Chapter 6 - Mnemokinesis: The ability to manipulate memories

Janes' POV

The early morning was grey and misty, My side pulled as I got up. I opened the door, everyone was still asleep.

“Tristan?” I asked as I opened Valery’s door, Valery was sitting up as Tristan slept at her bedside, she was stroking his hair.

“Hi, Jane.” I breathed a sigh of relief as I sat down. “Tristan told me you healed me, thank you, I owe you.” She said, “And I’m sorry I tried to kill you-”

“Don’t be sorry it wasn’t your fault, I should apologize for killing your cousin-” She put her hand up.

“You did me a favor, he had it coming. I hated him, whoever is trying to hurt you, didn’t know me well enough, not that, that’s helpful cause the only person who knew I hated him was Tristan.”

“So you know someone did this to you?” Valery nodded.

“I woke up a few hours ago, and Tristan told me everything that the healer told him.” I hesitated.

“Keep your eyes peeled.” She nodded slowly, Tristan slowly started to lift his head.

“Jane?” He said he looked at Valery and grabbed her hand.

“Everything is fine,” Valery said, Tristan smiled.

“Is there anything I can do to repay you for saving Valery?” Tristan asked as I shook my head.

“No this was my fault in the first place-”

“I think it’s badass, I wish I was important enough for people to plot my murder.” Valery interrupted me, I smirked.

“I do have a project I’ve been working on and maybe you guys could help your better creators than me.” I reached into my bag and pulled out my sketch. “It’s a suit that works with wind patterns to help humans’ fly, well more like gliding.” They both ran their eyes over the paper.

“Sounds interesting, we’d love to help,” Tristan said, Valery nodded.

“Sounds fun,” Valery said, I exhaled.

“I want to keep this between us, let's face it, the idea is a bit extreme,” I said.

“I bet people thought that about your sword right?” Tristan asked, I nodded.

“We won’t breathe a word about it, it can be our secret project.” I smiled, I had never had partners on a project before. I left soon after to let them rest, Plus I had some unfinished business to take care of.

Cons' POV

I left my hut and headed to the healing house, I wondered if Jane healing Valery worked, I looked up and saw Tristan and Valery walking out. “Con!” Tristan said, coming over to me, Valery trailed behind him.

“Are you okay?” I looked at Valery, she seemed fine.

“Yes, I’m sorry about the way I acted, Jane fixed the poisoning.” I exhaled, as Valery finished.

“I understand, do you know how it happened?” Valery looked confused.

“I don’t know who did it if that’s what you mean?”

“Didn’t you hear, someone was trying to use Valery to kill Jane, she says it happened to her before,” Tristan said, I couldn’t help looking shocked. “We have to go, come find us later.” In my state, I didn’t ask any questions that I wanted answers to.

“I need to find Jane,” I said.

Janes' POV

I found the door I was told about, I knocked but no one answered. “Hey, it’s me damn bitches!” I yelled, I heard movement but the door remained closed. I shrugged, cracked my knuckles, and stepped back, I kicked the door right by the handle and it burst open.

“What the hell!” He shouted, I looked around and saw my sword up on the wall, I simply walked over and reached for it. “You lost, it’s mine now!” He grabbed my arm, and with that arm, I elbowed him in the gut.

“The hell it is, stealing is rude, didn’t your mother ever tell you?” He growled. I picked it up and sighed, it looked like it hadn’t been opened. “Smart, not opening it.” He tried to rip it away from me, the oil spilled all over the floor.

“What the hell is that?!” I smiled.

“Don’t play with fire.” I lit the oil ablaze, he screamed and ran to get water, it would be fine, I shrugged and walked out.

I made my way over to Neve, her dress blew in the wind like a banner. “Neve, I’m happy to report Valery made a full recovery.” She smiled.

“Excellent.” I looked at the area we were in.

“What are you doing?” She sighed.

“Enjoying the cold air before it’s replaced by the late-afternoon heatwave.” I nodded.

“Where’s Edur?” She shrugged.

“Pretty ladies!” I heard.

“Speak of the devil and he arrives,” Neve said, Edur came running up to us.

“I want to take you up on your offer.” He said, Neve and I both looked confused. “Teach me how to kick someone's ass.” I laughed.

“Would be my pleasure.” Neve took a seat to watch. “Sure you don’t want to join?” She shook her head.

“Okay let’s do this!” Edur rushed forward, I stepped to the side and he stumbled to the ground.

“Why does everyone insist on rushing at me to start, am I that boring?” Neve laughed at Edur laying in the dirt.

“Yeah, haha, come on!” Edur said, jumping up and raising his fists. I laughed, I walked to the side of him and fixed his stance.

“Have you figured out who was trying to kill you yet?” Neve asked, I shook my head.

“I have a few leads.” Edur stood straight up.

“The person who poisoned Valery did it to kill you right? I would just wait it out, and watch out.” I shook my head.

“What?-”

“Jane!” I turned to see Con running over to us. He looked pissed. Edur stepped away. “You didn’t tell me people poisoned Valery to kill you!” He yelled in my face.

“Wasn’t your business.” Edur snorted, Con threw a death glare at him.

“Why would someone here want to kill you?” I shrugged.

“People always have-” He grabbed my arm when I tried to turn away.

“I don’t understand this, nothing ever happens to me then you show up, and I’ve already been in a plot to die!”

“Preach,” Edur said, we both glared at him, Neve elbowed him in the rib cage.

“I don’t know what to tell you, now if you mind Edur was about to throw his arm out trying to punch.”

“What?!” Edur said, I smirked, Con was not amused.

“I need serious answers, Jane!” I put my hand on his shoulder and whispered in his ear.

“You don’t know anything about me Conrad, you might want to keep it that way.” I pushed him away and darted into the forest.

Cons' POV

I stumbled a few feet. “Jane!”

“She's just messing with you,” Edur said. I frowned and raced after her.

The forest all looked the same, I didn’t know which way she ran. I felt the wind wrap around me, almost like I was being pushed or pulled, I saw her red hair behind a tree. “I know you’re there, you’re not that subtle.” She said, I rolled my eyes and sat down next to her.

“Well if you didn’t run, I wouldn’t have to hide.” She laughed, in the forest the evening seemed to come faster.

“Why did you follow me?”

“I want answers-”

“You’re a smart guy, you know I don’t have any answers so I’ll ask again, why follow me?” I exhaled.

“Because you're wrong, I want to get to know you Jane.” She smiled at the ground.

“Conrad, there are things about me, things I’ve done, that no one should ever forgive me for.” She shook her head and tucked her hair behind her ear. I saw the scar by her left eye again, the only scar on her face.

“Just tell me one thing.” I paused. “How’d you get this scar?” I brushed my finger over the skin, hers was always so warm, her eyes widened, but she didn’t jerk away.

“If you really must know, I want to know about your scars.” I frowned, I didn’t have any major scars.

“What scars?” She took my hand, and held my fingers apart, revealing thin scars running along them. I chuckled. “Deal.” She smiled.

“In one of my first real duels, I was down on my knees, and he was holding his sword to my throat and jerked back to cut my head off.” She gripped her throat. “I ducked at the last second and his blade clipped the side of my face.” She touched her scar. “After that, I promised myself I would never be brought down to my knees again in any situation, when you are that vulnerable, people will take the chance to kill you.” She exhaled, before smiling at me. I sat back. “And yet you’re still sitting on the ground with me.” I laughed.

“I trust you, not sure why but I do, plus you’re sitting on the ground with me when someone out there is trying to kill you.” She nodded.

“Trust makes you do strange things, it must be something in the air.” When she said that, the wind picked up and Jane jerked her head to the side. “Something’s nearby.” She said, pulling closer to me.

“What?” I whispered, she jumped on me, as an arrow flew past us and hit a tree, Jane went to get up, I grabbed her back to my chest, and threw us down the hill and into a shallow ditch, I landed on my back and her on top of me, I definitely was going to get a bruise from this.

“Con-” I grabbed her mouth, more arrows were shot, one landed a few feet from us, Jane flattened herself on top of me. I heard several gruff voices grow farther away. I finally started to breathe taking slow shallow breaths.

“Do you think they’re gone?” She turned her chin on my chest to face me.

“Don’t move yet.” I nodded, she curled into me, almost covering me like a blanket, my heart was racing, I’m sure she could hear it, I wanted to cry I was so scared, I could tell Jane sensed my stress because she grabbed my hand and exhaled as if to say it was going to be okay. She lifted her head and peered over the hill, she looked around for several seconds before standing up, she put her hand on my chest telling me to stay down, She rose and looked around, before kneeling in front of me, she pulled me up so we were sitting face to face, I could barely see her anymore it was so dark in the forest. “I’m so sorry, this is all my fault-” I fell into her, and rested my head on her shoulder. “Con?” I wrapped my arms around her as my eyes watered with small tears of fear, she held me against her. My eyes burned slightly, but I tried to focus on the smell of Jane’s hair, a smokiness I had become accustomed to. “We have to get out of here.” She said softly, the air seemed to be black.

Janes' POV

I tried to remain calm as I grabbed an arrow out of the ground, I felt Con grab my sleeve. It was very dark, I grabbed his hand instead, we were silent walking back, I felt him flinch slightly every time one of us stepped on a stick. My side ached as I could feel my stitches being pulled apart. I walked slowly holding onto Con, if I lost my grip on him, I wasn’t sure I would find him again. I felt awful, he shouldn’t have had to deal with that, with my problem, inheriting my fear. I felt the arrow in the darkness memorizing its edges, it sounded like a small group of men, and they were aiming for us. I shook my head.

When I saw the lights of town I exhaled the breath I’d been holding in, Con’s house wasn’t far from here, I walked him to his door. He quickly opened it like a ghost. I flinched slightly and turned away. “Wait.” He said, grabbing my wrist. “You can’t walk back alone.” I smiled.

“I’ll be fine, I can’t stay here, I’m sure someone is watching.” He pulled me towards the door.

“Exactly.” I exhaled. “I’m not taking no for an answer.” He sounded panicked, when I heard the fear in his voice my resolve came crashing down, I didn’t need to cause him any more stress.

“Fine.” He pulled me in, shut, and barred the door, I heard him finally start to breathe normally. I stood still as I heard him move around, I heard the unmistakable sound of flames catching, and the whole room lit up from the fireplace. “How long do you want me to stay?” I asked, I wanted to leave soon. Without moving he looked into the fire.

“I’m not letting you leave till it’s light outside.” I laughed.

“Con come on-”

“I’m serious Jane.” I rolled my eyes.

“Con I know you’re not used to this, but-”

“What, and you are? You should never settle for this Jane.” I raised an eyebrow, I walked over to him.

“Con look at me.” He turned to my eyes, with the fire his eyes glowed. “I’m going to be fine, I’ll figure this out, I always do-”

“It only takes one time where you don’t.” He turned back towards the fire. I frowned.

“Conrad, I’m not staying here.” He shook his head.

“Of course, because you always run into a fight without thinking.” I scoffed.

“Excuse me?” He walked towards me.

“You heard me, you have a death wish Jane, one that I can’t stop, so please be my guest.” He pointed to the door, I glared at him.

“This isn’t your imaginary problem to solve.” He glared back, I walked to the door, he jumped in front of me.

“Do you want to die Jane?!” I pushed him aside, and my stitches pulled, and I stepped back, he sat me down. “Your stitches?” I nodded. He grabbed silk and bandages, the blood was starting to come through my shirt slightly. “Can I check?” I nodded, and pulled my shirt up, he examined my side. “Just needs a few stitches.” I leaned forward as he started. “You may be the scariest person I know, but if you keep running headfirst into every battle, someone will come along, with the sole purpose of bringing you to your knees.” I rolled my eyes.

“Don’t lecture me.” He smiled. His hands were so warm and gentle, it was comforting. He finished and grabbed bandages to wrap me up. “Thanks.” He nodded, cleaning the blood off of his hands. I stopped to look around his house, it was very small, with a little table and chair that I was sitting on, a fireplace, and a ladder that led to a bed, but what got me was the volume of books piled onto every surface. I picked up the one closest to me. “Boat hulls?” He laughed.

“I was out of new things to read.” He kneeled in front of me. “Do you feel better now?” I shook my head.

“No, one of you is going to get hurt because of me, some of you already have.” He leaned forward.

“You’re the one who’s going to get really hurt Jane,” I smirked.

“Used to it, but you, Conrad, are not, nor should you ever be.” He shrugged.

“You’re going to hurt me by giving me a headache.” I nodded, yawning. “Time for bed.” He stood up. “You can take my bed-”

“No, it’s your bed for a reason-”

“I’m the one making you stay here-”

“No one makes me do anything.” He chuckled.

“I’m starting to see that.” I huffed.

“I don’t even think I could walk upstairs right now.” I held my side.

“I’ll carry you-”

“I’m not arguing about this anymore.” He nodded.

“Good.” He slowly wrapped his arms around me, I shook my head as he started carrying me up the stairs.

“You’re insane.”

“Noted.” He placed me on his bed, which was probably the biggest part of his house, it could easily fit two people. “There you go.” He turned to walk away.

“Come on, where are you going to sleep? The floor?” He visibly reddened. “That’s ridiculous.”

“What do you suggest?” He said crossing his arms, I patted the bed.

“Wouldn’t be the first time we’d be sharing a bed.” He smiled, I realized I was starting to love his smile.

Cons' POV

“As long as you don’t try anything,” I said, she rolled her eyes.

“Get in before I change my mind and throw you outside.” I crawled in next to her, my arm brushed against hers and I panicked. “Stop being so stiff and relax.” I held in my heat and laid on my back. All I could think about was Jane and I’s conversation.