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Chapter Twenty-five
I blink. I’m in a forest, but it’s definitely not one of my forests. It’s dark and cold, and I’m sitting on the ground. The earth beneath me feels slightly damp, but the whole area smells...off. I don’t get that comforting feeling of being at one with nature. The air smells wrong. Singed or burned almost. I run my fingers over the blackened grass, discovering scorched patterns on the ground. What could have caused those?
I hear a whimpering in the distance but can’t pinpoint where it’s coming from. My gut tells me it’s Jasper though.
“Jasper!” I call. “Jasper, where are you?” No reply, though his cries do get louder.
“Jasper, talk to me. Help me find you!”
He gives a pitiful howl that makes my heart stop and I scramble to my feet to hunt for him. I make it three steps before I’m jerked back.
Confused, I look down and see a manacle clamped around my foot. Surely that wasn’t there a moment ago? I would have noticed, right?
Panic fills me, like a rapidly rising water level in a confined space with no escape. I have to find Jasper! This is worse than I thought. Much worse.
I begin to feel a tugging at my back, but I desperately try to walk in the direction of the sounds that I can hear. The chain that has me tied to a giant tree allows me to move several feet, but that’s it.
The tingles start again and I desperately try to remain in this hellish vision. I haven’t discovered enough to be able to find him! I can’t go back. Desperately I squeeze the crystals in my palms until blood begins to well between my fingers, but I don’t care. I just need to stay here in the forest…
I fail.
I blink.
I’m back in my lounge.
Linden is hovering nearby, looking panicked. He didn’t stay in the kitchen then, bastard. I put down the crystals in my hands and gently blow out the Meditate candle. Then, starting with the last crystal I put down, I begin to dismantle my circle, working backwards. When all that is left is the hematite by my feet, I stand up and gather everything together. I place all of the crystals I’ve used into a brass bowl, and put it on the side to cleanse later. I extinguish the Ground candle too and then turn to Linden.
“Your hands!” He gasps. I look down at him and frown. They’re absolutely fine.
“What about them?”
“I heard you cry out, so I came to see if you were okay. Your hands were dripping with blood, it was all over your skirt. But...but…”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry.” I look down at my skirt which is still pristine white, no traces of blood or the dark and sinister forest I found myself in. The doorbell rings.
“What happened? Did you find him? Hang on, I’ll just let the others in.”
I always feel exhausted after a vision, and this one is no exception, but the rapid fire of Linden’s questions is draining. I simply nod feebly as he races off to get the door. I guess it’s kind of cute that cocky, arrogant, sceptical Linden has got himself all in a tizz over me. It definitely gives me the warm and fuzzies.
“Jas! Are you okay?” Ash cries, racing over to hug me. Rowan follows behind and as soon as Ash puts me down, Rowan takes his place. He’s elbowed out of the way by Oakley who is incapable of simply asking if I’m okay or giving me a hug.
No, the massive oaf has to pick me up and crush me to his chest, growling that he’s never going to let me leave his sight again. Caveman, much?
“Put me down,” I grumble, whacking his arm for good measure. “We need to find Jasper!”
“I don’t give a fuck about a damn dog!” he roars.
“What?” All the blood drains from my face.
“What he means is,” Ash hastily steps in, glaring at Oakley. “You’re our first priority. Of course we care about Jasper, but you gave us a scare and we needed to make sure you’re alright first.”
I nod, because I get it, but I’m still putting the incubus on my shit list for calling Jasper a damn dog. I’d expect that crap from Linden, not Oakley.
“Tell us how the vision went. Did you find Jasper?” Rowan asks.
I don’t hesitate to tell them what I experienced in the forest and all four of them watch me and listen in silence.
“So I have no idea where he is,” I conclude, miserably.
