Chapter Thirteen
Our destination was on the fringe of Melbourne’s central business district, which meant we had to pass through the heart of Melbourne. As such, we needed to switch trams four times until we got to where we needed to be. I had never seen trams before; they were a cross between a bus and a train. They had to run along their own tracks, and they each had a specific route to follow throughout the city and its outskirts. It was a ‘simple’ task of hopping on one until you reached the next tram stop for your interconnecting tram. I had never used public transport before and had no knowledge of Melbourne, so I just relied on Andy to ensure we made the right connections.
Our tram slowed as it approached our final stop just outside the main square in the heart of the busy central business area. The tram doors opened, and I stared in awe; thousands of rioters had taken over the square, their voices distorted as they yelled, desperately wanting to be heard above rivals.
“This is our stop.” Andy spoke with reluctance. He obviously didn’t want to face the rioters either.
“How far away are we?” I was beginning to grow anxious the longer I watched the rioters.
“Just have to weave through these idiots and we’ll be there,” he said as he swung his backpack onto his back.
I had intended carrying my bow through Melbourne, until Andy reminded me that carrying a deadly weapon through a capital city wouldn’t go unnoticed, much less a city already on edge with rioters. So it sat almost completely hidden in his backpack. Only the very edge was visible through the zipper, but it wasn’t enough to identify it as a weapon. The Book, however, was strapped tightly to my stomach under the clean jeans and purple shirt Alice had given me.
As we stepped off the tram, the rioters’ voices became audible; they were still proclaiming the cause of the sudden weather anomaly was of the government’s making. I had seen brief news reports of the riots on television, but I hadn’t expected anything like this. People littered the CBD waving signs and screaming obscenities. In the centre of the rioters, was a man standing on the top of a car, his long brown dreadlocks pulled back with a red rag. He was yelling to the adoring crowd about how nature must be preserved and how it was humans who were responsible for destroying the world.
“This way!” Andy yelled at me across the deafening roars of the rioters and pointed towards something.
I craned my neck and stood on my toes as I tried to see where he was heading, but I was too short. He was only a few inches taller than me, but it was enough to give him the advantage of being able to navigate through the sea of people. I reached out and clasped his hand tightly; I didn’t want to become separated. As we pushed through the screaming rioters, I accidently stepped on several sets of bare feet. I stopped to apologise, but none of them reacted as they continued to yell and wave their banners in every direction.
“We’re almost there,” Andy breathed heavily. His brows were furrowed as he pulled me into an opening of a lane; a lane rioters hadn’t yet filled.
I couldn’t help but gasp as I turned to face the lane. It was lined with irregularly sized bluestone blocks and was pinched between two tall, dark, windowless buildings. I would normally never choose to walk through a lane such as this one.
“Come on,” Andy said, as he adjusted his backpack on his back and began to walk down the ominously dark lane.
As I took several steps behind him, I glanced back to the square. The rioters were still screaming and waving their signs, but their voices didn’t carry down the laneway. It was as though their voices were being caught by an invisible curtain at the entrance of the lane.
“What is this place?” I asked him, my voice sounding flat and empty.
He was already metres in front of me. I walked quickly to catch him, each footstep echoing down the dark, narrow lane. “Andy! Where are we?” I demanded, as I pulled his shoulder around to make him face me.
“We’re here.” Andy spoke softly.
We had reached a dark timber door, nestled within a solemn building. As he held his hand up to knock on the door, it swung open. A black-skinned woman stood in the doorway. She wore a bright orange scarf tied tightly around her head. A large round golden earring hung from each of her earlobes. Her dress was a combination of bright orange and pink—the colours flowed together majestically as the fabric twisted around her curvaceous body.
“You bring with you a great danger.” She spoke with an accent, one I recognised instantly. And then I saw them—her eyes. Golden eyes.
“You! It’s you!” I yelled. My body tingled with anger and shock. I couldn’t believe who I was looking at. “This is all your fault!”
I lunged at her, but Andy pulled me back and pressed me against the bluestone wall. “What the hell, Alex?”
“It’s her! She’s the woman from the bus—the woman who gave me the Book!”
His face registered his shock. “No. It can’t be.”
I pushed him aside and strode toward her. “It is, isn’t it? You’re her? I will never forget those eyes and that voice. Why did you do this to me?”
“I asked you if you believed in destiny. You said yes.” Her voice was as silky and disturbing as I remember it had been on the bus. “I also told you that my destiny was to alter yours.”
“So you decide to give me a book that leaves a wake of devastation in its path? Because of you, I was raped. Raped! I had to run from my home!” A ball of anger was boiling in my chest.
“Raped? How is this possible? Andy, you were sent to protect her.” Her golden eyes moved to Andy, who now stood by my side.
“Sent?” I turned to face him. His gaze was locked onto his feet. “Sent? Andy, what is she talking about?”
“You did not tell her?” the woman asked.
He put his hand into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. It was obvious that it had been folded and unfolded many times; it was dog-eared and crumpled. “Abde,” he gestured to the woman in the doorway, “gave me this. She drew it. She told me you’d need my help, and it was imperative that I be the one to be there for you.” His voice was shaking as he spoke. “Alexandra, I didn’t tell you because, well ... how was I meant to?”
I took the paper from him and stared at it. My stomach knotted as nervousness began to bubble. “This is a drawing of me. It’s dated before I arrived in Warrangatta.” I paused as memories flooded back. “The first time we met, you acted strangely. You recognised me ...”
“Yes,” he said in a flat tone.
“How could you keep this from me?” I demanded as I took a step backwards. It felt like the world around me was crumbling. The only person I trusted had been lying to me. “What else have you lied about?”
“Nothing! I swear to you.” His eyes were wide, and his voice was thick with emotion.
“I trusted you!”
“Ally ...” He reached for my arm, but I pulled it away. I couldn’t stand the thought of him touching me.
“You lied to me. Even after everything, you still lied to me! I’m not going anywhere with you.” I turned to walk away.
“Alexandra! Wait!” he called from behind me. “Honestly, what would have you done if I had shown you this?”
I stopped and turned to face him, the ball of anger in my chest ready to explode.
“Really, Ally. Imagine if, just a day after you’d arrived in Warrangatta, I’d shown you this. You don’t believe in the supernatural, Ally! You’d have thought I was a stalker or, or crazy, or something. And, I didn’t really understand it myself ... I’m having trouble making sense of all this too. How do you think I feel? All I’m told is that I’m meant to help you, or save you, or something! I thought I’d go to Warrangatta, hang out there for a month or so and come home—I went there for a holiday. And when I saw you lying on the bed—you were real! I was on edge for so long! Every day I was on the lookout for something that might hurt you, but I had no idea what. And I missed it! He was right there! I could have stopped it all, but I missed it!” His voice had beco
me thick with emotion. “You know me, Alexandra! Not just the ‘big’ things; you know every tiny thing about me. If you honestly think I’d be capable of deliberately hurting you …” He couldn’t finish his sentence.
“You could have told me a year after. You could have told me last night,” I said. I was still too angry to fully appreciate his defence.
“Would you have come here?” His voice was cool and calm, unlike mine.
“Of course not!” I yelled before I could stop myself. My words hung in the air.
“Now, you have to see why I didn’t tell you. We need to be here to find out what’s going on.”
Before I could respond, Abde grabbed my arm and pulled me through the door. “Come,” she commanded.
“Let go of me!” I yelled as she dragged me into a room that was dark and cluttered. I was struck by the strong smell of incense in the air. Objects hung from the walls and ceiling, but it was impossible to distinguish what they were in the dim light. There was only a hint of moonlight sneaking through the tiny window in the door. Through the darkness, things moved in cages, and glistening eyes watched us as we moved further inside.
“Get off me!” I demanded again and tried to free my arm.
“Do you know who hunts you?” she asked as she turned on the spot. Her eyes were alive, to each their own soul.
“Yes.” I feigned courage as I answered.
“Do you know what your hunters are capable of?” she whispered as she ran a long fingernail along the side of her face.
“Considering he raped me, yes, I have a fairly good idea.” The words sprung from my mouth before I could stop them. It was like someone else was speaking for me.
She laughed loudly. “That is nothing, child. Those that hunt you are not human. They are capable of unspeakable acts.
“Why did you give me that book?” This time I couldn’t disguise my shaking voice.
“‘Run as you might, escape if you may. Destiny with fate, wait shall they lay.’ You cannot escape who you are, Alexandra.”
“And who is that?” I whispered, losing all volume to my voice.
“The only one who can stop them.” She dropped my arm and walked through a wall of hanging beads. I followed her into a smaller room that was bathed in a dull yellow light cast by the small candles that ran the perimeter of the room. Skulls sat between each of the candles—most were animals, but several were undeniably human skulls. Variously coloured strips of materials covered the ceiling. The walls were covered in tapestries, their images flickering under the influence of the candlelight, giving the illusion they were alive.
I had to remind myself I didn’t believe in witchcraft or anything supernatural.
Abde sat behind a round table draped in a white lace table cloth, its folds touching the ground. A deck of tarot cards lay fanned across the front of the table. In the centre of the table sat an opaque glass ball delicately balanced upon a brass stand of three legs.
“We have little time, child. Sit,” she instructed.
“You’re a fortune teller?” I scoffed as I looked around the room. “For a minute there I was actually worried, but you’re just a con artist. You know I don’t have any money to pay you?”
“Money? You will soon learn, nothing is without a price and those of monetary value are most insignificant of all. I do not want your money,” she said as she began to shuffle the tarot cards.
The beaded curtain sounded as Andy entered the room. I felt conflicted as I looked at him. I trusted him above everyone, but he kept a secret like this from me. Deep down, I knew his reasoning was justified, but still, I couldn’t shake the feeling of betrayal. For the moment, I ignored him and continued to push Abde. I could have it out with Andy later.
“No, then what do you want?” I folded my arms in defiance.
The candlelight reflected in her golden eyes. “Veronika, The Aztec ... they must be stopped.”
“Yeah, that’s great. How? I can’t look at The Aztec without falling into a trance, and as for Veronika and Boris, I know nothing about them,” I panted loudly. “Why would you give me that book? Of all the people in all the world, why me?”
She glared at me for a moment, her golden eyes alive as she studied me. “It is your destiny.”
“Destiny? What destiny? To get killed?” I raised my voice higher than I intended.
She pulled a sideways smirk and reached an arm around either side of the glass ball to spread the cards face down across the table once again. Her actions were controlled and confident as one who had faith in what she was doing.
“Take a card.” She waved her hands across the cards, her long orange fingernails skimming over each one.
I tried to remind myself that I didn’t believe in her supernatural nonsense, but felt compelled to go along with her request. I reached out to take a card when I heard his voice. I spun quickly, almost falling over the table as I searched through the darkness for him.
“What is it, child?” Abde stood to her feet as she looked through the darkness with me.
He said he would always find me and he would. I could feel him calling to me.
“It’s him,” I said in an uneven breath. I clasped my hand over my mouth as tears welled in my eyes. “He promised me he’d always find me.” The new-found strength I thought I had, left me the moment I heard his voice.
She grabbed my arm, turned it over and pushed my sleeve up to my elbow to reveal the black, engraved tattoo.
“When did this appear?” she demanded. Her face was flat and stern as she traced her fingers along the tattoo.
“This morning.” Panic was beginning to rise from my stomach and fill me entirely. “What’s happening?” I pleaded.
“You are being taken.” She released my arm and stepped back to her seat behind the table.
“Taken! What are you talking about?” Andy demanded.
Pain flashed through my head. I clapped my hand to my forehead and screamed as I lurched forwards. Andy grabbed me by my waist with both of his arms to stop me from falling. I wrapped my fingers around his arms as I waited for the pain to subside. I knew I was digging my nails into him, but I couldn’t stop; the pain was too intense. The eyes appeared, staring at me. I knew it would be only seconds until they started filing through my memories again. Veronika would learn where I was. But they didn’t. It took me a moment to realise that although her eyes were present in my mind, I was invisible to her. Then, just as quickly as they appeared, they disappeared. I lost all strength in my legs and fell towards the floor. Andy still had his arms wrapped around me, stopping me from hitting the floor. He put me on a chair and sat in the one next to me.
“What happened? Was it the eyes again?” he asked urgently, as he patted his hands over my body, checking for any anomalies.
“Yes. But she didn’t see me. I’m still taking my meds but I think she’s getting stronger.” I knew she was getting stronger. It wouldn’t be long until she would have unrestricted access to my memories.
“Abde, you have to help.” Andy turned to her.
She shook her head. “She is becoming his.”
“Please! There has to be something ...” he pleaded with her.
Andy laced his fingers together and placed them on the top of his forehead. Blood was running down the sides of his arms from where my fingernails had ripped into his skin. A stabbing pain shot through my heart as I looked at him standing there pleading with Abde on my behalf.
Abde looked quickly from Andy to me, the whites of her eyes shining under the candlelight. “I need a drop of your blood,” she told me. There was something sinister behind her golden eyes.
“Why?” I asked.
“Wait, why do you need her blood? You can have mine.” Andy held up his bleeding arm. She held my eyes with her gaze. “It is in your blood where your darkest secrets are re-lived. Your blood passes through your heart; it knows of your deepest love and the hatred that lingers there. It passes through your mind, it knows the thoughts you hide in the
darkness, the thoughts you would have no one else see, the thoughts you would hide from yourself. And it knows of your deepest lusting desires; the desires you would only dare to indulge in your darkest, wildest dreams. It is in your blood where I will find the answers that you seek, Alexandra,” she said as she pulled a long, pointed dagger from under the cloaked table.
She held the tip of the dagger to her index finger and held the handle in the palm of her other hand.
I flinched at the sight of the dagger. I hated knives and swords; almost everything with a blade made me shudder.
“Is there a problem?” she asked.
“No. No problem,” I answered as I gingerly held out my hand.
“Not from your hand,” she said slowly. “From your throat.”
“My throat?” I asked, stunned. I didn’t have to be a fortune teller to be able to predict what would happen if my throat was cut.
“I need the blood from your throat because it is there your words slip past. But I cannot take your blood; it must be taken by someone you love and who loves you equally in return.” Abde spun the dagger in her hand to hold the blade in her fingers. Her eyes moved from me to Andy.
His eyes widened as he looked to the dagger and back to her. “What? You want me to cut her throat? There’s no way! I’ll kill her!” He waved his hands across each other in refusal.
“It is the only way,” she told him, her arm remaining outstretched, holding the dagger.
He looked to me, his eyes welling up. “Alexandra, there is no way I am doing this. We will figure something else out. We’ll find someone else.” He pushed his chair out and stood.
I grabbed his hand. “There’s no time, Andy. I can feel him calling me. I can see her searching for me. Andy, please, you don’t have to cut deep, just a little nick.”
“No. No. I won’t do it. Alexandra, I could kill you.” Tears were running down his cheeks. I had never seen him cry before.
I reached out and took both his hands in mine; his palms were sweating. “I love you. You’ve told me before, but I’ve never told you ... I trust you more than anyone on this Earth. You brought me here because you knew Abde could help us. You trust her. Please, do this.”
“Ally, don’t ask me to. If I slip ...” His hands tightened around mine.
“You won’t.” I sat back in my seat.
My long hair hung around my shoulders and flowed down my chest. I pulled it away and draped it over the back of my seat.
Andy took the dagger from Abde and looked to her for reassurance. “Once her blood covers the blade, you must give the dagger to me immediately.” She touched the back of his hand and gave a slow nod.
He stood behind me. As I leant my head on his belt line, I could feel his metallic, buckle press against the back of my head. I looked up to his face, which showed the tension and fear the task held for him. I drew a smile across my face; if it had been anyone else holding that dagger, I would have been terrified, but not with Andy. My anger at him had passed. I knew with certainty I could trust Andy, despite his well-intentioned deception.
He cupped his hand under my chin and pushed my head further into his belt. His hand was sweating, but his fingertips were cold. He slowly raised his other hand with the dagger. He looked at me one more time. I had seen that same face before; it was the face I saw when Tess had walked back into the hospital, when I was praying for her to change her mind. This time it was him praying for me to change mine, but there was no way I was going to. I couldn’t live a life of hiding in fear. I spread a smile across my face again and gave a small nod. I closed my eyes and waited for the dagger blade to touch my throat. I heard him suck in his breath and then push it out quickly, steeling himself for what he was about to do. Then I felt it; the blade was cold against my skin. I dug my fingers into the seat and pinched my eyes closed as the blade dragged across my throat. I could feel the warm blood begin to run down my neck as the blade slipped along my skin.
“There,” he said as he pulled the dagger away from me. “That’s it.”
I opened my eyes and sat forward, then took the white cloth Abde held out to me and placed it gently against my throat. I looked down at my body, expecting it to be covered in blood, but there was none. Andy had cut me just beneath the skin.
“Give it to me,” Abde told Andy, as she held out her hand for the dagger.
Andy passed it to her then sat back down heavily on his seat, his face drained of colour. I leant across, rubbed the back of his hand and mouthed the words, “I’m fine.”
I looked back to watch Abde. She pinched the blade with her fingers and thumb, slipping the blood from the blade and landing it on the glass ball that sat in the centre of the table. The blood fell through the top of the ball and stopped in the centre, levitating. Countless drops followed, all falling through the glass and stopping in the centre of the ball. I lurched forward, gasping as the last of my blood fell through the glass. I felt my body change; it was alive but being controlled by someone other than me.
“Alexandra!” Andy jumped from his seat and reached out to me.
“Do not touch her!” I heard Abde order.
He looked to her and back to me, before slowly retracting his hands from me and sitting down again.
“I see you, Alexandra.” Abde ran her fingers over the glass ball, her fingernails scratching the glass lightly. I could feel her dragging my blood through my veins. There was no pain, but it felt uncomfortable; like a dull and persistent ache.
Inside the ball, an image appeared. It was him—The Aztec. He was wearing black cargo pants and a tight black shirt, exposing his defined body. His face was firm and unfaltering; his stride was purposeful and strong. In his left hand, he held a Nimcha sword.
The image twisted and vanished into swirling smoke and turned into Veronika and Boris before dissipating. Then, just as quickly, the smoke returned to reveal Veronika and Boris again. Veronika wore a long, red leather jacket over dark clothes and high black boots. Boris wore loose brown pants and a white shirt.
I could feel Abde pulling my blood past my heart. “Your heart does not worry for Veronika or Boris who do hunt you avidly. Nor does it hold concern for the Book that you hold to your body. It longs for only one. You are in love, Alexandra,” Abde cooed.
I was immobile, unable to speak, but a vivid image of Michael filled my mind. I would always love him.
“It is true; you will always love Michael. But your love for him is a dying fire; only warm coals remain. You are in love with another, and this love burns wildly; it is uncontrollable.” Her eyes widened as she spoke.
The swirling smoke cleared revealing him kissing me in the staff room. As I watched it, I could feel his lips press against mine. I could feel his rough hands run over my body. The scent of him flowed in my nose and consumed my lungs. I could feel him calling to me, drawing me to him.
“He is hunting you. He will he find you; he will claim you as his own, and through the endless struggle to escape him, you will love him. You will love him until you draw your single last breath.” She looked up to me, her eyes shining under the candlelight.
“What do they want? Why are they hunting her? Is it just because of the Book? We’ll give it to them if that’s all they want,” Andy pleaded.
“You do not wish for them to come into possession of The Book of Narveere, nor the Bow of Dria. Yes … the bow and the Book are one and the same. They have come together in you, Alexandra. Perhaps this is by chance, or perhaps it is your pre-ordained destiny. This is why they hunt you. All that lives within the Book and the bow is flowing into you. This is why you can touch them without being burned. This is why Veronika so desperately wants you. She wishes to separate you from the Book and the bow. Should the ones who hunt you come into possession of these items, all that you hold dear will be destroyed. With the Book and the bow, the wielder can obtain absolute power.”
“Once they figure out Alex has the bow and the Book, they’ll just come and take it. How are we meant to st
op them?” Andy cried.
“These objects cannot be taken. They must be given.”
“So we just don't give them!” Andy argued.
Her golden eyes fixated on Andy. “The power of these objects cannot exist within a mere human. These objects will kill Alexandra. You must sever the connection.”
A pair of blue eyes appeared in the ball—Veronika’s eyes. I looked into them, and they looked straight back. This time I was not invisible to her. I could feel her trying to reach me. She wanted to know where I was. I tried to pull away but could not. I tried to close my eyes against her, but could not.
A gust of wind burst through the door and swirled through the room, extinguishing the candles and leaving the room in almost complete darkness. I slumped into my seat, no longer frozen. Abde’s hold on me had ended.
Abde jumped to her feet and threw a cloak over the ball. “You must leave now.” She scribbled something on a small piece of paper.
“How do I stop them? How do I sever the connection?” I asked as I, too, jumped to my feet.
“Death is the only separator,” she told me as she passed the folded piece of paper to me. I took the paper and stuffed it in my jeans’ pocket.
“Where do we go now?” I pleaded with her. “What do we do now? How can we hide?”
“There is no time!” She landed her hands on either of my shoulders. “You must leave here—they have found you.” She moved across to one of the tapestries and pulled it aside, revealing the small door that was concealed behind it.
“Quickly! This will lead you to the square. Become hidden as soon as you can.”
“Thank you, Abde,” I said as I walked towards the door. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you ...” She pushed me through the door before I could finish my sentence.
A second later Andy stood by my side in the square. The rioters hadn’t let up; they still dominated the square. My mind was a blur with all that had happened, but my body was fuelled by adrenaline as it responded to my instinct to flee. All I wanted to do was run; run in any direction. Andy started to speak to me, but I wasn’t listening. A gentle breeze had blown past, carrying a faint smell. I was still disorientated and couldn’t focus on where I recognised it from. I looked up for a moment, trying to gain a stronger smell of the scent. It brought back an anxious feeling, but I couldn’t pinpoint what it was. I squinted as I tried to recall the faint aroma. Another breeze rolled past with the same fragrance. I turned my head to the air and took in a deep breath. It hit me—the memory came flooding back; the smell was of him when he was in my home. I stood completely still and stared across the far side of the square; on the other side of the rioters stood The Aztec, staring straight back at me. My eyes were wide and watery as I watched him staring at me. I closed my eyes as I replayed his words in my head. I will find you; I will always find you. You belong to me. He had found me. A tear rolled down my cheek, as I watched him start to push through the sea of people. His eyes were fixed on me. He had found me, and this time he would ensure I did not escape.
I grabbed at Andy’s shirt, pulling it several times. “Andy,” I whispered.
“What?”
“The Aztec.” I don’t know if I spoke his name or if I only thought it.
It was too late. He had taken me. I could feel the smell of exotic islands fill my lungs and flow through my veins. I tried to pull away from him, but he had consumed me. I could see nothing but him; feel nothing but him. The square faded away, as did the rioters. The only audible noises were running waterfalls and distant dancing. I could feel the spray of the waterfalls hit my hot skin, as excitement danced through the night air. I knew he had taken me. I tried to scream at myself that I was still standing in the square, that what I was seeing and feeling wasn’t real, but my voice of reason was subdued by the burning desire to be taken by him. Abde was right—I loved him.
“Alexandra!” Andy yelled, as his face appeared in front of mine, blocking my view of The Aztec and severing the connection between him and me temporarily.
My eyes came back into focus; I was standing in the square again. I knew I had only seconds to flee whilst the connection was severed. I turned and ran down a nearby alley, which had begun to fill with people. Andy was right behind me. I could hear him throwing tables and chairs to the ground in hopes of hindering The Aztec’s pursuit.
“What the bloody hell’s happening?” Andy yelled as we ran through the slender path between the tables that lined both sides of the alley.
“The Aztec! Just run!” I cried, pushing a man to the ground as I ran past him. I didn’t stop to see if he was hurt—I just kept running.
“Where? I don’t see him,” Andy called back.
“Just keep running! He’s there!”
Andy pulled me into an alcove. “Put this on,” he demanded as he pulled his jacket off and threw it at me.
“What? Why?”
“Quickly!” he snapped.
I pulled on his jacket.
“And this!” He slapped his cap on my head and pulled the jacket hood over my head. “Aim for the red warehouse on the other side of the square.”
“What warehouse? What are you talking about?”
“If you saw him, he saw us. He’ll be on the lookout for us—together. Not to mention your red hair is that noticeable you might as well have a neon light flashing above your head. There’s a red warehouse on the other side of the square; I’ll meet you there.” He peered out from the alcove. “Straight through the middle, Alex. Just blend in.”
“No, you can’t leave me!” I felt like a child begging a parent to stay. “He’ll take me ...”
“This is the only way. You’ll be fine.” He kissed my cheek and disappeared around the corner.
I pressed my hand to my face. I could still feel his stubble on my skin.
Just as I was about to step out, a flash of blue whirled in front of my eyes. I knew straight away what was coming next, and I had no way of stopping it. I fell to my knees and braced myself for the searing pain that would follow. Her eyes appeared, and they looked straight into me. There was no veil protecting me from her, so she could see whatever she pleased. But she drew up one memory—my current location. And in an instant, she was gone.
The Aztec Saga - Hunted Page 23