Chapter 6: Memories

"Finally, home sweet home," Eve mumbled and plopped herself down on the couch as soon as we got back to the mansion.

We were greeted by Master Zorylle on the grand staircase, when his gaze fell to Doreen. His brows rose a bit.

"A new guest?" He smiled at Doreen who's busy roaming her eyes around the mansion.

"She's a new friend we met in the church," I explained and took her in front of Master Zorylle. The others went on their own ways and actually left me to explain Doreen's situation.

"I'm Doreen, I practice a variety of dark magic but I favor Demonic more than the others," Doreen introduced herself and offered a hand.

Master Zorylle looked shocked with what kind of witch we brought but nevertheless, smiled and accepted her hand.

"Well, hello there. I'm Zorylle but my apprentices here call me Master Zorylle." He looked at us.

"How did it go?" He asked and looked at Doreen. "I'm guessing it went well?"

Royce nodded and glanced at me.

"We had it under control. Also, we're going to need to surrender a few witches and warlocks to the council," he answered.

Master Zorylle tilted his head. "Why?"

Royce raised his brows at me and signaled me to answer.

I sighed. "Me and Louise trapped them in an almost enclosed glamour, we caught them

performing an invocation ritual and so we stepped in and thought we'd give them to the council."

Master Zorylle slowly nodded his head. "You thought of this?"

I nodded, feeling a bit proud. I thought he was going to give me a pat in the back or a simple 'well done', but it was actually the opposite.

"You didn't think they would use dark magic inside and destroy the glamour, which could lead to you and Louise's death?"

I blinked. I did think of that, but I didn't think it could result in our death.

I slowly shook my head, feeling disappointment wash over me.

"I-I was trying to nullify their abilities inside..." I mumbled. Feeling the earlier confidence spew out of my system.

He intently looked at me. "Plan strategically, not impulsively."

Now I know why he was their master.

Master Zorylle walked back up the stairs and disappeared from our sight. I silently sighed and was startled when someone tapped me in the back.

I looked over and saw a smiling Louise. "It's okay, he actually never praises us. But you did well earlier."

I subtly smiled and mumbled a little 'thanks' before going up to my room. Once inside, I laid down on my bed and stared at the ceiling.

I was new to the disappointment. It was actually a few years ever since I last felt that—that feeling of letting people down. I was an achiever, I was always at the top. I have mastered numerous types of witchcraft, and I have practiced using our abilities. It was very rare for me to fail people. I didn't know I would experience it in this mansion.

I erased the thought and took a shower. It's already evening so I need to sleep to regain the energy I used earlier.

   I was running through the woods. I felt myself grinning as I giggled and tried to avoid fallen logs or even twigs. My sight was shorter than usual, I looked down and saw tiny feet and short legs.

Is this the kid version of me? Or a memory?

I tried to stop but I couldn't, it's like I wasn't in control.

What is this? And where am I? This forest is foreign to me.

"Mazikeen, where are you?" Sang a lovely voice far in the woods. My body hid behind a tree and would frequently take a peek to the source of the voice.

They must've been playing hide-and-seek.

Suddenly, the soft wind stopped bristling and the falling leaves seemed to have frozen while falling. The chirping of the birds halted and silence reigned the whole woods. It was like time was abruptly stopped.

Young Mazikeen's face scrunched up in confusion and looked around. Time really did stop, except her.

And when she was about to take a peek again in the direction, she was greeted by a face of a woman.

The woman had sparkling eyes who took you away from the shore and into her cerulean seas. With hair as dark as the sky at night, her skin contrasted it and became the moonlight as it was porcelain white with no visible flaw. The woman was gorgeous, and I felt such nostalgia looking at her again.

"Mommy!" Young Mazikeen squealed and giggled.

My mother chuckled and carried me in her arms as she snapped her fingers, and let the leaves glide smoothly along the soft breeze of air in the woods.

She manipulated time. A rare ability she got from her mother—my grandmother.

If this was my memory, I'd love to repeat this a hundred more times.

“Playtime's over, darling. Let’s go home,”  Mom smiled. I felt sadness rush down me but I still nodded. 

"Mommy," little me called out in the middle of walking. "Hmm?"

"What if I die?"

My mother looked shocked by the sudden dark question, and so was I. When did this happen?

How come I don't remember her asking me this way? And why am I asking such a question? I think my body is of a five-year-old's and yet my questions are those of an adult's.

"Darling," she sighed. "You will die only if you have fulfilled your mission in life."

I felt my head tilting in confusion. "What's my mission, Mommy?"

She glanced at me as I rested my head on her shoulder. I felt how comfortable it is to be carried by her again. 

"You'll know soon enough," she responded and crouched over to avoid a thick branch of a tree.

I fell silent for a few moments. 

"Do you have any tips?" I pouted. 

She chuckled. "You don't need tips, my brave hero."

"But sure, I can give you one," she paused. Probably thinking of a tip. 

She stopped walking and looked at me; her once smiling face now covered with a stoic expression. 

"Fight alongside those who want you and not those who need you. Most importantly, darling," she caressed my face. "Always watch your back." 

       I abruptly sat up straight and caught my breath. Beads of sweat trickled down my face while my erratic heart almost got out of its cage. My eyes were wide and I felt like I was choked but I couldn't defend myself because I was paralyzed. 

That dream... I've been having that dream about that specific conversation of me and my late mother ever since I left the coven.

What's odd is that I never remembered having a talk like that with my mother when I was young.

But it was in my perspective, so I'm sure it was my memory. 

I sighed and grabbed a tissue to wipe my sweat. I looked over to my room's window and saw that the sun's already up. I must've slept in. 

I took a shower and went down to grab a bite in the kitchen. I think today's a chill day, rather a rest day since we just got home from a mission yesterday.

I went down the stairs and saw Macky in the living room watching a football game. He was throwing the popcorns in the wide flat screen from time to time and yelling curses. 

"How could you still not make that goal?!" He exclaimed and threw another popcorn. "Fucking dumb!"

He didn't even feel my presence.

I stifled a laugh and went to the kitchen. I opened the double-door fridge and I instantly felt my eyes turning into hearts as I saw a ton of sweets inside. But I have to restrict my self, I need breakfast not dessert. 

I settled on an egg and scrambled it, as I grabbed leftover rice and fried it. A simple yet delicious breakfast. I might need to go to the mansion's gym later because I think I'm getting out of shape.

Once I finished my meal, I brought it to the sink and decided to wash it since I was shy to leave it there because the sink was clean. People here were disciplined. 

I think I've figured that out when I first went through Master Zorylle's booby traps. 

I climbed back up to the second floor and ignored Macky's harsh remarks about the game.

"Who in the world trips over bermuda grass and twists their ankle?!" 

I smiled and silently climbed the stairs. This mansion feels so normal. Unlike the Nirvana mansion where you could see my former sisters casting spells everywhere. 

I walked past the rooms as I heard loud rock music inside on of the rooms. I stopped to hear the obviously indulged feminine shouts and shrieks inside. This room was either Leanne's, Eve's, or

Doreen's. Most probably Eve's. 

She was blasting an asian rock music and I can even imagine Eve headbanging, because of her loud 'Yeah!'s. Totally normal. 

I was wondering where Louise and Gabriel are but they're probably enjoying their rest day. 

I chuckled to myself and continued making my way to the gym. Once I reached it, I was greeted by two people on either sides of the rooms—completely minding their own businesses. 

Doreen was focused on throwing a dagger while Royce was busy lifting weights. I had a hard time tearing my gaze from the latter. They both looked at the door opening but returned their gazes back to what they're doing. 

Geez.

I went over to one corner and started stretching as a warm-up and walked over to a treadmill. It's shocking how this high-tech machine ended up in a vintage mansion. I was trying to look forward but my gaze just kept falling to one man lifting weights. 

I ran for a few minutes until I decided to help Doreen. She seemed to be having trouble throwing a shuriken, a weapon commonly used in Japan. 

"Hi," I smiled. 

She looked over at me and nodded in acknowledgement.

"You need help?"

She scratched the back of her head and shyly offered me a shuriken. I didn't remember her as a shy girl, especially when we first met.

I chuckled. "Okay, so you're stance is supposed to be like this."

I spent the next few minutes trying to explain how a shuriken should be thrown, and other small weapons. I've been trained relentlessly when I was a child, so I mastered almost all of these related to physical combat by heart. But the Nirvana coven wasn't my teacher. My Dad was. He died with my mother.

I did a few more exercises once I felt like Doreen needed to train by herself to master throwing daggers and shurikens, once I felt done, I sat on one corner and wiped my sweat. Good thing I wore a sports bra earlier and leggings. 

"Maze, I'll be going now. Thanks for earlier." Doreen waved as she left the gym. I smiled as return and kept wiping my sweat. 

After a few moments, I heard footsteps until a pair of feet stopped in front of me. "Here."

I looked up and saw him offering me a water bottle. I accepted it as I was actually thirsty and downed it in one drink. 

"Thanks," I muttered as I wiped the excess water on the side of my mouth. 

He smirked, amusement visible in his eyes. "You want to eat?" 

Hmmm, what was this man up to now?

"What time is it?" I asked as I accepted his hand to help me stand up. 

He threw the empty bottle on a nearby trash can and answered. "Lunchtime." 

Wow, he's very specific. 

"Then let's eat," I declared and walked over to the door. 

We were silent all through out the walk to the kitchen, we both weren't talkative so it was very awkward. I could even hear the crickets in my head. 

"You did good yesterday," he initiated a talk. 

I glanced at him and discreetly bit my lip to hide a smirk. "Thanks, you were too."

I saw his eyebrow raised with my statement. "Good in gathering their things?"

I chuckled. Oh yeah, that's all he did. But that wasn't what I meant.

"No, good in accepting Doreen to come with us. You were the leader, I actually expected you to decline her." 

He shrugged. "I trust your judgment." 

The smirk I was trying hard to hide earlier found a way to creep into my face.