14. Research
Sydney was sitting on her bed, an open book on her lap, with hundreds of other books around her when Joe walked in.
"What are you doing?"
Sydney sighed, "I want to know more about this 'dark arts' stuff. I need to know more about Sin."
"Have you found anything?" Joe asked.
Sydney nodded. "But it can't be right."
"What was it?"
Sydney bit her lip and handed him the book she was reading. "Page eighty-six."
Joe sat down on the bed next to Sydney and flipped through the book until he got to the correct page. He read it slowly and stared at Sydney when he was done. "This can't be true."
"I know! But..." She looked down.
"It's just some stupid book. I don't believe it."
"Joe, read it again and think about it, really think about it. It has to be true."
Joe looked back down at the book and began to read: "There are several dark arts practices that are considered banned and no one should consider doing. Not even the experts. These include: body possession, mind control, and, the most dangerous of all, soul splitting.
"People whose souls have been split will not notice the missing part of them, for the soul will heal quickly, replacing what was lost. It is the piece of soul that has been taken you must worry about, at first. The part of the soul taken will always be the darkest part of the soul.
"No one truly understands the power of the soul, and that is one of the reasons this process is considered forbidden. A soul is an unpredictable thing that we will never understand. A split soul can cause endless damage, destruction, and death to millions.
"There are many things to do with a split soul, the most common is to keep it, locked up and safe, to fill the soul's original body, once the soul it came from, moves on to the Land of the Dead.
"However, it has been known for some people to 'personify' the soul, making it appear to be it's own person. When, in reality, it is more like an alter ego of the person it came from. This soul now possesses the ability to cause all of the death and destruction it is capable of, if it so chooses too. It is rare for it not to though.
"The most important thing to remember is that the personified soul is no different than its origin soul. The amount of damage the new body can cause is the same amount damage the origin soul is capable of doing. You must keep on eye on both souls. It may be hidden, but that destructive soul is in the original one as well. In every case, it eventually comes out. No one understands why or how, but most think it it because the soul, while healed, isn't truly whole, and will do anything to replace that lost part of itself.
"Do not, under any circumstances, perform this act of the dark arts. If done, be prepared for the end."
Sydney pulled her knees to her chest and hid her face.
Joe attempted to comfort her. "It's alright, maybe you'll be the first exception."
Sydney shook her head and looked up at him, tears rimming her eyes. "No, you know it as well as I do. Joe, I'm scared. I don't want to go on some rampage and destroy everything! I already went through that when I was Shadowed! I don't want to go through that again! It was horrible!" She looked back down.
Joe put his arm around her shoulders. "It'll be alright. We'll find some way to fix it."
Sydney wiped her eyes. "You know that that won't happen."
"Why do you have to be so pessimistic? Don't give up yet. There might be a way." Joe leaned in towards her face to attempt to grab her attention. He smiled an encouraging smile.
Sydney turned into his face and looked into Joe's eyes. She smiled softly, "I-"
"Sydney!" The door slammed open and Anna crashed into the room, "It- oh, oops." Anna blushed at the scene before her. "Sorry, I'll come back later." She backed out of the room.
"Anna, wait!" Sydney sprang from her bed and stopped Anna from leaving. "What is it?"
"Well, I'm sure it could wait. This seems more important."
"Anna!"
Anna suppressed a smile, "Your mom is looking for you. She said it's an emergency."
"Where is she?"
"She and all the other Gods are in the meeting room."
"One big thing after another." She mumbled to herself as she ran towards the door. She turned back around just as she was about to leave and stared at Joe. "I'll be back soon." She quickly left.
Anna gave Joe a teasing grin.
"What?" He asked as he stood up.
"What was that?"
"What was what?"
"That. The little scene I saw between you two when I came in."
"Nothing. Keep your nose out of it."
Anna giggled. "Uh huh, sure. So, why were your faces an inch apart?"
"I was helping her out with something, okay?"
Anna smiled broadly. "Okay."
AN: Back to action after this. Review!