Golden Healer

Puzzle Piece 4

PUZZLE PIECE 4

AMELINA’S MISSING BLOODSTONE

My Bloodstone—a cure!

Could it be a miracle?

Or am I a fool?

To place my trust in magic,

Once lost, can it still be found?

The next morning, I awoke feeling groggy. What a terrible night dreaming of clowns, creepy charades games and sad memories. I remember before I’d gone to bed, I’d shut my bedroom window to keep the bugs out but somehow, in the middle of night, I must have gone sleepwalking. It appeared I had opened my bedroom window and left it slightly ajar. How disturbing! Bugs must have flown in unhampered, or worse, crawled up my nose while I was sleeping. How gross! I saw a spectacular red and angry bite on my leg. Feeling itchy, I jumped out of bed.

I doubted whether any of my protection stones would ward off insects – or creepy clowns. I sat up in bed, rubbing my eyes. The alarm clock told me it was already midday. With a groan, I pushed back my covers and grabbed my slippers. Mum and Dad were out for a Sunday coffee and stroll in town and wouldn’t be back until later. The dream’s buried memories brought to the forefront of my mind now urged me to act.

Putting my dressing gown on, I wandered downstairs, making my way to the living room. The room looked much the same as it had three years ago. My eyes alighted on our old, battered sofa with its threadbare sagging cushions sunken by memories of carefree days. My hands trailed over a new art print that hung above the fireplace. It glowed with a vibrancy of its own, pumpkins and autumn leaves, embellishing it with rich layers of colour.

I stared at the unlit fireplace, remembering how it had roared three years ago, as Dad had twirled me around and around as we danced to music.

I’d become giddy with excitement so Dad, Mum and I settled down to play charades. We’d laughed and joked until… Dad plucked a charades card from the pack and his behaviour altered immediately. Perhaps the card had revealed some terrible fate that he could not unsee. For a dreadful moment, I imagined him as he was then, his dispassionate face, and an icy chill filled me with a terrifying sense of disquiet.

His next action had been so shocking and swift. He threw his charades card in the fire, and the fire raged as if a relentless anger consumed it. His expression altered, becoming distant and preoccupied. I glimpsed this weird bug in his eyes, a strange, mysterious portent of evil.

Thereafter, a stony look possessed his face. The party finished, and with no explanation, Mum and Dad sent me to bed.

At the time, I had no clue why he disappeared, or why the gentle part of Mum vanished, too. Mum wept for days and days afterwards, until a strange anger possessed her soul. Her outward appearance altered as deep, disturbing creases lined her forehead. It was as if her countenance, her entire personality altered becoming a caricature painting, expressing her inner torment.

Two years later, a strange man with bleary, bloodshot eyes and rasping breath came knocking at our front door. I pitied his bone weariness, his shuffling gait, so I let him in. I gestured for him to rest while I fetched him a glass of water. When Mum and I realised who he was, we reacted with extreme shock. Those extraordinary memories of Dad’s return torment me often and are impossible to put aside.

I stared at the silent and cool fireplace for a long while. The house stirred, I heard gentle humming noises as if the house wished to soothe me. I tried to put these disturbing, recurring thoughts to the back of my mind.

I moved away, soft steps taking me towards the kitchen. I grabbed a glass of juice and a slice of toast and walked up the stairs to my bedroom.

Closing the door, I leant over my bedside table to place the toast and juice down. I took a quick bite before I opened my curtains. That was when I saw the window was slightly ajar. I knew that I’d shut it to keep the bugs out before going to bed, but somehow, in the middle of the night, perhaps during my dream, I must have gone sleepwalking and opened it for some reason. Well, now I was suffering the consequences. I looked down at the huge bite on my leg and, with an effort, I fought the urge to scratch it.

I doubted whether any of my protection stones would ward off crawling insects or creepy clowns. Nevertheless, I longed to cup my Bloodstone in my hands, to see its earthy green tones with bright red spots and to feel its sweet, reassuring warmth. I had placed it in its protective pouch by my bedside table, but when I reached into the drawer, a sudden fear gripped my throat. I took a single breath to steady my rising panic.

My precious Bloodstone was gone.

I had promised to protect the crystals entrusted to me by Leanne, the dear wacky lady who tended her mysterious home – the magical Crystal Cottage.

But I, Amelina, had failed.

How could I explain this? Had Ryder fooled me? The strange, charismatic young man who appeared to come to my rescue on the river pathway when I’d first met him. Could he be responsible for the Bloodstone’s disappearance? I doubted he would taint his hands with such an act. Instead, I wondered whether he might have used an accomplice. His recent behaviour painted a new picture of him and one that showed his identity – a nasty, vindictive portrait.

As I pondered all of this, I heard someone on my front doorstep. The distinctive sound of the cracked slab alerted me to the visitor’s arrival. Whoever rang the doorbell did so in such an insistent manner that I felt an overwhelming compulsion to answer straight away.

I opened the door and there he was, Ryder, dressed in his signature black tee-shirt stretched tight across his ripped chest. His buttoned jeans screamed touch me. His black hair and immaculately trimmed eyebrows highlighted his eyes. I stared at his sensual green eye while his black eye blazed back at me like a dark alleyway full of dangerous excitement. My lips throbbed; my fingertips went to my mouth. I remembered how rough he’d been when he had last forced his way into my house. He had kissed me, and it had sickened me.

I’d fainted then, my skin becoming a host for the strangest tattoos that spread from him to me and the memory remains like a permanent shadow that haunts me.

“What do you want, Ryder?” I asked, trying to steady my voice and appear calm, as I held the door ajar.

“I’d like to talk to you,” he replied.

“I’ve nothing to say to you, Ryder.”

“And I have everything to say to you,” he said, his mesmerising voice making me falter.

His eyes captured mine, caressing my attention. They held me transfixed as their hypnotic gaze forced me to open the door.

“Come in,” I invited, catching a breath as if I wanted to reverse what I had just said.

He made his way through our hallway, looking around him but saying nothing. He stopped at the mirrors and stared at his reflection. Frowning, he wiped a smear across the surface of the mirror.

“Your mum letting the house go to ruin? Didn’t she used to be a clean-freak?”

“Shut up, Ryder. Leave my parents out of this.”

“Sorry…” He smirked and moved towards the lounge.

I pointed to the settee, suggesting that he sit down as far away from me as possible.

“Where’s your cat?” he asked. “Out rat-catching?”

“If he was rat-catching, he’d be here with you,” I retorted.

“That’s harsh,” replied Ryder, smiling as if I’d complimented him.

“I thought you’d come to apologise?”

“Sorry, yes I did. Can we be friends again?”

“I thought we were more than friends, and then you went off with my best mate. And now, every time I see you, my flesh crawls and the hairs on my neck stand up like you’re spooking me.”

“Really, how interesting… Your imagination does run wild, Amelina. There is something special about you. I want to discover what it is.” He stared at my lips as if reliving our last encounter.

“I think you should leave now. Your creepiness isn’t welcome here.”

“Not before you tell me what makes you special, Amelina. What makes you the girl with those sparkling eyes?”

“Christ, you’re such a weirdo. Why did I let you into my house?”

“Because you wanted me to come in.” He said, smirking. “Or perhaps I made you want to do what I want.”

“I don’t want you here,” I flashed back at him.

“Liar. You long for excitement. I can sense it in you. One day you’ll see that I am right.”

He stood up, blew me a kiss, and walked towards the door. As he did, I felt my lips burn.

“Next time I come, perhaps your handsome cat will be at home. I’m gutted I missed him; he always gives me such a welcome!”

“Get out!”

“Say hi to your mum and dad for me. Oh, it must get lonely for you living here with no brothers, or a sister to keep you company. What’s it like being an only child, Amelina. Lonely? At least you have your black cat to keep you company. You sure you aren’t a witch?”

And with that, he walked towards the door. I watched him go, his movements hurried, too swift for my eyes to keep up. With a twirl of swirling black fabric, he vanished like he’d done so often before, a tornado of uncanny other worlds.

My hands were shaking. I moved towards the mirror, knowing what I would see; the bruise on my lips inflamed again. He hadn’t even touched me, but the damage was there, plain to see.

I heard a faint sound. I made my way to the kitchen and saw that Shadow had come through the cat flap. He scurried towards me; his tail high in welcome. I stroked his sleek, black fur and he miaowed.

“Where’ve you been? You missed Ryder. If I’m not mistaken, he came to threaten me, not to apologise. I’m scared, Shadow.”

Shadow miaowed again, the gentle sound caressing my fears away. He stood up on his hind legs and wrapped his paws around my leg. I picked him up. “Aww, you never let me pick you up, Shadow, unless I need a cuddle. Thank you, gorgeous.”

He miaowed again.

“He called me a witch. Perhaps I am – a crystal witch. If I’m a witch, then you are my familiar, Shadow!”