After several hours of sleep, Lily awoke feeling rested. More so than she had in weeks - in spite of her bad dreams of Sebastian. There was nothing like a night in a comfy king-sized bed at a top-of-the-line luxury hotel. She could still smell the sweet scent from the tiny bouquet of lavender left on their pillows. It was the signature scent of the hotel. Everything was lavender.
Lily reached her hand out, but all her searching fingers found were the cool silky sheets. She opened her eyes to see the empty bed next to her where he had slept. The pillow still held the indentation of his head.
"Duncan," she called out, sitting up. All the lights were off; the curtains still drawn. Lily waved a hand through the air. The curtains slid apart, bathing the room in the bright morning sunlight.
She noticed a piece of paper on the dresser across from the bed. She quickly went to find out what it was.
A note, scribbled on the hotel stationery, in Duncan's cramped script: Went to get breakfast. Be back soon. Love you, D. Lily smiled, reading the words. She laid the note down and went into the bathroom.
While she brushed her teeth, her eyes shifted from her face in the mirror to the tub behind her. Eyeing the taps on the large Jacuzzi tub, the silver knobs began to spin around, turning on the water.
Lily stared at the purple bottle of bath oil. It lifted off of the marble countertop, floating over to the tub. She ticked her head and the bottle tilted to pour a splash into the water. The smell of lavender filled the bathroom. As she rinsed her mouth, the bottle returned to its former place.
Once she stripped out of her clothes, Lily dipped her toe into the water. She quickly pulled it back out. She had gotten used to the lukewarm temperature of motel showers, forgetting that water could get that hot.
Slowly, she put her foot in, stepping into the wondrous heat. She sank into the water until she was submerged. The water bubbled up around her when she turned on the jets. The pressure massaged her road weary body. "Oh my God," Lily sighed, leaning her head back against the marble tiled wall.
Lily sank down further, letting her head slip beneath the surface. When she emerged, she wiped her hands over her face and her hair. She closed her eyes and took a long deep breath through her nose, inhaling the heavenly scent.
Suddenly, she was thrust back beneath the water. She kicked her legs out and searched with her hands. No one was holding her. And yet she couldn't push herself up. The only explanation was magic. Telekinesis, to be exact. A witch - or warlock - was trying to kill her.
She tried to see who was doing this, but the jets were obscuring the water, making it impossible to see clearly. Her lungs burned as she struggled to hold her breath. She didn't think that she could endure much more.
Unintentionally, Lily's mind jumped into her attacker's head. Seeing through their eyes, she watched, helplessly, as she was being drowned, flailing about in the bubbling water. The hand held out in front of her, with the crimson painted nails, twisted around and Lily felt her own head hit the bottom of the tub.
The loathing this person felt for Lily was immense. They believed that Lily didn't deserve her life. They thought that she took what she had for granted. This was a personal vendetta. It had nothing to do with magic or power or control of the Council. This person genuinely hated her.
Experiencing the events as she was, as both victim and attacker, was one of the most surreal things that Lily had ever experienced. There was nothing quite like dying, while watching it through your would-be murderer's eyes.
YOU ARE READING
Fateful Signs (Ballad of the Seer, Book Three)
Fantasy[COMPLETED] Lily Bishop is in trouble in Book Three of the Ballad of the Seer series. She is on the run with her boyfriend and soulmate, Duncan, attempting to clear her name of the charges that have been brought against her by the Council of Witches...
