Fated || 1

Chapter 4

           The memory of last night is a blur. I went through it over and over again; but nothing. I some how made it home and to bed.

The mind was a precious thing. It can hold the secret of a person's life. It holds the memories of the past. It recalls information for the future. And you did not want to mess with it.

I pace back and forth in my living room. My hands pressing against my skull and occasionally rubbing my tired eyes. Coffee was no help in my situation. Salem sat on my couch watching me as I mumble.

"...I was dancing, then...then...remember god dammit."

A flick of my hand, my spell book flies into my hands. I flip through the pages until it lands on a memory charm. I read over the spell multiple times before enacting it.

"Me praeterita meminisse. Memoriae recordabor oblitus."

At first, I didn't feel anything. Then I felt a giant pressure against my head. Like something was trying to get out. I stop fighting against the feeling and let it consume me. Hopefully this is my memory of last night.

Or perhaps, it's something darker.

* * *

1803

          New York was the busiest city in all of America. The streets were always crowded, building press against one another, and it was very over populated.

         Aunt Ruby and I lived in the upper state of the young city. The two ladies of the house. We were very well known and very popular. It was during the time of arrange marriages and when young girls like myself didn't have a choice in life. Our fathers and mothers (mostly our fathers) would choose our husband. It was left to Ruby to find mine; she never chose.

        For I, cannot and will not love. That is my curse.

"Miss Katarina, it's time to go to the city." My maid calls for me.

"I'll be right down." My stuffy dress was difficult to move around in. I believe it was worse then my dress in Salem. The corset that squeezed you until you couldn't breath. Sickening.

"Katarina, let's go." Ruby calls

        I carefully glide down the stairs to meet with Ruby. We were going into town to buy herbs for Ruby's little spell. A spell that she said would help us in the future; that was all she let slip out.

"Don't you look lovely." Ruby says

"Thank you Aunt. Shall we?" We leave the great house and enter the carriage. Traveling down the road and through the trees, we arrive in the city. People pushing down the street to get to where they needed to be. Young men would stop and look to our carriage. They would tilt their hats to us, then continue their walk.

"They are quite fond of you Katarina."

"Yes well..."

"Many men have come to me asking for your hand."

"You know Aunt that I cannot marry. I will out live him and he will find out our secret."

"I agree, Katarina, I really do. But people are getting suspicious."

"Of what?"