“Sadly, true. The High Priestess may have done more to your mind than we realize,”Walter says, and I take a moment to think.
What memories do I remember? I remember my grand-mère always being there for me, raising me as her daughter. I remember growing up with Iris and Ember and the coven. The Celestial Coven is everything to me. I’ve never had a relationship, never even had any interest in anyone romantically.
I’mnotmarried. My grand-mère wouldn’t do something like this, not to me. She loves me more than anyone. I’m the future of the coven. She wouldn’t.
“Get out,” I tell the man in front of me.
“Silas,” he says. “My name is Silas. We were best friends for sixteen years, growing up in an orphanage together. A few weeks ago, I moved to town and a hex you cast on your sixteenth birthday forced us to get married. We didn’t like it at first, but once we gave in the hex was lifted. We’re far more thanhusband and wife, Violet. I don’t care how long it takes for you to remember, but I’m not going anywhere.” He stands up and looks at me. “I’m going to give you your space right now, but I’ll be back later,” he promises.
I watch him leave and then fall back into bed. I want to wake up from this messed-up alternate reality. I also want my fucking wand.
It’s been hours of me pacing around my house, waiting for someone familiar to come by and tell me what’s going on. Instead, there’s a massive brown wolf pacing my backyard, nearly making a trail with the way his paws dig into the dirt as he walks around my yard.
“This is all so weird,” I say out loud.
“Trust me, I wish it weren’t reality either,”Walter sighs, plopping down against the back window where a stray sunbeam glistens through.
“Where is everyone?”
“Dealing out justice, I suppose,”Walter says.
“What does that mean?” I ask.
Walter just sighs, licking his paw, and not answering me. Typical.
The wolf doesn’t stop pacing, he seems restless, and almost anguished? No, surely not, he’s a beast, nothing more.
There’s a tap at my door and I take a sigh of relief, hoping it’s someone with real answers.
The same woman from earlier who looks just like me with bright blonde hair and my two best friends flank her, along with a prim calico cat that walks closely to the older woman. They almost look scared to approach me.
“Violet,” Iris says.
I narrow my eyes at her.
“Where’s my wand?”
“I have it. Can we sit down and talk about what happened? Give you your memories back?” the woman I only somewhat recognize as someone who could be related to me says.
“Who is the beautiful feline?”Walter says, threading through my own legs and I ignore him.
“Where is the High Priestess?” I ask.
Ember winces and grabs my wrist, which I quickly tug away. There’s hurt written on her pretty features, but she doesn’t say anything as she drops her hand.
“What have you done with her?” I say in an accusatory tone.
“Violet, will you let me show you a few things?” Iris says.
She pulls out her phone and opens up her camera reel, showing me pictures of us. With my hair two toned, a bright smile on my face. I grab the strands of my bright blonde hair between my fingers.
“Did I color it?” I ask.
“No, you never could, no matter what spells we tried,” Iris says with a light smile. “Can I show you some of my memories from the last week?” she pleads.
I look at Iris, and search my memories. Something lingers at the back of my mind, telling me I can’t wholly trust her. But that doesn’t make sense? How can she be my best friend and someone I can’t trust? Feeling like I have nothing to lose, I nod in agreement.
She smiles, interlacing our fingers and pressing our foreheads together.
