A World of Memories

The market town bustled with people, someone bumped into me and I jumped out the way of someone else almost walking right into a man.

“Watch it girl,” the small stout man, who I could only describe as frog-like, growled.

“Sorry,” I exclaimed grasping my black pointed felt hat to my head as a cold wind blew through the cobbled street.

“Over here,” Blake shouted from where he sat on a barrel in front of the book shop, his deep black fur shimmering purple in the late afternoon light.

I hurried over and he jumped down as I pushed open the door, the little bell ringing above me. As soon as the door closed over behind us the hustle of the street vanished and the book shop stood quiet. A couple people looked up from reading as we walked over to the counter. Blake jumped up as we approached, the shopkeeper looked at him in disapproval as he sat pointedly on a book flicking his tail on the wooden counter.

“Do you mind removing your cat,” she spat over the counter she could barely see over, she resembled an owl in appearance, dark brown feathers covered her face.

Blake shot her a dirty look from his piercing purple eyes.

“He’s not a cat,” I replied.

“Whatever he is,” she scowled over her beak like nose.

“Look I have a book to sell if you’re interested,” I said taking the heavy leather-bound book out my bag and placing it on the counter.

The women looked at Blake a second longer before putting on her glasses and glancing at me with her magnified yellow eyes and sliding the book towards her to examine. She looked at the cover closely before her eyes went wide and she quickly slid it back across to me shaking her head.

“No, I’m not interested in such a book,” she said hastily trying to keep her voice calm.

Why was everyone so scared of this book. “I’ll give you a good price for it.”

“No.” She shook her head. “Now you’re going to need to buy that book your cat’s sitting on and get out my shop,” she demanded.

“But I…”

“I’m not interested in what you have to sell.”

“Fine,” I sighed. “How much for the book then?”

“More than you can afford I’m sure,” she said looking me up and down.

“How much,” I replied aggravated.

“20 memories.”

I faltered; I didn’t have that many memory stones.

“Tell you what how about your lovely hat, it’s very detailed and I’m sure it holds a lot of memories,” she said eyeing my hat greedily.

“No,” I snapped instinctively gripping the large brim of my hat.

“Fine, what else have you got.”

I thought for a second as I slipped the book back into my bag before reaching into the large pocket in my cape and pulling out my grandmothers’ watch, looking at the intricate vines and flowers carved into the golden metal.

“I have this. It was my grandmothers; it’ll have plenty memories stored in it.” I shrugged and took out the ten shining memory stones I did have, the memories stored within swirling in different coloured smoke.

“That’ll do.” She took the memory stones and the pocket watch and then shooed us out the shop.

We stepped out into the crowded street again, the noise hit me like a wall, I sighed and looked up as drizzle started to fall from the sky.

“Come on,” Blake said as he rubbed past my leg and started into the crowd.

I joined the throng of people and walked with Blake next to me. “What am I meant to do with this now?”

“Not sure, maybe we can find someone else who’ll take it.”

I sighed and carried on walking.

“Don’t look now but we’re being followed,” Blake whispered glancing over his shoulder.

“What?” I asked a bit too loud and looked behind me.

“I said don’t look,” Blake snapped.

“Sorry,” I replied and put my head down, clutching my bag in my arms, “are they hunters?”

“Can’t tell,” Blake replied.

I glanced over my shoulder and saw a tall wild looking man and a short powerful woman not much taller than myself, wearing black and weaving through the crowd quickly their focus purely on me. Panic started to tighten in my chest and my breathing quickened as I sped up, trying to move through the crowded street as fast as I could. I dared a glance but they still followed me, gaining on me every second. I broke into a run, Blake running ahead of me.

“Quick through here,” Blake called from the entrance of a side alley.

I ducked into the shadows and sprinted down the clear alley but skidded to a halt when a massive wall appeared dead ahead. I bent over, hands on my knees, my legs burning.

“Do you think we lost them?” I said through gasps.

“No, you didn’t.” A deep man’s voice echoed through the alley.

My heart lurched into my throat and I spun round, Blake hissed and spat as he puffed himself up at my side. The man pulled out a gun that glinted in the dull light as the women by his side pulled out a curved sword. He loaded his gun and his sleeve rolled up his wrist revealing the brand of two snakes in the shape of a H.

“Your hunters,” I whispered my gut leaping into my throat as I clutched my bag to my chest. “What do you want with me? I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“It’s not you we’re after dear,” the women smirked.

They stepped closer eyeing up my bag I gripped with white knuckles. Blake hissed as he stepped in front of me protectively. Suddenly a low growl echoed through the alley, I looked down at Blake but he looked around confused by the noise, then out of the shadows emerged a black muscular dog with a head as wide as my own, it’s coat shining with a slight gold shimmer which matched its piercing golden eyes as it stalked towards us large white teeth on display as it snarled. The hunters whirled round and stepped back when they saw the dog.

“Now I think you should leave the poor girl alone. Don’t you?” A women said as she stepped out from the shadows behind the dog, her long black coat blending her in seamlessly.

“This doesn’t concern you Quinn,” the man grumbled.

But Quinn just smirked, the dog walked round as the hunters backed off now directing their attention towards the new commers.

“That book is ours,” the women hunter demanded.

“Is it now,” Quinn nodded sarcastically.

“This doesn’t need to be a fight Quinn,” the man said pointing his gun at her.

“I think it does,” Quinn smirked and ran at the hunters.

The man fired his gun right at her as the woman ran at her sword raised, I squealed as the gun shot pierced my ears. Quinn dropped to the ground and skidded along, the bullet flew right over and the woman passed by her, Quinn leaped up now behind the women who spun and brought her sword down. Quinn brought her arm up and blocked the blow with a metal brace that she wore around her wrist, the symbols carved into the metal glinting, I recognised a pentacle and a triskelion as well as an intricate number of Celtic knots.

The man yelled out as the dog leapt up and clamped its large jaw around his arm, he dropped his gun and spun trying desperately to release the dog’s grip. Quinn brought her arm down and stepped into the women shoving her back, she stumbled but regained her balance and charged again sword raised, Quinn spun round as the blade swept past inches from her face. The hunter spun but Quinn was right there and punched her straight in the gut, the women doubled over gagging.

The man kicked the dog and threw it against the wall, it released its grip with a yelp but landed on its feet snarling. The man launched himself for his gun but so did Quinn, she grabbed the gun seconds before him and stood in front of me. I recoiled slightly but she gave me a smirk over her shoulder before pointing the gun at the hunters.

“Now I suggest you leave,” she said confidently.

The hunters hesitated but Quinn cocked the gun and smiled.

“Now,” she said dismissively.

They shared a look before turning and skulking away. Quinn sighed and spun the gun before smoothly putting it away in a holster around her waist and turning to me. I stood trembling, Blake standing hissing in front of me. The dog trotted over to Quinn sitting happily next to her panting.

“What’s your name then?” She asked.

“Um… Breena Oaklight.” I replied shakily.

“Nice to meet you. Now what’s a young witch like yourself doing out here alone?”

“I’m just trying to sell this book I’ve got.” I replied quickly. “And I’m not alone.”

“Your familiar doesn’t count,” Quinn said glancing down at Blake.

“Not much use you are anyway,” the dog suddenly said, her voice was quite deep but sounded wise.

Blake hissed and took a swipe at the dog who just laughed. Quinn turned and started walking away down the alley.

“Wait, hold on. You’re a witch too?” I asked jogging after her.

Quinn nodded and fiddled with her metal brace.

“What’s your familiar called?” I asked.

“I’m Dew,” the dog replied.

“Oh, you let your familiar talk to others?” I asked surprised.

“Yeah, I don’t really follow the rules.” Quinn shrugged. “What’s yours called?”

“This is Blake.” I replied glancing at him as he walked along beside me tentatively.

We reached the edge of the alley and Quin looked out before leaning against the wall causally. “Let me see this book then.” She reached out her hands.

I hesitated and looked at Blake who shook his head but I trusted her, she’d saved me from those hunters and she’s a witch, how could I not trust her. I reached into my bag and took out the large book and passed it over. Quinn took it and looked closely at the cover before opening it.

“No don’t,” I warned reaching forwards.

But she’d already opened the pages and nothing happened. Blake looked at her suspiciously.

“Doesn’t it hurt you?” I asked curiously.

“No,” she said closing the book over. “How the hell does someone like you get a book like this? Do you even know what this is?”

I faltered for a second. “My grandmother gave it to me before she died. And I know a little about it.”

Quinn hesitated as I reached out for the book, she placed it in my hands but kept hold of it for a second before letting go as I gave it a gentle pull.

“Do you have a coven?” she suddenly asked looking back out at the slowly quietening street.

I put the book safely away. “Oh, well, no I don’t have one. What about you?” I asked feeling a wave of confidence.

Quinn went quite for a second as she surveyed the street. “Where’s your family then or why aren’t you at university?”

“My grandmother raised me far off in the woods. She taught me everything she knew and whenever I asked about a coven or my family, she would just shake her head and say we were fine on our own and didn’t need anyone else but I’d hear her crying at night sometimes. When she died, she gave me this book and told me to protect it with my life. Which I fully intended to do but once I left the forest and enrolled in university, which I start next semester by the way, I realised to survive I needed more memory stones than I had, I’d taken five from my grandma’s house and five empty ones that I copied my own memories into but to pay for things I knew I’d need more and well thought I could just sell it. What harm could it do anyway, it’s just a book.”

“That’s not just a book,” Quinn snapped.

I stepped back at the strength of her words.

“You have no idea what’s in that book. You know how it hurts to open it?” She lowered her voice so much that I had to strain to hear it.

I nodded.

“That’s because it doesn’t want you to read it. It doesn’t want anyone to read it. The information it contains could cause a hell a lot of damage in the wrong hands.”

I looked down at my bag which hung by my side suddenly becoming aware of the weight of the book. I looked back up but startled as I realised Quinn and Dew had started to walk away down the now empty street. I jogged to catch up with them, Blake running along beside me, I glanced up to the stars which now gleamed in the dark night sky, one moon full and the other just a crescent, before I fell into a walk beside them.

“Go home Breena,” Quinn said as she kept walking.

“I can’t,” I said through slightly laboured breathing.

I looked at Quinn, she was strong built, not skinny by any means, and I could see how toned she was even under her clothes. Not like me, short and out of breath just jogging to catch up with her.

“It’s dark out and I have nowhere to go yet,” I said catching my breath but struggling to keep up with her long strides.

“Not my problem,” she said dismissively.

“But I’m not used to being out here,” I started.

She stopped and whirled on me causing me to take a stumbly step back. “Your right, you’re not. You’re not ready to be out here. You were given the job to protect that book and that’s what you should be doing. Go home Breena,” she snapped, then turned and carried on walking.

I hesitated for a moment and looked at the ground, the bottom of my green dress now covered in dirt and grit. “But you’re a witch, you have to help me.” I pointed out quickly.

Quinn froze and I saw her shoulders slump ever so slightly and she sighed. “Come on then.”

I smiled and hurried to catch up as we carried on down the street. We reached a little B&B nestled away on the corner and went in; Quinn led the way up to a room and unlocked the door. I sat down on one of the single beds and stroked Blake who jumped up next to me and started purring. Quinn took off her jacket, revealing her arms, one which had a nasty burn all the way up it and the other had a deep scar slicing across her forearm.

“They look painful,” I said.

She had her back to me. “Not anymore,” she mumbled.

I took my bag and cape off hanging them on the bottom of the bed frame. “So, what’s in this book anyway?”

She took off her holsters from around her waist and sat down on the opposite bed. “Basically, you know how memory stones work right?”

“Yeah, you copy a memory into an empty stone and then use it to buy stuff or you sell stuff and gather other memory stones. The more memories you create or gather the richer you are.”

“Pretty much but memory stones hold a lot of power within them, light and dark power depending on the memories stored inside.”

“People put bad memories in the stones?”

“Any memory can go into the stones. The more powerful the memory the more it’s worth. Anyway, that book holds spells to not only be able to unlock the memories stored in the stones but also harness the power those memories hold.”

“But that’s impossible. That would give someone an unbelievable amount of power?”

“Exactly, now you know why your grandma said to keep it safe.”

“So why did the hunters want it?”

“There’s lots of others spells in there too, like one to counterfeit memory stones, among others,” she muttered.

She fiddled with the brace around her wrist and hissed slightly in pain before undoing the buckles and slipping it off. She rotated her wrist and flexed her fingers which revealed the brand on her wrist. The hunters brand. The unmistakable two snakes coiled round in the shape of a H. My eyes widened and my heart lurched into my throat.

Quinn looked at me slightly confused and then realised. “I’m not going to hurt you,” she said looking down at the brand that permanently marked her skin.

“You’re a hunter?” I gasped slightly, “but you’re a witch. That doesn’t make sense.”

Quinn sighed and stood, walking over to the window and looked out at the shining stars. “I’ll give you a minute.”

“But you saved me from those hunters. You’re a witch. You have a familiar. Your powerful. But you have the hunter brand. You’re a hunter. You’re a witch that’s a hunter. You’re…” It suddenly dawned on me and I looked up at her, the burn that scarred her, the gash that ran down her arm, a witch turned hunter. “You’re Quinn the Burned,” I gasped.