Memories of Magic (The High Priestess Trilogy) (5 page)

“What the hell?” Her glare was filled with daggers. And they were aimed straight at Jake.

Pleased with her reaction, he ignored her icy stare. “Your mind may not be allowing you remember your abilities but deep down your intuition is strong.” He smiled, pleased that she showed some obvious latent memory. “We just need to harness that. Let’s try again. This time I want you to stay still and try to push the energy ball back to me if you can.”

He didn’t want to surprise her this time. “Are you ready?”

No longer irritated, Emily was instead inexplicably filled with renewed hope. “Be prepared,” she warned.

Jake made the next energy ball just slightly bigger and pushed it towards her.
God she’s beautiful
, he thought to himself as he watched her concentrate.

She stood completely still, her eyes narrowed slightly as she focused on him. He watched as she tried to
feel
the energy ball, to anticipate its arrival, but instead it knocked her off balance landing her butt in the sand.

“Now I know why the sand is here! It’s a nice soft landing.” She pushed herself up from the ground. “Okay, let’s try again.”

Determination ran through her veins. There was something about being tossed around by an invisible ball of energy that annoyed her. Or perhaps it was falling down in front of Jake. Somewhere deep inside was a desire to impress him. There were other things she wanted to do to him, but she couldn’t afford to think about that right now. She would ponder those thoughts over later; when she was alone.

“Are you alright?” Jake asked, although he knew she would be fine, physically at least. The energy ball was small, too small to do any real damage.

Emily just waved her hand for him to go ahead. She planted her feet firmly in the sand, set to do battle with the invisible ball once again.

“Wait, I’ve got an idea.” Jake put his hands up and walked across the room to her. “I think you should take off your shoes.” He smiled at the memory of Emily walking barefoot in the sand and hoped the same sensation might help jog something inside her.

She smiled at him and nodded her head. “Okay.” Emily slowly started taking off her shoes but never once broke eye contact with Jake.

He saw something flash behind Emily’s eyes that made his blood run hot. It wasn’t just her shoes he wanted her to remove. His smile turned serious as his mind filled with images he couldn’t afford to think of at the moment. He shook his head in an effort to
remove
the thoughts he knew he needed to keep to himself. For now.

“You need to connect with the sand, draw strength from the earth beneath you. Does that make sense?” He braved another step then leaned in closer, studying her carefully, watching her eyes for even the faintest hint of recognition.

Emily tingled at his nearness. She had an insane urge to reach out and touch him. With only the top button of his shirt undone, just a hint of skin peeked out from behind his collared shirt. She had to force herself not to reach out and touch the next button.

His sleeves were rolled up, like he’d been working hard building something. His hands looked strong and calloused and she wanted nothing more than to lace his fingers through her own. Instead she broke eye contact and tried to focus on completing the simple task of removing her shoes and socks.

She was grateful when he walked to the other side of the room. She buried her toes in the sand. It felt amazing. There was something oddly familiar and very enticing about the sand between her toes.

“Okay, let’s go again!” More determined than ever, she fiercely positioned her feet in the grainy earth beneath her. With her knees slightly bent, Emily focused entirely on the ball of energy she knew was headed in her direction.

While concentrating intently, a sudden and thrilling burst of power rushed through her. Intuitively Emily clapped her hands together then swiftly pushed her right arm out straight in front of her. She not only blocked the ball of energy but sent it shooting right back at the doctor.

“Outstanding!” Jake was obscenely pleased with Emily’s determination.

“Did you see that?” She nearly screamed with excitement. “How did you know I would be able to do that?” She was curious to understand what Jake saw in her that others had not, especially after her own family’s attempts had all proven unsuccessful.

“I knew you had memories just below the surface. Let’s just say it was intuition.” His smile made her insides melt as he continued to move closer.

“So now we know you can not only dodge but also deflect and throw energy back.” He eyed her carefully. “Now let’s see if you can create some of your own.” Jake motioned for Emily to follow him back to the other side of the room.

“Close your eyes,” he said once they were standing in front the tall open window that allowed the sun to fill the room. “I want you to bask in the sunlight for a moment,” Jake spoke softly, “and feel its warmth.” His words were like a gentle caress over her skin; so soft and inviting it gave her goose bumps.

“I need you to stand in your power.” He became more commanding. “I want you to feel the energy in your body meshing with the energy outside...it’s all one. Can you feel it?”

Emily kept her eyes closed as she concentrated. She took a deep breath, then another. A mischievous smile lit up her face as she nodded.
Yes, she could feel the energy!
She could sense something coursing through her veins like electricity. Vague recollections came sputtering back. She had no clear pictures but she felt something, something familiar.

“Alright, now I want you to keep your focus on that energy and with your eyes still closed, reach your hands towards the open window,” Jake explained carefully, “now focus deeply and create your own ball of energy then try and throw it towards me. I’m going to walk backwards, slowly, while you concentrate.” His words were soft and even as he pulled away from her.

“Whenever you feel ready,” he said easily. “Just focus and concentrate on that energy,” he repeated as he brought his awareness to
his
own
energy. He wanted so badly for this to work for Emily, but he needed to ensure he wasn’t throwing his energy into the mix. It needed to be authentically hers. He didn’t want to cheat her out of the experience.

Jake watched as she twisted to the right, reached through the open window and grabbed a handful of sunshine. With her hands around the energy and the intense focus still clearly etched on her face, Emily lifted her arms and threw the ball towards Jake.

Standing on the opposite side of the room, he easily plucked the energy orb out of the air and held it in his hands. He nodded his head and smiled as he made his way towards her.

“How did that feel?” He asked as he walked through the sand towards Emily.

“Are you kidding?” She shook her head in astonishment. “That was amazing! Something just clicked...” She was at a loss to explain how it happened.

“I just don’t understand how I can come here and suddenly my skills are at my fingertips, literally. My family has been working so hard to try and help me, but with no success.” She was perplexed. She had already received far more than she could have imagined.

“I think it’s entirely possible you were simply trying too hard.” Jake stood beside Emily, resisting the urge to touch her. “When you put too much pressure on yourself it has the opposite effect. You need to relax and believe.”

She nodded in agreement, not entirely trusting her voice as she found herself getting lost in his dark eyes once again. Jake had created an unbelievable energy in the long room that was more than just relaxing, it was enticing. She felt herself getting drawn into the warmth of her surroundings and the invitation of the sand.

“I think that’s probably more than enough for today. Aside from your obvious abilities, did any memories come back?” Jake found himself holding his breath, caring a little too deeply about her answer.

“You know,” she tilted her head as she studied him, “I wouldn’t really say I have memories but I do feel like a fog is lifting.”

“Good. That’s a great start.” He was thrilled with how Emily had responded to the exercises, but knew they needed to do more work together.

“Do you have some time tomorrow? I have an opening in the afternoon, and I think we should try and build on the progress you’ve made.” He really did have a full schedule the following day, but wanted to move quickly to continue Emily’s healing.

“Sounds good.” She nodded, already looking forward to spending more time with the doctor. “You have no idea what it’s like spending nearly two weeks at my mother’s house.” She rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “I mean I love her, don’t get me wrong. But I miss my place. In fact I’m going over there this evening for the first time since the accident. I can’t wait.” She beamed.

Emily didn’t know why she was sharing so much information with Jake. There was something very comfortable about him, something that made her want to open up. And then there was the part of her that just wanted to rip his clothes off. Later. Maybe. Hopefully.

He handed Emily his card, but was careful not to actually touch her. “So can you make it back here tomorrow afternoon?”

He was hoping that between Lochlan and the others they would have any loose ends wrapped up by the end of tomorrow. He couldn’t believe those two rogue witches still eluded them.

“Tomorrow afternoon it is. I’ll book an appointment with Nancy.” Emily’s heart did a little jump in her chest when she brushed against his arm as she picked up her shoes.

“I’m already looking forward to tomorrow.” She quickly turned away from Jake and made her way out of the room and down the hall towards Nancy’s desk. She couldn’t believe how different she already felt.

She smiled. Tomorrow was suddenly filled with possibility.

Fear had the tiny hairs on the back of her neck standing on end as she pushed open the front door of her small townhouse. A cool energy swept through her, erasing her eager thoughts of working with Jake.

The dagger was visible as soon as she opened the door. It was embedded in the wall, right at eye level in her entrance. There was no way to miss the punctured note that hung on the wall like the threat it was. Someone was obviously trying to scare her and unfortunately it was working.

Emily took one more step inside so she could read the note.

WARN ISISA AND BURN IN HELL

WE ARE WATCHING

Warn Isisa about what?
A shiver ran up her spine as she slammed the door closed. Anger swallowed the last of her fear as Emily grabbed the dagger’s handle and pulled it from the wall. She crumpled the note and ground it into her pocket.

She was tired of having no memory, tired of trying to piece together her life as though it were some kind of jigsaw puzzle! She had managed to put
some
pieces together with her mom’s help...
but what would I have to warn my aunt about?

Emily stared at the hole left behind in her wall and tried once again to pull something,
anything
, about the accident or the convention from the depths of her mind.

Nothing. Flooded with disappointment, she shook her head and reached in her pocket for Jake’s card.  When her fingers touched the balled up note she became overwhelmed with frustration. Now more than ever Emily knew she needed to remember the events leading up to the accident. And she knew Jake was the only person who could help her. She’d call her mom later, right now she’d only be hysterical.

Why is this happening?
She cried silently to herself as she punched Jake’s number into her phone. 
Why?

Jake answered almost immediately. “Hey there, it’s Emily.” She tried to sound casual but her voice sounded shaky even to her. “I was going to call my mom, but, um, someone has been at my place...they, uh, left me a note...”

He cut her off; he didn’t even let her finish the sentence. “Come back to my office immediately.” It stopped just short of a command, but Emily didn’t even bother to argue.

“Okay.” She hung up, spun on her heel and almost ran out the door.

The drive to his office was faster this time because she knew exactly how to get there. Jake was waiting for her at the front door.

“Come in. Quickly.” He locked the door behind her and escorted her down the hall and back into his office where someone else appeared to be waiting for them.

“Emily this is Lochlan.” Jake introduced the two of them. “He’s the best bounty hunter in the business and I’m hoping he can help us out.” Jake did his best to explain. “Please sit,” he motioned towards the chair beside Lochlan.

“A bounty hunter? How exactly can you help?” She sat on the edge of her seat, every nerve ending on high alert.

Confused, Emily watched as the two men exchanged glances. Jake paced the small office and tousled his already messy hair. His eyed darted between Emily and Lochlan before he leaned against his desk and started talking.

“I was really hoping you would regain some of your memory this afternoon, especially of your time in Santa Monica.” He pushed his own thoughts of them together out of his mind. “I’m going to tell you some information, but I need you to remain calm.”