The Devil's Enchantress

Chapter 1

In my seventeen years of living, I don't think that I have experienced anything quite like this. Well, that being said, this isn't the first time that I've wanted to gouge my eyes out while sitting within the confining walls of this horrid office.

"Do you seriously think that I want to tell you my life story? My dad can make me come here every day, but I still won't spill my soul to you or whatever."

My therapist sat with her legs crossed and her arms delicately folded across her chest. Her clipboard was sitting on the small table between us, barely touched since the session started. The miniscule office where I had been sitting for the past half hour was quite chilly, but I didn't want to show weakness in front of this predator by reaching for my sweater.

"Please Lux, this isn't supposed to be some sort of punishment. I am just here to help you."

"No, you're here because my Dad paid you to see if I was alright. I don't want to talk about my problems because, as you apparently can't tell, I am fine." I spat the words at her, hoping to leave a dent in her therapist charade, but it didn't faze her.

"Lux, you're not alright. You're supressing your emotions towards the accident with your mother so you don't have to deal with it."

"I have dealt with it! You think I don't miss her every single day? That I don't grieve her? She was my mother! And you, Debra, have no idea what it was like, what it still is like," She had no idea what I had to deal with, what tormented me.

I stood up from my spot on the couch and started towards the door, grabbing my purse and sweater on my way. I couldn't believe that my own father has made me go to this therapist every week for the past six months. Even he didn't know what was wrong with me, so, I guess he thought this would help. It doesn't.

"Wait, Lu-"

"Don't try to stop me. You can't stop me. I don't want to talk to you, to my Dad, or to anyone. Just please, leave me alone and let me go." She started towards me, probably to give me a lame hug or something, but then hesitated with doubt. I seriously didn't need a hug, I needed everyone in this building, plus my dad, to not look at me like I was insane.

Opening the creaky oak door, I glared at my overreacting therapist and stomped out. There were many reasons why I had been seeing Dr. Harn, but my mother was apparently at the top of the list. When I first was told by my overprotective father that I had to go to this "specialist", I thought that he somehow knew. I have never told anyone about the dreams that I have every night, mostly because no one would believe me. When I wake up, all sweaty and out of breath, it is the only moment of the day when I feel scared.

The warm stone steps seemed to take forever to walk down, but in reality there was only twelve in total. I count them every single time I come here, it helps me to put my poker face on. In downtown Harlin, Virginia, there aren't usually any people. Today though, and basically every day since last week, everyone was hustling about trying to prepare for the festival. The Radiant Festival is one of the most important days in this small town. It is held every May when all of the snow goes away and everything starts to bloom. Tradition has held this festival in place for about seventy years, and now everyone just expects the parties and celebrations.

"Seriously Lux, do you have to be all huffy and walk down the street like you're about to kill someone?" A voice said suddenly to my left. So lost in thought, I didn't even know that I was walking past my friend Aven's house. Then again, the word house didn't really do it justice, it was more of a mansion.

"Sorry Aven, I've been kind of distracted. It's emotional training day." Emotional training is what Aven, my other friend Gwen and I had started calling days like today. When I went to see Dr. Harn, it was a sort of emotional training, but I was mostly just fine tuning my sarcastic remarks.