kept trying to set us up without even knowing we were meant to be. How is that possible?" Callum asked, tilting his head.

"Because ye were always meant to be," Murielle said, placing a hand on his shoulder with a smile. "One way or another, yer souls were going to come together. Once Sorcha inhabited Sophia, it was time."

Callum was at a loss for words. He was part of some ancient web of events that all led to this moment. Goosebumps broke out across his body as it all sank in.

"There is something I dinnae understand," Callum said, looking at Murielle. "If my soul is meant to be with Sorcha's, why weren't she and Ronan together in their time?"

Sophia cleared her throat and nervously wrung her hands together. "I… well, Sorcha, was in love with Ronan," she softly admitted, looking from Callum to Murielle. "I never told a soul. I was much too shy, and he was busy guarding Murielle or fighting battles for King Brodyn. Before I could get up the nerve to tell him, he married another woman. A few months later, I died. My unfinished business must have been to express my love for Ronan—or Callum. Once I did, I was free to pass on."

"And Sophia's soul left just in time for ye to inhabit the body ye were always meant for," Murielle said in awe. "And Sophia, I never told ye this because I didnae ken how to ye felt about Ronan, but he was in love with ye, as well. He told me, but he was too busy keeping the royal family safe, and he didnae believe ye cared for him, so he focused on his duties. Then, Eva showed up, and she showed great interest in him, so he married her. Ronan was devastated when ye passed, Sorcha. He locked himself away for nearly a full moon's cycle while he grieved. He was never quite the same, blaming himself for not protecting ye. Eva wasnae too happy about it."

"When I touched Sophia's hand earlier in the courtyard, a shock ran through me, and I felt Ronan's emotions and saw his memories for the first time ever. Being reunited seems to have sparked some repressed memories. But I felt his intense love for Sorcha. It was actually painful. He believed his love was unrequited, so he lived with the pain of that. Then, Eva arrived, showered him with attention, and he married her." Leaning over Sophia while she sat in a chair, Callum kissed the top of her head, thankful she was here and praying she remained by his side for the rest of his days. "It should have been ye," he whispered in her ear.

"Clearly, you were also both meant to end up in my program together and work with Murielle and me as we research the Picts. And who better to have on our team than a Pictish princess," he said, gesturing to Murielle, "a man who has passed through both times all his life," he added, pointing to himself, "and two people who once lived in that time. I lost Caitriona and Emilie on my team, but I have gained you."

"I think I need to lie down," Sophia muttered. "This is going to take me a while to adjust to."

Samuel stood from his chair and walked them toward the door. "Callum, take her back to your flat so she can rest. I will send you today's lecture notes. Just contact your other professors and tell them you had a family emergency. I will vouch for you, if needed."

Nodding, Sophia thanked him, hugged Murielle tightly, and then allowed Callum to take her to his place for the night.