“She doesn’t want to share it,” a young voice said.
I turned to find a small version of Katherine observing her own thoughts, her own memories. How astounding.
“If I paid attention, real attention, I would’ve seen the effects the grimoire had on my mommy.” Katherine jotted notes in a pink unicorn-themed notebook. “All I thought about was how cool it’d be.”
She was lost in her own mind, reverted to a childish form of herself.
“What happened to you?”
“The book,” she replied, pausing the memory right before her mother handed her—the teen version of Katherine—the grimoire. “I accepted it, greedily read the spells, and gave over my body to this witch.”
“How?”
“A spell triggered purely by reading the words.” The young Katherine kicked her feet against the ground. “Such a rookie mistake.”
“It wasn’t a mistake,” I said. “You couldn’t have known.”
“I should’ve.”
I knelt down to meet Katherine at eye level. “I know you’re frightened. I know you’ve been through so much already.”
“I’m not scared.” The small girl clutched her notebook, using it as a shield over her chest.
“It’s okay to be scared,” I said. “Fear can protect us from rushing into something dangerous. And fear is proof we have something to live for.”
Katherine averted her gaze, thoughts twirling around the many memories outside this storybook I’d fallen into.
“I need your help,” I said. “Help me fight off the witch keeping you from living your life.”
“The magic is too strong.” Katherine trembled. “The spell craft enchantments are at a level I didn’t even know was possible.”
“I’ll let you in on a little secret, inside the mind, belief is the strongest magic.” I stood back up. “Psychics know that morethan anyone else, but I promise if you believe in your magic, it won’t falter.”
She hesitated, mind cautiously considering, but finally, the belief trickled through her little by little.
Katherine grew back into herself, transforming from the small, frightened child into the brave young woman I’d taught for the last several years.
“Impressive,” a raspy voice called out from the shadows.
“It’s her.” Katherine trembled.
“I’m here with you.” I planted a hand on her shoulder, easing the fear building inside Katherine.
Her knees quaked, but she finally steadied herself.
“How sweet,” the raspy voice called out. “I thought my trap would be enough to detain you, telepath.”
Moire stepped out of the shadows, revealing herself. Only she presented herself as an older version of Katherine. She wore an elegant dress, something Victorian style with a gothic touch. The dress itself was strapless, exposing her shoulders and cleavage. Her light brown skin was covered in tattooed symbols.
“Mortal bodies are dull, but I do what I can with their limiting attributes.” Moire ran her fingers through her long black hair that fell well past her waist.
“Let’s kick her the hell out of your head.”
“Thismind is saturated in my magic,” Moire declared. “Here, I reign supreme.”
“You should know better than most, constructing those futile telepath traps that when it comes to the mind, I am the one who reigns.”
“Hubris will be your downfall.” Moire summoned tentacles of fire, ice, and electricity. Each element blazed with power.
