I gasped as I was ripped from the memory. Realizing I sat at the table next to Lilith with the cloaked figure in front of me. The cloaked figure standing in front of the table watching everything. The memories from that stung my head as if they were to crack it open at any moment. I screamed out in pain grabbing my head hoping to keep it from splitting. The pain getting more and more unbearable. I had to close my eyes and I heard myself start to scream the most terrible sound I've ever heard myself scream.
Then suddenly I felt a soothing sensation cover my entire body causing me to relax back into the chair. I was able to let my head go and open my eyes. Lilith's magic giving me a familiar touch, but the never ending pain becoming worse. I was raised by an evil woman? She killed my true parents? How long ago was this? Why am I not suppose to remember? That's why I am cursed? I don't understand.
"I can't keep this up for long. You must dive into the next memory before the curse kills you. Hurry," Lilith begged as the cloaked figure grabbed my hand from my head it had made its way back to and forced me to touch the book again, but it was a different page.
I was transported into another memory. This one a bit more familiar then the first as I watched it.
I was a bit older at this point. I saw a castle blacker than the night sky atop a mountain with rain and lighting constantly around it. I felt myself being pulled into the castle by some unknown force. I was in a third person perspective. I saw myself as a toddler playing with little stuffed dolls that looked to be out of a horror movie. I was in a cage with nowhere to go like a dog. A woman came into the room opening the cage as she did so with a swirl of her finger. I quickly crawled out of the cage leaving everything behind. I went stumbling towards the woman in the red cloak. I was barely walking. I had on literal rags for cloths.
"Precious tiny Blaze. Your mother wanted you to be named Enya and your father Seraphina. Oddly enough both meant fire. So the evil witch named you Blaze Seraphina Enya Alexis Dagmar Ivory Constance Catalina Hayes which will follow you into your curse and one of which will always be your first name. I fear I cannot undo what the evil witch cast, but I can at least give you the mechanisms to figure your way out. One day I hope you remember this life with me little fire," the lady spoke with sorrow and sweetness attached in a lovely velvety voice similar to my true mother's voice.
That memory quickly shifted and altered. I was sent flying through what seemed like a vortex before it stopped slowly allowing things to come into view. The scene had shifted to another point in time. I was older and getting my hair braided as a young child no more than eight by the lady in a red cloak, but this time I could see her beautiful face. She had raven dark hair and smooth white skin. She looked so familiar to me that I wanted to know her and remember her. She looked oddly similar to my real mother.
"Soon you will start your training along side her daughter Serena and others. I want you to do your best and never forget my sister and your mother loved you very much and so did your father. Little fire they died protecting you. Never let her hear of you speaking of them for it will enrage her and her wrath is more dreadful then growing up in a cage. I will soon be sent away on a new task for her because I have no choice. I love you Blaze. I won't be here to help you and remind you anymore. Do not forget them or me. My time is up and I do not want you to come looking for me. She will have killed me already. I'm running out of use for her. You can do this. When things get tough think about what calms you, what brings life, what can take it, and what nourishment it gives. Water. Think of it forever," spoke the beautiful woman in the red cloak. She lead me back to the cage with a kiss on my forehead cementing her own spell into my soul of unknown origin.
The vortex came back immediately after. I could feel the burning kiss on my forehead. I could feel the seals breaking one by one allowing me to remember what was stolen from me so long ago. The pain and burning within me getting hotter. The hotter it gets the more painful I was being forced to deal with as if some kind of cruel torture. I could feel Lillian's magic washing over me like water as the vortex continued for a few moments. Water.
When the vortex stopped everything was blurry for a few moments as things came back into clear focus. This memory was in the same castle in the same small room where I had my hair braided as a young child. Yet the room felt icey and everything seemed dull and grey. None of the furniture remained from before. A eerie feel lurking in the shadows giving way to the unknown.
"Blaze, you have to do better if you ever want to call yourself a witch," spat an evil tongue. Icy words from an evil presence of a woman with red glowing eyes in a black Victorian gown that made her pale pasty skin look even worse. Her blonde hair was tied up on the top of her head in a knot. Her stare penetrated my very soul as it looked into the eyes of the teenagers in front of her one by one.
Laying in front of all six of us girls was a dead cat in the middle of a white pentagram with black candles surrounding it. The candles providing the only light in the dim room. The window allowing night time air into the area with a small gust every so often. Each of us had different colored cats. I recognized myself behind an orange cat. The other girls familiar, but unable to recognize at this very moment. I stayed stone silent staring at the ground on my hands and knees as was the others.
"Serena. Destiny. Blaze. Caitlin. Taylor. Astrid. You say you want to be powerful. You say you want to be better. Prove it here. I have given you lessons upon lessons. Books. Food. Water. Clothes. This is how you wish to repay my kindness? Bring those cats to life or go into the darkness until I say you can come out. Years I have spent on you disgraceful wrenches! Prove to me I wasn't wasting my time," spat the acidic venom Master Audrey spoke. Finally remembering her dreadful name.
We were all panting from trying over and over again well into the darkest parts of the night before us. Her words piercing our ears making each one of us grip to the only life we thought we would ever have in our life time. Master Audrey sat down in the only piece of furniture in the entire room. It was a throne built out of the finest gold she could find. It had jewels of all kinds upon it. Like some kind of king, queen, or goddess was suppose to sit upon it. As she sat in her throne chair watching each and everyone one of us making her threat feel more deadly then before you could hear each one of us whispering a chant from ancient times. It was a foreign language unknown to the universe at the time for only witches knew it then.
The black candles flickering in light all around us as each of us wanted to live. We each concentrating harder then before with our lives on the line. A heavy wind began whipping around each cat in front of each girl. Slowly you could hear a heartbeat then faster and faster before a soft meow came from each of the cats one at a time.
Astrid sat in front of her cat whom was zombie like being the first to come alive. It was alive, but wasn't the same as before. Master Audrey saw this. Her command was sinister. Astrid happy to see her cat in a form of alive more then anything became pale as the words reached her ears.
"Good. Now kill it. I want nothing left but ashes," Master Audrey instructed. Astrid did the only thing she knew in that moment and created a pool of acid under the creature. It disappeared slowly with terrible screams as it destroyed itself trying to flee. Once nothing was left Astrid made the acid pit disappear as if never been their in the first place. Panting she looked at her Master for approval.
"Good. Dismissed. Food. Wash. Bed. Now go." Master Audrey commanded. Astrid quickly got up and slowly lady like left out the clay door. The next cat to come alive was Caitlin's. It had regained it's color as it stood shaking its head. We knew what to do now for she doesn't give the same orders twice. Caitlin dismemberment of the cat before opening a hell pit underneath was worse then the acid. More sinister. It gave Master Audrey a small smirk for only a second before waving her away with a flick of two fingers.
Taylor unfortunately was not so fortunate. Her cat never came alive, but melted into ashes before she could save it. Master Audrey's eyes became a pit of red rage pissed.
"Look what you did! To punishment for your crimes." Came Master Audrey's icy spit. Darkness envelopes her within a mere second before turning back into shadows. She was no longer there. We never saw her again after that day.
With that realization we tried harder then ever to not meet the same end as Taylor. Destiny was able to get the cat alive and bouncing around like normal not even knowing we were in the room. A butterfly flying above it that it was focused on catching before jumping straight into a pit of quick sand. It sank just as quickly and the butterfly dissolving into ashes above falling into the sand afterwards. Master waved her away with a smirk that didn't leave like the others before. Staring Serena and I down heavily. Once Destiny was gone said something I will never forget.
"Those girls have potential to be great witches that make the coven stronger. They were sold easy no remorse from their parents. You two are my favorites. Both of your parents died a gruesome death fighting to keep you. You both have the most potential to be the most feared for centuries. The most promise to make me proud to call you my daughters. Prove it or die. Here and now!" Demanded Audrey standing up from her throne ready to strike us down in a second if we did not perform as she wished of us.
Serena was successful before I was. Her cat came back to life, but more life was restored to it then before. It transformed from an adult cat back to a kitten rolling around and jumping at shadows. It's fur changed to a beautiful tiger stripped kitten. Serena killed it after a few moments of gathering her courage. She struck it down with lightning until it was nothing, but ashes. She then made the ashes ride a wind gust out of the window into the night beyond the castle past Master Audrey. Master Audrey smiling her creepy smile followed by a nod of approval. Serena shakily stood up and stumbled out the door leaving me alone with the evil Master. I was focused not to die here. Closing my eyes and putting my hands out before me willing the magic to flow into the cat before me. I didn't open my eyes until I heard the kitten's soft meow.
Not only had I brought the cat back to life, I also turned it back into a kitten barely old enough to be away from its mother. Eyes still sealed closed as if it was just born a moment ago. I felt my heart break knowing I had to destroy this adorable kitty before me. I watched as I quickly without a single step missed snapped my fingers before the kitten could take its next breath. The kitten's head fell from its body in a lifeless hump spilling blood just in the small spot over the circle. Like it was a soda can getting opened within an instant. The blood bubbling as if boiling the kitten from the inside out. A black fire took the entire kitten in three second before all was left was a burn mark on the floor as I put the fire out. I watched as I stood in front of this evil witch completely derived of emotion waiting for her approval.
"You will be a promising addition. You didn't even bat an eye over the life you took. I am impressed," Master Audrey spoke with an awe in her sharp icy voice. She smiled and touched my face with an icy hand of affection before dropping it and waving me off as she turned her back to me staring out into the darkest nights sky from the window. I watched as the version of me walked away with confidence and pride in my step until I was outside in the garden away from everyone and in a small hiding hole I must have created inside a bush before allowing tears to slide down my face in agony over what I just did. I was crying silently hoping no one would see or find me. After a while I calmed myself and wiped my face with a rag I had stashed inside my dress. I climbed out of the bush and went sneakily into the house like I had never left it.
The vortex was back and I could feel myself crying as I remembered the horrible scene that just played before me. It was the first time I had killed anything. I remembered how Master Audrey desensitized us to death from that moment forward with our lessons. No animal was safe from her torment. She made us go hunting. We were professionals warriors by the end of it.
My thoughts interupted as a blurry scene came forward slowly. The same black castle coming into view except we were in the garden lined up behind Master Audrey's golden throne. The lady I recognized from my earlier memories as my Aunt and the woman in the red cloak was before us chained to a boulder unable to move. Sigils covering the chains holding her to the stone. Markings of all kinds upon the stone. I recognized the stone as the punishment alter. The lady with the familiarity of my mother looked beaten and bruised. She had cuts all over her and her hair was cut in places. It looked as through she had withstood torture of the worse kinds from peering at her pitiful body. She was on her hands and knees atop this stone. From my birds eye view of this memory I saw multiple covens surrounding the area watching the stone closely.
"To those of you in this alliance of the sacred covens to form one true coven I ask thee to witness the death of a traitor. She betrayed me. With betraying me, she also betrayed you. She is trying to get us all killed!" Rattled off Master Audrey as she stood addressing the crowd before all of us. I noticed how we were no longer in rags and tatered clothes, but elegant dresses. I also noted how there were only four of us stood behind the throne. A small memory reminded me of Caitlin's gruesome death a few days before by the villagers in the town a few days away by horse back. She was burnt at the stake for witchcraft during one of our missions to kill the nearest king. During her execution the rest of us was able to behead the king and disappear into the shadows to never be seen again in that town.
The Master began chanting some spells after her brief speech to the crowd in front of us. We all followed suit with her in unison. The lady in the red cloak began screaming in blood curdling pain as her flesh startled melting off her bones and dissolving into the stone she sat upon. I felt myself wishing to put her out of her misery, but knowing I would be next if I did not stay silent in this moment. After her screams stopped and her body melted into the stone did we stop chanting waiting in silence for Master to speak again.
"Let all of you remember what happens when you go up against us," Mistress spat as everyone disappeared back into the castle.
The vortex came back this time staying much longer. I could feel seals breaking and curses fighting within my body. I could feel several kinds of magic within me swirling. Lilith's magic was the only thing soothing as everything was fighting one another. I thought to myself, what happens now? What happens when I remember everything? What happens when I finally understand things? The vortex changes pulling my curiosity away and focus on the scene unfolding before me.
Several thousands of people fighting on a land foreign to me. Trees smoldering and destroyed everywhere. Fallen knights scattered all over the ground. The dark castle sitting far away in the background slowly coming into view. Witches and warlocks body pieces scattered the once beautiful garden. I realize a fearsome battle was fought here. My gaze is taken and slowly follows the stone wall next to the garden. The castle itself in horrible shape and smoke still filling the air. The girls I grew up with scattered in bloody pools in various places where they were each torn apart in gruesome ways. I was stuck to this stone wall with bones sticking out of my body incapacitating my legs and arms. Some were sticking out of my stomach and shoulders. My hands were completely pierced through with bones from my comrades. I had blood splattered all over from head to toe. I was coughing up blood. I was softly crying knowing I had lost to Master Audrey.
"You will die here and every time you try to fight me this will be the ending. I will continue to live throughout all of time. I will keep beating you down and torturing you every chance I get. You cannot break your curse. You won't even remember this. I slaughtered all of your friends. This is your destiny to always lose. Each and every one of you foolish girls will die over and over again. Doomed to repeat. Your curse shall never waver. You won't even remember your past lives! I will always win. I will always get what I want," Master Audrey laughed a sinister icy cold laugh before ripping my body to shreds like the others around me.
The vortex came back slowly pulling me back to the table out of the book. The time keeper had let me go. He was back on his throne. Lillith was watching me closely. Her magic I was unable to feel at this time. Flashes of other battles went through my mind showing me that I have tried countless times to kill her but fail in all of the centuries I have been alive. My thoughts different shadowing and foreboding.
"In all the centuries you fought, you never had these memories. I hope they are the key to finally stopping this insanity. I can already feel a difference inside of you, but you must unlock all your insignia before that pain will subside. I think Lilith can help you with that. For now, be gone from this place," and with a swipe of his hand, we were sent back into my subconscious mind away from his plane of existence. Lilith stood in front of me as I sat in my own created chair. I looked at the insignia around the cabinet. I also saw a brand new cabinet next to it. I touch it with my hand and realized it was all of those memories before my curse began within it. Except now I could access it.
"The insignia on the locks came from very old magic. Each one comes with a test to unlock it. If we can figure out the insignia that is different on each lock then each test will summon itself to you," Lilith begins to try and explain as my Aunts magic swirls around the cabniet. I could feel her and understand her even though she has been gone for so long. I feel foreign to my own self at this point. I feel focused and confused. I feel a resolve within me that has never been there before. I whisper an ancient language long since forgotten from this day and age. All of the locks open and disappear at once from the new cabinet. The chains slowly fall away and disappear into smoke. Lilith is taken a back. She is impressed and confused.
"How did you?" Lilith asks in complete awe.
"My Aunt was the woman in the red cloak. She gave me a spell long before my curse started. I could never access it or use it until you helped me gain my memories back of her. The magic is still here and will be for each life the curse takes as long as I can remember what I need to. Thank you. I am in your debt Lilith," I say softly touching cabinets and allowing things to come back to me.
"I will check on you another time then once you've had time to ponder over things?" Lilith asks and with a nod from me vanishes from my body. I begin going through the files within my mind to piece everything together. To remember the things that have been locked away. My grandmother had nothing to do with this. This was older then most of the world. I feel Ash climb off my lap. I realize I look asleep to those who have no better idea. Vladimir had come into the room thinking I was asleep in the floor and picks me up carrying me into my room. He lays me on my bed and wraps a blanket around me. Ash curls up next to me. He then leaves after a few moments of stroking my face gently with his hand. His scent ever more intoxicating and familiar. He leaves after kissing my forehead. I dive into everything I've forgotten.