Page 20 of Power of the Mind
“Witchcraft? Babe, what are you talking about? Says who?”
“Says Diem.” I slapped a hand over my mouth the minute the name came out. “Shit.”
“Whoa. Back the train up. Did you say Diem? As in peeper boy? You told him about this? Wait. Since when are you talking to him? Girl, please tell me you aren’t getting involved with that big scary man who stalks your every move. Oh god. This is like that Police song with Sting. Sweetie, the lyrics were not meant to be romantic.”
“Shut up. Yes, I consulted with Diem because this is what he does. He looked her up, and she was charged with witchcraft. Witchcraft! Do you hear me? I know, I know, I’m still wrapping my head around it, but Memph, she has a record a mile long.A record.Not the vinyl kind. The police kind. She’s arepeatoffender. A criminal. She’s been in trouble with the law since thedinosaurs roamed the earth. Is this someone you trust to read your mind?”
“My palm, sweetie. I told you, I won’t let her inside my head.”
“She will sneak in there without your permission and poke around until she has you shopping at Walmart for clothes. Is that what you want? The next thing you know, you’ll be lined up behind Suzy Spandex, waiting to cash out on polyester pants.”
“Eww.”
“Mark my words. That woman has powers beyond your reckoning.”
“Tal, don’t you think you’re being—”
“Do you want to be her next victim?” Traffic finally cleared, and I hustled across the street, phone pressed to my ear.
“No, but—”
“I will drive over there right now and staple your scrawny ass to the couch if you don’t listen. I swear to god, don’t test me. I’m feeling extra bitchy today, and you know what happened last time.”
Memphis snorted. “Poor cab driver. I think you scarred him for life.”
“Exactly. Give me a few days.”
Memphis sighed. “Fine, but this is so stupid. You didn’t believe in this stuff Friday night. You made fun of me. Now you’re convinced I’m going to die from getting my palm read.”
“I don’t know what I believe anymore. That’s the problem, but I’ll figure this witch out if it kills me.”
I ducked under the scaffolding set up around the front entrance to Diem’s building and headed inside, aiming for the stairs. “All I know is if I can be a subconsciously manipulative asshole without training, who knows what she’s capable of. My god, Memphis. I have recently learned I have powers I didn’t know I had. It’s going to my head. I’ve been having these thoughts all afternoon, and—”
“Girl, you’re losing me. Please focus.”
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “It has come to my attention that I might be capable of mind control as well, only we don’t call it that, but I don’t like the other word.”
Silence.
“It’s true. Kitty accused me earlier, and I didn’t believe it either, but guess what, Memphis? I have powers.”
“Sure you do, babe.”
“You don’t believe me? It’s true. The scary thing is that I’ve been doing it without knowing what I’m doing. Imagine if I put some backbone into it. Hell, I could be dangerous.”
“Sweetheart, I’m going to make you a doctor’s appointment. Are you fevered?”
“I’ll prove it.” I reached the landing and paused to catch my breath. I was seriously out of shape. I hated taking the stairs, but the elevator didn’t look like it had been serviced since the nineteenth century.
“Tal?”
“Hang on. Ran too fast. Stairs are gonna kill me.” I took another second to suck oxygen. “Okay, I’ve got it. Are you listening?”
“Yes, although I should have hung up ten minutes ago.”
“Before the end of the month, I will use the power of my mind to get Diem Krause to ask me out on a date. A real date. Not a meet-at-my-apartment-to-fuck date—which has never happened, by the way, so shut up and quit prying into my life. But a date to a restaurant.”
“I’m calling the doctor.”