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“Famous last words,” I say, mimicking my wife as I type my reply.
"Areyou sure this is going to work?" My throat isn't what I would call dry, but it’s on the verge.
I wonder if anyone is going to be polite and offer us anything, seeing as how Felicity and I both prioritized this meeting.
I have no idea how to interpret the collective silence of Cyella, Greiko, and the black-clad mage before me, so I look to Felicity in an effort to stay calm.
But I do notice how long it takes for the dark-haired mage to scan me up and down with an icy set of dark blue eyes. My leftover illusions of the sorceress being a novice are shattered as her gaze comes to a cold stop, boring into me. Literally. My eyes are tingling. What else could she be doing other than some magical, actually effective hypnotism?
“Are you sure you’re not withholding information? Because I don’t remember reading anything about a little boy.”
She smirks, and I narrow my eyes so she knows I read her message loud and clear. She’s trying to assert dominance. Classic mage behavior. Always thinking they can control—
My temples throb as the shrieking image of a brown-haired boy approaching me on the outskirts of Briarwood infiltrates my mind. This was months before my first memory.
I was there in the summer after a long day drinking at the Briarwood Blackberry Festival. This might have been Greiko and Cyella’s first real date, hence my solo trek home mid-afternoon. I can make out nothing but a small nose and deep set eyes on the boy’s face. I’m backing up in the memory, suddenly overcomewith a feeling of dread. I get the sense the boy is speaking to me, given his hand gestures and other body language.
“What was that?” I ask, glad I hadn’t done more than grip my fists in the outward response to the vision.
“Maybe something you didn’t want us to see,” Cyella suggests before either of the other two can.
She takes a seat on the sofa next to Greiko, who’s been curt but responsive since the moment we stepped into their living room.
“Just a little test run.” The mage shrugs, continuing to pace being Cyella and Greiko. “In case you were actually worried about me and all.”
Considering the witch’s first words to me were,I can see through your shitty version of Henry Caville. I've seen better thunderstorms on dirty bathroom stalls, I’m inclined to think she knows her stuff and her cockiness is well-deserved. She is the first to see through my illusion on the first attempt.
Though at the same time, it’s hard to take her too seriously when she can’t even decide what length she wants her haircut to be.
She runs a hand through the longer side of her short bob. I scowl as tells me to stay calm and let her get ‘the lay of the land herself.’ “Ready for a more immersive round two?”
“Do I have a choice?” I ask as the burning sensation around my eyes returns.
“What happened?” I ask, blinking awake as Felicity slaps my cheeks.
The mage is already putting on her coat by the front door. So much for bedside manner. “Two more memories,” she answers while Cyella holds open the door. “Or attempts, I think, to ingratiate themselves, but I think you saw through it. Whoever it was had to –”
She stumbles to the floor, as lifeless as a rag doll.Or worse.
By the time I’m on my feet and standing over her, the mage is already blinking awake.
“Nina, are you okay?” Cyella asks.
Nina groans as the other women help her sit up. Each brushes some hair from the confused spell caster’s face.
“Who’s Nina?” she asks, her voice absent of its earlier bravado.
“Shit fuck,” Cyella blurts out as Greiko take over, leading Nina and her wiped memory back to the coach.
This is exactly what I said would happen, I think but reserve the thought to myself.
31
LUCY
"Ican't believe you don't want presents for your birthday,” Bo says, just as stumped as the rest of my little party.
Everyone I can’t live without is here to celebrate me turning ten in style. And the best kind there is – haunted style! The cool kids club fits easily into the dusty spider-and-ghost-infested bounce house. Sure, the spooky guests are all two-dimensional, but that doesn’t make them too fake for the cool kids club.
