53. Genevieve

The vision swirled around me, the same as every time. Ascending wooden stairs, a door opening to reveal a bedroom with brass horseshoes above the bed. There she was. Waiting with a maniacal grin and wild brown hair. Feral, unpredictable eyes peering out from the brown hair, wearing her sackcloth, peasant style dress.

She raised her arms, her smile widening even further as she whispered, “you,” before her and Nikolai moved towards each other, as if preparing to embrace.

So far, so familiar. A black void swallowed me, waking up with my wrists pinned by Nikolai. Restraining me as I flailed, crying “No! no! Why can’t I see more!” my frustration boiling over.

“Vee, I’m here, I’m here,” he whispered, looming over me, allowing his spiced scent to calm me. He let go of my wrists and helped pull me back up to sitting where I held my head in my hands.

“I need to see more! Every night I try to get a clue, a hint of anything we can use but I’ve never managed. Your mother could pause it, even take