Unforgettable (OLD COPY DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 19

I stare at Ava for a long moment, the ability to speak words escaping me as I silently blink back at her in disbelief as several emotions wash over me.

"Kara?"

I startle at Diana's voice and glance over to see that she's looking down at me confusedly. I swallow before I clear my throat to speak.

"Hi, Ava," I say in a low voice before I can stop myself.

Eden, who has been rummaging about behind the cashier counter, stands when she hears my voice and fixes Ava with a puzzled look.

"You know her?" she asks as she looks from me to Ava.

"We went to school together," Ava says as she fidgets with a silver bracelet on her wrist, the chain clinking softly.

"School...?" Eden frowns at this before she seems to realize something, "Greenwood?"

Diana laughs at this suddenly, the sound of her laugh breaking the tension that has abruptly settled over us as it fills the bookstore.

"You know about Greenwood?" she asks as she tilts her head.

"Of course I do, I went there for a year," Eden retorts as she reaches down and pats Salem on his head. "You're meaning to tell me...that you went there too?"

Diana wordlessly conjures a small, blue flame that flickers in her palm and I follow her lead. The spell is a simple one and is known to be used among witches when they are greeting other witches.

Eden copies her and Ava does the same to my surprise as the flames billow in her palm and outlines the sharp edges of her cheekbones.

"I figured that there was something different about you, Marshall, I'd have to guess that your familiar is a large predatory cat?" Eden intones as she quirks an eyebrow at her.

"Cheetah," Diana replies.

"Well, I'm glad that you're finally aware of my knowledge of you, it was entertaining watching you attempt to live a life among 'mortals'," Eden notes amusedly.

"'Attempt'?" Diana mutters as she lets her flame flicker out.

Eden shrugs and offers her a smile, "There were a lot of things that gave you away, anyways, good luck, I won't keep you any longer. The Ouija board I've given you has several enchantments cast on it, but I would still bring black candles to cleanse the space before you use it."

Diana nods at this as she rolls her eyes, "I'll be sure to, come on, Kara, I better get you back to the academy, it's getting late."

I nod, my body on autopilot as I thank Eden for the Ouija board and head for the doorway as I'm careful to give Ava a wide berth as Diana opens the door. The world outside is rapidly cooling off as the sun drops out of the sky and into the harbor, a ball of fire destined to be extinguished by the salty waves. I've just made it to Diana's car when someone calls out behind us.

"Kara!"

I glance back to see that Ava is standing just outside of the doorway to the bookstore, the yellow light from inside casting her in its glare as Salem stands by her side, his fluffy tail wavering slightly.

"Yeah?" I dare to ask, the word almost wanting to vanish before I can say it.

"Look...I'm sorry about how I treated you...before," she begins to confess and I can't hold back my surprise as I nearly gape at her.