She shoots upright, grabbing my arm. “You can’t. You don’t understand what she can do. She’s already cursed you once, and—”
“Curse?” The temperature drops. “What curse? What are you talking about?”
Owena squeezes her eyes shut, pressing her lips tightly together. She slowly exhales, then looks into my eyes. “You have a curse on you. I can smell it.”
My breath hitches. “You can smell curses?”
“My family is particularly skilled with them.” She smiles weakly. “Congratulations. You no longer need to kiss me.”
I really don’t feel like celebrating that right now. I push to my feet, unable to sit still any longer, but there’s nowhere to go.
“What kind of curse?”
Owena shrugs, running her finger down the wall from where she still sits on the floor. “A memory one, I’d guess.”
A pit opens in my stomach and my entire body sinks into it. “What’s she hiding from me? What am I missing?” I scour my memories, but how can I remember something I don’t remember?
“I don’t know.”
I kneel in front of Owena. “Can you break it?”
She bites her lip, twisting her hair for several seconds before letting out a slow breath. “IfI could… whatever it is you’ve forgotten, your mother doesn’t want you to know. It would be very dangerous for both of us if she discovers you remember.”
My heart quickens, pounding in my chest. “Please. I’ll keep my mouth shut, do whatever you want, but you have to break it.”
Owena searches my face for an agonizing minute. Finally, she nods. “This won’t be easy on you.”
“I don’t care.”
She hesitates again, then sighs. “Don’t make me regret this.”
Owena places her fingers on each of my temples, then closes her eyes. For a moment, nothing happens.
I cry out as a sudden, searing pain slices through my head, weaving between the folds of my brain. Like a scorching hot light, searing every thought I’ve ever had.
Everything goes black. Then, images. Sounds. Textures. Faint at first, but growing clearer.
Blood rushes through me. My mind reels as memories flash by.
A face.
A beautiful face, with warm, cinnamon eyes, chestnut hair, and a dimple I absolutely adore.
Ellie.
Oh fuck.
I fall away from Owena, retching until my stomach empties onto the rug.
“Caeo!” Owena grabs onto me, keeping me upright. She guides me away from my vomit and leans me against the wall.
“What is it? What do you remember?”
Tears stream down my face. “She took Ellie.” I choke on the words. “I couldn’t remember her. She couldn’t remember me. It was her doing. She took her from me.”
I’m breathing deep, heavy breaths, but they aren’t doing anything. There’s no air.
I need to… I can’t…
