Chapter 4

The lockets. It had to be the lockets. Chad's antique silver heirloom, and my grandmother's gold heart. The timing of the swap, right after my locket was placed on Angel, was too precise to be a coincidence.

I started watching Billy Ray and Chad. Their attentiveness to Angel was unnatural. Billy Ray, who barely tolerated animals, now fussed over the Bichon like a prized possession. Chad, whenever he visited, would seek out Angel, whispering to her, his eyes filled with a strange, fervent adoration that was never directed at me. They were protecting Daisy-Mae, in her fluffy disguise.

My supposed "severe dander allergy"became my shield. I insisted Angel be kept out of my rooms, away from my presence. This created friction, especially with my mother, who thought I was being unreasonable, but it bought me space.

And I began my own subtle campaign.

"Oh, Angel looks a little thin, doesn't she, Mother?"I'd say innocently. "Perhaps she needs some more nourishing food."

I started sneaking Angel rich treats. Creamy pasta scraps, buttery bits of steak, dollops of whipped cream. Things a small dog should never eat in large quantities. Daisy-Mae, trapped in Angel's body, had no choice but to consume what was offered, especially when Billy Ray, eager to keep "Angel"happy, encouraged it.

Slowly, Angel began to change. Her sleek, prize-winning form became... rounder. She waddled more than walked. Her breathing grew wheezy after even mild exertion.

I imagined Daisy-Mae's spiritual discomfort, her vanity pricked, her physical prison becoming increasingly unpleasant. If she wanted to be Sarah Jenkins, she'd have to endure the discomforts I chose for her canine vessel. It was a small, petty revenge, but it felt good. It was also a test. If they were truly concerned for the *dog*, they'd notice and stop me. But their concern was for Daisy-Mae's consciousness within, and they seemed oblivious to the dog's physical decline, as long as "Angel"seemed content with the attention and the rich food. Their protectiveness was solely for the soul within, not the vessel. This confirmed my suspicions about their awareness of the swap.