Catalyst (Forevermore, Book Two)

by K. A. Poe

  “Really?” I asked with genuine curiosity and eyed the tattoos inching up her arms. “I never thought about what was common and what was rare.”

  “The rarest gifts seem to be summoning, shimmering, and power stealing. The common ones are Telekinesis, various sorts of healing, Clairvoyance, and all that. Pyromancers, too … regardless how special Noah tries to tell girls he is.” She snorted. “There are a lot of gifts out there, though, and a lot of witches. Probably all kinds we don’t even know about.”

  “Well, you sure do seem to know a lot ...”

  She grinned. “I’ve done my share of reading and learning through Artemis.”

  “Reading?” Now my curiosity was truly piqued. There were books on all this? That would make it much easier.

  “There is a book all about our history,” she explained. “The history of the very first witch, the divide amongst us in which the witches became Clans rather than a singular group. Then there are lots about different powers, potions, and rituals … all kinds of things. Just about everything’s written somewhere.”

  “Who was the first witch?”

  “Ceres. She was supposedly born beneath the stars on a night of a crescent moon and got her power from it.”

  “And that’s why we carry the Mark of Luna?” I subconsciously reached up to my chest and ran my hand over where the Mark was imprinted on my flesh; it was no longer unsightly — it looked just like Mathias’s, as he promised.

  She nodded and smiled. “Exactly. There’s a lot of information in that book I was talking about. It lists all the known powers. I’m probably not supposed to talk about it, though.”

  My brows arched at that. “Why not?”

  “It’s kind of off-limits ... Artemis caught me flipping through it when I was sixteen and tore it from my hands. He was furious and hasn’t spoken of it since, but I sneaked back into his room any time he was away and read page after page of that book until I reached the end.”

  “Is it still here? The book? And why wouldn’t he want all of us to know everything …”

  She shrugged. “It’s probably there. Don’t know where else it’d be. I haven’t looked in a few years, though. If you’re good with a lock you should check it out.”

  “Good with a lock?”

  “Well, yeah. How else do you think I got in while he was gone? He’d never leave his door unlocked.”

  “Ah, right …”

  “And as far as why he doesn’t want us to know it all? You’ve got me there. Artemis is kind of mysterious that way. Good as they get, but a weird one, you know? But who am I to talk about weird, right?” She laughed again.

  “Is there anything about Shimmerers in it?”

  “Not a whole lot. They’re pretty rare.”

  I frowned, my hopes dwindling. So much for finding answers on my own.

  “But anyway, let’s move some shit!” She winked as she stood, chuckling. “You’ll be my first trainee, so if I screw up or you don’t understand something, just say so, okay? Not going to hurt my feelings.”

  “Okay …” I said and followed her further into the motel room. She sat on her bed and patted the spot next to her; I sat down.

  “I’m going to bring one of those earrings over to us, and then I want you to send it back,” she said and pointed to a pair of long, dangling dream catcher-shaped earrings on her desk. “To control where it goes, focus not on where you want it, but on its journey there. That make sense? Like, don’t just see it where it is or where you want it, but the whole trip coming to you. Got to picture it vividly in your mind hovering forward and landing in your palm, like you believe it’s already happening, and it will.”

  I nodded slowly, although I had no idea how exactly I was supposed to do any of that. Watching her, I studied the way her eyes squinted in concentration and their color turned to a golden orange. My eyes were drawn to the dangling earrings that floated steadily through the air and landed directly on the palm of her hand, as though a ghost had carried them to her.

  “Wow,” I said in awe. “How long did it take you to master it?”

  “A few months,” she said with a subtle frown. “I was struggling with other things at the time, though ... ex-relationships, exams, just a whole lot of shit, you know? It’s supposed to be easy to learn if you concentrate enough, so clear your mind and focus on nothing but the item you want brought to you or taken away.”

  “Okay, I’ll try …” I stammered and looked at the jewelry in her hand.

  I pushed away the thoughts of Mathias, the book Iris had mentioned, Alan, Serena and her parents, my family, and everything else that was crammed into my mind. My eyes didn’t leave the earring, nor did my thoughts. It became my only focal point. I thought of it rising upward from Iris’s palm and floating through the air back over to the desk. I tried to will it with my thoughts by squinting my eyes like she had, but it didn’t budge.

  Again, I tried.

  And again.

  But it didn’t move.

  Giving up, I let out a long sigh. “Maybe Artemis is right and I don’t have the gift.”

  Iris shook her head and lifted my head up with the tip of her index finger. “I saw it, in your eyes. They flickered orange for a brief second, and I could feel the air around the earring moving. You just need to focus harder.”

  My heart began racing; if my eyes had changed, that was enough to tell me that I did have another gift. Letting out another breath, I resumed my focus on the earring and instead of thinking of it floating its way to the desk I imagined it only hovering a few inches off of Iris’s hand. In shock, I almost let it drop when I saw that it had actually lifted.

  “You’re doing it!” Iris said excitedly.

  The earring wavered slightly as it rose above the ground and began moving slowly toward the dark wooden desk on the other side of the room. A bead of sweat snaked its way from my forehead, nearly causing me to lose focus. The earring started to fall, but rose again. It landed on the surface and I released it with my mind.

  Iris was clapping beside me.

  “I can’t believe this ... ” I muttered and stared, transfixed, at the earring that was now back where it had originally been. “H-how is this possible? I shouldn’t be able to even have this …”

  Her shoulders raised and lowered in a shrug. “Can’t say that I know the answer to that one.”

  “In that book —”

  “The Codex of Ceres?” She said the title almost mockingly.

  “Sure ... whatever book it was you read. Was there anything in there about witches with more than two gifts?”

  “Nope. As far as I know, it’s impossible – hell, even having more than one is unheard of – yet, here you are. Let’s keep practicing, okay? With heavier objects, it can help to raise a hand and direct it.”

  My next task was to safely deliver one of her lava lamps from the top shelf of her desk over to her dresser against the wall beside her bed. She was clearly anxious, and it only made me uneasy. I’d hate myself if I ruined one of her belongings because I didn’t know how to control my newly acquired gift.

  I blocked out all other thoughts, including the ever-present fear of dropping and shattering her lava lamp. The one I’d chosen was full of purple liquid and black sludge that, if it was turned on, would be moving around at a relaxed pace and dimly illuminating the room. It shook at first, but didn’t move from the shelf. Iris gripped onto her comforter nervously and it wasn’t helping my confidence at all. Trying to force out my physical surroundings, I lifted my left hand and pointed my palm toward the lava lamp. It felt silly – unreal and unnatural – but, to my amazement, the lamp followed my hand as if pulled by a tight, invisible string. I lowered the lamp onto the shelf and put my hand down.

  Iris surprised me by hugging me excitedly. “That was perfect! I mean, aside from that horrifying moment there where I was almost positive you were going to break it.”

  Laughing nervously, I pulled away and stared at the lamp where it now rested. I wiped
the sweat from my forehead and let out a long breath.

  “Everything okay?” she asked.

  “Yeah, just, I don’t know. Hot. Tired.”

  “That’s normal. Starting out, even little things can drain you. It gets easier. Like, that earring? I was just doing it like that to show you what to do starting out. Watch this.”

  Iris started humming some song and I couldn’t believe the spectacle behind her. Dozens of pieces of jewelry floated into the air, lava lamps rose up and lowered, lamps and other things turned on and off, then it all went back to its original place.

  “Holy crap… you’re amazing …”

  She smiled wide. “Pft, ain’t nothin’,” she said with a fake accent, rubbed the side of her nose with a thumb and laughed again. The accent made me remember Lydia.

  “Now go on, try again. But this time keep your eyes closed.”

  “What?” I blinked. “You can’t be serious …”

  “Me? I’m always serious.” She stuck out her tongue and I couldn’t help but giggle.

  “The earring?”

  “Nope. The lamp.”

  “How am I going to see it if my eyes are closed?”

  “See it in your mind. Go on, you can do it.”

  I took a last look at the lava lamp to try to get a good, pristine image of what it looked like. I closed my eyes tight and pictured it. I saw it lifting. I saw it floating through the air.

  Iris squealed. “You’re doing it!”

  Her sudden voice caused me to open my eyes just in time to see the lamp crashing to the floor. Iris ran over to it.

  “Oh, my God, Iris, I’m so sorry … I … I’ll buy you a new one.”

  She lifted it up, thick liquid pouring out from a long, jagged crack. She looked like she could cry. “This … this was a gift from my mom. And now … now she’s gone and so is this!”

  “Iris, I’m so, so, sorry. I …” Her laughter interrupted my apology. I scrunched my eyebrows at her in confusion.

  “I’m just joking. I mean, I liked it, but it damn sure wasn’t from my mom.”

  I laughed, then, using up the remainder of my energy, I summoned a lamp with black liquid and silvery-white globs inside it. Iris stared at me in awe and went to observe the new object. Dizzied and tired, I laid back on her bed; I wouldn’t be using my gifts again anytime soon.

  “That’s so awesome,” she said and turned on the lamp.

  “Iris?”

  “Yeah?”

  “How’d you end up here, anyway? If you don’t mind me asking …”

  “I don’t mind. Let’s just say I got kicked out and Artemis found me.”

  “Kicked out?”

  “Yeah. My mom and dad kicked me out of the house when I was fourteen.”

  “What!? Why …?”

  “I told them I was gay. Well, bi. They didn’t like that too much.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Yep. Straight out. My dad was a preacher. Anyway, haven’t seen them since. Hitchhiked from Montana —”

  “You’re from Montana?”

  “Yeah, why? Wouldn’t have thought that since I’m not wearing a cowboy hat and smelling like cow and horse shit?” She snorted and giggled again. “No, seriously though, that’s where I’m from. Probably best. I never fit in in that tiny speck of a town anyway. Of course what were the odds that a Nefastus picked me up and brought me here?” She laughed again. “Artemis saved me though. That’s a story for another time though; we should probably go tell the old man what we found out.”

  I laughed at her calling Artemis an old man, but wondered just what the rest of her story was like. I definitely wasn’t the only one with a strange, troubled initiation into this magical world.

  “Oh, yeah, sure,” I said and got up, my legs wobbling underneath me.

  “You shouldn’t have done that,” she said with a frown and helped steady me. “I mean, I appreciate it, and I love that freaking lamp, but you’ve gotta be careful with your energy.”

  “Trust me, I know,” I said glumly and thought briefly back to when the group of witches attacked me outside Hannah’s apartment.

  “You get used to it after a while. The energy loss, I mean. It becomes kind of natural and you realize it’s diminishing before you let yourself get to the point where you’re going to make yourself well, like you are now. And like I said, the better you get at it the easier and more efficient it all is.”

  “Good to know,” I said and let her assist me in walking down the hall.

  Artemis was luckily back from wherever he’d been and was in his chambers at the end of the motel. He opened his door and welcomed us inside without question. My eyes scanned every inch of the room that was visible to me in search of the Codex, but I didn’t see any books that stood out. Iris told our Clan leader all about what had happened in her room and that I was a quick learner, her voice and hands moving animatedly as she relayed everything to him. I wished I could have been as excited as she was, but instead, I was left worrying and pondering what it could possibly mean.

  Having two gifts was one thing ... and even that was worrisome because it was unheard of … but having three ... what could that possibly mean?

  Then again, I had no evidence that I had three anymore. I hadn’t dreamt of anything in days, and I couldn’t seem to get through to anyone’s thoughts. I couldn’t tell Artemis that, though.

  “Can you demonstrate for me, Castus Young?” Artemis asked, breaking me out of my reverie. He pointed to his desk where a glass paperweight sat on a pile of papers. “Bring that to you, if you will.”

  “I-I can’t.”

  “What do you mean you can’t?”

  “She sort of wore herself out. Out of energy, I mean,” Iris spoke up.

  With an understanding nod, Artemis hovered his hand over my forehead and I felt the lightheaded sensation fade. “Now, bring it to you.”

  Obeying his command, I willed the paperweight toward me and he gasped in astonishment. It didn’t shake or falter as it flew through the air and landed delicately in my hand.

  “Amazing, simply amazing. But …” he muttered and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

  “Now that I went and did all of that ... tell me what you know about Mathias. Have you found anything out?”

  Artemis exhaled deeply and rubbed his temple. “I have already told you that I am working on it; it takes time.”

  “Mathias may not have time!”

  “Castus Young, you must learn to be patient. I am leaving soon to continue looking into things regarding Mathias’s ... condition. While I continue to do so, please keep practicing your newfound gift. I do not understand how it is possible, but it is important that you use it and hone the skill. Thank you again, Castus Abbot, for your assistance.”

  “My pleasure,” Iris said and waved at me before she stepped out of the room. “Bye now.”

  “Take that with you,” Artemis said, pointing to the paperweight. “But do be careful. It’s somewhat of an heirloom.”

  “I don’t —”

  “Please,” he said dismissively. “Just go. I trust that you won’t break it.”

  “That wasn’t —”

  He pointed toward the door, interrupting my explanation without saying a word.

  “Fine.” I huffed, wrapped my fingers around the glass object, and stomped out of the room.

  Chapter Twenty

  I sat in the lobby, tapping my fingers on the couch arm and waiting. I had initially thought of just retreating to my room, throwing myself down on the bed and sleeping the rest of the day away, but had an idea, partially thanks to Iris. Without knowing how long I would have to wait, I practiced moving the paperweight from the coffee table to the entertainment center across the room, after having a small meal of cottage cheese with fruit cocktail. Seven times of moving the object back and forth had already passed and I was running out of steam.

  Artemis entered the lobby and observed me with a satisfied smile. “Very good. Keep it up. I will return
later.”

  I put on my best fake smile as I watched him slip through the door and step out into the frosty world beyond. I pocketed the paperweight and leapt up from the sectional and rushed down the hallway, heading straight for room twelve. Only two knocks before Alan opened the door; he looked surprised to see me, but I didn’t blame him.

  “Uh, hi,” I blurted out and glanced down the hall to ensure no one was nearby. “I’m sorry ... about before, in my room... ”

  Alan looked amused and shook his head. “You shouldn’t be apologizing. I should. I came onto you, remember?”

  “Either way, it doesn’t matter. I was kind of hoping you could help me with something.”

  He looked hesitant at first, then smiled. “Sure, anything.”

  “I’ll remember you said that.” I looked down at my shoes and, for a moment, contemplated not putting this plan into action. “I am going to break into Artemis’s room and I need your help.”

  He opened his mouth, then shut it. “I … what? Madison ... Don’t be foolish.”

  “Look, I’m going to do it, with or without you ... but it would be a lot easier if you came with. I think Artemis is hiding something or knows about Mathias’s illness — whatever it is — and he just isn’t telling me. I was hoping to use your gift to help me find something.”

  Alan’s shoulders slumped and he sighed. “It always comes back to Castus Forsythe, doesn’t it? Regardless, my gift doesn’t work that way. I can’t just go into our Clan leader’s room, pick up a random object, and magically know what he’s been doing recently. My gift picks up the history of items, more often than not they’re old memories. Plus, there’s always an intense emotional connection to the item. Usually a negative one.”

  “Exactly! Mathias’s condition is negative. So, it could be linked to something ... right? Maybe? I know the chances are slim, but this is all I can think of now. Please …”

  He looked uncertain and I was sure he was going to decline. “Why don’t you just wait for Artemis to figure this all out? If anyone can fix this, it would be him.”

  “Mathias might not be able to wait long enough, he could die ...”