| |
Zoe found Sabine in the living room, where they met for their weekly sessions. With its leather furniture, white décor, and fake fur rugs, the room looked like something out of a magazine. As the Circle’s witch representative, she was considered the most powerful witch in the country. With her mocha coloured skin and dark flowing curls, Sabine looked elegant and chic even while dressed in her silk robe. Over the past few weeks, she’d been helping Zoe to try and break through the strange curse that blocked her memories.
Zoe was relieved not to have to lie to Nick tonight. He knew she saw Sabine every week, but she’d been going more frequently than that, unbeknownst to him. She’d been surprised when Sabine agreed to see her two to three times a week, but the witch seemed eager to help. So far, none of the usual methods had worked but that wouldn’t stop Zoe from figuring out who’d cursed her and why.
Sabine sat in her usual spot on a plush cushion on the wooden floor and opened her eyes as Zoe walked in. “Any change?” she asked.
Zoe shook her head, flopping down onto the cushion opposite Sabine. “Nope, just the usual nightmares.”
“Have you been taking the potion I gave you?”
She bit her lip. The potion had helped, but part of her didn’t want to block the nightmares for fear it might stop her from remembering. “No,” she admitted. “I feel like every time I have the nightmares, I’m on the verge of seeing something – something just beyond my reach.”
“Take the potion. The nightmare is your mind’s way of trying to remember something it can’t. Going through it won’t change anything until we find and remove the cause of the curse.” Sabine held out her hands. “Ready to begin?”
She nodded, grasping the witch’s hands. Power rolled off Sabine in waves, and she began muttering words Zoe didn’t understand.
She waited for something to happen, but her mind drifted back to lying next to Nick. It felt nice being close to someone for a change, yet she forced the memory away. It didn’t mean anything. He was a friend, nothing more. She didn’t do relationships. It was easier that way.
Her eyes snapped shut as she found herself back inside the room with the lilac covered walls. Light streamed in through the windows, but when she moved closer, she saw nothing. It was her room, or at least she thought so. The only fragment of her missing memories she’d found so far had been this place. It felt safe, unlike the hallway she always found herself in during her nightmare. Each time she visualised this room, she’d only see walls and the outline of the bed. Nothing else. No toys, no drawings. Nothing you’d expect to see in a child’s room.
Where are you? Sabine asked.
The purple room again. She sighed, wondering if this would be it. But she wouldn’t let disappointment get the best of her. Keep going, she said.
Words echoed around her as Sabine continued chanting.
Come on, she thought. Let me see something. Anything.
A chiming sound drifted through the room. Zoe had heard it before and moved through the room searching for the source of it.
Around her, the walls faded into nothingness.
Pain stabbed across her temples, making her grit her teeth. Again, this was normal. Every time she tried to remember, pain soon followed. She moved into another room – a new room. It had no walls or floor that she could see. Light flashed around her in the void of emptiness. The sound of laughter came, followed by a flash of a girl’s face, and a hand beckoning to her.
Zoe gasped as her eyes flew open. Something warm dripped down her face, and her hand came away bloody.
Sabine sprang up, grabbing a box of tissues and placing it in front of Zoe. “I don’t think we should do this so often. It weakens you.”
Zoe grabbed a tissue, dabbing at her nose. “I’m fine.” She pinched the bridge, waiting for the blood to stop. A headache throbbed over her temples, but it didn’t feel as bad as her usual migraines.
Sabine vanished for a while, reappearing with a mug of tea. “Drink this. It will help.”
Zoe grabbed the mug, gulping down its contents. She didn’t care what it was, she just wanted the pain to pass. She swiped away the hair sticking to her face. “I’m okay. Let’s start again.”
Sabine’s eyes flashed. “Zoe, you can’t deny the effect trying to break the curse is having on you.”
She let out a breath. “It’s normal. Come on, I want to start again.”
Sabine shook her head. “I think you should rest for a few days. You—”
“I saw something. A girl. Please just do the spell again. Put me under. I need to find out more.”
Sabine sighed. “I will bring you out of it if the effects become too much. I agreed to help you, not kill you.”
Zoe gritted her teeth. “I’m fine. Start again.” She closed her eyes, waiting for the spell to drag her back into the murky depths of her mind.
Sabine’s voice carried her under again.
Back in the lilac room, she looked around. Take me deeper, she said.
Zoe...
Do it! she snapped. I need to see more.
Sabine chanted again, and Zoe felt waves of power flowing through her. She moved through the room, feeling another stab of pain when she tried to venture further into the light. This time she ignored it.
Come on, let me see again. Please let me see you again. She moved forward. The pain intensified, but again she ignored it.
Music chimed, followed by laughter as the girl reappeared.
As Zoe moved closer, the girl’s features became clearer. She had dark brown hair and brown eyes. The girl waved for her to follow.
She took a step forward to grab the girl’s hand.
“Zoe!” Sabine called.
Zoe slumped forward as she was pulled out of the memory. Sabine caught hold of her. “Goddess! I told you it was too dangerous to carry on.” She helped Zoe lie down on the overstuffed cushion. “Rest, I’ll get something to help. This is the last session we’re having for a while.” Sabine rose and vanished again.
Zoe squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the pounding pain in her head.
But it didn’t matter. She’d seen something. She had no idea who the girl was or their connection to each other. Excitement rushed through her. Another tiny piece of the jigsaw puzzle of her missing life fell into place.
Sabine came back with another mug. “Nick will be pissed off when he sees you like this.”
She snorted. “You don’t give a damn what Nick thinks. Plus, Nick is just my watcher for the Circle. He doesn’t have any say in what I do.”
“You’re right. I don’t care what he thinks, but you mean more to him than you know.”
Zoe sat up and the world around her shifted, turning upside down as her stomach recoiled. She covered her mouth and tried to swallow the bile in her throat.
Sabine placed a bowl next to her. “Feel free to use this.” The witch started rubbing out the chalk circle around them.
Zoe lay there, waiting for the dizziness to pass. She threw up once, then tried drinking Sabine’s brew. After what seemed like an eternity, the pain settled to a dull ache. She sat up to grab a sketchpad Sabine always kept out. She tried to draw the girl, but the more she tried to remember, the hazier it became.
“You should go home and get some rest,” Sabine said, touching Zoe’s shoulder. “No more sessions until you’re recovered.”
“If only I could remember the girl more clearly. She felt familiar. Maybe she was a friend, or a sister.” She shook her head and felt a wave of nausea.
“It could be anything. The girl could be a representation of yourself as a child.” Sabine stood up to extinguish the candles in the room with a wave of her hands.
“Why would I...” Her voice trailed off. “Never mind. I better get home.” Zoe rose, again brushing her damp hair off her face. “Thanks.”
“Get some rest. You can’t force the memories to come.”
“I have to. I’m still no closer to finding out who I was, and the Circle—well, you know what they think.”
Sabine’s lips curved. “Not all of us. I believe you’re innocent. Don’t mind Dorian, he hates anyone more powerful than him.” She patted Zoe’s shoulder. “Remember, rest. Don’t let Nick tire you out either. I remember what he...”
Zoe cringed at the implication. “Nick and I aren’t—we’re just friends.” She shook her head and rose. “I’ll see you again in a couple of days.” She left before things could get any weirder. She didn’t want to hear anything about Nick’s fling with Sabine. It had been years ago, so it truly didn’t matter, but she’d rather not know the particulars of their romance.
She stumbled onto the street, pulling her jacket tighter against the cool night air. All she wanted now was a hot bath before bed. She tried moving and almost fell. Damn, why hadn’t she blurred? She tried again, stumbling like a drunk.
Nothing.
“Zoe?” a voice called.
She looked up to see DS Mike Bradley standing there. Ah hell, another blast from the past. Mike had a mop of dark hair and cool blue eyes that held a hardness to them after all his years of being a copper. She hadn’t seen him since he’d interviewed her about her visit with one of the psychics who’d been killed a few weeks earlier.
“Oh, hi, Mike.” She tucked her hair behind her ear, looking down at the pavement. Great, just what I need.
“I tried calling you a few times to check on you. I know Carmel’s still not back, her shop hasn’t been open in weeks,” Mike said. “Where is she?”
Zoe flinched. The last thing she wanted was to talk about Carmel with Mike. It would only lead to unwanted questions. Nick and the others had covered up the attack, simply making it look like Carmel had gone on holiday.
“She came into some money and decided to travel for a while,” she lied, feeling the bile in the back of her throat. “She’s in...Australia at the moment.” Good job, Zoe, why did you pick the land of killer spiders?
“Oh? I’m surprised she’d be gone this long. I haven’t seen you with Mia much either. I just wanted you to know I’m here if you ever need anything.” He touched her arm. “I didn’t want it to be weird since you and your boyfriend are living together now.”
“My what?” She gasped, her mouth hanging open. “Oh, you mean Nick. He’s not my—he’s just a friend. Mia and I fell out.” Another lie. She’d avoided seeing her best friend Mia after what had happened to Carmel—she didn’t want to risk anyone else she cared about getting hurt.
“Really?” Mark frowned at her denial. “He’s with you all the time, and you’re living together.”
“Have you been watching me?” Zoe raised an eyebrow. Had Mike been possessed by the killer entity now too? She reached inside her leather jacket for her knife, ready to use it if he made any sudden moves.
“Just checking, I’ve seen you two around town a lot together. He’s a PI, right?”
“Yeah, I’ve been working with him. I have to go, but it was great seeing you.” She forced a smile and hurried down the street. Next, she closed her eyes, drew magic from around her and forced a ley line to open. A glowing vein of white energy appeared, stringing down the pavement. She stepped through it.
She appeared outside her back door in a garden filled with overgrown weeds and plants, and almost fell over as a wave of exhaustion washed over her.
Her senses felt muddled as she unlocked the door and headed inside. The lights were on, but she found no sign of Nick as she collapsed onto the sofa – much to her relief. He’d only nag her if he saw her like this and use it as an opportunity to complain about Sabine. The living room had a scuffed wooden floor, paint peeling from the walls, and a leather sofa that had seen better days. She really needed to get some work done in this place. She’d bought it months ago, expecting to have it fully renovated by now.
Zoe closed her eyes and tried to picture the girl again. Were her eyes brown? Green? She grabbed a pen and paper off the coffee table to draw an image of the girl, but once again, the harder she tried to remember, the hazier the memory became. Argh, what did she look like?
The front door creaked open, making the walls tremble as Nick stomped in. Where the hell were you?” he demanded.
She stifled a groan and forced herself up and found Nick standing by the sofa, arms crossed, glaring at her. She sighed. “What?”
“We were supposed to meet for training, remember?”
She ran a hand through her hair. “We were?” She pulled out her phone, scrolling through several missed calls and messages. “Shit! Nick, I’m sorry.”
“I thought something had happened to you. Why didn’t you answer my calls?”
She stood up and forced a laugh. “You’re so melodramatic sometimes. I’m fine,” she insisted. “My session with Sabine ran a lot later than I thought. I didn’t think to check my phone.”
“Jesus, Zoe. You’re an untrained guardian in a town full of dangers.”
Zoe clutched her head. “I’m not in the mood for this,” she muttered. “I’m going to bed.” She tried to push past him, but he caught hold of her arm.
“What happened? Did you remember something?” Nick asked. “Zo, you need to let me know where you are in case the killer strikes again. We can’t let the Circle have any excuse for suspecting you.”
Zoe shrugged him off. “I had something to take care of. Go tell the Circle I dared to have a life.” She stormed off upstairs, feeling a pang of guilt as she went.
She hadn’t meant to snap at him and fought the urge to tell him about her memory. Instead, she fled to the bathroom. She turned on the taps and started to run a bath, tipping some herbal stuff into the water. She’d have a long soak then collapse into bed.
Dealing with Nick could wait until the morning. Zoe she stripped off her clothes and climbed into the bath. She sighed as she let the warm water wash over her, easing some of her fatigue, and felt her eyelids start to droop. Damn, why did Sabine’s sessions have to be so exhausting? Why did the curse cause her so much pain, but at the same time protect her from any other danger?
Questions whirled through her mind as she closed her eyes and felt sleep start to pull her under.
At the edge of her mind, she suddenly felt another presence. Something cold that sent shivers across her skin. She gripped the sides of the bath, almost afraid to open her eyes and see what might be lurking in the bathroom with her.
Can’t I even have a bloody bath in peace?
Zoe opened her eyes to find a shadow looming over her. Cool air brushed against her face as a voice hissed something she couldn’t quite make out. She glanced over at her fallen clothes but didn’t see any sign of her athame in the bundle. This must’ve been the thing that killed the mermaid and the other two victims, as well as the psychics. It sent the same chill across her senses as she had felt then.
“What the hell do you want?” she demanded, sitting up straight.
“Zo...” the voice hissed.
She raised her hand, feeling magic flow between her fingers as she threw a bolt of gold light at the thing. Her magic passed straight through the looming shadow, hitting the wall behind it.
Zoe gasped as an arm reached out for her, pulling her under the water. She kicked out aimlessly, struggling as she tried to fight her way back up.
“Zo...” the voice whispered again.
A force held her under and her lungs burned, fighting for air as she kicked and splashed. When she finally made it above the surface, she coughed up water and blurred, jumping out of the bath and landing on the floor in a heap.
“Go,” she coughed, raising both her hands and throwing bolts of light toward her assailant.
The shadow screeched and shot away, disappearing through the air.
