Chapter 2

Going downhill fast.



Yeah, that was the problem. Gomez had a fifty mouth and no manners. I didn't like staying in Quentin’s apartment because I felt like Gomez was always following me and I had no privacy when he was around. The animal made a lot of snarky comments about my bum and the way I moved. He had a grey fur, and a black mask around his eyes with long white stripes, which made him look like a standard racoon, apart from the fact that he was a pervert.
"There was a slight problem. Quentin and I, well, we were attacked in my apartment and he’s in the hospital at the moment."
"Hospital? Holy fuck! Is he ok? Is he going to die?"
"No, Quentin’s fine, just a bit strained. He should be out of the hospital tomorrow, but he asked me to check on you."
"Poor Quini," Gomez cried. "Do you think you can lift me up for a cuddle?"
"No, no cuddles. Have you had anything to eat? What about going for a quick walk?" I asked trying to see if his bowl in the kitchen was full. Gomez was an animal, but he could look after himself and I didn't have time to babysit him. I refilled his bowl with water and added some dry chicken to the other one. It looked like he was sorted, and he didn't need my help.
"I thought maybe we could have some fun while Quini’s in the hospital dying. How about you show me your moves? You know, after such a trauma, I could be scarred for life."
I rolled my eyes. Quentin didn't have much of a sense of humour but that racoon kept throwing out these sexual remarks all the time. I often wondered where he’d heard such things and just couldn’t understand how those two were able to live together without any conflicts. This was the most bizarre relationship that I’d ever come across.
"I'm here to see if you need anything, so just cut the crap and tell me what you want. I have to be at work soon and I don’t need this today."
"All right, let’s just watch This Morning together and I promise I won’t say anything else about your arse."
I sighed and after making myself large cup of coffee, I agreed to watch the morning show with Gomez just to keep him a company.
When I finally left Quentin’s house I took the tube to work; it was close to nine o’clock. Morning rush hour was hectic, and I couldn’t find a free seat on the tube. Rufus was planning to pop into the office, so I didn't want to be late, despite the fact that I didn't know if I actually slept or not. I felt oddly calm when I arrived on the street outside the office. For the first time since last summer my energy was out of my system. I didn't have to worry about spell casting or breaking anything. I had no idea what happened earlier on, but I felt great, just like I used to after I’d slept with Nathaniel.
"Morning, Julia, are you okay?"
Kate’s voice threw me away from dangerous thoughts about my ex when I stepped into the office. I wanted to say, "Hey, Kate. Yeah, everything is great,” instead I had to tell her about what happened to me only a few hours ago. After I was done with my unbelievable tale Kate looked gobsmacked.
"Is he okay? I mean, you blacked out? I thought your problems were finally over since you know—"
"I thought that too, but hey, life would be too boring if I didn’t have another psychopath after me." I laughed switching on my computer.
"Okay, but what if you’re just too stressed out?" Kate asked then continued. "And what if there is no psychopath, just you and your magic?"
"The healer said that Quentin was spellbound and obviously I couldn’t do that."
"Yeah, that’s worrying. I'm sure your dad will find out what happened," she added with a smile. It was easy for her to say, she didn't have to worry that she might blow something up all of the sudden. She was in a committed relationship with a werewolf who seemed to be doing just fine with a witch. My problems were never-ending.
Kate made me another cup of coffee and five minutes later I had to take care of clients. We were busy throughout the day. After registering a few shifters, I received an email from Rufus with information that we had to shut down the office for training after six. Rufus wanted to talk to everyone about something.
The hours kept rolling on and I continued pouring coffee into my system. I was exhausted, and there was no way that I slept throughout the night, otherwise I wouldn’t be that tried. My mind kept drifting off to last night, but I couldn’t remember anything. It was as if I had a black hole where my memories should’ve been.
As soon as it nightfall came, my two vampire co-workers arrived, following Alexandra, Sara and Rufus. We locked the agency for at least an hour and moved to the main meeting room. My regional manager, Rufus, flashed me a smile. Our agency dealt with recruitment for paranormals. I was promoted last year to a senior consultant after I managed to win the contract with La Caz Pharmaceutical. The business was flourishing and making tons of money. A lot of new clients wanted to work with us.
"Shall we start? I have another meeting with a marketing director in an hour and I want to get this over with," Rufus said after we all gathered in the interview room. I knew what this meeting was about: Rufus had just received the figures for the last quarter and we were going to discuss our strategy for the rest of the year. Normally I would be in top form but without sleep, I could barely keep my act together. "Julia, are you all right? You look a bit tired today."
I was glad that Rufus had no idea what happened to me. He treated me well and he was more of a friend rather than my boss. A few month ago, he’d been kidnapped and kept in isolation for a good few months before he was freed. I felt responsible and supported my father in his investigation getting myself in all sorts of trouble.
Things were complicated with me and for now I didn't want to get Rufus involved in my already messed up life.
"Great, we just had a hectic morning, that’s all," I explained trying to restrain myself from yawning. Too many people were sitting around the table and I wasn't in the mood to share my personal life with everyone in the office. Almost a year ago, I went to a meeting with Nathaniel La Caz, the managing director of La Caz Pharmaceutical. Not only did I manage to win the biggest contract for the agency, but I also got romantically involved with the managing director of the company. We had long and very passionate relationship, and I fell in love with him. The problem was that he didn't feel the same way and moved away to Geneva after breaking my heart into a million pieces. Our work relationship remained unaffected, but I was still hurt by his actions, although I had clearly moved on.
"Okay, so let’s get started. As you all know, we made a staggering profit last year, thanks to Julia, here," Rufus began, sending me a wink. Yeah, that’s what I was talking about. "The figures from this quarter look fantastic, but we need to make sure that we continue approaching clients…”
For some reason Rufus’s strong deep giant voice was fading and I was trying very hard to keep my eyelids up. I closed my eyes for only a second or two hoping to gain some strength. The room was warm, and I felt like I was back in my apartment, back in my own bed. Then I heard voices and all off a sudden Rufus vanished. When I opened my eyes, I realised that I was in my parents’ home and everything around me was burning.
"We’re going to die in here," my mother cried curling herself next to me. Black smoke was filling the room fast and blazing heat crawled over my skin. I didn't understand what was happening to me. Panic coursed through my mother’s eyes as she squeezed my arm so tight that it hurt. I couldn’t breathe, the fire spread within seconds, isolating us from the way out. My mother was screaming, tears were streaming down her face. Flames were going to reach us soon, dancing in front of my eyes; we were going to burn alive. That long constant signal was passing through my brain and I couldn’t move. Surging heat crept under my skin, down to my bones and I knew that I was going to die. In that last moment, I started asking myself if anyone would come to my rescue? Where was Dad? Why couldn’t we get out?
I watched as some of the furniture went up in flames around us, reminding of the time when Jennifer nearly burned the agency down to the ground.
The fire in the agency was lethal, but this was beyond what I ever imagined. Fear froze all my limbs as I searched for another way out, screaming at the top of my lungs.
"Julia, hey, Julia. Snap out of it!"
I continued blinking rapidly realising that I was back in the room, the meeting with Rufus and the rest of the staff. Everyone was staring at me looking pretty freaked out. I pressed my fingers to my forehead wondering what the hell just happened to me. Rufus’s dark brown eyes were studying me with concern. My head was aching in pain, my breaths were heavy, and my blouse was stuck to my back. I was so relieved that it had only been a dream. I flopped back on the chair breathing heavily, anxious about this sudden terrifying vision.
"Did I fall asleep?" I asked wiping the sweat from my forehead. Kate had her magic wand in her hands, Alexandra was squeezing Sara’s hand and my head was pounding. Rufus cleared his throat, still watching me intensely.
"No, well, sort of. It looked like you were in some kind of trance. Your eyes were closed, and you were shouting something about a fire," he said, twisting a pen in his hand. "Are you sure you’re feeling okay?"
That was a very good question. My body felt like I was going through a high fever. I was hot and cold at the same time; my nose felt blocked. I brushed my hands over my trousers and cleared my throat. There was an odd emptiness of my source again; my magic was gone.
"I don’t think that I slept last night, so "no" would be the answer to your question, Rufus," I said sounding oddly rough.
"Then go home and take a day off if you need to. I want to see you fit and healthy rather than unfocused like that. Please, it’s not a request."
Rufus was trying to be polite in front of everyone else. He would never cut me any slack but today I needed to pull myself together. As far back as I could remember, I’d never taken a proper sick day in my life—except when I was in the hospital—and I didn't want to appear weak. Others were looking at me alerted to the fact that something was indeed wrong with me. I was tough, but today just wasn't my day; I was sloppy, unfocused and exhausted.
I was planning to open my mouth and argue but then Kate gave me a look which said that I should shut up and head home. In the end I gathered my things and left the room. My head hadn’t stop pounding once I reached my apartment. Sleep washed over me as soon as my head touched the pillow.

***


Hours passed, and I slept, dreaming about a long dark tunnel. When I woke up the next morning my mind was racing like speedway car. I tossed to the other side and my head hit the hard floor. I opened my eyes and felt like I was still in a dream unaware of where I was and what was happening.
Yet again I was on the floor of my living room. My arms and legs ached, my neck was stiff as hell and shattering pain passed through me when I moved. I sat up in the middle of my living room attempting to gather my thoughts. My body felt as if I’d just run a marathon. I was barefoot but when I glanced at my feet I noticed they were covered with dirt. For a moment I wondered if I’d been sleepwalking. Then I shook my head, knowing that was completely absurd. I didn't sleep walk; I didn't talk while I slept either. When I lifted myself off the floor, soaring pain exploded in my joints. I checked the door, but it was locked. I scratched my head and went to the bathroom. When I glanced at my reflection in the mirror I flinched thinking maybe I was only hallucinating. My face was covered with droplets of dried blood. It looked like someone had sprayed me with it. Lowering my eyes, I noticed there was blood on my nighty, along with filthy smudges of what seemed to be black mud and something else I didn’t recognise. My mind spun—my hands were red, stained with blood—I stripped and checked myself over, becoming nauseous as the seconds passed by. The blood on my body and clothes didn’t belong to me. My feet were black and covered with scratches.
I ran though the events from yesterday, but my head was empty. I remembered going to bed straight after I walked through the door. Rufus told me off because I fell asleep during the meeting. I’d have remembered if I went out; I couldn’t just forget things like that. I wondered what the hell was going on. The blood smelled fresh and there was dirt beneath my nailbeds. The world was crashing down all around me and I had no idea what was happening. I turn on the shower and stepped inside then began scrubbing my body. I used a brush to remove the blood stains, scrubbing to the point where my skin was raw and painful.
After the initial shock faded I stepped out of the shower wondering if I should call my dad. Once I was dressed I decided against the idea; it was better if I found out what happened to me last night without involving the police. What if I’d done something really terrible? Where had all that blood come from? And who did it belong to? These thoughts scared the hell out of me.
I forced myself to eat some cereal, chewing slowly. Half an hour later I left my apartment with an uneasy feeling in my gut and anxious that I was slowly losing touch with reality. My energy was absent again. I tried to concentrate but nothing happened; my magic hadn't returned. It felt as if all my energy had been sucked out of me. Paranormals were staring at me in the tube, and my anxiety kicked in full force. I walked the rest of the way to the office ignoring the heaving sensations in my stomach. I had been working myself to death recently. I couldn't even remember when I’d last taken a holiday, so it was clear that I was stressed out and exhausted. Maybe I only imagined blood on my hands this morning?
"So, are we feeling better today?" Kate asked eyeing me from head to toe as soon as I walked through the door.
"Fantastic. Absolutely brilliant. Never felt better," I lied, smiling widely. Kate scrunched her eyebrows together, looking at me like she knew that I was talking rubbish.
"Good, so I guess you’re ready then?" she asked while I flopped down in my chair.
"Ready for what?" I asked rearranging pens on my desk.
"Our meeting with Kelsie and Lucinda; you know, in an hour or so?"
I stared blankly at her for more than ten seconds wondering what the hell she was talking about.
I wanted to slap myself, instead I looked through my diary out and turned to today’s date. Sure enough, Kate was right. The meeting with Lucinda Grabovsky was set for today, marked in red on my calendar. My chest heaved as I took a deep breath. Lucinda was going to want facts and figures and I was screwed because the meeting was in an hour. I was completely unprepared.
Unfortunately, that was just the beginning of my nightmare.