Spellcaster series #4: The Virtuoso

Flashback

HEIDI

The police arrested me after we left the mansion. I learned, later on, that Eden ratted me to the authorities before skipping town with her twin brother. The trial went on for months and the verdict was clear: I was a threat to society and should never see the light of day.

Wynona and Jessie did all they could. The lawyer that represented me did all he could too. Tristan came up with all sorts of plans to prove my innocence but they all failed to realise that I knew I wasn't. Mrs Tabitha saw my eyes when I pulled the knife on her. Those other Spellcasters had a look of absolute fear before I seized their hearts. I couldn't control my limbs and heard a different conscience—but the judge and jury didn't buy that.

We found you, Heidi Elizabeth Danielson, guilty of all charges.

They cuffed my wrists and ankles, making sure at least two pairs of eyes were on me at all times. The silence of the maximum security prison cell cocooned me. I sat on the stony surface where my bed was supposed to be, elbows resting on my lap. I clenched my fists together between my knees and let my hair fall on my face.

I would never forget their faces.

There was a buzzer sound that emanated from the cell door. Two soldiers stepped in with their rifles slung across their torsos with nonchalant faces. Behind them, Vicky emerged through the threshold.

"Hello, Heidi."

My eyes remained on the floor.

"Do you guys mind giving us some privacy?"

One the soldiers replied, "I'm afraid we can't do that, ma'am. For your own safety."

"I think I'll be fine, gentlemen."

They glanced at each other before one of them replied, "Five minutes."

"That's all I need."

The two soldiers exited the cell and we were alone. The footfalls of her boots echoed throughout the empty chamber as she approached me.

"They let soldiers run the place now, huh?" She said and stood in front of me. "Wild."

I didn't lift my gaze. All I could see was Beth's pale face and wide eyes. And then her mother's.

"I have a week left till my execution," I muttered.

Vicky folded her arms. "The Sages did everything they could. They pulled all the strings they could find but the new Commissioner is quite unforgiving. Also, I can't find Synto and Beth has been missing for months."

"Can you read my mind?" I asked, still staring at the white stone floor.

Vicky stood in silence for a while before kneeling in front of me. Then she eyed me warily before taking my hands and closing her eyes. I shut mine too and watched the memories unfold inside my mind:

The Vampire lunged towards me and we crashed through the barrier of the staircase. We plunged into the air before landing on the second storey of the mansion.

"Heidi, I'm here to help you!"

I swung a kick but she caught my leg and rammed me into a wall. I felt the wind get knocked out of me. I gathered my energy and channeled it towards her. She ducked as the oblivion spell shot out my palm.

She blocked and countered every move I made towards her. Eventually, a faint voice called for her from the third storey which temporarily distracted her. I swung a fist and landed on her jaw. She flinched as I booted her in the chest. The Vampire stumbled backwards but regained balance before countering my roundhouse.