Page 64 of A Dream of Stars and Curses

‘That’s a relief,’ I say. ‘I wouldn’t know how to live up to more than that. Frankly, I don’t know what to do as it is.’

Kate takes my hand. More and more, I feel like she’s adopting me.

‘You don’t need to do anything except be yourself.’ She winks. ‘It’s not a real prophecy, remember?’

I’m surprised to feel a small smile tug at my lips.

‘The point is, my friend and I discussed you a lot tonight, and what the future might hold for the Veiled. Since I told him so much about you—and he, in fact, already knows quite a bit about you—we thought it only fair to be open with you, too.’

I frown. ‘Just how does he know so much about me, anyway?’

‘I expect the Mara and Dreamcatcher told some of their friends about you, who in turn spread the word. Whether this was intentional, I can’t say.’

I try to picture the Mara and Dreamcatcher around a table with lots of other Maras and Dreamcatchers while drinking tea with their pinkies out. It’s too ridiculous; my smile widens and I let out a huff.

‘Beyond this,’ Kate says, ‘you also attended Anton’s party. Many Veiled saw you there and talked to you. You may not be aware that many were watching you very closely and looked for you just to get a glimpse. Gossip is not a solely human privilege. Some of them would have told their friends and families about you.’

‘It sounds like I’m some celebrity to them.’

‘In a sense, you are. I’m sure you remember how skilled the Dreamcatcher is at his job? The Mara has a reputation, too. Both have lived much longer than most other Veiled alive today. Some say they have always existed, before things had names. Many consider them to be all-powerful, so it has made an impression that they have taken exception to you.’

I blush. I did want to meet more Veiled and make friends—I suppose this might make it easier. I was so worried about how I might approach them, but it seems like they’ll start recognising me in the street soon. The very idea makes me pause. It’s fine if people just want to chat, but I bet there are plenty like Chiara who hate me on principle or who don’t want anything to change.

‘Can you teach me some protection magic?’

Kate nods. ‘Of course. I already made a note the last time you asked. We didn’t have enough time before Anton’s party, but I can teach you a few things going forward.’

‘Thank you.’ I take a few sips of my tea, which has slowly gone cold while we talked. ‘How is that relevant to what your friend sensed in my house?’

Kate straightens like she’s about to share something super secret...

Or like she’s about to deliver terrible news.

‘As you know, I sensed something off in your house. I kept thinking about it, and my friend echoed what’s been playing on my mind. I would still prefer to ask another friend who’s a greater authority on the subject, but I’m certain enough.’

I brace myself. ‘Someone who’s a bigger authority than you?’

Kate chuckles. ‘Hard to imagine, isn’t it? This must seem so strange to you. Not that long ago, I was the only witch you knew, but your world has opened up since then. The friend I want to ask is a witch, too, though he is an elemental witch. Do you remember when we first met, I told you that I can’t conjure fire or anything like what you see in the movies?’

I nod.

‘My friend can. He is over a hundred years old and the leader of his coven. Fortunately, he is also very progressive, and doesn’t look down on mere human witches like myself.’

I sense a whole thing there, but I also sense that this isn’t the time.

Kate cocks her head to the side, not unlike her dogs. ‘Perhaps I’ll introduce you some time. For now, answer me this: Have you noticed anything odd around your house? Something that doesn’t belong, perhaps?’

I immediately jump to the cloud-wall in my dreamscape, and tell Kate as much. ‘I felt like it was closing in on me. When I touched it, a mirror-image of me grabbed my arm and told me I’m cursed.’ I shiver at the memory. ‘I haven’t noticed anything around the house, though. But the other me was right, wasn’t she?’ I gulp. ‘Someone really has cursed me.’

To my surprise, Kate shakes her head. ‘I understand why it seems that way, but I don’t believe this is the case. Think back a little. Has anything out of the ordinary happened since the Dreamcatcher left?’

‘Like what?’

I get that Kate doesn’t want to put any ideas into my head—she needs me to really remember something, not think that I do because she suggested I should remember this or that—but I’ve literally got no clue what we’re looking for here.

Kate thinks for a second. ‘Have you had any, shall we say, unexpected visitors, perhaps?’

Well, there was Sunitha that one day after my sister fled the beach, but Bonnie told me she was coming over, so that probably doesn’t count. While surprise pizza sounds great, we ordered all of ours on purpose, and I knew Leverett would pick me up for the party, too.

---