The Memory Witch

by Wood, Heather Topham

  “No problem. Just don’t tell Aunt Stella I showed you,” he laughed with a wink.

  Okay, this is not good, I thought, because for a moment, I had the distinct sense of butterflies in my belly. I forced Tanner’s perfect face and body in my head. Yes, Mason was extremely attractive, but I couldn’t latch onto the only guy in my vicinity. Mason was beautiful in the way of a renaissance painting. Nice to look at, but keep your hands off of it. I loved Tanner and a guy with a mysterious smile and gorgeous blue eyes couldn’t mess that up for me.

  “Looking forward to your day off tomorrow?”

  “Yes,” I enthused. “I can’t wait to call Tanner…” I stumbled momentarily, “my boyfriend.”

  Mason looked amused over my fumbling and only nodded. “Well, it’s going to be scorching hot for the next few days. You should go swimming if you can pry the phone away from your ear tomorrow.”

  “Swimming?” I couldn’t recall seeing a pool. Not that I had a chance to tour much of the property. I figured if I ever had any time on my own, I would get to wander around and explore.

  “You can swim in the pond. The water feels great this time of year,” he elaborated.

  “Thanks, maybe I will,” I replied. “Well, I better get these plants back to your aunt in case she needs them.”

  Mason nodded and sent a wave my way as he retrieved the shovel. I watched him leave out of the corner of my eye. Once the door closed behind him, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Tomorrow couldn’t come fast enough. I needed to hear the reassuring tenor of Tanner’s voice and forget about anything or anybody else.

  Chapter Nine

  Stella didn’t do her normal wake-up call on that Sunday. I slept in and a look at my watch told me it was just after nine. I was relieved to get a few extra hours of sleep since I stayed up late to study more. Stella had hinted at a test before I moved on to other areas of my training. I had always strived for perfection in my studies and would not become lax now. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the type of student who could read something once and absorb it. I had to spend hours scrutinizing the material before things would finally sink in.

  I opened my bedroom door and let out an excited squeal. Leaning against the door was my cell phone and laptop. I turned on the phone and was greeted by a series of beeps and buzzes to indicate I had a large number of messages stored.

  Instead of checking the messages, I dialed my mother’s cell phone number. She answered on the first ring. “Quinn! I’ve had the phone in my hand waiting for your call,” she said excitedly.

  “You knew I was calling?”

  “Yes, Stella called me and said you arrived in New York fine. She said you were only going to be able to call me on Sundays.”

  Stella was contradictory. Many times, I was sure the only thing inside of her was cruelty and disdain. Other times, she showed a gentler side and almost came across as maternal. After I brought in the plants from the greenhouse, she awarded me with a rare, “Good job.”

  “How is it there, Quinn?” my mom questioned.

  “It hasn’t been that bad. I’m pretty much studying the entire time to learn all of the ingredients that go into her spells. She hopes I’ll have most of them memorized by the end of the month.” If I wasn’t well acquainted with the elements by then, I figured I’d come to learn them as we began practicing magic. “How are things at home?”

  “Just the same with the exception of missing you terribly.” My mother sighed, “Tanner called the house to ask about you.”

  I bit my lip before asking, “What did you tell him?”

  “I said the cell reception was terrible where you were. I assured him you would give him a ring once you were able to get into town.”

  It was becoming glaringly obvious that keeping up a relationship with Tanner would be challenging. The lies were going to pile one on top of the other. I was terrible at deception, I blushed and spoke in a tone that sounded like I was hyperventilating. How could I explain the fact I wasn’t able to use my phone or computer except on Sundays? I was going to have to consider telling him the truth. He may think the entire situation is crazy, but it might be the best shot at maintaining a long distance relationship.

  My mother’s tone turned somber. “Quinn, you really should think about ending things with that boy.”

  “Mom!” I protested. “I thought you liked Tanner.”

  “He was fine enough when I guessed it would only be a high school romance,” she elaborated. “But things are different now. Being away for a year is the perfect time to end things amicably.”

  “Maybe it will work out. Even if we’re apart for a year, when I get back we could pick things up where we left off…”

  She didn’t let me finish. “To be honest, Quinn, I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.” After a brief hesitation, she continued, “I smelled alcohol on the boy more than once, including when he drove you home the other night. His parents leave him to his own devices for days at a time. He has no ambition in life besides partying and spending his parents’ money.”

  My mother listed all of the reasons Tanner was completely wrong for me. I wasn’t completely ignorant over Tanner’s shortcomings. Yet, there were qualities about Tanner that I loved. He did party way too much, but when we were alone he was a totally different person. His charming and funny side was irresistible. It wasn’t like I was the picture of perfect mental health—I had holes in my memory and a troubled family history.

  I could tell his friends were surprised when he started dating me. I was not in the same social class as them and his former girlfriends were all rich and beautiful. Tanner never made me feel like some low class girl he brought home. I was always treated like his equal. It wasn’t that I felt beneath him, but I understood the hierarchies of high school. Although I had confidence in my looks and intelligence, I never had any desire to get involved in the drama of being with one of the most popular boys in school.

  My mother took my silence as dissention. “We don’t have to talk about it now. I’m just happy to hear from you and that things are okay. I’m proud of you for making the best out of a tough situation.”

  I was glad someone noticed my efforts. At times, I would zone out during studying and my head would fill with regrets over losing my scholarship money. It would take a concentrated effort to stop thinking about it and focus on my new goals—gain an encyclopedic knowledge of witchcraft and uncover the secrets of my childhood.

  Mistakenly, my mother believed I would be able to forget about my past and allow her and Stella to steal away my memories. They were arrogant thieves and despite their objections, I was going to find out what happened. No matter how terrible it turned out to be, I would deal with it.

  We continued to chat for another thirty minutes. My mother filled in our silences with stories about patients from her job and our neighbors. The study of plants wasn’t exactly a captivating conversation starter, so I was pleased when she took the lead. After assuring her that I was being fed and treated well, I was able to hang up the phone and call Tanner. I smiled when his sleepy voice answered on the fifth ring.

  “Is this what you do while I’m away? Sleep all day?” I kidded.

  “Quinn?” he mumbled. After a few seconds, his head seemed to clear. “Babe, it’s so good to hear your voice.”

  “Tanner…I’m so sorry I couldn’t call you sooner.” Twirling a strand of my golden brown hair in my fingers, I waited for his reply.

  “It’s alright. I went to see your mom and she let me know you’re out in the middle of nowhere and your cell doesn’t work.”

  I stayed silent. Although I understood the lie was necessary, I resolved to tell Tanner the truth as soon as I saw him in person. Maybe when our paths crossed once again, I could demonstrate magic to him and it would lend belief to my story.

  After a minute of heady silence, Tanner added, “This is craziness, Quinn.”

  There was no need for him to elaborate. I knew exactly what he meant. “I ha
d no idea things would be so isolated up here.”

  “How can your family do this to you? It’s your life, they have no right to force you into caring for some old lady you never even met. Maybe I could talk to my father and see if we could help pay the cost of a live-in nurse…”

  I stopped shaking my head once it dawned on me that Tanner couldn’t see my refusal. “I can’t let you do that. I gave my word that I would stay here for a year and that’s what I plan to do.”

  “My family has more than enough money…”

  “No,” I said firmly. Realizing the harshness of my reply, I explained, “I appreciate your generosity. It’s amazing,” I breathed, “but I have to stay here.”

  Tanner groaned in response. “Fine, but I still think your family sucks. You should be here with me enjoying our last summer before college.”

  I changed the subject. “How is everything? What have you been up to?”

  My questions distracted Tanner and he launched into a litany of all the fun he was having while I was gone. There were parties, nights out with Mark and Amber, and days spent lounging at the lake. While he spoke, I was surprised to find I wasn’t as envious as I thought I would be. Instead, I was relieved that the summer was providing him with a distraction. My only hope was that without me working as his conscious, Tanner stayed out of trouble.

  “Can I come see you? I was pretty mad when I drove by your house and saw your car in the driveway. Why weren’t you able to take it?” His agitation was obvious and briefly I could see my mom’s point in ending things with him.

  “I can’t leave for now and I’m not allowed visitors.” I added hastily, “I’ll only be able to call you on Sundays. It’s the only day I go into town and get a signal on my phone.” Purposely, I avoided his question about why I was forbidden to take my car when I left.

  “This just keeps getting better and better,” Tanner mumbled. I could relate to Tanner’s frustration, but this was my one day of freedom. A shouting match with my boyfriend wasn’t how I planned to unwind.

  “Why don’t I call you in a few hours? I’ll be around all day,” I suggested. Tanner agreed and after telling him I loved him, I disconnected the call.

  I checked my messages and returned a few texts from friends. I also gave Amber a call and we gossiped for about an hour. Amber promised to keep me abreast of all the Harveys Lake news, including how my boyfriend was faring without me. She promised to look out for Tanner and make sure he steer cleared of his self-destructive tendencies.

  By early afternoon, I had tired of talking on the phone and going online. I felt a growing void between my life before and my life now. I planned to call Tanner in the early evening again, but decided in the meantime to take a dip in the pond. It was supposed to be a scorcher again today and a swim could be just the thing to clear my head.

  I looked through my bathing suits and settled on a conservative style. The blue bikini top provided full coverage and the boy shorts gave it a sporty twist. After putting on my tunic cover-up and my sandals, I headed to the kitchen.

  The house was eerily quiet which made me guess that maybe Stella had left for the day. I packed a small lunch of a sandwich, apple, and soda. Luckily, Stella gave me free rein on what I could eat and kept her kitchen well stocked. Not much in the way of junk food, but that was probably a good thing.

  When I arrived at the pond, I dipped my foot through the reflective surface. The water felt warm and inviting. I wasn’t sure if I should be concerned about any creepy crawly things living in it, but mentally shoved the thought out of my head.

  I set my cover-up, towel, and lunch to the side of the water. A small wooden pier led to the center of the pond. I dashed over the planks and jumped feet first into the water. I descended into the depths of the water before resurfacing. I vowed to thank Mason for telling me about the pond—the water felt soothing and wonderful.

  I floated onto my back and looked at the cloudless sky. For the first time this week, I felt at peace. I’d been full of tension and ready to snap at the smallest provocation. I concentrated solely on the weightless feeling of being in the water. Anything else could go to the wayside for the time being.

  After about an hour of swimming, I climbed back onto the pier. Throwing on my tunic, I laid back onto my towel. Drowsiness set in as I sunbathed and before long, I felt myself drifting…

  I was in the woods again. This time I wasn’t running. Instead I sat sobbing as I held a piece of torn cloth in my hands. I had no idea the significance of the scarlet fabric, but it filled me with sorrow looking at it. The fabric was roughly torn and the glossy surface made me guess it had come from a jacket.

  Dark shadows were creeping towards me as I sat crying with my back against a white birch tree. I gripped the fabric in my fist as I became aware of the presence of the darkness. I stopped my tears and looked at the swirling forms moving steadfastly in my direction. Wiping off the residual moisture on my cheeks, I stood and stared down the ghastly shapes.

  I threw the fabric on the moist ground. An army of spiders, beetles, and worms emerged from the ground and began to devour the material. Once it disappeared into their greedy little mouths, they returned to ground. I was heartbroken with their hungry destruction of something that was so precious to me, but I had to find the strength to confront and embrace the darkness.

  “I welcome you.” The voice wasn’t my own. It was full of malice and power. My hands shot out before me and the dark mist came to them. They disappeared inside of my fingers and I could see the energy pulse through my body. I shut my eyes and reopened them. They were no longer my own. Blackened irises with a red rim now stood in place of my soft brown eyes…

  “Quinn! You’re going to die out here.” An urgent voice called to me.

  My lids felt weighted down and it was a struggle to open my eyes. Once I managed to pry them open, I had to close my eyes again as the harsh sun temporarily blinded me. My body felt on fire and I was barely able to move a muscle without wincing in pain.

  Mason was knelt over me with concern written over his face. With alarm, I understood I must have fallen asleep in the sun. My fair skin felt flushed with heat and I could only imagine the sunburn forming on the exposed parts of my body.

  As my head cleared, I comprehended how little clothing I wore. While I was sleeping, my tunic had ridden up to my belly. My bare legs were spread out before me while the fabric of the cover-up clung to the rest of my body. I wasn’t an exhibitionist, so I was a little uneasy about the view Mason must have gotten when he stumbled upon me.

  I forced myself into a sitting position and pulled down the tunic. The skin of my legs was already turning a harsh red. A nasty sunburn was certainly in my foreseeable future. I must have been having nightmares under the sun for a significant amount of time. I was grateful Mason came along when he did. It was probable he saved me from a trip to the emergency room and the continuation of another horrendous nightmare.

  “Are you okay?” Mason’s intense gaze watched me thoughtfully.

  My throat was dry, but I managed to croak out, “I think so.”

  “You should get out of the sun and drink as much as possible,” he commanded. I noticed his eyes move over my body. At first, his stare was calculating, probably guessing how badly I was sunburned. I watched as his eyes softened and lingered on my bare legs. When I met his eyes, the familiar aloofness had been restored to his features.

  “I will,” I said softly.

  Mason flustered me and it made me feel guilty. His looks were captivating, but it was more than that. I desperately wanted a friend during my time at the estate. I guessed he felt the same way, but it seemed as though he forced himself to keep his distance from me.

  “Can you get inside okay?”

  I waved him off. “I’ll be fine.” I swallowed hard and looked over his shoulder. “Thank you for waking me up. If you haven’t come along…” I shuddered at the thought.

  Mason shrugged. “It was nothing. I was looking to see if yo
u wanted anything from the store. Aunt Stella sends me to stock up on groceries most Sundays.”

  I sucked on my lower lip and willed him to ask me to go with him. I would have loved to escape from the property for a few hours. Mason said nothing. After an uncomfortable cough, I inquired, “Can you pick me up Cheez Doodles?”

  Mason gave me a disbelieving look. “That’s all you want?” At my nod, he scoffed, “I thought they were something only twelve-year-olds ate. You know how gross that artificial cheese is that sticks to your finger?”

  “Ever dip them in honey? They’re amazing.” I smiled at the disgusted expression on his face. He returned my grin and I momentarily forget about my nightmare or the flush of my skin. I reveled in the normalcy of the minute until the wall came up again.

  “Get inside. My aunt will kill me if something happens to her protégé,” he said sardonically and nodded at me before leaving.

  As I gathered my things, I watched him walk towards his truck. I had so many questions for Mason, but it was hard to decipher his hot and cold moods. I wanted him to tell me about his aunt and how he came to live with her. My initial impression was Mason would seek me out while I was staying here. I was near his age and would be staying there for the next year. But the opposite had happened. He seemed to avoid spending too much time with me. What was it about me that made Mason treat me like an unwanted interloper?

  Chapter Ten

  Days blended into weeks. I grew disillusioned with my ability to fully understand all that Stella had to teach me within a year. We had spent almost a month working on the ingredients for her spells and I felt like I still had so much to learn. There was an endless array of herbs, minerals, and oils that could be added to a spell. I was thankful that most of the ingredients were tame. Stella explained that a few did call for human hair and a few drops of blood, but I wouldn’t have to cut out any organs of animals or add a human eye to any of her potions.

  The elderly witch was constantly testing me. Consistently, I was sent to the greenhouse to gather up the ingredients she required. I was pleased when the time it took me to finish her list diminished from hours to minutes. She would also ask my advice on what items she should put in her concoctions based on the purpose of the spell. Nine out of ten times I would give her the correct answer.