It was all so mundane, Victoria and I sitting down to breakfast at The Arbor Room in Hart House, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the campus coming to life.
Only a week before, I saw her as demonized, a Siren who could turn men to stone with one look―a gorgeous creature transformed to a Gorgon, a Medusa with serpents for hair.
But the tears of Medusa, the result of great sadness and pain, remind me Medusa was also a victim, unjustly punished by the gods―and perhaps, the same is true of Victoria.
But I have to be wary. A meal can be a symbol of reconciliation, but whoever sups with the devil needs a long spoon, and that's not being cynical, but wisely careful.
Yes, I was breaking bread and nibbling croissants with Victoria, but guarded nonetheless―one never knows what dark things in a garden grow, and sometimes, even the gardener himself is oblivious.
Could Victoria be an unwilling tool of the devil? Of course, it was possible. And could I be succumbing to her charms? Knowing my past indiscretions, it not only seemed possible but probable.
So, why was I risking life and soul seemingly courting her? The answer was simple―because Breton told me she might be innocent, a useful tool for the devil to wield for his own purposes.
I wanted to try to rescue her, foolish as that might seem, but she was worth the risk...
and perhaps I was already in love with her.
"So, tell me how did you acquire these paranormal powers?" I asked her, partly out of curiosity and partly to test her spirit.
There was no guile in her response. "I always had this ability, but discovered that the dreams that seemed so real to me, were not just dreams, but a form of previewing. I'd see things beforehand and when people told me about them I already knew."
"Did this ability frighten you?"
She shook her head. "No, I found it fascinating and exciting, but I made the mistake of telling my friends and they saw me as peculiar and threatening. They feared I'd discover their secrets and reveal them, which I'd never do."
A look of profound sadness crossed her features.
"I thought my friends were simply being jealous of me and my powers, so I let them go, but found I could also remotely view things and sometimes I'd eavesdrop on them just to see what they were up to in their lives."
"That sounds a bit weird," I told her, "it reminds me of creeping, sort of like snooping into their social media accounts, but this would be much more direct, like stalking."
Victoria's face fell. "It was terrible, Gray. It turns out that the more I did it, the better I got at being able to view any aspect of their lives and what's worse, I could not only see them, but they could see me. Many of them accused me of haunting them and spread rumours I was a witch."
"That must have been brutal. I can see why you lost not only your friends, but anyone else who might get to know you who would quickly learn about your reputation."
She nodded sadly. "My reputation was ruined and I was persona non grata on campus. They called me, Queen of the Witches and warned people to stay away from me."
I felt genuinely touched by her story.
"Would you be willing to see the priest who was working with me? I think he'd be able to help you."
"Honestly, at this point I'd be willing to do anything to try to break free of this bondage I'm in."
"I'll tell you what, let me talk to him and see what he says. In the meantime, are you willing to give up your remote viewing sessions?"
"Sure, it's just that they're about the only social contact I have with anybody―as i said, I'm pretty isolated."
"Up until now," I corrected her, "you have me. You can call me day or night―I'll be there for you."
"I appreciate that, Gray, but are you willing to risk getting involved with me again?"
"I already am," I confessed, but still wondered to myself whether or not I was being brave or making a colossal mistake.
