Chapter 7

The next morning Katherine was sitting in the kitchen with Lauren and Dani. They had just finished eating breakfast and were either reading the paper or, in Dani's case, watching the television. After taking a break to sip her coffee, Lauren turned to Katherine. 'So, what does it feel like when you go into people's heads? As far as I know you've only done it to Chris.' Katherine stopped reading and looked to her.

'I'm not sure how to explain it really. It's like getting a tiny glimpse into someone's mind. It kind of feels like a dream, like I'm invading their personal space. I've only done it to Christina and mum a couple of times when she was teaching me.'

'Does it hurt?' Dani asked, turning her attention away from the tele.

'Sometimes, depending on how deep the person has buried the memory, or how much they do or don't remember.'

'What happened when you had the seizure?' Lauren asked.

'Chris and I were both practicing our powers, I was sixteen, I'd only just discovered my powers.' She thought back. 'We were really pushing our limits, Chris had already blown the front of the garage door off.'

'So that's what happened!' Dani said. 'I always thought that was weird.'

'Anyway, we were just trying to see how far into someone's mind I could go. Chris said she hadn't had a dream that night so I went in to see if I could find one.'

'Did you?' Lauren prompted her to continue.

'No, next thing I know mum is leaning over me and Chris just looked confused.' Katherine sighed. 'Mum said that I hadn't gone into her mind properly, which is why I ended up erasing her memories instead of searching for some.'

'So mum taught you how to do it the correct way.' Dani said.

'Basically yeah. The mind is really delicate, which is why I don't go into many people's minds if I don't have to.'

Amy and Lisa came into the room. 'Whose mind are you invading now Kath?' Lisa grinned, sitting down next to her.

'No ones, I was just explaining how it works. Kind of.' Katherine told them.

'No offence Kath but I really hope you never have to go into my mind.' Lisa continued.

'I second that.' Amy said as she was pouring her coffee. 'Lisa's brain seems like an odd place to be.'

'Is Christina still asleep?' Amy asked, sitting with them.

'I guess so.' Katherine said. 'Her eyes did that odd colour change thing last night. Like they used to when she was wearing the amulet.'

'I didn't notice.' Lauren said. 'What do you think it means?'

'No idea.' Katherine admitted.

'Why is everyone up so early.' Christina said groggily as she walked into the kitchen.

'Chris, it's ten am.' Lisa told her.

'Really?' She sat down and laid her head on the table.

'Still tired?' Dani questioned.

'Am I that obvious?' Christina mumbled.

'Have you decided what you want to do Chris?' Katherine reached over and started playing with the sleeve of her sisters top. Christina lifted her head and sighed. She turned to Lauren and Dani first.

'There's nothing about these guys in the book?' She asked.

'There aren't any records relating to demons in hoods. If we saw their faces we might be able to find them.' Dani told her.

'Damn it.' Christina said. She tapped on the counter nervously and bit her lip. 'Why do you keep going into my brain. Can't you pick on someone else.' Katherine smiled.

'I'd love to Chris, believe me I've seen enough of your mind for a lifetime.' Katherine played along. 'But right now it's your dream we need.'

'I know.' Christina said. 'And I trust you.' She smiled at Katherine. 'Let's do it.'

xxxxxx

'What can we do to help?' Lisa asked. They had moved up to the spell room on the top floor, sitting in a circle with Katherine and Christina in the middle facing each other.

'If we tell you to, you need to make physical contact with us, just like last time.' Katherine said.

'What if we can't tell them?' Christina made a good point.

'Alright, you know how Chris would tense up or grit her teeth? If you see anything like that we need you to ground us a little bit.'

'Got it.' Amy confirmed. Katherine looked at Christina and they both let out a long breath.

'Let's do this.' Katherine said. She held out her hands for Christina to take and they both closed their eyes.

After a moment they were both back underground in the cave with Belial. They were watching everything unfold. Katherine could see Christina on the ground in a pool of her own blood as the demon continued to make cuts to his puppet. 'Jesus.' She whispered out loud.

'What's happening Kath?' Dani asked.

'Nothing.' Christina answered for her. 'We're back in the cave.'

'Can you see the hooded demons?' Lauren wondered.

'Not yet, Kath fast forward a bit.' Christina said. Katherine obliged and she began to slip through the dream like a movie on fast forward. Katherine tried to remove herself from what was happening, but seeing about what Christina went through was a lot different than just hearing about it. 'Stop.' Christina said. 'There.' She turned in the dream to face the corner of the room. Katherine followed and, sure enough, there were three cloaked demons in the corner. 'This is all I remember from the dream.'

'Okay, so we need to go forwards.' Katherine said, gripping Christina's hands tighter. Katherine began to focus on the dream, specifically trying to make Christina remember what happened next.

'Kath.' Christina whispered, her face grimacing in pain.

'I know.' Katherine said. 'Hang on.' Lisa took that as a sign so she reached out and put her hand on Katherine's leg. Dani did the same for Christina, the others ready to jump in.

'Kath I can't.' Christina said, hunching over in pain as her nose began to bleed.

'Oh god.' Lauren said, putting another hand on Christina. 'Guys Chris is bleeding. Kath!'

'We're so close, I can feel it.' Katherine told them. 'Just a few more seconds….' Katherine said before they both fell forwards. Their hands were still linked and they were back in Christina's dream. They watched as the figures walked towards the cage where Christina was being held. They lifted their heads and took off their hoods. One of them knelt down beside Christina and lifted the amulet from her chest. He looked it over before turning back to the others. He nodded at them before they all disappeared.

Christina woke up with a start, falling backwards and leaning on her hands. Dani was by her side in a moment to calm her down. 'It's alright, you're back.' She assured her.

'Kath.' Christina said, crawling back over to her sister. Katherine was unresponsive as Christina lifted her head. 'Kath come on, don't do this.' Christina pleaded. The others watched on anxiously just as Katherine began to have a seizure. 'Shit.' Christina quickly went to her back and laid her down on the floor, holding her head to make sure she didn't hurt herself. 'Lise can you get her arms, someone hold her legs please.' They all did as they were told.

'What do we do!' Lauren panicked.

'Nothing.' Christina told them. 'If I remember one thing from last time we just need her to ride it out.'

'It's magically induced so medication won't have an affect.' Amy clarified for her.

'Come on Kath.' Christina said. And after a few frightening minutes the seizure stopped. They all relaxed as Katherine did, Christina dropping her head to Katherine and sighing.

'Is she okay?' Dani asked.

'I think so.' Christina said. 'I knew this was a bad idea.' She ran her hands through her hair.

'What happened Chris?' Lisa asked. But before she could respond Katherine's eyes fluttered open.

'Hey.' Christina said, looking down at her.

'You're nose is bleeding.' Katherine said. Christina touched the blood with her fingers before wiping it away on her sleeve.

'It's fine.' Christina assured her.

'Did I have a seizure?' Katherine asked.

'Yep, a big one.' Christina said. 'Had us all really worried for a minute.'

'I'm okay.' Katherine said. 'Get me up.' Christina held one arm as Amy took the other, lifting her into a sitting position. 'That was intense.' She said, as they all burst out into nervous laughter.

'Kath you idiot.' Christina lent her head on Katherine's shoulder, not sure weather to laugh or cry.