Past Lives and Borrowed Bodies: The Afterlife Series

By Bambi Harris

With her murder well behind her, Penny has a new adventure to contend with: uncontrollable time travel. And shes made a powerful enemy right off the bat. Claudius, the evil, ancient Roman merchant, needs to get Penny and her abilities as a seer out of the picture, so he sends her jumping in and out of other peoples bodies in a wild race through time.

Pennys trip takes her to plague-infested Europe, the hippie era, the Vietnam War, and beyond. Despite the constant change of address (and body and time), Penny still manages to communicate with her allies: the moody and handsome Avery, cowboy Roy, and her vintage-loving angel, Eric. They frantically try to get her back to her new home in Gods garden, but Claudius is a twisted puppet master. He has hidden her in time and has quite a selection of exhaustiveand exhaustingmisadventures planned for her.

But not all is despair and confusion. Penny uses her many skills to comfort people along her journey, and she is reunited with family she didnt know she hadeventually experiencing some of her own past lives. Pennys inspiring journey of self-improvement and hard-earned life lessons is another fun ride on the astral plane in this third installment in the popular Afterlife series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Apr 11, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462009329

Bambi Harris

Using her knowledge of life after death (and all that it entails), Bambi Harris brings the Afterlife series to a close—freeing herself up to start the Afterlife Chronicles. She and her husband, Steven, live in rural Illinois and share their historically themed home with their three dogs.

Book preview

Past Lives

and Borrowed Bodies

SKU-000438240_TEXT-3.pdf

The Afterlife Series

Bambi Harris

iUniverse, Inc.

Bloomington

Past Lives and Borrowed Bodies

The Afterlife Series

Copyright © 2011 by Bambi Harris

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-4620-0931-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4620-0933-6 (dj)

ISBN: 978-1-4620-0932-9 (ebk)

Printed in the United States of America

iUniverse rev. date: 04/05/2011

To Rebecca — an insightful, inspiring, endearing soul who has sparked life into my long desired dreams

Just don’t, he said quieter.

I leant a little closer to him as though we were discussing secret agent business. Just don’t what?

Just don’t feel bad, that’s the answer.

To the Sunday blues?

To everything.

I squinted at him suspiciously. That’s a very difficult piece of advice to put into practice, Roy.

Yes, but if you can achieve that. He waved his finger at me. It will change everything.

Death and Other Inconveniences, 2010

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty Four

Chapter Twenty Five

Chapter Twenty Six

Chapter Twenty Seven

Chapter Twenty Eight

Chapter Twenty Nine

Chapter One

A nicely dressed medieval boy, perhaps a squire or servant, eyed me curiously. My lady?

I waited for him to finish his enquiry before I formulated a response but realized his look of suspicion would be all I had to go on. Um, yes?

He looked apprehensive to go further; perhaps whoever he thought I was, wasn’t a pleasant person in his experience.

You may speak freely, I said in my best posh English accent.

The men await your orders, my lady. The Lord will be returning before dawn and the men wish to greet him and have the servants prepared.

Okay. I cleared my throat to cover my un-medieval diction. Very well, I corrected myself. I bit my lip and stared at him. Apparently there was more I had to say, maybe curtsy or something. Was there anything else you needed, um—?

Cedric.

Yes, Cedric. I didn’t forget your name; I just wasn’t sure what you wanted.

He stared at me as if I had become possessed and I realized shorter, less intricate sentences probably wouldn’t give me away. Yes?

Will my lady be returning with us? What shall we say for fear the Lord may enquire of thee?

I stared at him thoughtfully for a moment. I shall arrive before the master, I finally answered. Have you a trustworthy man to protect me? I didn’t want to be lumped with another person to confuse but I certainly had no sense of direction here.

One of the men, he looked like a soldier or knight without armor, stepped forward and bowed. It will be an honor, my lady.

I immediately suspected that the woman I occupied and this seemingly noble man were in cahoots with each other and I thought it best to keep him at arms’ length.

No, I said as I noticed everyone’s surprised reaction. You will do. I pointed to a tall but by all appearances timid young man who nervously came to my side and kept his eyes glued to the ground, likely avoiding the curious looks coming from his companions.

The handsome noble man stepped back looking as if someone had slapped him in the face.

I require much strength from my protector, I kind of explained to them. Cedric, make haste and take heed of your health. I had watched a few movies in my teens and tried to sound as Maid Marion as I could but could not be sure of how convincing I was.

The tall shy man and I watched as Cedric and his merry men trotted off into the distance.

I turned to him and smiled in an attempt at reading his expression but he remained neutral. What do you go by? I asked him.

I am Gilbert of Yalding, my lady.

His large, oval shaped pink-cheeked face stared down at me with no sense of much at all. His red tunic and green tights reminded me of an oversized elf, but he didn’t come across as a threat. Have you told me that before? I asked carefully.

No, my lady.

I studied my muddied and bloodied surroundings and then stared at the girl a few feet away who had just died at my feet while trying to reach the end of my red dress. Gilbert, I have turned ill with lethargy and hope you can answer me some questions.

Yes, my lady.

Okay, good. Ah, I wish to confirm that you understand why we are here.

Your brother.

I nodded, hoping I looked as if his explanation were sufficient. He asked me to be here?

Vanished.

Right, he is vanished and he would ask me to be here to find him if he could.

Yes, my lady.

It instantly occurred to me that I had no idea what this girl’s brother looked like. I wish to be certain that you are familiar with his appearance. Would you say he looks similar to me, Gilbert?

Yes I do know. Richard is not tall and his face is without hair and he is alike to my lady with her hair and eyes.

Ah good. I touched the end of my long partially braided hair and determined it to be a very dark brown. Gilbert, please look into my eyes, I felt a pain there and wish to make sure the disease has not taken hold and changed their color.

He squinted into them with maximum concentration. They are still the color of brown, my lady.

Thank you. I nodded and thought for a moment. I was looking for my brother who had dark hair, no beard and brown eyes. As I looked around at the hundreds of dying people, everyone’s clothes were brown or beige and mostly muddy. I doubted my search would be over so quickly. What would I say to him once I found him?

Gilbert, will you help me look for him?

Yes, my lady.

And perhaps we should get these people to shelter before dusk arrives.

Yes, my lady.

I took a deep breath and stretched, feeling the restriction placed by a bone corset. I felt overwhelmed by all the devastation around me yet I had to think on my feet and work out who I was and that would have to be priority. One more thing before we embark on this mission, I said. I think it fitting to befriend one another for the morale of all. So please address me by my name.

Yes, my, er, yes Eugenia.

I applauded myself internally, knowing I had gathered enough information without raising too much suspicion.

Thank you, Gilbert. I ask that you speak with that man there. I pointed to a man who dragged a dead, boil covered man into a nearby pit. Ask him how you may be of assistance.

Yes, my… Eugenia. He quickly nodded his respects and left me to help the man.

I took a moment to recuperate from my surreal conversation and studied my new surroundings. Dozens of people of all ages and genders were dragging scattered corpses into piles. Some of the bodies were gaunt, mud- covered and disheveled, but most were dead or close to it. I watched as two boys threw one of the skeletal, boil covered men into the pit and realized that he still had some life left in him.

The damp muddied ground made for an unstable surface and many people struggled just to stay upright. The smoke of the many small fires around the encampment barely masked the rotten smell of the putrid, pus- covered living or the decomposing dead.

Tunics, tights and blankets had been used to create little tents for shelter. Dirt and blood covered everyone and every thing and the chill from the heavy clouded sky dispersed through the village ominously.

I couldn’t fathom what would motivate this wealthy medieval lady I possessed to venture out into this degradation but obviously she came here for a reason and I doubted leaving here would help her mission.

I knew Claudius had sent me here in the disguise of another person. When he had seen me in ancient Pompeii he knew I was a seeyer so he probably thought I could somehow locate him and force him to face his actions in the afterlife. I don’t know if he intended to hide me from rescue or just get me out of the way but for now I would have to do my best to remain inconspicuous.

I hitched up my dress and tucked the ends into my layered bloomer type things and bent down to check the pulse of the girl on the ground near me. After ascertaining her deceased state I bent my knees and carefully dragged her to the area where a mass of bodies were heaped for the men to come and take them to the pit.

It may have been an hour that had passed when I stopped dragging corpses to the heap and delegated myself a break. After having lived in the afterlife, I understood a little better how temporary our bodies were and it desensitized me to the death that surrounded us, but the somberness of the living and their reactions to the bodies left behind were difficult to witness.

I hunted down Gilbert and told him to tell the other leaders to also rest. I spotted a makeshift tent made of clothing and branches and headed towards it.

I pushed aside a partly bloodied shirt that had been strung up to make the entrance flap to the tent and slumped inside. My body ached in muscles I’d forgotten I had, and it concerned me greatly as I couldn’t remember feeling anything like that whilst on the ghost retrieval missions.

As I lay there for a moment catching my breath, I stared at the ceiling made of dead people’s clothes. Suddenly the floor beneath me began to move. Thomas? a voice asked.

I jumped aside and let the man come out from under the rags. The instant our eyes met I knew him to be the brother of the girl I was in. Something about him felt very familiar, and I wondered if perhaps the young woman’s feelings and thoughts were still retrievable while I inhabited her body.

The young man’s brown eyes sparked with the same familiarity. He reached out and clutched my forearms. Why, Genie?

I had to be careful with my wording so kept it short. I came for you, I vaguely explained.

His kind twenty something face stared back at me in awe. It must have been a long time since this man had seen his sister. His dark brown hair was tied back with a piece of rag and dirt stuck to his skin like a primal make-up, but something about him, reminded me of me. Not the girl I was in but the real me, Penny Lane, but how? The way his one eyebrow raised just like mine did when I got curious.

He suddenly burst out laughing. Princess Genie muddied like an un-fleeced mutton, ‘tis a sight indeed!

I assumed that Princess was a term he used for teasing as I got the impression I was a wealthy lady and not actual royalty. I looked down at my beautiful red empire dress covered in mud and other questionable stains. Yes, terrible, I agreed.

The joy left his face and he stared at me seriously. My words when I departed, I should not have sullied—

I cut him off with a hand gesture. ’Tis in the past, Richard. We are here now and there are many more important things to concern ourselves with.

He stared at me, and I knew I must have sounded different to him. What has come of you, Genie?

I shook my head. This place has changed me. I am not the sister you once knew. I now wish to help you and these people.

He let go of me and lay on his side. Your speech disguises you but your alterations do much to inspire.

Thank you, Richard. I have missed you. It is like I am learning you over again.

He nodded. Many moons have crossed the sky since to be sure. He stared quietly at me for a while. You appear fatigued.

I stretched and lay next to him with my hands tucked under my head. I am ill experienced for such hard labor.

He laughed. For naught have I seen you seize a broom, scarce a cloth at that.

I smiled wearily. No longer, my brother. The sufferings of all will be my personal burden, right after I spend a moment in rest.

My wording caused him to squint at me curiously but he didn’t seem overly bothered. Whom accompanies you?

Gilbert, I replied, yawning.

Gilbert! Are you ill?

I closed my eyes. He is strong and speaks little, I explained the best I could.

I might suspect you are possessed, my lady, though I will summon him to let us all rest for this eve.

I stretched again and collected a bunch of rags under my arm like a body pillow. Thank you, Richard.

I could barely hear him leave because I felt so tired.

I thought about Avery, he had given me a necklace to celebrate my death day, a key at the end of a chain. He had said I could use it to bring him to my side at any time, but where was it now? Where was my real body now? Did it lie somewhere in a coma still wearing the necklace?

I missed Avery already and I worried about how long I would be stuck here. I wish I had never got on the bad side of an Ancient Roman ghost, but it was too late now.

So many thoughts swirled in my mind but the mists of dreams and fatigue overcame me and I wondered where I would wake and who I would be.

Chapter Two

I sensed the presence of someone nearby but didn’t open my eyes at first. An unearthly peace settled upon us; not a sound but for the moans of the dying.

Richard hadn’t returned to the tent but when I opened my eyes and stared into the darkness, I could barely make out a reflection bouncing off of glass opposite me, a pair of glasses in fact. Eric?

Hey groovy chick, I was wondering when you’d fall asleep.

Are you coming to me in a dream? I whispered.

Express post baby, the coolest and quickest way to get to you.

I started to fall into a deeper, dreamless sleep but Eric pulled me out. Hey, Penny? Stay with me girl, we’ve got to talk.

The mist dispersed and I focused as much as I could on him. Am I still stuck in the middle of the black plague?

Yes, afraid so, he replied morosely.

Any chance you can get me out of here? I asked, though I knew the response wouldn’t be favorable.

Not that miracles aren’t on my résumé but this is a bit out of my league.

I sighed wearily. I want to go home, I said.

I know Penny, we’ll find a way. I’m working with Roy and Avery now—

Avery?

Yes.

He came to visit me and someone knocked on the door but no one was there, I explained. And when I noticed a coin on the ground I picked it up and that’s how I ended up here.

I could tell he was nodding. Claudius put it there.

I figured. Talking into the darkness unnerved me. Eric, can you make it light in here?

A circular source of light appeared in the center of the small tent and illuminated us both. Me in my beautiful muddied red dress and Eric with his sixties dark rimmed glasses, dark curly hair and dark blue seventies velour suit.

That’s better. I smiled at my angel friend’s face. So what did Claudius do and why?

Eric sat up, put his hands behind his back and pulled out a very comfy looking purple pillow. Well, the coin nicked your skin a little and he kind of captured a tiny bit of your soul.

My soul!

Shhhh, he warned. You may be asleep but you are speaking out loud.

Eric, what do you mean, he captured my soul? I asked more quietly. Am I not one piece anymore?

He smirked. You are fine, it’s just enough to be a tracking device sort of thing, he can’t actually do anything to you.

Not at all comforting, for the record.

Anyway, he started, placing his comfy looking pillow under his head and laying back next to me, me and the gang are pretty sure he’s shaking in his shorts because he thinks you’re the cat that can find him so he’s sent you off on a bit of a time travel tour to get you out of his way.

Wait, when you say tour, are you suggesting that this might not be the only place I’m going to be stuck at?

His face scrunched up in a cringe, the expression he favored when he had said too much. We don’t know what his intentions are, but it wouldn’t be very practical to keep you in one place if you know what I mean? He’s not going to want you to get comfortable in one spot.

Or one body.

Right.

I really wanted to sit up but knew if I woke I would cut my communication with him. I’m in a real person’s body, Eric. It’s not like the missions, I could end up being anybody and I can’t disappear when things go bad.

He reached out and touched my arm. I could sense he cared but could not feel his touch.

Can you see my hand where the coin cut it? I asked.

Eric sat up and grabbed my hand, holding it up for both of us to see. I could just make out a tiny smear of dried blood in the crevice of my pointer finger. It’s blood, I said seriously.

It’s no big deal, you can barely see it, he remarked casually.

Eric, if I’m bleeding then I’m human. It means I’m alive and it means I could die again.

I’d never seen the usually unflappable underground angel look so defeated. It hurt to see my friend and counselor look this way. He always had the answers and I wished I could return that to him. Maybe if you die here you can come back to us? he offered quietly.

Maybe, but Eugenia, the girl I’m in, has to go somewhere so she will probably end up there and I’ll be who knows where without a body to float around in.

He leapt across and hovered over me. I won’t let it happen, Penny Lane, do you hear me? I’ll challenge Claudius to a slow motion kung fu fight before I let him send you off to limbo land.

I appreciate the sentiment, Eric, however strangely delivered. I smiled up at him. Well now that I’m officially stuck here, can I ask your advice on something?

He suddenly beamed, giving advice being his true passion. He positioned himself cross-legged across from me so as to remain in my line of sight. Ask me anything, groovy girl, he insisted. Ask me things you don’t even want to know yet.

I chuckled to myself. Let’s just start with the pressing issues first. I worried he wouldn’t be able to tell me anything but I asked anyway. When I talk in this era I think it’s pretty obvious that I don’t word things right. I’m glad they speak English but it’s pretty hard for me to understand and I worry they want to put me in an asylum every time I speak.

He seized my arm with both hands enthusiastically. Yes.

Yes?

Yes, I can do something about that, he elaborated.

You can?

He crossed his arms and tilted his head. I didn’t spend thousands of years twiddling my thumbs. I’ve got more tricks up my sleeves than a late night magic act.

Well tell me, I pleaded.

He stretched his neck out, seemingly seeking the right words. Okey dokey, well I can set something up for you but there might be a condition or two attached.

I knew he could see my skepticism. "Oh sure, the ever popular catch. Okay, what is it?"

He took a deep breath. It’s a general trade off. One gift for another.

But what gift do I—? The words fell from my lips as the realization hit me. Oh no, please say there is another way.