tapped his temple. “No memory. Remember?”
Kassie’s hands shook as she gestured, emphasizing her words. “Eric was being his usual asinine self. He came around the corner with his arm around Rebecca’s shoulders. Channie dragged me off to the bathroom to spare my feelings so I didn’t see it go down, but Bee told me all about it later. Eric was shooting his mouth off and spewing his usual lies. He even said the baby wasn’t his, but then he flew backwards and slammed into the lockers without anyone so much as touching him. He claimed Josh hit him with a taser. Was that a curse?”
“Hell yeah!” Hunter slung one arm over Josh’s shoulder and the other around Kassie’s waist then pulled them both in for a group hug. “Let’s go snatch Eric and use him for target practice.”
~***~
It took over five minutes for Josh to persuade Hunter to stay put and work on the Book of the Dead’s poetic messages instead of running off to kidnap Eric. It didn’t help that Kassie also thought it was a ‘freaking great idea.’
Josh downloaded the pictures he’d taken of the Book of the Dead and printed enlarged copies for each of them then asked Hunter to read it out loud.
“Do you think it’ll trigger a flashback?”
“Probably. That’s why I didn’t read any of it while I was making copies.”
“Maybe you better take a seat before I start.”
Tender hearts full of hope and courage
Heed the warnings, but be not discouraged.
A love pure and true is yours if you dare
To open your hearts and lay your souls bare.
For every choice there is a cost
And the things you lose are forever lost.
You have until the full moon sets
To bind your hearts with no regrets.
But first remove the crimson stain
Though it burns your flesh with unbearable pain.
With your touch, ignite the fire
And cleanse the one you most desire.
You have until the dawn doth break
To suffer for each other’s sake.
But if you leave a single spot,
Eternal pain will be your lot.
Then wait until the moon is new
Lest this tome be sealed to you.
You have one chance to learn the spell
And break the curse. Use it well.
Each verse triggered a different flashback. Josh still couldn’t remember anything once they faded, but at least they didn’t cause him any pain. Each one gave him a thrill, sort of a mini-adrenaline rush. He felt encouraged for the first time since waking up without his memories.
Hunter paused and frowned at Josh. “Are you doing okay?”
“I’m having continuous flashbacks, but they don’t hurt. Keep reading.”
Josh’s skin tingled as a calm feeling washed over him. He studied Hunter’s face. “Did you just use magic on me?”
A sheepish grin spread across his face. “It’s just a be-calm spell. Your energy levels are jumping around all over the place. And you keep grabbing your chest. I ain’t no healer, but I figured a be-calm spell wouldn’t hurt and it might just help.”
“It does.” Josh shrugged. “But I don’t want it to interfere with the flashbacks. Something tells me it’s important for me to feel as much as possible. Even if it’s painful.”
“Are you still getting the headaches?” Hunter frowned.
“No. But my chest aches.” Each verse caused the light to pulse more brightly. “One of the triplets said it’s because Channie’s missing me.”
“I’m sure she is.” Hunter leaned over and gave Josh’s shoulder a squeeze. “But I ain’t never seen a couple so devoted to each other as you two. Are you ready for me to read some more?”
Josh nodded then laid his head on his forearms and closed his eyes.
True love’s kiss will set you free
But pure and chaste it must be.
One unclean thought will seal your fate
Changing all you love—to all you hate.
Daughter of power, conquer your fear
For in the fire, your path becomes clear.
A royal mage you must wed,
Before you share a lover’s bed.
Son of darkness, heed this advice,
Forsake all others that might entice
And lead astray with a
Kassie’s hands shook as she gestured, emphasizing her words. “Eric was being his usual asinine self. He came around the corner with his arm around Rebecca’s shoulders. Channie dragged me off to the bathroom to spare my feelings so I didn’t see it go down, but Bee told me all about it later. Eric was shooting his mouth off and spewing his usual lies. He even said the baby wasn’t his, but then he flew backwards and slammed into the lockers without anyone so much as touching him. He claimed Josh hit him with a taser. Was that a curse?”
“Hell yeah!” Hunter slung one arm over Josh’s shoulder and the other around Kassie’s waist then pulled them both in for a group hug. “Let’s go snatch Eric and use him for target practice.”
~***~
It took over five minutes for Josh to persuade Hunter to stay put and work on the Book of the Dead’s poetic messages instead of running off to kidnap Eric. It didn’t help that Kassie also thought it was a ‘freaking great idea.’
Josh downloaded the pictures he’d taken of the Book of the Dead and printed enlarged copies for each of them then asked Hunter to read it out loud.
“Do you think it’ll trigger a flashback?”
“Probably. That’s why I didn’t read any of it while I was making copies.”
“Maybe you better take a seat before I start.”
Tender hearts full of hope and courage
Heed the warnings, but be not discouraged.
A love pure and true is yours if you dare
To open your hearts and lay your souls bare.
For every choice there is a cost
And the things you lose are forever lost.
You have until the full moon sets
To bind your hearts with no regrets.
But first remove the crimson stain
Though it burns your flesh with unbearable pain.
With your touch, ignite the fire
And cleanse the one you most desire.
You have until the dawn doth break
To suffer for each other’s sake.
But if you leave a single spot,
Eternal pain will be your lot.
Then wait until the moon is new
Lest this tome be sealed to you.
You have one chance to learn the spell
And break the curse. Use it well.
Each verse triggered a different flashback. Josh still couldn’t remember anything once they faded, but at least they didn’t cause him any pain. Each one gave him a thrill, sort of a mini-adrenaline rush. He felt encouraged for the first time since waking up without his memories.
Hunter paused and frowned at Josh. “Are you doing okay?”
“I’m having continuous flashbacks, but they don’t hurt. Keep reading.”
Josh’s skin tingled as a calm feeling washed over him. He studied Hunter’s face. “Did you just use magic on me?”
A sheepish grin spread across his face. “It’s just a be-calm spell. Your energy levels are jumping around all over the place. And you keep grabbing your chest. I ain’t no healer, but I figured a be-calm spell wouldn’t hurt and it might just help.”
“It does.” Josh shrugged. “But I don’t want it to interfere with the flashbacks. Something tells me it’s important for me to feel as much as possible. Even if it’s painful.”
“Are you still getting the headaches?” Hunter frowned.
“No. But my chest aches.” Each verse caused the light to pulse more brightly. “One of the triplets said it’s because Channie’s missing me.”
“I’m sure she is.” Hunter leaned over and gave Josh’s shoulder a squeeze. “But I ain’t never seen a couple so devoted to each other as you two. Are you ready for me to read some more?”
Josh nodded then laid his head on his forearms and closed his eyes.
True love’s kiss will set you free
But pure and chaste it must be.
One unclean thought will seal your fate
Changing all you love—to all you hate.
Daughter of power, conquer your fear
For in the fire, your path becomes clear.
A royal mage you must wed,
Before you share a lover’s bed.
Son of darkness, heed this advice,
Forsake all others that might entice
And lead astray with a
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