Chapter 5

Clara was pleased to hear confirmation that she was going to get revenge against those who had hurt her. It gave her some hope that everything would work out for her despite the odd circumstances. 

She smiled to herself and Caiden patted her head. It was an strangely tender gesture from a demon. 

“I would like to say that what I can see is far in the future. It’s going to take some time to build up to it. Are you willing to do that?” Caiden asked. 

Clara didn’t like the idea of waiting a long time to get revenge, she didn’t feel patient right now. She thought about the portrayals of revenge she had seen in popular media. Some people waited a very long time to get revenge and the phrase ‘revenge is a dish best served cold' was often thrown around. 

She could wait a while so she could perfect her revenge against everyone who had driven her to death. 

“That’s fine as long as I eventually get revenge,” she replied. 

*** 

Breakfast was a simple meal of toast, fruit and orange juice. Clara enjoyed it despite the simplicity and spent the time wondering about her visitor. Caiden had disappeared when the nurse arrived with her breakfast so she had been unable to ask him any more questions. 

"Clarissa, you’ve got a visitor. He’s your grandfather,” Anna announced when she came back. “I’ll take your tray now and leave you two in peace.” 

A man walked into the room and Clara looked at him curiously. Her new grandfather looked to be around 70 with a lined face and white hair. She could tell that he had been a very attractive man in his youth and he was still handsome now. 

“I’ve been waiting for you to wake up,” he said and pulled her in for a tight hug.  

“I’m awake now,” she replied unsurely. 

She didn’t know if the doctor would have told her grandfather about her lack of memories. It would be easier if he had. It felt like it was going to be hard to lie to this person. He came across as someone who could detect lies. 

He let go of her and she could tell he was looking at the bandages on her arms. 

“I’m sorry for going away for such a long time. I’m never going on a business trip ever again,” he promised sincerely. “My granddaughter is worth more than a business deal.” 

“I’m fine now. Don’t worry...” her voice broke. 

It was difficult to tell him that there was nothing to worry about. Clarissa wasn’t fine. Clarissa was dead and she was an impersonator in his granddaughter’s body. She hadn’t been expecting to feel guilty like this. James St. Clair would never know that his real granddaughter was dead. 

“I am going to worry about this for the rest of my life,” James said and went to pull her in for another hug before pausing suddenly. “I spoke to the doctor before coming to see you. Is it true that you can’t remember anything? I should have asked earlier; I was just so glad to see you awake that I didn’t think.” 

Clara nodded. She knew she was going to disappoint Clarissa’s grandfather by not remembering him. As expected, his face fell. 

“I see. I am your grandfather and you live with me,” he told her. “My name is James St. Clair and I've been looking after you since you were a baby. Do I look familiar?” 

“You do,” she said with a brief smile. 

James perked up visibly.  

“That’s good. The doctor said your memories may return soon.” 

“I hope they do,” she replied. 

It was a shame Caiden wasn’t around now. He might prompt her with some suitable things to say. There was an awkward air in the room now. Clarissa’s grandfather was reluctant to make eye contact with her and looked like he didn’t know what to say. 

“Do you know why I’m here?” she asked. “The doctor didn’t want to tell me yesterday and I only saw him for a minute this morning.” 

James averted his eyes and she could tell that he was unwilling to tell her that she had tried to commit suicide. She appreciated that. Caiden had been right about James St. Clair being a loving grandfather. 

“You came very close to dying by your own hand,” he said cautiously. “In some ways, it might be best if you don’t remember anything, you might be happier that way.” 

Clara couldn’t refute that.  

“I should have noticed you weren’t happy before,” he continued with a sigh. “I run a big company and my time isn’t split well between the business and you. I am going to do better for you now. You are my only blood relation and I need to take care of you.” 

“I’m sure you will,” she replied. “Do you know when I’m leaving the hospital?” 

Now that she was more adjusted to her new surroundings and body, she wanted to explore. She had never been outside of the US before. Now she was in a completely different country and she was stuck in a hospital. There had been lots of international school trips available at Trinity Academy, but the fees for them had been way out of her reach as a poor scholarship student. 

“The doctor didn’t tell me, you are under observation for now,” James said. “There was a lot of concern that you weren’t going to wake up. It was a long time to be unconscious. You never showed any signs of life when I visited. I wish I had been here when you woke up.” 

The cause of that long period of unconsciousness was probably Clarissa’s soul giving out and leaving her body. Caiden had said there was a time limit on transferring her soul. It was likely that the human body didn’t stay alive for long without a soul. 

“I’m here now,” she replied. “I’m looking forward to getting out of here. Is the bill going to be large?” 

James looked confused. 

“There isn’t going to be a bill. Why would there be?” 

Clara remembered all too late that she was in England right now. Healthcare in the UK was free. She needed to get Clarissa’s memories before she showed any more signs of being secretly American. 

“I was confused for a moment and thought of American hospital bills,” she said with a nervous laugh. 

James nodded slowly and she could tell that he was still puzzled. 

“No, it’s all free. I would like to recommend that you undergo some counselling after you have been discharged. I don’t want anything like this to ever happen again.” 

*** 

She was discharged from the hospital four days later. It was such a relief to walk outside and feel the wind on her skin. Clara stood outside the hospital with her arms outstretched for a few minutes whilst her new grandfather waited patiently nearby.

When she felt a chill, she put her arms back down and looked back at James. 

“It must feel nice after being cooped up in that hospital room,” he commented with a gentle smile. “I feel almost sorry that we’re getting in a car to get home.” 

James was very nice old man based on her observations from the past four days. Caiden had said it wasn’t the right time to give her Clarissa’s memories yet. 

She had been annoyed, but unable to protest. He was the one with the power. She had just been very careful not to say anything that sounded overly American. It had been hard and she had caught James giving her confused looks every now and then. 

James led her across the car park to his car. It was a sleek car that was clearly expensive. Clara had seen a lot of cars like that waiting outside Trinity Academy to pick up the rich students. It was odd to think she now had that luxury. 

He opened the passenger door for her and Clara climbed in. The leather seating was nice and soft. James closed the door and walked around to the other side. Clara was confused until she saw the driver in the front seat. James was a millionaire and millionaires didn’t usually drive their own cars. 

“Good afternoon, Miss. St. Clair, I’m glad to see you’ve recovered,” the driver said to her politely. 

“Thank you,” she replied. 

James patted her shoulder. The driver pulled out of the parking space and they were on their way home. Clara was intrigued to see where she would be living now. It had to be luxurious like the car and the clothes she was wearing. 

Her grandfather had given her a selection of clothes to wear earlier. The clothes all had labels indicating they were from a St. Clair collection. They felt high quality and looked stylish. It was odd to wear such expensive clothes. 

The drive home was highly fascinating for Clara. The car was driving on the left side of the road which had felt out of place at first. The scenery constantly caught her attention and she spent the whole car journey staring out the window. Everything was so different to the US. 

She could tell they were getting close to their destination when the view outside became large houses with ornate gardens. The car soon stopped in front of a gate and the driver leaned out of the window to input a code. The gate opened and the car went up a long and winding driveway. Clara held her breath as she waited for the house to appear. 

When the house became visible, she wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. The house looked like it had come out of the most expensive section of a property magazine. It had three floors, several balconies and ivy crawling across the Victorian stonework. There was even a fountain in the front garden. 

Clara felt a spark of excitement. She was going to be experiencing the rich life after so many years of being on the lowest financial rung. She was definitely going to get her revenge in this body. Caiden was right in his decision to transplant her soul to Clarissa’s body. 

In that moment, everything felt perfect to her. 

James opened her door for her and she stepped onto the gravel and followed him up the path to the house. The front door opened and there was a tall woman with red hair standing in the doorway. 

The look the woman was giving her made her feel like she was a poor scholarship student again and she hadn’t escaped her grey life. 

She quickly realised she had been naïve. Clarissa had lived in an expensive house and worn fancy clothes and had still wanted to die. Her body was telling her that it was something to do with this woman.