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‘Right,’ I said after a moment, ‘does that satisfy you, Celeste?’ I picked up a sandwich and took a hearty bite, watching them as I chewed. My eyes narrowed and I slowly lowered the sandwich. Neither of them was moving. They weren’t even blinking.
‘John? Celeste?’
I dropped the sandwich and shoved the plate on the floor, leaning towards them both. They were clearly oblivious to my presence. Something was going on. They seemed to be in a trance.
John’s eyes were wide, his pupils enormous. Celeste, though… I gasped as I realised her eyes had rolled back in her head, and she was deathly pale.
At that moment I heard voices from downstairs, and I jumped up and ran onto the landing.
I needed Hector.
Chapter 22
Romy
The mourners had arrived back from the chapel. Some were still in the process of drying off—by magical means, naturally. Mum was already busying herself in the kitchen, with help from Iliana and Aurora. I hurried into the living room, noticing that there was no sign of Titania or Easton, although Elvira had returned to the house and was currently talking to Star and Benedict.
Trinity, Sirius, Sky and Jethro were huddled in a corner chatting. Harley and Keely were deep in conversation on the sofa. I noticed Killian wasn’t there, and neither were the other O’Briens. I wondered if they’d gone home, and if Killian had gone with them to discuss what had happened in the chapel.
Only a few of the visiting witches had returned with the family. I imagined most of them would be having their own gatherings and mulling over their feelings on the Pendragons and the O’Briens. They had a lot to digest, after all.
The members of the High Council sat stiffly on another sofa at the far end of the room. Elinora Harbottle had given them sherry, but it didn’t seem to have loosened them up. They looked tense and worried.
I left the living room and headed back into the hallway. Relieved, I caught sight of Hector. He was heading towards the study with Lowen and Emrick, no doubt for an in-depth discussion on what to do next. Well, that would have to wait.
‘May I have a word?’ I asked him, taking his arm with some force.
He looked startled. ‘I was just—’
‘I really need your help,’ I told him urgently.
‘Is there something I can assist you with?’ Emrick enquired, raising his eyebrows in surprise.
‘No, it’s fine thanks. I just need Hector.’ I gave him an appealing look. ‘Celesteneeds you.’
His expression changed. ‘Lead the way.’
Leaving Emrick and Lowen behind we rushed up the stairs and along the landing to John’s room.
Hector gave me a worried look. ‘She’s in there? With him?’
I nodded. ‘Something’s wrong. It’s like they’re locked in a trance.’
He quietly opened the door, and I followed him into the bedroom. Celeste and John were exactly as I’d left them. It was horrible to see, and I felt a bit sick. What was happening to them?
Hector motioned to me to stay quiet as he gently sat on the bed and checked John’s eyes, then gazed at Celeste.
‘What is it?’ I whispered, my heart hammering with fear. What if they remained stuck like this forever? What if someone had put a spell on them?
He shook his head slightly and got up, joining me by the door.
‘I believe Celeste is memory-walking again,’ he said quietly. ‘But this time it seems to have gone deeper. I’ve never known her lock onto someone like this when it happens. Usually, the subject of her memory-walking is unaware it’s even happening. Something different is going on this time.’
‘Why is she doing this?’ I hissed, fearful of whatever Johnnie was going through.
He shook his head. ‘She has no choice. Right now she has no control over this power. It just happens out of the blue. I doubt very much that she’d want to be moving around inside Blaise St Clair’s memories if she could help it, don’t you?’
‘But they’re not his memories,’ I pointed out. ‘They’re John’s. And what if she does some damage to him? What then?’
