Page 91 of Eyes of the Grave

“Nadia? That girl in the cemetery?” She crossed her ankles and folded her arms. “I had to kill her. She was being nosy. Her and that annoying witch with the dreadlocks. What was her name again? Ingrid?”

“Because she was nosy?”I shook my head in disbelief. “That’s not a real answer. What’s your damage, Heather? Why didn’t you just come and find me? Why didn’t you just come talk to me?”

She smiled. “Oh, I did. Five years ago. Before…everything. I went to you first. Think about it. You remember the day Viktor died. You remember arguing with him. What else do you remember about that day?”

“I had an argument with Viktor, and he put me to sleep. You know that. You saw my memory. After that, I woke up in my dorm.”

“Yes, I did get a glimpse of your memory. There was more. Think about it.”

“And you say I’m impossible.” I folded my legs under me and sat on the floor. “Just tell me what you want. Tell me what you want me to remember.”

“Didn’t you ever ask yourself why?” She tugged anxiously at her sleeves. “I know I would’ve.”

I turned my gaze to the circle in front of me. It wasn’t any more than five feet around. I recognized some of the runes, but every time I tried to make sense of the spell holding them together, my eyes burned. There was no getting out, not with her watching me.

Closing my eyes, I replayed the memory she was so focused on. I knew exactly what she was talking about but admitting it would only make things easy for her. So instead, I went with the partial truth. “I’ve had blackouts since I was little. I don’t remember why I argued with Viktor that day. I didn’t even remember being there until you did that spell. Which reminds me, how in the hell did you know how to work Matteo’s spell? He’s part fae. If you’re my sister, then you’re a witch. That magic doesn’t track any more than your attitude shift.”

“I’ve been in your head. More than once now. I know you’ve had our cousin Shado researching shapeshifters, and we both know I don’t exactly fit that definition.” The muscles in her jaw started to twitch. She was angry, but her reaction didn’t match the question. “Is it really so hard for you to imagine I have powers you don’t?”

I was tempted to poke the bear again, but then the light bulb went on over my head. She wasn’t angry because I was playing dumb. She was hurt that I doubted her abilities.

“I don’t doubt you have power. In fact, I think I actually understand your power a bit better than I realized. I do have one question though. What happens when you change form? Do you really get access to that person’s memories? You were a seriously convincing Ingrid. I didn’t have a clue you were a fake until I stepped through that portal.”

“You think you understand my power?” Her eyes narrowed. “Do tell. Explain it to me.”

“I—Well, I don’t know for sure, but there’s a story I heard recently that might be true. I haven’t confirmed anything yet. I’m still not sure that I believe you’re my—”

“Tell me!” She snapped, the madness sparking in her eyes. “Tell me what you know.”

It was my turn to smile. “Let me go.”

“I went through all this to get you here. I’m not gonna give up now.” She shook her head and started pacing the room. “I spent five years in a box because of you and that man. I’m not giving up now.”

“A box?”

“Never mind that.” She waved her hand dismissively. “Those bitches ruined my plans, so now they’re dead. I don’t want the same thing to happen to you. I need you to remember.”

I sighed and leaned back on my hands. “You know on some level I understand. I get killing Nadia and Ingrid, but what did Viktor ever do to you? He was family.”

She stopped pacing and the air around her shoulders rippled. “You want to know what that bastard did to me?”

“Yes, and if you’re my sister, why don’t I remember you? You’d think I’d remember something like having a sister, or two.”

The sound of the floorboards vibrating grew into a thunderous rumble. “If he wasn’t dead already, I’d kill him. What gave him the right? Who ever said it was okay?”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “This is like pulling teeth.”

“Five years ago, our mutual friend Matteo stumbled across something strange inside my head. Can you guess what it was?”

I glared at her.

“That’s right, a spell signed and sealed by our dearest uncle. He wiped my memory, and you can’t imagine the pain it took to break that spell.”

“Enlighten me, then.”

“I mean, it was almost a relief discovering that I wasn’t just some gutter rat. We’re practically witch royalty. But still I had to wonder—”

“That’s not exactly something to be proud of. Our family history is pretty bleak.” I sighed. “But whatever, Viktor made my life a living hell too. He was an ass.”

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