The scorching sun broke through the sheer curtains of Cheri’s room. The windows faced east so every morning at sunrise her room warmed up comfortably until about 10:00 am when it became almost too hot to bear. If it hadn’t been for the AC she would have slept in the living room.

Rolling over in her bed Cheri pulled out a small photo album. In today’s society photo’s where relegated to digital devices, but her mother had fostered a love of photography in her from the time she was a little girl. This little photo album contained one picture of the two of them for the last six years. She had two others at home for the previous years. Every year the two of them chose one picture and spruced it up with special effects or photography tricks and had it printed for their book. She hadn’t told Katie yet, but she had started one for Katie and Jacob. It had been intended to be a wedding gift.

Cheri gathered all her stuff for a shower and slipped down to the hall. But before she started her shower, she felt compelled to visit Katie.

“Good morning, Katie, good morning, Mattie. I hope the rest of your night went well.”

“Relatively uneventful, which in my profession is good,” Mattie smiled. She hadn’t had any additional events from Blackwell, but she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him and the mirror hiding under the bed.

“Hey Katie, I grabbed something from my apartment I wanted to share with you, our memories book. I was looking forward to picking a photo for last year, so you got to wake up.” Cheri pulled out the photo album from her bag and settled down on the bed next to her friend. “This one starts when we were at university. I think it’s freshman year.”

Over the next few minutes Cheri went through the seven photos in the book. Each one a snapshot of some big event or silly excursion the two of them ventured during that year.

“I was thinking there are two that would be good for last year. The first one, and my favorite, would be the one of us on our trip to New Orleans. All those beautiful beads around our necks and confetti in our hair. We got so drunk that night that I was surprised we weren’t sick with hangovers the next day.” Cheri pulled the picture out from the back of the book to show Katie. “The other one is of Olivia’s baby shower in Vegas. I know it’s not really about you and me, but it was so much fun. And Olivia is a good friend to both of us.”

Cheri looked over at Mattie, who was gathering her stuff go leave. It was almost time for the day shift nurse to arrive and it had been a long night for her.

“When’s your next shift here?”

“I get two days off, then I’m back. But its not like they are free days because I have classes both days.”

“Well, try and have some fun.” She looked back at Katie. “It’s time for me to go get clean, busy day ahead. I love you, bestie.”

As Cheri was leaving the bedroom she bumped into Jacob on his way to see Katie.

“I’ll be ready to head to the house in about an hour, or so.”

“Cool, I’m ready whenever you are. I’m just gonna spend a few minutes with Katie before we go.”

“K, I’m going to shower.”

Jacob stepped into the room, and immediately felt a sense of doom.”

“I Shannon,” Shannon was a fill in nurse. She only works when one of the other nurses couldn’t come in. “We don’t see you very often. Who called out?”

“Isabella, she’s not feeling well. But Hazel should be here to relieve me soon.”

“No problem.” Jacob glanced at the mirror on the nightstand. Someone had retrieved it from under the bed and set it up. “Any issues last night?”

“Nope, I did find the mirror under the bed, so I picked it up. Unfortunately, one of the butterflies came off. I’m sorry and I didn’t do it.”

“Don’t worry about it, I broke it.” Jacob let out a heavy sigh as he glanced at the butterfly standing up against the mirror. “I know someone who does fine welding. It shouldn’t be a problem. You can take a break out in the other room. I’d like some alone time with Katie.”

“Ok,” Shannon smiled, gathered her things and slipped out of the room.

Jacob laid down on the bed next to Katie and gathered her limp body up tight against his. Slipping his arm under his neck he pulled her into a spoon.

“I love you Kitty Kat. I’ll love you until the day I die. Hurting you like I did is the biggest regret I’ll ever have in my life.” He softly sighed into Katie’s ear and closed his eyes. The warmth from his body radiated into hers. His hope was that she would feel the warmth, love, and safety of his embrace.

Katie curled up on the soft velvety couch with her newest romance novel. Her days have been filled with leisure and comfort since the day she decided to stay with Alexander. She had come to realize that he had a dark side, but he was usually so sweet and kind to her. He gave her anything she desired. He hadn’t even attempted to persuade her into his bed, instead he gave up the master suite so she would be more comfortable.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Katie pulled up the cozy fleece pink blanket that Alexander had gifted her for her room and sighed softly. A warm safe feeling filled her body. A small crystal white flower fell out of the book into the palm of her outstretched palm. Starting at her neck and radiating throughout her body. Slowly her eyes became heavy and began to shut.

“I love you too,” she whispered into the air as she fell into a peaceful slumber.

Abigail had been monitoring the situation from her little cottage on the beach. The one good thing about being trapped in a world created by magic was that magic was all around her. A person just needs to have knowledge and reverence to use it. Abigail may have been rust, as there wasn’t much need for her to use magic over the last few centuries, but she still had the knowledge of its power. This was her chance to talk openly to Katie without Alexander listening.

“Katie,” she whispered softly. “Come meet me at the cliff. I’ve set up a picnic for us.”

Still in her dream state Katie found herself standing at the edge of the cliff overlooking the bright blue ocean. Feeling warm and safe she knew everything was going to be good. She was safe, her baby was safe, and they both were loved beyond all comprehension.

“Thank you for coming to me Katie.”

“Oh,” Katie turned to see Abigail sitting cross-legged on a red and white checkered blanket. Before Abigail laid a wicker basket filled with cheese, fruit, and freshly baked croissants. “It looks delicious. But won’t Alex be mad?”

“You’re dreaming. How can he be mad about a dream you have no control over?”

“True,” Katie laughed. “He does find things to get mad about, but I know he loves me.”

“Katie, sit and have some fruit while I tell you what I know about Alexander Blackwell.”

Katie sat cross-legged on the blanket and sipped from the glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.

“I’m going to be very honest with you and you’ll not want to believe me, but if you listen to your heart you’ll know what I’m about to tell you is the truth. This…” Abigail outstretched her arms. “All that you see is a dream. You are sound asleep and safe on the couch in Alexanders house. However, this conversation, this meeting is real. I’ve entered your dream so that we can have a conversation without Alexander knowing we talked.”

“How can you do this to me? How can you do that at all? He’s going to be so angry!” Katie stood up to leave but Abigail gently took her hand.

“It’s going to be ok. He will never know unless you tell him, and you need to know something.”

“What do I need to know?” Katie sat back down, remembering this was just a dream, and began to nibble on some Havarti cheese and thin wafer crackers. “Ok you say what you want and I’m just going to remember this is a dream and enjoy this picnic.”

“Your body is safely back at Jacob’s house. At this very moment he’s curled up with you in his arms, crying because he misses you so much. He knows he made a huge mistake by listening to his mother and regrets it terribly.”

“Jacob made his choice. Now I’m with Alexander and I’m pregnant with Alexander’s baby.”

“Think about it Katie. How can you be pregnant with Alexander’s baby when you’ve never even had sex with him? Just listen. This world is a prison created to keep Alexander locked up because back in his time there was no one willing to bring justice against him and he was an evil man. He is a serial killer.”

“And why are you here?”

“Every prison needs a warden. I’m actually his niece, and a witch. He is a witch hunter. Back in our time witch hunter was considered a noble profession. Only he didn’t turn in most of the witches he targeted to the authorities. He murdered them, all any female children she may have had.”

“That’s a ridicules notion. Alexander loves children. He loves my child.”

“He does actually love children, but he hates witches with an evil vengeance. As for your child, it’s his ticket to escape this prison. When a baby is born their soul has no defense for a few brief seconds, they are protected by the mother’s soul. As long as he can keep you trapped in this magical prison he can use the power he’s accumulated in this world to reach out and switch places with your baby. Then you and your newborn will be stuck in this world forever.”

“I still don’t believe you, but this brie is awesome!”

“We don’t have much longer, Alexander is coming back. Just remember that there will come a moment when you do believe me. When that happens get to me in the cottage as fast as you can. I will tell you how to get out. In the meantime, think about the relationship you had with Jacob and your friends and family back home. You haven’t taken the time to mourn the loss of them yet.”

Abigail reached out to Katie and gently touched her sun kissed cheek.

“Your baby girl will be the blessing that keeps your soul bright. Now wake up!”

Katie opened her eyes, and she was once again snuggled warmly on the couch with her book resting in her lap. To her surprise the little white cherry blossom was still laying perfectly in the center of her palm. She could see Alexander sauntering up the walk, so she slipped the flower into the book and sat up.

Watching him she wondered how much she had dreamt was actually true. Was it even possible? Magical prisons, witch hunters, soul swapping, it was all way to much for her to fully comprehend.

Cheri popped her head into Katie’s room and waved at Jacob.

“I’m ready to face the day.”

“I’m to comfy. I don’t want to move.” Jacob held onto Katie. “Okay, I suppose we can’t put this off. I love you Katie and I’ll be back in a bit.”

The car ride was oddly silent until they pulled into Katie’s driveway. Neither of them was looking forward to going into the house. It needed to be done.

“OK,” Jacob said. “Let’s have a plan to get in and out the fastest. The way I see it we got three things we got to get done. First, we got to find that journal. We think it’s in the basement. Second, we need to collect all the mirror fragments. The shattered pieces from the first night should still be in a plastic bag under the kitchen sink and Tracy’s mirror is in the back bedroom. Finally, we need to check all the windows to make sure they’re all closed and locked. We left so fast with Tracy that we didn’t pay it no mind.”

“I know it would be faster if we split up and met in the middle but I don’t really want to be alone in that house.”

“I don’t blame you. We stay together for sure. So let’s go upstairs and start in the back of the house and make our way down gathering the stuff on our way down.”

“We should pack some of Katie’s things to bring to her also. I think she’s got her suitcase in the back of her bedroom closet.”

“When we get to her room you start grabbing things you think she’ll want, and I’ll get the suitcase ready.”

With heavy heart, and a bit of fear, the two entered the old house. The air was heavy with sent of dust and stale air. It had only been a few days since they had been there but it felt like months.