Chapter 17 #3
“It’s more of a concern than you might believe,” Stefan replied. “We don’t know what contracts Devon may have signed while hurting for her friend and how many things her friend was trying hard to get her to agree to, without Devon really being aware of the circumstances.”
“But those contracts wouldn’t hold if they were done under duress or without full knowledge, would they?” Camden asked.
“We would think that is the way of the world,” Stefan began, “and, to a certain extent, yes. But we also always have to keep in mind that, if Devon really did agree to this, she has to figure out what she agreed to, then cancel it, and canceling a soul-level contract is a very different thing.”
“It shouldn’t be. I should just let go of it,” she declared. “I may have made that contract, but it’s my choice to cancel that contract.”
“It is, indeed,” Stefan confirmed with approval, “and that is something I really want you to think about, so you can figure out if you might have done something along that line.”
“Obviously I agreed to look after her kids,” she began, “but I certainly didn’t agree to let her have my body so she could come back as me.”
“Good,” he said. “I’m glad to hear your position on that is so definite.”
She laughed and asked, “Why would anybody ever do that?”
“Lots of people would do it, particularly if they didn’t understand what was involved,” he told her.
“You have a better understanding of what’s involved now.
However, back then, if she mentioned something to you, like, If I could figure out how to live forever, would you share space in your body for me?
And, if you laughed and said, Yeah, absolutely, then you just made a contract. ”
“No, no, no, because that is something she would say to me, and I would happily agree, just as you said, assuming she was just joking around.”
“That’s absolutely right,” he declared, his tone grim, “and most people would. So, chances are you did make some agreement of that nature, and she may be counting on that. And, no, you do not have to honor that because you were not fully aware of what that would mean. And it wasn’t a contract, as in a true soul contract, that you made before you ever came here into this lifetime.
You have the absolute right to break any and all contracts while you’re here, if they do not suit your personal goals of this lifetime. ”
“Dear God. I probably did say something along those lines to her. We used to joke around a lot, but I would never have known she was serious.”
“Exactly. And that’s not necessarily something that you have to worry about.”
“Except that the kids probably think that I’ve made a full-on contract and that I will step aside so their mother can come in.”
“It doesn’t matter what the kids think because they have even fewer rights in this.”
“But they’re trying very hard to make it happen,” she pointed out.
There was silence for a long moment, and Stefan asked, “Did you see her there tonight?”
“No, no I did not.”
“Were you expecting to see her there tonight?”
“No,” she said. “I wouldn’t have thought so. I mean, it’s not something that I was trying to do. You don’t think so? Although, if she’s stuck, wouldn’t it be helpful for her to cross over?”
There was almost a breath of appreciation in Stefan’s voice when he spoke. “That’s the way to continue thinking, Devon, because it’s not in Tabitha’s soul’s best journey to do this either,” he stated. “Yet she might still try to pursue it.”
“Should I be going there trying to find her, trying to convince her to go home instead of whatever her game is?”
“And yet what was your reaction when you saw her on the other side?”
“I ran from her,” she shared. “I have seen her, and every damn time I run as fast and as hard as I can in the opposite direction.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. And it happened not very long ago,” she pointed out. “So, I’m not sure what that says.”
“It says that your soul knows very well that something is wrong and that it may need help.”
“I’m not sure about help, but it knows better than to hang out there. Which is where you were.”
“Which is where you were too.”
“Right. So, if I knew not to go there, why the devil would I have been there in the first place?” She spoke in exasperation. “That makes no sense. I also sleep with this going on in my head. I’m not making a conscious decision to go there, so I can hardly decide to not go either.”
Stefan laughed. “I rather imagine that part of you is thinking you can help her. And another part of you would have been thinking you were helping her well before you realized she had other plans. Now that you know about these plans and the risk to your life, you shouldn’t be there on your own.”
“Oh, right.” She snorted.
“This is serious, Devon. Do not go dancing through these dimensions without somebody with you.” A long silence ensued.
Then she asked the question that Camden had been waiting for. “That’s fine and dandy, but who do you expect me to take when I cross over to the other dimension? If my soul takes me there again?”
Stefan, his voice serious and somber, replied, “Either me or Camden.”