Elizabeth's eyes fluttered open, looking confused as if she did not know where she was. What she knew was that she was lying on the floor in Lucas's arms.
"Lucas, what happened? What are you doing here?"
"I came to check up on you, make sure you were all right. You didn't answer your door and I was worried, so I let myself in. I found you lying on the floor, that statue by your feet like it had been thrown by someone trying to hit you."
"Oh, Lucas," she put her arms around him, squeezing him tightly. "Something is in this house, it must be, it threw the statue at me. And I heard voices, definitely a girl's voice and maybe a man's, too. I have to find someplace to live, I'm afraid this house is haunted!"
"Now, I don't know about that, darlin', but your head hasn't healed and you went through a traumatic experience. I wouldn't be surprised at all if you were hallucinating. I'm sure it will go away in a while, in the meantime, why don't you come and stay with me? I'm alone in that big house, I'd appreciate the company."
"What about my cats?"
The cats were a problem. They were never far from her, sometimes he thought they were keeping watch over her. He had heard of witches having familiars and wondered if they were more than mere pets. And even worse, they made their dislike of him obvious.
"Well, that might be a problem. Why don't you leave them here and have someone take care of them for you?"
"No, I've already done that, I want them with me. You've made me a very kind offer but I will have to say no. When I'm on my feet again and this dizziness and headache go away maybe I won't feel like this anymore. Or if things don't improve, I'll find a new house."
Merlyn, you better not be making trouble for me, Lucas thought, this one is in no need of your help or interference. Maybe I'll ask her how to exorcise a ghost and get rid of you for good.
"Let me help you to your bed, darlin'," he scooped her up and started carrying her to her bedroom.
"No, take me to my living room, I prefer that. Just bring me a couple of pillows and my quilt. There's a bottle of water in my fridge, would you mind getting that too?"
He deposited her gently on her couch and kissed her lips, his lingering a bit too long but she responded by slipping a slender arm around his neck and pulling him closer.
"How are you feeling, darlin'?" he asked and slipped his hand under her tee-shirt.
"I'm feeling much better, at the moment. I'm not scared anymore, not with you here."
"That's my girl, that's what I want to hear," he slipped her shirt over her breasts and began to caress them, watching as she arched her back, pushing herself against his hand.
"Now, are you sure you'll all right? The doctor said to take it easy."
"Oh, I'm not ready for that." Both knew what she meant, "But what you're doing feels good, don't stop, please!"
He put his mouth on one breast, then the other, rubbing her nipples with his fingers. He was sure now that she did not remember what happened, all he needed to do was be patient and let her heal. She'd come to him willingly; he was sure. He was sure he'd locked away the memories of what he'd done—but with this one, he knew he couldn't be sure.
He removed his hand and she sighed, then looked up at him with her violet eyes and smiled. "That felt good," she sighed, "I can't wait until I'm better, I'm aching for the real thing. I can't believe the way you make me feel, Lucas."
"Well, tell you what, you just lie back and dream about what it will be like when we can make love again." He leaned down and kissed her, "I'm having trouble waiting myself. Sweet dreams."
She smiled as she watched him leave, then nestled down into the pillows. She was so tired these days that sleep came easily and it did not take long for her to drift into a deep sleep.
A light was growing in the corner of the room. She did not need to ask herself if she was dreaming because she knew she was, but the light seemed more real than reality. A shape began to grow inside it, and arms, legs, and a head were forming, and the figure was draped in a lacy white dress.
"Who are you?" she asked, did not need to say what because it did not matter.
"My name is Merlyn Anne, Lucas Buck raped my mother and fathered my little brother, Caleb. He got Gail Emory pregnant, but she lost the baby, now he's looking to do the same thing to you."
"He can't, I can't get pregnant while I have my implant in my arm. Did you say, Gail Emory?"
"Yes, she came to take care of Caleb and he seduced her, now she belongs to him unless you can help her."
"What about you, Merlyn Anne? Did he rape you too?"
"No, first he drove me mad, then killed me so he could take Caleb away from my father. When my father refused, he killed him, too."
And they say that life is simple in small towns, she thought. "What do you want from me, Merlyn?"
"I want you to get in touch with your people and tell them what's happened to you. He's stolen part of your memory, you know, when he beat and raped you, he saw that he'd gone too far and brought you to the hospital. The story about coming upon your rapists? That's a big lie, but it's what he wants you to believe."
"Lucas beat and raped me? No, that can't be true, he's been too kind to me."
"He has you under a spell, he's taken your memory. Now that Gail Emory has lost her baby, he wants you. There have never been witches in Trinity, he senses our power and he wants to use it to his purpose."
"I know I'm powerful, but he's stronger than me. I may be a witch, but I'm human, I don't know what he is, I can't even sense it."
The girl came to her side, "He was human enough, he was born of a woman, just like Caleb. He was going to take Caleb and mold him in his image, now he won't need Caleb if you can bear him a child. Our mother committed suicide after Caleb was born, but he thinks that won't happen to you. He thinks you can control the pregnancy so it won't affect you as it did to my mother or Gail. In his mind, you are his last, best chance."
Elizabeth was growing dizzy, both from the concussion and Merlyn's revelations. Her stomach was churning and she was sure that any minute she would have to run to the bathroom and throw up.
"I don't know what I think of this, Merlyn, but the dead don't lie—very often. I don't sense any malice in you, only great sadness. You were far too young to die and Lucas should not have killed you. I can't make any promises. I don't even know if I can remember this dream when I wake up."
"Please try, you may be our only hope. Lucas must not have Caleb, no matter what. I want to save my baby brother."
She stepped back from the sofa and retreated to the corner where she had first appeared.
"Remember, please," were her last words before Elizabeth lost the dream.
Someone was at the door, the insistent knocking waking her from a sound sleep. She pushed herself up from the sofa, holding on to steady herself because her head was spinning. Damn concussion, she thought.
She stumbled to the door on unsteady feet, took hold of the knob, and opened it. "Yes?"
Gail Emory and a boy of about ten or eleven stood, holding a picnic basket from which wafted the delicious aroma of fried chicken.
"Hi," there was an uncertain look in Gail's lovely brown eyes. "Mrs. Holt from down the street heard about what happened. She sent this for you: fried chicken, potato salad, carrot and raisin salad, and lemonade." She held the basket out.
"Please, won't you come in?" Elizabeth opened the door, "It looks like there is a lot of food, and if you're not busy I would welcome the company."
"Of course, we'd love to. This is Caleb, his mother Judith was my aunt."
"Nice to meet you," Caleb reached out solemnly and took her hand; she suppressed a smile as she shook his hand.
"Have a seat on the couch, it's more comfortable than the kitchen table. I'll get some plates and silverware and glasses for the lemonade."
"I'll help," Gail followed her into the kitchen. She looked around for Caleb who was teasing the cats with a crumpled piece of paper. "I want to talk to you," she said in tones so soft that Elizabeth could barely hear, "But not while Caleb is here."
"Of course. After we eat can we send Caleb home? I'll transfer the food to containers and he can return them to Ms. Holt."
Caleb wolfed down two helpings of everything to their one. After they finished eating, she placed the food in containers and washed the originals, and sent Caleb home with her thanks.
"Now, what did want to talk to me about, Elizabeth?" They had settled down with glasses of wine on Elizabeth's white sofa.
"I know I don't know you, but why do I have the feeling that we've spoken before?"
What happened to my spell? Elizabeth thought, she should have no memories of me.
"What makes you say that? I don't remember our speaking before, except in the hospital, I'm sure I would have remembered."
"I don't know, but I just can't shake the feeling that we have."
"Do you mind if I ask you a very personal question?"
"Well, no," Gail was hesitant, "But if it can clear this up for me, then please."
"How well do you know Lucas Buck?" Elizabeth knew she was taking a risk, but what more did she have to lose?
"Very well, I lost our child a few months ago."
"Gail, be careful. Was it a difficult pregnancy?"
Gail nodded her head.
"Well, that pregnancy could have killed you. Do you have any idea what he is?"
"Well, an idea, but no more. Are there things you can tell me, things that would help?" Gail put a slender hand on Elizabeth's arm, her brown eyes pleading.
"Listen to me, he's a warlock, a very powerful warlock. His family is from England, they came here to escape the witch burnings—as mine did. As for did we speak before, yes, we did, I came to you to warn you. I tried to erase your memory so you wouldn't remember, but my magic failed somehow."
And so that is how Lucas found out. He beat and raped me to punish me. Oh my god, I was so stupid, but I wanted to help.
"Gail, I'm afraid that Lucas can reach inside your mind, I'm afraid for you. He's going to find out that you spoke to me and I don't know what he'll do to either of us." That's not quite true, she thought, he'll be harder on me, he's shown me what he's capable of.
"You mean he can read my mind? That can't be true." Gail sounded indignant as if not believing would make it true.
"I want to protect you, Gail," Elizabeth told her gently, "But I can only do so much. I'm afraid of Lucas, I think I know now what happened to me." There were no intruders, no strangers, I knew who my assailant was, he just blocked my memory. Damn him, damn him and all his buck ancestors.
"Gail, you better go, don't come here again. If you want to talk to me, find a place that's private and safe and I'll meet you. I'm afraid for you, please be careful."
Gail kissed Elizabeth's cheek. "I'll be careful, I promise, and if there is any way I can help, I will."