Of Frost & Cinder (Old Version)

A Spell to Remember

Chapter Eleven

When Beck's blue eyes first iced my skin in the cafe, I would have never believed that the same man would help me conduct a spell in my bedroom. A day ago, I didn't know that magic even existed. I was worried about Nationals and my figure skating routine, and my biggest drama was how Pete's mom utterly despises me. Now, I'm sitting cross-legged in the middle of a salted circle, centered with three lit candles and werewolf opposite me.

"Okay," I let out a whoosh of air to decompress my nerves. Though I've never cast a spell, well, outside of a school play, I can't help that part of me thinks this is really cool. "So, we've got the candles lit and the flower has been ground up into a bowl."

I pick up the eight ounce glass to my right and pour water into the bowl. Chunks of yellow petals and green leaves float atop the liquid until they're saturated enough to sink.

"This is kind of cool," I say. "Now, the rest of the directions basically say that we need to drown everything else out and focus on what we want to accomplish."

"Friggin witches," Beck mumbles, his face incredulous.

"This is fun and you know it."

"Eh, not so much," he replies. "Can't say I'm fond of magic."

"But you're best friends with a witch?"

Beck shrugs, "Doesn't mean I have to love the fact that she can mute me with a snap of her fingers."

I laugh, "that's definitely the next spell on my to-do list."

"Can we get on with this?"

I nod, shaking out my limbs in a quick effort to relax them. "Alright, you ready?"

He grunts and I take it as a yes. Then, I pick up the ripped directions that Damien snuck me, and I begin chanting the scribbled words.

"Veer-um revel-autumn, veer-um revel—"

"You're butchering it," Beck snaps before snagging the paper out of my hands. He scans over the words for barely a second, and then snorts, "Truth revealed...that's it? That's all you have to say?"

"Like I know how this stuff works!" I snatch the paper back from him and try to smooth out the crinkles he made. "I just want my memories back so I can get on with my life."

His mouth drops and I can't tell if he's annoyed, confused, or angry...until he stands up and rips his jacket off my bed.

"Wait, where are you going?"

He's already yanking the second leather sleeve over his arm when I stand too.

"You kidding? Why would I risk my life, or Olivian's, for you? You know, since you're just gonna act like all this means jack shit when it's done? " He fumes, practically spitting out his words. "You know what? Don't even bother with the spell. You're better off just taking a damn pill and forgetting about us all together."

He weaves around the circle of salt, and I reach to grasp his arm. The act makes me feel like I'm nine again; begging Dad not to leave after another heavy argument with Mom, but the difference with this situation is that Beck actually stops. He's paused with one hand in mine and the other on the door knob, and though his voice was hard before, he looks more exhausted than he does tempestuous.

"Look, I'm just freaked out okay," I sigh, letting go of his cool fingers. "I mean, what happens when I get my memories back and it turns out I'm being poisoned by someone close to me? What am I supposed to do if it's my mom or dad, or even Pete?"

He only frowns as a response.

"I'm not sure I'm equipped to handle such a betrayal."

He takes a moment in this silence and then says, "Conall, push past the superficial emotions for a sec. Why would someone want your memories wiped? Think about it...you must have heard or seen something damming—something strong enough to drive someone to debilitate you."