When Kate heard the door open again, she snapped her head toward it, expecting it to be Jason. But her expression soured when the temperature shifted, and the scent of perfume from the person standing in the doorway filled her senses.


    "Alena," she muttered.


    Kate heard Alena scoff, followed by the soft thud of the door clicking shut.


    "I''m here again, witch," Alena said, approaching the dressing table and leaning against it with her arms folded. She stared at Kate, who had placed her chin on her lap. Neither spoke, and silence filled the room.


    "I bet you warned Jeff not to try to protect Alicia," Alena sneered. "I saw him storm out of my house, furious."


    Kate raised her head and leaned it against the bed’s headboard. She smirked. "And you think I would tell him that?"


    Alena''s sneer deepened. "What do you think would happen if Jeff tried to protect Alicia? Two things, Kate," she said, raising two fingers as she moved closer to the bed and bent over Kate. She whispered, "One, Alicia loses her life, and you live. Or, two, you die, but unfortunately, Alicia won’t survive. What a loss that would be, don''t you think?"


    "Do you think a witch like me will die?" Kate snickered, turning her face toward Alena. "Why don''t you care about yourself? Can''t you see you''re in danger?"


    Alena pulled away from the bed, squinting at Kate before bursting into laughter.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "Danger?" she exclaimed, sniggering.


    "I know you can''t afford to take me for granted, Alena," Kate’s lips curled into a sinister smile.


    Alena took a deep breath, cocking her head. "You think I believe every one of your visions?" Shaking her head, she tsked. "Tsk, tsk. You''ve got the wrong idea about me."


    "But I could hear the hammering beat of your heart right now. You''re scared, aren''t you?"


    Alena’s sly smile faltered, and she looked away. Balling her hands into fists, she muttered angrily, "You’re reading my mind again!" She snapped her face back toward Kate, smirking. "Aren’t you scared I’ll one day kill you for this, hun?" She raised a questioning brow. "Aren’t you scared at all? How many times do I have to tell you not to intrude into my emotions and thoughts?" she yelled, her lips quivering.


    Nothing or no one irritated Alena more—or frightened her more—than Kate. Kate reading her thoughts and emotions had always made Alena feel weak, causing her to lose the composure she prided herself on, the composure no one had ever been able to break. That composure was her power, but Kate always rendered her powerless.


    "I’m sorry for intruding," Kate said coolly. "But you just admitted you’re scared of me."


    Alena blinked in disbelief. Scrunching her hands into fists, she hissed, "You always get on my nerves."


    "I have a message for you," Kate said, pausing briefly. "You need to protect Alicia and Alison. They need you, and you need them for your own protection."


    Alena smirked. "And you think I’ll do that? You must know that’s impossible, Kate. It’s ridiculous."


    "Then you’ll have to die," Kate said firmly, as if making a declaration.


    "How dare—"


    "You’re struggling with fragments of memories you don’t understand, memories you don’t even think are yours," Kate interrupted suddenly, cutting Alena off.


    Alena stumbled backwards in shock, her eyes wide as she stared at Kate’s unflinching expression.


    "You can’t remember any of these memories," Kate continued. "But those memories are your lost memories."