Chapter 1 - Celeste
No matter how many times I go through it, I always hate this part the most.
Gritting my teeth so the dirt wouldn’t go into my mouth, I pushed my hands through the damp earth, clawing my way up. The light beckoned and, while part of me didn’t want to go through it all over again, I still climbed toward the promise of life with everything I got. Lungs burning and muscles crying from the effort, I kept going until my fingers broke free and cold air kissed my skin.
I balled my other hand into a fist and punched through the last layer of soil, digging my nails into the ground and pulling myself up. My head finally broke the surface, and I took my first gulp of air, filling my empty lungs with that delicious, exhilarating sensation I had missed so much. The ground shook as if it was about to rupture, and the world echoed with the sound of thunder—or maybe that was just my body adjusting to the new reality.
To being alive.
Collapsing on the ground, I reveled in the way the cold air caressed my skin and the stones beneath me dug into my flesh. My eyes locked onto the starry sky above, onto the full moon that welcomed me back, and I finally smiled.
Memories poured in, several lifetimes’ worth of experiences, and a myriad of emotions that had me trembling like a leaf. When silence finally settled over my mind, I wondered how long I had been dead this time. It was just over fifty years before, but it felt like every time I died, it took longer and longer to return. Maybe my next death would be final. Maybe…
No. That would mean dying again, and I was sick of that.
Even after all this time, they still hunted me. Hunters, witches, all kinds of supernatural beasts that had bones to pick. They were always after me for one reason or another, no matter how many times they killed me.
I winced as the memory of my last death unraveled before my eyes—of the hunters that cornered me in these same woods; of them cutting me to pieces that they promised to scatter across the earth; of a slow, painful end and a life full of unfinished business.
Foolish mortals, they didn’t know the first thing about death—or magic.
When they come for me again, I will show them no mercy.
After all, I was just another monster to them. The evil witch who sold her soul for revenge. A villain that could never be trusted, never be loved, never be redeemed.
The evil incarnate. Neither mortal nor immortal, cursed to live and die forever.
Shuddering again, I pushed myself into a sitting position. I had no idea where and when I was, but judging by the temperature and the stars above, it had to be late autumn. Before I died, this place had been werewolf territory, but the pack that occupied it… Well, they were probably all dead.
I hissed as a sharp stone dug into my flesh when I pushed myself to my knees. I was fully naked again—not that it was a surprise after waking up like this so many times—so finding clothes and transportation was my top priority.
Reaching out for my magic, and I felt it slither beneath my skin, just a spark for now. It would take time to fill me up and, before that happened, I was… I was going to need protection.
My muscles protested against every step, but I didn’t stop. I kept walking until the earth gave way to something smooth and hard, not exactly stone, but not soil either. It was hard to see in the dark, but judging by the way it dipped and curved between the trees, it looked like a road.
I gazed at the sky to orient myself, when a bright light appeared behind me, making me turn. A loud screech tore through the quietness of the forest, sending a few birds into a flying frenzy. The vehicle was similar to the cars I remembered from my previous life, but bigger, sleeker. Judging by how quickly it stopped, it had to be faster and more powerful, too.
The driver’s door opened, and a figure stepped out. The light coming from the inside of the car was too bright, so I could hardly see anything other than his human outline.
“Hey, young lady, are you insa—” a male voice started as the figure moved toward me. He trailed off and swallowed loudly when his eyes lowered to my body—my naked body that was covered with dirt and nothing else. My hair was falling over my breasts, covering fairly little, which seemed to make him uncomfortable. “What in the world…? Were you attacked? Where are your clothes?”
Before I could utter a word, he was draping his jacket over my shoulders. He pulled the front closed, avoiding looking at me while his face turned a bright shade of red. Standing this close, I could see him better—he seemed to be in his late forties, with dark hair that was starting to turn balExhe front, and a light stubble where gray was taking over the black. He was rather plain by human standards, but his eyes were kind and full of worry.
Just the type I needed.
“Please, help me,” I said, my voice coming out appropriately hoarse and fearful. His face paled, and he nodded, wrapping a protective arm around my shoulders while leading me to the passenger door. He helped me inside, then hurried to the other side of the car. I allowed myself a quick look around the vehicle—beige leather covered the seats, with something like a TV screen on the headboard. Lights were blinking and words were flashing on it, while quiet music was coming from the walls.
Exactly how long had I been dead for the world to progress this far?
He slipped into the driver’s seat, pulled some retractable piece from the side of the car, and crossed it over his body. He looked at me expectantly, but I just stared, unsure of what he wanted me to do. A deep line formed on his forehead, and he leaned closer. I desperately grasped for the power that kept evading me when he simply caught something by my head and pulled it.
“Safety first,” he said as he clicked the piece over my chest and hips, pinning me against the leather.
“What is this?” I asked, wiggling my body to find a more comfortable position. Was this some kind of restraint? I couldn’t feel any magic in it, and he had put one on himself, too. From what I could tell, it didn’t serve any purpose other than to keep me in the seat.
“The seatbelt?” He raised an eyebrow as he started the engine. The car roared, making me flinch in surprise. “Are you hurt somewhere? I didn’t see…” He cleared his throat awkwardly. The vehicle started off smoothly and barely shook at all. The engine had grown quiet too, the trees around us becoming a dark blur. “Can you tell me your name? What year it is? Where you are from?”
“Celeste,” I replied. He kept his eyes on the road, fingers tapping on the wheel as he chewed on his lower lip. When he shot me another look, I added, “I can’t remember the rest. Tell me.”
“Um, well, you’re safe now. I’ll… I’ll get you some help in no time. ” He cleared his throat again, his fingers tightening on the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. I could feel concern pouring out of him even without the help of my magic. “Today is the first of October, the year is two thousand thirteen…”
I sucked in a sharp breath.
Two thousand thirteen? That meant I had been dead for almost eighty years! No wonder things had progressed so much! I’d probably have a lot to catch up on, not to mention a lot of new dangers to be mindful of. I doubted the hunters’ Order would have sat on their hands all this time. No, they would have developed new ways to torture and kill supernatural beings. At least, the ones that used to hunt me before were now dead. Or maybe, if I was lucky, a few would still be alive so I could personally send them to hell.
“Celeste?” Flinching, I focused back on him. As if he knew I wasn’t listening, his frown softened. “Where… where do you want me to take you? To the hospital or the police station? The police… They can help you find your family and figure out what happened to you. They will probably send for paramedics and—”
“No.” I shook my head and bit into my nails, only to realize they were full of dirt. I let my hands fall in my lap.
The trees disappeared, and a city came into view with lights flashing from buildings that almost reached the sky. Everything was so bright, I couldn’t help but gawk.
“What…what do you mean, no? Do you… Do you remember where you live?” he asked with a shaky voice while I leaned back in my seat. I reached for my magic again and there it was, a drop of it gathered deep within my core. Just enough for what I had in mind.
“No,” I repeated. He gave me a sidelong glance, but kept his eyes forward as more vehicles appeared on the road. “Take me to your house.”
The car veered dangerously to the side, and as he straightened its course, he turned to stare at me with shock. “I… I can’t do that!” he blurted, cheeks flushing with indignation. “I’m happily married and I… I have kids! They are all home! And you… you need help! I…”
I sighed. When I reached for him, he tried to move as far away as the narrow space inside the vehicle allowed, but the moment my finger grazed him, he froze. My magic sunk into his skin, wrapping around his neck like a leash, while the spell dug its claws into his mind.
“What is your name?” I smiled sweetly, leaning closer until our shoulders were almost touching. He didn’t resist this time—with my hold on him so firm and binding, he couldn’t even if he wanted to.
“Kevin,” he replied in a voice that was still a little strained.
“Kevin,” I slid my finger under his chin and nudged him to look at me. He stared helplessly, uneasiness dancing in his eyes. “You will take me to your home and your lovely family, Kevin. You will not be afraid of me, and you will not be surprised or alarmed by anything I say or do. You know I don’t want to hurt your family. I just want to meet them because I missed you all. You will answer all my questions and protect me until I regain my strength. Do you understand, Kevin?”
“Yes,” he said, and his shoulders finally relaxed. The uneasiness drained from his eyes, and he gave me an excited smile. “You just wait! Julia is cooking her famous chicken casserole! It’s divine, I’m telling you! And I’m sure that Lily will have some extra clothes for you to wear; we can’t have you getting sick! Oh, and Jake! He’d be ecstatic to meet you!”
“Great,” I said with a faint smile, feeling weakness spread through my body as the sliver of magic I had mustered lingered on the human. It had been enough for one, thankfully, but I needed to do the same for his family, so I needed to recharge. “I’m going to sleep.”
“Oh, okay.” Kevin nodded, pressing his finger against the screen on the headboard. The low melody coming from the walls died down. “There is still an hour until we get home. I’ll wake you up.”
“Good,” I murmured when my eyelids started to droop. “They’ll be coming for me, so you must…” My head hit the window, but I barely felt it, I barely felt anything. My voice hollowed out, so I wasn’t sure if he heard me as I added, “…protect my body from all of them.”
