“It was not our intention to confront Adonis at this time, but Princess Phantasia is a brash and unpredictable individual,” said Faye as her recollection neared recent events, “I understand that you saw the outcome of that confrontation yourselves,”

A moment later Kat felt the cool breeze on her face as time returned and shook her head as her mind tried to rearrange its internal chronology. It felt like waking from a powerful dream, only to realise in an instant that it was all inside her mind. Theseus looked similarly dazed.

“Next time I’ll take the real-world option,” he said with a grimace as he clutched his temples, “Man, my head is buzzing, like its crammed with more memories that it ought to be,”

“A side-effect of the memory implantation,” explained Faye, “Your mind must adjust to perceiving time that did not pass. Be reassured that I have been benevolent towards your mental health, and understand the dangers such powers can also bring. Now, might I ask for your own thoughts in return for what I have given you?”

Theseus’s eyes widened with horror and he back-peddled a few steps. “Hell no! No offence, lady, but I’ve had my lot with you poking around inside my head!”

Faye’s lapis lazuli eyes were focused on Kat, however. She clenched her teeth and met the inhuman gaze, a slight shiver rising up her spine as she wondered just what the process would involve. Would she have to live out the whole weekend again, including those moments when Adonis had reached into her very soul? She drew in a long breath. She had to do this.

“Katrina Ritches, you are more open to my request,”

No ‘please’. No ‘would it be okay?’. No concern. Just blunt statements of fact. So blunt, in fact, that Kat knew she could trust this strange blue-haired entity, the very opposite of the charming, deceitful Adonis. She didn’t even need to voice her agreement.

“I will only read memories relating to the current situation,” assured the faerie, “Your privacy will be respected,”

Kat let free a long breath and waited. How long would it take? Would she find herself inside a bubble of time again? Then, for the briefest moment, memories of the past few days flooded through her mind’s eye, as if someone where playing them back at ten-thousand times normal speed. And for one instant she saw the green, snakish eyes of Adonis, and wondered if the wall of mist and its green-haired guardian would spring up to protect her.

But it was over just as soon as it had begun.

“I appreciate your co-operation,” said Faye, “Your thoughts and analysis add some intriguing insights into this situation,”

Kat blinked, then looked around at her companions. It didn’t feel like someone had just dived into the depths of her memory. She at least expected some kind of lingering images, like the taste of bile after vomiting, but it were as if nothing had happened. Even the nightmare of Adonis’s eyes was lodged back in the depths of her mind.

Theseus placed a hand on her shoulder. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” she reassured him, “Just figured it wouldn’t that easy, that’s all…”

“Good to hear,” asked Theseus, who then turned his attention to the faeries and their human co-conspirators, “So now what? We finally gonna rip this creep a new one?”

“Please do not act in an irrational matter like Princess Phantasia,” said Faye. Phantasia herself scowled in the same way Kat would when Phoenie accused her of being too soft with people, and Kat found it strangely comforting to see that these otherworldly beings were capable of true friendship.

“That’s alright for a logic-freak like you to say,” said Theseus, the subtleties of non-verbal communication lost on him, “But people’re in danger, aren’t they? Like whomever these ‘ten’ are. Speaking of which, you gonna let us in on that secret? I ain’t gonna be shocked if you say Deneb’s one of ‘em, and I’d bet real money on Ceres too…”

“Ceres Mendoza is not among the ten under the protection of Princess Titania,” said Faye.

“Well, who is then?”

Chapter 67
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