The Memory Witch

by Wood, Heather Topham

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “There you are,” Mason said and gathered me into his arms, bringing me into the cottage.

  We were frantically kissing before the door was even closed. He led me over to the couch and it was a good twenty minutes before we came up for breath.

  Months had passed since Stella had discovered our involvement. She had kept her word and I had kept mine. I never let my time with Mason interfere with my casting with Stella. I had mastered the basic spells and she was satisfied with my progress on the more difficult enchantments.

  My relationship with Mason had taken us both by surprise. His closed off nature had kept him from ever getting seriously involved with anyone. Yet, somehow he had come to trust me and talk about his past. Now, the only girl he took home from the Marksmith was me.

  Despite Mason’s reputation, he turned out to be everything Tanner wasn’t. Mason respected me and I never felt pressured into sex. He submitted control to me and I chose how far I was comfortable going with him. Whenever I expressed worry over our level of intimacy, he would reassure me that our connection was more than just physical. We also enjoyed each other company and could spend hours playing chess or lying side by side in his bed talking.

  He ran his fingers over my bare arm as I laid my head in his lap. He leaned down and kissed the side of my face. A few stray hairs tickled my face and I smiled. I loved Sundays. It was the one day we got to spend completely alone. “Today is the first day of June,” I ventured.

  “I’ve noticed,” he said lightly. His tone didn’t let on if he was as anxious as I was that my year of servitude would be over the next month.

  “I mean do you want to…” I trailed off, suddenly feeling shy. I tried again. “Do you want to still see each other?”

  Hoisting me up onto his lap, he gave me an affectionate look. He twirled a strand of my hair in his hands. “I think we’ll figure something out.”

  “Really?” I asked happily.

  His answer was to kiss me deeply. His tongue danced with mine and he ran his fingers through my hair. I fell back against the couch cushions and giggled at his enthusiasm once we were able to come up for air.

  “You’re not getting away from me that easily. Especially when you’ve completely bewitched me,” he breathed.

  The laughter died in my throat. I pushed him back roughly and wiggled out from under him. I glared at him, as I questioned, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  Mason reached for my hand. “Quinn, what’s wrong?”

  “What do you mean I bewitched you? Do you think I put a spell on you?”

  Mason’s expression turned contrite. “Don’t be offended. I wasn’t trying to suggest…”

  I gave him a skeptical look. “It was certainly an odd choice of words then.”

  “Quinn, I’m honestly not trying to be an asshole,” he said with contrition, “it just slipped out. I meant it as a compliment.”

  My eyebrows pulled together in concentration. “But it has crossed your mind.”

  He ran his hand along his defined jawline. I could see his internal debate. He was mentally evaluating his words to decide on what to say that wouldn’t offend. “Quinn, it doesn’t matter to me if I’m under your spell. I’m just happy that I feel this way. I don’t want it to ever stop…”

  His words were sweet. However, his sentiment made me sick to my stomach. Mason had no trust in his own feelings. He could never be certain that I wasn’t enchanting him to feel this way. I wanted him to believe in me and to have faith that I would never manipulate him in that manner. Yet, the wounds from his parents were too deeply imbedded to erase in a few short months.

  I gave him a shaky smile. “I just remembered I have some things I wanted to get done today. I’ll see you later.”

  Mason gave me a questioning look. “Quinn, please don’t leave. I haven’t been this happy since...” He gave me a sad smile before adding, “probably ever. If there’s anything magical about it, then so be it.”

  I brushed my lips against his. “I have something important to do. I’ll be back here for dinner.”

  Mason attempted to protest, but I hurried before he could utter another word.

  ***

  The spell had been easy to find. The selection of my offering took much longer. I realized for the enchantment to work, I had to choose wisely. With a frown, I foraged through all of my belongings that I had brought to Stella’s a year ago. The trinkets I held onto seemed to belong to a different girl from a completely different life. I knew none of my mementos from high school would be enough for the cast.

  I froze when I saw a chain sticking out of the side of my jewelry box. I gently tugged on the chain until the locket slipped into my palm. I closed my hand around it and I acknowledged that this would be what I needed to sacrifice.

  It was the only real gift I had from my father. It was a child size locket with his photo and my mother’s. It was something I treasured for years and years. The thought of giving it up recalled the pain I felt during my time with him on the spiritual plane. The girl who had revered her father was long gone. I had immortalized him for so many years in my mind—it was torturous to come to the realization that my father was real and flawed.

  For the first time in my life, I was looking more to the future than to the past. In my future, I wanted Mason more than a trinket that only aroused pain in the cloudy recesses of my mind. I hurried out of my room before I could have second thoughts and break my resolve.

  I hurried out of the house carrying only my messenger bag. A couple of miles from the Chadwick House were a private lake surrounded by woods. It would be the perfect spot to perform the spell. Besides providing privacy, I could toss the sacrifice into the water.

  Perspiration soaked through my tank top by the time I arrived at the lake. I traveled along the shore of the lake until I found a secluded spot. The threat of danger gave me pause as I unloaded my bag. Stella still supervised my spells and the last time I casted alone, a dozen birds lay dead at my feet.

  I shook the thoughts away. I was confident that my abilities were stronger than months earlier and I would not make the same mistakes. I pulled out the ring that I had unearthed in Stella’s workshop. The black tourmaline set on the ring had the power to deflect magical energies. I was unsure if the jewelry piece would fit Mason, but he could always wear it on a chain or have it resized.

  I had secured the locket to my wrist before leaving the house. Unraveling the chain, I tried to let go of the hurt and loss of my father’s betrayal. Along with a protection spell, maybe this could be a cleansing ritual as well. With a strangled cry, I launched the locket into the murky depths of the lake. Within seconds, it had disappeared from sight.

  I visualized Mason in my head. I pictured how he scratched the back of his neck when he was nervous. The way he always let his black hair grow a little too long until he finally made his way to the barbershop. I could see the secret smile that was reserved only for me. I saw in my mind the terrible beauty of his scarred back and how much it made me wish that I could heal all of the pain that he had experienced as a kid.

  “I offer protection for thee, from the highest powers and from my heart, so shall it be.” I lent my power to the words and put my heart into the spell. I repeated the words until I felt the familiar rush of power circulate through my body. As the magic faded, I smiled as I thought about how much Mason had seized my heart.

  “What are you doing?”

  I almost lost my balance as a voice sounded behind me. The ring slipped out of my fingers and fell to the ground. A leathery hand reached down and picked it up. I tore my eyes away from the hand clasping the enchanted ring and lifted my gaze to the face of the speaker.

  The man was most likely in his early fifties and dressed for a day out fishing. A pole was set on the ground beside him and he was dressed in waders. With his eyebrows knitted together, he took a hesitant step towards me. His eyes regarded me. My cheeks burned as his stare stayed on my chest. T
he humidity of the day caused the fabric to stick to my skin and make every curve visible.

  “Drop something?”

  I reached for the ring and was shocked when his hand moved it out of my reach. “What are you doing?” I asked heatedly.

  “You’re one of those witches I heard about in town. This man came into the bar a few weeks ago talking about how he went to see the two witches that live at the Chadwick House and how they helped him win back his wife.” He leered at me before asking, “So, what can you do for me witch girl?”

  “Call Stella if you want to set up an appointment to see us.” I tried to cover up the fear. I felt like a deer in headlights as he invaded my space inch by inch. The powerful witch was fading and a scared little girl was taking her place.

  “But you’re here now,” he hissed. His hand lashed out in front of him and he grabbed my forearm roughly. As he dragged me closer to him, I could feel something splintering inside of me. The fear and revulsion that Mason had worked so hard to vanquish was making an unwanted reappearance. A part of me wanted to crawl inside myself and hide. The stronger and magical side of me decided to fight back.

  I snatched my arm out of his grasp. “You will get your hands off of me.” He laughed and lunged forward.

  I imagined fire in the same way I did that day of the accident in Stella’s workshop. I conjured up a picture of the fire forming a ball and launching out in front of me. The heat shot through my appendages and I placed my fingers on the man’s hand.

  “Shit,” he cursed and lost his hold on the ring. I picked it up and dropped it into the safety of my knapsack. The man was examining his hand, a horror-struck expression fixed on his face. The skin was bright red and raw. Yet, if I held his hand instead of merely brushing it with my fingers, the damage would’ve been much worse.

  A light-headed sensation suddenly plagued me and I knew it was payment for the cast. It was time for me to go. I gave the man a warning look before I headed away from the lake. I wanted to provoke fear in him to ensure he wouldn’t track me down to enact some form of revenge.

  Adrenaline from the near attack allowed me to make the hike back to the estate. As soon as Mason opened the door to his cottage, I collapsed in his arms. Suspiciously, he looked me over before leading me to his couch. “Quinn, what happened?”

  I made a decision to keep him out of my altercation at the lake. It would just worry him and I had proven capable of taking care of myself. I appreciated Mason’s protectiveness, but I had magical reserves that I could tap into. I would rather use them than ask him to resort to physical violence.

  “I did a spell and it took a lot out of me.”

  I sensed his disapproval without him uttering a word. I hurriedly added, “Don’t worry, it was nothing like last time. I made an offering…I’m just tired.”

  Mason’s hands moved to my shoulders and he began to massage the tension out of them. I breathed out a sigh of relief. These moments with Mason felt perfect. I wished I could push away the sense that these times with him were temporary and tune out the warnings inside of my head that told me not to get attached. Murmurs in the back of my mind whispered the threat that in a month this would all end. Whether the demise of our relationship would occur because of my apprenticeship ending or the return of my memories, I had no idea.

  “What was the spell?”

  I reached for my bag and retrieved the ring. Running my fingers over the black tourmaline, I turned towards him. “I have a gift for you.”

  I pressed the ring into his palm. He squinted at the ring before looking at me with an unspoken question in his eyes. I said softly, “What you said this morning…” I paused as I noted his guilty expression. Squeezing his knee for reassurance, I continued, “made me think about the obstacles of us staying together. I can’t be with you if you always have suspicions about your true feelings.”

  “Quinn…” he started in a warning tone.

  “Listen to me, I’m not angry about your reservations,” I insisted. “It would be ridiculous of me to not expect you to have qualms about being with me after what happened with your parents.”

  “We’re not my parents,” Mason countered although his voice lacked conviction. A deep despair crept into his face and I understood his anguish over the possibility that our fates were intertwined with theirs.

  “The fact is your girlfriend is a witch…” His smirk caused me to trail off. I asked, “What is it?”

  “You just called yourself my girlfriend,” he pointed out.

  I shifted uncomfortably. “I guess that was a little presumptuous of me. We never really talked about what we are to each other. Or if we were even exclusive.”

  Mason gave me one of his rare genuine smiles. “Girlfriend, huh? I never had one of those before.”

  I replied dryly, “Thanks for ruining the moment by reminding me of your womanizing past.”

  He kissed the tip of my nose. “I haven’t been with anyone else since the night we first kissed. What we have, Quinn…is something I never thought I could have with someone.”

  I nodded. This thing with Mason had taken me completely by surprise. When we first kissed, I expected a non-complicated fling. However, the more I was getting to know him, the more smitten I became. “I want you to always know that what you feel for me is genuine. When you wear this ring, you’re protected from magic. It will ward off any enchantments and remove any spells that have already been cast upon you.”

  “Quinn…”

  I moved closer to him until my body was partially splayed across his lap. I put a finger to his lips and said, “No arguments. Just put it on and then…” I paused for a long minute before issuing him a challenge. “And then if you feel the same…kiss me.”

  He swallowed hard and his nervousness was apparent. Sliding the ring on his finger, he ran his fingers over it. I held my breath as I watched him closely. I still was shaken up from my spellcasting earlier and the tension in the room felt suffocating. Although I understood he wasn’t under my spell, I was never sure if Stella had used Mason as her guinea pig for spells. Would the ring reveal his true nature? What if he inexplicably turned into a horrible creature in front of me?

  His glacial blue eyes melted as he met my stare. Before I could ask him a coherent question, he had his lips on mine. The world disappeared as we kissed. His passion was intense and I felt like the kiss was a brand. My lips would belong to him and only him.

  “I can’t…” he choked out, “even begin to tell you what this means to me.”

  “Just show me then,” I teased surprising myself. Who was this girl? Where was the girl who had been petrified of where kissing could lead?

  His need for me became more obvious as he kissed me into oblivion. His hands were everywhere. I melted with each touch and arched my back to open myself up to him. His skin was a delicious and decadent dessert that I never wanted to stop tasting. I thought at that moment, I could do this. I could give myself over to Mason and have no regrets.

  Our breathing was ragged as he forcefully tore his mouth off of mine. “Quinn, we should slow down.”

  I wanted to argue, but once we stopped kissing, my insecurity returned. “Mason, I…” I stumbled over my words, “want to be with you. I want you to be my first, but I feel like we need to wait until I have my memories returned.”

  Mason leaned his forehead against mine. His soft breath tickled my cheek as he spoke. “We’ll face whatever happens together. No matter what you find out, it’s not going to change the way I feel about you.”

  Mason had said exactly what I wanted to hear. In my heart though, I took his words as a foreboding premonition. Everything was about to change.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Stella took to her bed two weeks later with a cough that racked her tiny body. For days, she was bedridden and it took the combined efforts of Mason and me to even help her get to the bathroom. I offered up healing potions, but to my astonishment, she refuted my efforts to make her well again. I sat on a cha
ir next to her bed and gave her the hardened stare that she had perfected so well when taking a stern stance with me.

  “You’re being a stubborn witch. I need you back to your old self. If I have to listen to another client complain about their pitiful love life, I’m going to start handing out hexes instead of love potions,” I threatened.

  Her laugh turned into a fit of coughing. I helped lift her out of bed and handed her a glass of water. She downed it in a greedy gulp and peered at me with a look that made me feel unsettled. With trembling fingers, she tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. “Quinn, we have to do your spell today.”

  “What?” I was taken aback. My heart was racing and I felt a shiver trickle down my spine.

  “I have so much to tell you still. I wasted so much time,” she mumbled as I strained to hear her.

  “Like what?”

  “You should understand the dangers that we face as witches. There are people out in the world the vilify us. We have wronged their families in some way and they feel it’s justified to hunt us down like dogs. Then, there are others…” she paused and produced another staccato of barking coughs. “There are witches that govern us. We have rules and I’m afraid you may end up breaking those rules.”

  “What kind of rules?”

  “We have the potential to cause great harm if we wanted to. Someone could come to us and ask for a spell that could kill dozens within minutes. We’re not permitted to use magic to commit acts of terror against others. Murder, rape, disfigurement are all against witch law.”

  “And you’re only telling me about our enemies now because…” I prompted.

  “You’ve always insisted that you would quit magic after your year was up. I didn’t believe you at first, but you had me convinced. Until a few days ago when I cast a spell and asked the moonlight to show me your possible futures.” Stella’s features darkened and her eyes grew distant.

  “What did you see?”