Page 90 of Sinful Palace

“Close your eyes, Willow,” Myla said in a warm, soothing tone. “I want you to focus on your breathing for now, and nothing else. In, out. In, out.”

I did as she said, breathing deeply and trying to push everything else out of my mind.

“Now I want you to picture yourself floating in a bubble. It’s warm, safe and cozy in there, and it’s just you. No one else can get in, and no one can hurt you. Can you see that?”

“Yes,” I murmured, visualizing it as much as I could. I was starting to feel drowsy, and darkness seemed to be closing in around me.

“Everything about you is contained somewhere in that bubble. Every memory, thought, and experience. You just have to look in the right place to find the right one.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“I’m going to help you get there.” Myla’s voice was a soothing murmur now, and it sounded like it was coming from miles away. “Keep focusing on your breathing, but on top of that, I want you to think about the day you’re trying to remember. It’s in there somewhere, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” Vivid, colorful spots were appearing in my mind’s eye.

“You’re going to start seeing things in the bubble soon. That’s normal. I want you to talk to me while you watch it all happen. Tell me what you see.”

I could see flashes of light and color now, and I felt like I was on a carousel, spinning faster and faster as the world went blurry. Dulcet melodies played all around me, and a wash of warmth swept over everything, leaving a golden glow in its wake.

“I see everything,” I murmured. “My whole life. It’s racing past me.”

“Good. Think about that day, Willow. Think about the road. The lightning.”

There were too many lights in my vision to count, dancing on a vast ocean stretching for miles in every direction. Somehow I knew that each light represented one day of my life, all of them unique and flashing brilliantly.

I strained as hard as I could, trying to picture the exact moment I decided to go out for a ride on that fateful evening five years ago. I saw my mom giving me a disapproving look as I told her what I was doing, and I saw my shiny Vespa in the garage, gleaming in the darkness like a beacon.

Suddenly it felt like I was being sucked into a vortex, and I was right back there, all those years ago. I had no idea if I was still talking out loud to Myla. Right now, she didn’t exist. Only this memory did, and it was happening all around me.

“You know I don’t like you riding that thing in the dark,” Mom says. She’s watching me put my helmet on in the garage, hands on her hips.

“It’s not like it’s actually late. It’s just getting dark early because it’s fall.” I roll my eyes and clip the helmet strap under my chin. “Besides, I won’t be gone long.”

“The news said it’s going to rain tonight.”

I peer out at the sky. “Looks pretty clear to me.”

She huffs and waves a hand. “Fine, you can go. Usual route?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Okay. But don’t be gone any longer than an hour. I don’t want you caught out in a storm. Also, your dad said he’d call us from LA at nine, so I want you here for that.”

“That’s fine. I’m never gone for more than an hour anyway,” I reply with a grin, glad she isn’t stopping me from going out. There’s nothing I love more than riding my Vespa. I love the way the air whips through my hair and over my skin, and I love the way I feel so free and powerful as I zoom through the dim streets. They’re mine. The whole world is mine.

But only in those moments.

The rest of the time, I’m just regular Willow Rhoades, the girl everyone at school gossips about thanks to Chloe Thorne. A couple of days ago, she told everyone I have herpes or chlamydia, and my date for the Fall Fling ended up ditching me because of the rumor. Joke’s on Chloe, though—I wound up hanging with her brother Logan all night instead. He’s so sweet. So hot. And that kiss… oh my god.

Why hasn’t he called me yet? He said he’d call.

It’s only been a day, though, so I shouldn’t worry too much. Someone once told me that most guys wait three days before they call, because they don’t want to look desperate.

With a deep breath, I switch on my Vespa and pull out onto the driveway. In my mirror, I see the hulking Governor’s Mansion falling away behind me as I speed up. Soon it’s nothing but a distant silhouette. Now I’m free, out on the open road and away from my overbearing mother.

Goosebumps break out all over my neck as I head out to my favorite riding spot in the old industrial area near Odenton. It’s getting colder and colder with every minute that passes, and dark clouds are blotting out most of the moonlight. Mom was right. It’s going to rain soon. I guess tonight’s ride wasn’t such a good idea after all.

I might as well keep going, though. The rain hasn’t started yet, and I’m already halfway to my spot. If I’m lucky, I’ll be able to zoom around for a while and then make it home before a single drop of rain falls. If I’m unlucky, I’ll wind up a bit wet. It’s not that bad.

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