ETERNAL OATH - Jewel Quinlan

When Linda and her adopted brother, Falk, return home from school to visit their critically ill father they never expect that someone is plotting against them. But shortly after coming to terms with their feelings for each other they find themselves running through the forest for their lives. Servants in the household have turned against them but they don’t know who is leading them or why. Could the strange visions Linda has been having hold the answers?

This time when the colors reformed she saw herself, as though a spotlight shone down on her. She was much younger than she was now, about ten, and wrapped in a woolen blanket. Her hair hung in two long braids which looked frazzled and had loose strands coming out of them. Dirt and twigs clung to her and she was looking into a mirror over a bowl of something from which steam rose. Because of the steam the image wasn’t super clear but Linda could see her younger self’s lips moving…she was saying something.

Even though Linda knew the girl was her, she also knew it was not her. It was as though she were the girl looking into the mirror and at the same time an observer standing in the corner and watching. Instinctively she knew she had to hear what the girl was saying. She stilled and focused her eyes and hearing, harnessing a tranquility that cleared and sharpened her mind. Her breaths came even and deep. And then, as if the volume button had been pressed, she could hear what her dream self was saying.

“You must remember. You must remember. You must remember,” chanted the girl.

But that was all she said with her eyes so large and charcoal-gray as she looked into the mirror. She seemed to be concentrating with all her being on those three words. But those were all she said. After a few more moments Linda became frustrated. Remember what? This girl knew something. She was the key to these

horrible dreams she was having, Linda could feel it in her gut. But if she was, why wasn’t she saying more? She waited a few more moments hoping the girl would continue. When she didn’t Linda cried out, “Remember what? Tell me!”

The little girl sucked in a surprised breath and then her dark gaze shifted in the mirror from her own reflection to Linda’s. She seemed amazed to see Linda there but she paused no longer, her words came out in a rush. “You are both in grave danger. Tonight.”

And then the rest of the girl’s words were lost as Linda was pulled to consciousness again, unwillingly this time. As she was swept away she could see the girl’s lips moving but the sound had been turned off again. The image shattered like glass and she woke to Falk gently shaking her by the shoulders.