The Cursed Witch

by Chandelle LaVaun

  Riah propped his arm up on the seat of the couch then leaned his head on his hand. With his other hand, he reached down and slid his fingertips over my calf…then up to my knee. “Go ahead, read it.”

  “Um…” I blinked and shook myself, but concentrating was difficult when he ran his fingers over my bare skin. “Um. Just – just read it?”

  He licked his lips and nodded.

  Okay. I flipped the parchment over and found four lines written in black ink. The handwriting…it felt…familiar. Something about it sent a chill down my spine. I ran my fingers over the words and shivered. I shook myself. I needed to focus. I closed my eyes and took three deep breaths while digging up my magic.

  Once it tingled in my fingers, I opened my eyes and read the spell out loud. “By word of magic, strength in deed, See my life, all memories I need.”

  The flames in the fireplace flickered and changed from orange to blue then back to orange again. That golden glitter of my magic billowed from my palms and coiled around my fingers. It slithered up my arms then wrapped around my face.

  “Plant a clone in your garden divine, Both good and bad, forever mine.”

  The flames went out, drenching the room in darkness. I gasped and sat up straight but Riah squeezed my thigh, holding me steady. Heat exploded inside of me and I froze in place. And then the flames reappeared like nothing had happened.

  I looked down at myself…but I felt no different. My memories were still gone.

  Riah ran his hand through my hair. “Some spells require time to be activated.”

  What are you trying to do to me? One of his hands was in my hair, the other on my thigh. It was too much. I felt like a candle lit on both ends. Time was running out before I melted completely. I needed to do something, anything, to break this moment or I might not ever recover. I didn’t want him to stop or move away but I needed him to or I was going to break.

  I opened my mouth and said the first thing that came to mind. “How are you always suddenly there when I could not see you before?”

  Oh, all right. Going right for the jugular? Okay.

  Riah smirked. He dropped his hand from my hair and let his left-hand dangle in front of my face. His amethyst ring sparkled in the firelight. He reached up and pulled the ring off of his middle finger, then held his right hand up…and slid it onto his pointer finger of his right hand —and vanished.

  I gasped and sat up straight. I knew it. I KNEW the placement of that ring meant something. I knew I wasn’t imagining that it moved. I knew I saw him. My mind whirled with questions and memories of the last two weeks. I looked straight in front of me and saw only the fireplace. Riah was gone.

  But he wasn’t.

  I could not see him…but I felt him.

  His scent lingered in the air around me. The energy I’d felt between us still pulsed strong. Heat radiated in waves in front of me. But it was more than that. It was more than what my eyes could tell me. It was deeper than that. I felt his presence. The aura of his soul vibrating in front of me. I still felt the heat of his body on the backs of my legs.

  “I can still feel you,” I heard myself whisper. I reached out until my hand touched his invisible cheek. My heart fluttered. I ran my fingers along his face, down to his lips.

  The air pulsated, throbbing with energy. Heat rushed forward and brushed over my face – and then his forehead pressed to mine. His breath swept over my face. I closed my eyes and let myself feel what I could not see.

  “I feel you always,” he whispered against my cheek.

  I licked my lips and pushed my chin out, and our noses brushed. My fingers trembled with the need to touch him so I shoved them under my legs. “You said you were a guardian. Who are you guarding?”

  His lips slid down my jaw to corner of my mouth. “You.”

  My heart skipped beats. Fire bloomed in my chest like I’d swallowed a raw flame. It spread through my body, scorching my veins. I licked my lips and the edge of my tongue brushed the corner of his mouth. I leaned in. His breath slid over my lips. He was right there. So close. Just one last —

  And then he was gone.

  I sucked in a strangled kind of gasp and my body trembled. Sweat dripped down my spine, my pulse raced out of control. I swallowed the hot lump in my throat and scanned the room for him. My gaze bounced around in a panic – and then I found him. Standing by the front door.

  He slid his amethyst ring back onto his left hand without even glancing at me. Then he threw his leather jacket on and grabbed his keys off the hook. “Come on, time to get you home.”

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  Saffie

  As I sat there on the bench across the street from Landreia’s house, I wondered what Christmas Eve was supposed to be like for me. I wondered where I was supposed to be, who I was supposed to be with. Were there people sitting beside their Christmas trees missing me, wondering where I was? Was there someone looking for me right this moment, desperate for a Christmas miracle?

  I hoped so.

  For the first time since waking up with amnesia…I felt hollow inside. Maybe it was all the holiday cheer, or the cheesy happy movies I’d been watching all weekend with Landreia. Maybe it was hearing about Savannah and Gigi’s holiday activities as they spent time with their families.

  I felt alone.

  My friends were great, I adored them. They’d invited me over to their houses and offered to come spend time with me during the holidays…but I’d turned them down. It was bad enough I was missing out on my family, I couldn’t bear to let them as well. And the thing was, I knew I had a family out there. I couldn’t put words to the feeling, or even begin to describe it, I just felt it somewhere inside me. And I wanted desperately to find them.

  Landreia was beyond wonderful. I would forever be grateful to her and what she’d done for me. But there were some things that just couldn’t be faked. I was happy to be with her for Christmas, for both our sakes, but my thoughts just kept circling back to that big gaping hole in the middle of my chest.

  Magic had turned out to be a wonderful distraction.

  Riah was even more so.

  But as I sat there alone in the snow…I just felt empty.

  I better go inside before I’m inconsolable company.

  I sighed and hopped off the bench. I was on the top step of our front stoop when the door opened and Ms. Kelly walked out. I stopped short. “Oh. Ms. Kelly. Hi…I…I didn’t see you get here…”

  She chuckled. “I snuck in while you were watching the snow fall and howling at the moon.”

  My cheeks warmed. “You’re probably kidding, but I really can’t be sure I didn’t actually howl at the moon.”

  She threw her head back and laughed. “Oh, Saffie. You’re adorably feisty. Well, I just swung by because I forgot to get my niece something for Christmas and she’s obsessed with candles.”

  “Oh, well then you were in the right place.” I shook my head. “You should just buy the whole inventory and get them out of here.”

  She grinned and shook her head, then held up a small bag. “And deny you the glorious scent that will stain all of your clothing?”

  I groaned. “You’re so kind. Really.”

  She squeezed arm and smiled. “Merry Christmas, Saffie. I hope this week is good for you.”

  “Thanks. You too.” I walked to the door and pulled it open, then glanced back to Ms. Kelly walking down the steps. “Merry Christmas.”

  She winked and waved, then hurried down Essex Street.

  I sighed and walked inside. It was warm and a bit stuffy in the house after being out in the snow, so I unbuttoned my wool coat and hung it on the coat rack.

  “Whose shirt are you wearing?”

  I spun to find Landreia leaning in the doorway of her shop, frowning at my shirt. My cheeks warmed. I tugged on the sleeves that were bunched up at my wrists. “Um…Riah’s.”

  Her eyebrows rose. “Oh…you’re wearing his clothes now?”

  “What? No. Well, I mean yes, b
ut…” I shook my head. “We had a little encounter with some water demons last night. I was soaked so he gave me his dry, warm shirt to put on.”

  “Oh. He’s so sweet to you.” She grinned and wagged her eyebrows. “So you kept it, eh?”

  My cheeks were practically on fire. I shrugged. “Well…yes.”

  She threw her head back and laughed. Then she waved for me to follow her into the kitchen. “Come on, I have something for you.”

  “So, how long was Ms. Kelly here for?” I asked as I crossed the threshold into the kitchen.

  Landreia pursed her lips. “Oh, maybe half an hour? We were chatting.”

  “Cool.”

  Wait. What were they chatting about? Ms. Kelly had caught me and Riah in the hot tub together. Did she tell Landreia? I frowned and watched as my foster mother tended to whatever she was cooking in the pots on the stove…whistling Christmas tunes. Somehow I doubted she knew, I didn’t think she’d be so cheery if she did. She wasn’t my mother but she was protective like one.

  I cleared my throat. “So…um…you have something for me?”

  “Yup.” She spun and grinned, then tossed a large spoon into the sink. “That box there on the table, the one with the big red bow? That’s for you.”

  My eyes widened. I hadn’t seen it sitting there until now. “It’s for…me?”

  “Well of course, sweetheart. It’s Christmas, isn’t it?” She rubbed her palms together. “I have a tradition to open one present on Christmas eve, and I’d like you to open this one.”

  Butterflies danced in my stomach. My first Christmas present. I sat forward and gently pulled the red ribbon off the box, then peeled the box open. Inside were two red velvet squares. I reached in and pulled them out, they were boxes of some kind. Landreia grinned and nodded me on. I popped the first case open – and gasped.

  Inside, tucked into black satin fabric was shinny gold jewelry. The first thing I saw was a gold ring shaped like an ocean wave. My eyes widened. I dove for the second case and popped it open, revealing the gold earrings that would wrap all the way up my ear in little gold cuff hoops, and some had etchings and crystals. One was the same wave shape as on the ring.

  My jaw dropped. “Landreia.”

  She squealed and clapped her hands. “I got it from an old witch friend of mine. Do you like them?”

  I jumped to my feet, then threw my arms around her. “I love them. Thank you so much.”

  “You’re so very welcome, sweetheart.” She sighed but it was a happy sigh, like she was pleased with herself. “Okay, now, hungry?”

  My stomach growled in response. Landreia chuckled and turned to the stove.

  I gnawed on my bottom lip. I didn’t want to rain on her parade, but I couldn’t keep the dark thoughts away. I couldn’t shake this feeling and I didn’t like it. I needed to get some help before this got worse. “Hey, Landreia, do you think I could go see Dr. Troy tonight after dinner?”

  Landreia frowned and sat a large glass tray full of lasagna on the table. “It’s Christmas Eve—”

  “Oh, I know.” I grabbed two plates out of the cupboard and put them on the table. “But she told me she’d be at the church around the corner for the midnight candlelight Christmas Mass…she said if I needed to talk to come find her there.”

  Landreia gave me a long, hard look. Then she smiled. “Holidays are always a difficult time for people in unfair situations. If she told you to find her there, then of course you can go. But let’s eat dinner first. Plus, I want to hear more about this Riah.”

  Chapter Fifty-Six

  Saffie

  It was a few minutes before midnight when I finally climbed up the church’s front steps and pulled the big wooden doors open. I’d talked myself in and out of going for hours. In the end I accepted the fact that Dr. Troy had told me she’d be here at the Christmas Eve midnight mass without me prompting her. She’d reached out to me. Which meant she knew I was going to need her and she wouldn’t mind at all if I came by. She really was an amazing psychologist – or are they called therapists?

  “Good evening!” An older woman with curly silver hair and thick-framed glasses said in a cheery voice the second I walked inside. She stepped in front of me and handed me something. “Here you go, sweetie.”

  I smiled back and took the object, only to realize it was a candle. It was slightly thicker than one of my fingers, about the length of my hand. It had a little plastic white tray at the base of it. I frowned and looked up at the woman. “What is this?”

  “Your candle for midnight lighting,” she said with a wink. “You made it just in time. So go get a seat.”

  “Thank you.” I smiled then looked in front of me – and froze.

  Wow.

  This is beautiful.

  The church had one big aisle running up the middle. A bright red carpet stretched from the altar all the way to the door. Straight back, in front of a massive stained-glass window, was a giant Christmas tree with bright white lights glowing brighter than the North Star. In front of it, by the altar where the pastor was speaking, sat two smaller Christmas trees decorated the same way. I took a few steps forward and realized there were sets of three Christmas trees in the front corners on both sides of the room. Despite the pain clawing at my heart, a small smile pulled at my lips. This was gorgeous.

  The side walls were decorated with red and white flowers, and white candles with glowing flames. On each side of the aisle were two big groupings of wooden benches that were long enough to fit like twenty people. It was a packed house, though I understood why everyone wanted to be here. I was glad to have gotten to see this.

  But I needed to find Dr. Troy. I shook myself then scanned the pews in front of me. Except there were so many people, I couldn’t tell who was who – especially from behind. I did not think this through. I was just about to give up and sit up by the front door to wait for her at the end when I heard a familiar cough. I turned toward the sound. It took me a second, but I finally spotted her sitting at the very end of a pew about halfway up on the left side. Relief washed through me.

  I hurried over then plopped down beside her at the end of the pew.

  She looked to me and smiled.

  “You said to come tonight if I needed to.”

  The woman on the other side of her looked over and scowled. “Excuse me?”

  Oh, right. Don’t be so loud. I grimaced and waved at the woman, mouthing sorry.

  Dr. Troy shook her head and chuckled.

  “I almost didn’t come here,” I whispered with a heavy sigh. “But you always make me feel better, and you said to come tonight if I needed you…and I need you.”

  The woman beside her glanced over with a deep scowl.

  “I hope I’m not too late…”

  Dr. Troy shook her head. “Never.”

  I nodded and watched two older women stand up from the front pews with lit candles in their hands. They each turned to the person beside them and then touched their flame to their candle wick. Then they walked to the pew behind them and did the same. As each candle was lit, the person turned to light their neighbor’s. The flickering orange glow grew brighter by the second as more and more candles were lit.

  “Saffie,” Dr. Troy whispered. When I looked to her, she reached over and put her hand on my knee to stop my legs from bouncing. She smiled softly. “Deep breaths.”

  I nodded and did as she asked while gnawing on my bottom lip. The older woman stopped at the opposite end of our pew and lit a teenage boy’s candle. He grinned and turned to light the one to his left.

  “I just feel so lost,” I heard myself whisper before I could stop. I groaned and pushed my hair back. This was not the time to have this conversation I didn’t want to ruin someone else’s Christmas Eve celebration. I glanced up to Dr. Troy’s careful expression. “This is almost over, we can talk after.”

  Over her shoulder I saw the woman beside her glancing at me from the corner of her dark eyes. “Are you okay?”

  I frowned
. “What do—”

  “Mom,” the young girl beside her hissed and elbowed her. “Candle.”

  The woman, mom, shook herself and turned to her daughter. As her candle was lit, I glanced up to Dr. Troy. She winked at me.

  “Okay, here you go,” the woman said and turned toward us. She thrust her candle forward — right through Dr. Troy’s chest.

  Dr. Troy’s eyes widened.

  I gasped and jumped. I threw my hands out and shoved her candle away, screaming, “What did you do to her?”

  The woman flinched. “Her? Who?”

  “The woman sitting next to you—” I threw my hand out to Dr. Troy and my hand went straight through her. Like she wasn’t there at all.

  A strangled half-cry, half-scream left my lips. Everyone in the pews around us stopped and spun around. My heart stopped. My entire body turned ice cold.

  “Sweetheart?” The woman said softly, lowering her eyes to meet mine. “Are you all right?”

  “S-sh-she’s r-r-r-ight t-t-there.” I pointed to Dr. Troy sitting between us.

  The woman’s eyes widened and her face paled. “There’s no one sitting here but you and me—”

  “No,” I cried out. I reached for Dr. Troy’s hand but mine went right through hers. I choked on a gasp and jumped back, my body slammed into the side railing of the pew. “No, no, no, no, no.”

  I looked up into her eyes and my breath left me in a rush. My whole body trembled, my bones rattled together.

  She was glowing with that bright blue light…and I could see right through her.

  “Saffie—”

  A loud bell rang out, smashing through silence of the church. It echoed through the hollowness of my chest. In my peripheral vision, I saw the worried glances in the crowd around me. I heard their voices calling out to me, asking if I was okay. But as the chime of that bell began to fade, memories slammed into my mind.

  I saw myself lying in that hospital bed. The room was empty, the door shut. The television showing images I wasn’t familiar with.