Page 50 of Bedeviled

Maiden, Mother, Crone, did we have to have fog tonight when I’m driving a new car to a new location?

Should’ve just taken a broom.

About a half a mile down the road, the fog clears, and I breathe a little easier, then easier still when the road straightens out.

There.

I reach over and pet Nero on the head.

“Look at us. Totally fine.”

My GPS rattles off the next instructions, and I glance down at my phone in the cupholder.

When I glance up, a figure stands in the middle of the road.

“Shit.”

I slam on my brakes, yanking my car hard to the side to avoid hitting them.

Tires squeal as the Mercedes careens off the road.

I throw out my arm to brace Nero, a protective ward slipping from my palm. Too late I see the tree rising up in front of us⁠—

BANG.

Darkness.

I rouse to the feeling of rocks scraping across my skin. Something warm and wet drips from my temple, and my head and arms bounce over gravel and pinecones.

I blink, my surroundings coming into focus. From the watery light of my headlights, I can see dark trees standing like sentinels. They shift a little, blurring in and out of focus.

My head pounds. Has my magic eaten a memory? Did I overdraw it? Is that why my thoughts seem so unclear?

There are things I’m supposed to remember. If I can remember them, I’ll be fine.

I-I am…

Selene!

Yes. Right. Selene. I am Selene Bowers.

My parents⁠—

My head bangs into a particularly pointy rock, and a cry slips out, my vision darkening.

Selene!

When it clears, that warm liquid is dripping down my eyes, and I have to blink it away. My shoulder joints hurt, my backside hurts, and someone is…someone is dragging me by the legs. To safety?

I glance down the length of my body and see a man with soft blond hair pulling me by the ankles.

I groan, and he glances over his shoulder at me.

For the love of the gods, Selene! Please, answer me!

Why is my own mind yelling at me?

I swear I sense my thoughts pausing.