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Jason had heard many people claim to be witches and have control over various magical powers. Each person said it differently, some boasted, others whispered it as if it were some grave secret, but non had ever confessed it as if it were something they were ashamed of, something they feared, like Marissa just had. “You are a witch?” Jason asked confused.
“That’s what my mother calls me. She said it comes from my Grandmother and I’m not talking about the kind that play at being Wicca’s. I didn’t ask to be like this, and I can’t control it,” her voice broke as she fought to hold back tears. “It usually happens when I’m asleep, but some times, even if I’m awake…I see things, I know things before they happen.” The miserly in Marissa’s voice was so real, so potent that Jason couldn’t stop himself from reaching out to her in an attempt to comfort.
Marissa flinched away and retreated farther into herself, “Don’t touch me, can’t you see? My very existence is evil?”
Jason was shocked, “Should that not be my line?” His joke was rewarded by the barest glimmer of a smile. “There, that is progress. Now lets get something strait, you are not evil, nothing about you is evil, and who ever made you believe that is wrong. Some people are just born with gifts, that is all.” Jason paused. “It is getting late and you should sleep. I believe I saw some blankets with the camping stuff.”
Marissa attempted to copy his appearance of normality, “What about you? Aren’t you going to sleep?”
“That is one thing those books got right, we do not sleep…much.” Jason winked playfully.
“Then what do you do all n-” Marissa stopped there, her mind going to the more colorful explanations of what vampires did at night. She turned away, hoping Jason didn’t see the blush. “never mind, forget I asked.” She could hear his quiet laughter behind her as she went to find the blankets. It was a safe bet Jason knew exactly why she didn’t finish her question.
Lights and colors swirled around her. Voices mixed with laughter, she didn’t know where she was. She could taste the brine in the air, some where near the Ocean? Then ever so slowly a new smell mixed with that of the ocean…smoke. Did someone have a campfire going? No, this wasn’t the smell of a friendly campfire, but of a fire burning out of control. She looked around but no one else seemed to notice, all the faces were grey, she couldn’t make them out. Then she was running, running toward the smell of the fire.
Looming in front of her was a building; she couldn’t make out any of the features except for the smoke and fire rushing out of every window and door. Before she knew it, she was rushing into the burning building. She couldn’t stop herself; it was as if she had not control of her body. As the flames licked around her, all Marissa knew was that there was something that she had to get, something precious was hidden it the flames, but she couldn’t find what it was. All she could see were flames. As she looked around, she came to the realizations that she was surrounded by flames, there was no way out. She was going to die here, and there was nothing she could do about it.
Marissa bolted upright from where she had been sleeping on the floor, a scream lodged in her throat.
Suddenly cool hands were on her shoulders and touching her cheek. “Shhh, it was just a dream.” Soothing words were whispered into her hair.
Jason pulled her into his lap and continued to murmur reassuring words to her. He had been about half way through translating “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” into Latin when he heard the first changes in Marissa’s breathing. She had been sleep for almost four hours when the nightmare hit. Then her adrenaline kicking in followed by the fear and panic.
He had tried to wake her before the dream had progressed very far, but he couldn’t wake her. He had tried calling her name, shaking her shoulder, but nothing working. In the end he had been forced to watch as she appeared to descend into the very pit of hell. He had seen this once before and had been just as helpless to do anything then as well.
Jason curled his arms around her as the trembling began. “What can I do? What helps?”
Marissa just shook her head and let the trembling run its coarse. It was always like this, first the vision, then the trembling, next she would feel sick for the next few hours. Slowly the trembling subsided and she became aware of just where she was and who was stroking her hear, whispering words of encouragement.
“Starting to feel better?” Marissa could feel the rumble in his chest as he spoke. Silently she nodded her head. “Is there anything I can do?” Marissa shook her head again, though water would have helped to settle her stomach, having some kind of human contact helped settle the turmoil in her head more. A while later Marissa ventured to ask, “Any idea what time it might be?”
“I am guessing somewhere around 4 in the morning, things have been quiet up there for a while. Still too early for you to be awake, try and go back to sleep.” Jason suggested.
“I’d have better luck opening the trapdoor one handed.” Marissa’s attempt at humor fell flat.
“You do not sleep after these visions?”
“Depends on what I see. This one was more disturbing than most others.” Marissa shivered at the memory.