Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Dmitri
Mackenzie slips her dainty hand into mine.
I cover the top of her knuckle with my other hand and give her a reassuring nod.
She looks so delicate lying there in the therapist's chaise. She looks smaller and more fragile than I've ever seen her.
Her appointment was scheduled for later in the week, but she decided to bring it forward after her dream.
No, not a dream or even a nightmare.
Those were memories. I wish they weren't, but they are.
Uncle Eric's face and his name keeps ringing through my mind and I don't know what to make of it.
The therapist, Dr. Parker, sits on the opposite side of Mackenzie.
I'm glad she asked me to go with her to this appointment. I knew that was both for comfort and because she wanted me specifically to be here. It seems fitting given that I wasn't there for her or with her all those years ago.
Dr. Parker gives her a kind smile. He seems like a nice guy.
Mackenzie told me that Eilish recommended him and that he works with people from our world who have suffered with amnesia and other cognitive impairments. I'm hoping he can help Mackenzie. At the same time, it terrifies me to think of what he may unlock.
“I want you to keep breathing nice and slow,” he says to her in a cool, calm voice. He sounds like one of those people on a meditation tape, although his voice has a rustic edge to it.
“I've haven’t done therapy in years,” Mackenzie replies. “I’m a little nervous.”
“Don't be. We wouldn't normally do this on a first session, but I understand why you'd like to give it a try.”
He's going to try and hypnotize her.
I've seen stuff like this on TV shows and movies and thought it was completely crazy, but Dr. Parker explained that this would be nothing like that.
He said he’d be trying to dive deeper into her memories. He likened hypnosis to trying to find something you’d lost and retracing your steps.
When he explained it like that, it didn't seem so kooky. I guess we're yet to see the results from this session.
“All I want you to do today is take things slowly.” Dr. Parker says. “We're not going to do anything drastic. We're just going to explore your dream and try to flesh out some of the things you remember. Do you have any questions about that?”
He grabs his notepad and looks at her.
Mackenzie shakes her head. “I guess I just have to get started.”
“If anything feels uncomfortable, we'll stop. We also won't do too much or anything that feels like it might put you in a situation where you will be afraid.”
“That sounds doable.”
“Okay, let's get started. Do you mind if I record this?” He grabs his recorder.
“That’s okay.”
“We’ll begin with some deep breathing exercises.”
As he instructs her to breathe, I think of all the possibilities that lay before us.
Mackenzie already gave me all the details of what she saw.
I knew the shirtless man with the tattoo was Eric because I was with him when he got that tattoo.
Die trying to live. That’s the English translation. We thought it would be cooler to have it inked in Latin.
How could the man who inspired me to do so much be part of this?
But is he part of it? Mackenzie didn’t say Eric stabbed Tommy.
But that's the connotation.
I keep wanting to push the idea out of my head, but there's a feeling in my heart that tells me we’re on to something true.
When would she have seen that tattoo if not for that day?
She's only met Eric about twice and he was wearing a suit, not shirtless.
Also, and more importantly, during that time, he was supposed to be away.
What if he came back?
I need to look into that.
And as much as I hate to even contemplate this, I may need to speak to my father.
I don’t know what I’ll say to him but I’ll have to find a way.
Mackenzie's hand loosens in mine and I look back at her. She looks relaxed from the breathing exercises. Almost like she's sleeping.
“Okay, Mackenzie, here's what I want you to do,” Dr. Parker intones. “We're going to explore the dream, but you're going to think of it as something you're watching, like a TV show or like you're in the park watching it happen to somebody else. I want you to describe everything you see. Start with the first thing that comes to your mind and take it slowly.”
Mackenzie breathes deeply, then exhales. “I see darkness with ripples of light. It always starts that way. I’m walking around in darkness. It's so thick I could grab it and snap it in half.”
It almost sounds poetic. She pauses and takes another deep breath.
“I see a face, a man's face with hollow eyes like a skeleton, and I'm falling somewhere. That's when he comes. He's saying something to me, but I can't make out what it is.”
As she then goes on to explain what she sees when Tommy appears it doesn't make me think he did anything to her.
But none of this makes sense. Tommy took Mackenzie. What if he and Eric did something to her?
I don’t fucking know.
She finishes by saying that someone else was there. Someone in the truck.
Eric's truck that she also wouldn’t have seen around.
The session ends and somehow she seems to have calmed. Perhaps she passed the nerves to me because my mind is a mess.
“Here's what I want you to do.” Dr. Parker holds her gaze. “I want you to focus on that second person. The person who got out of the truck. So far, you've been able to remember words and what things look like. Which is good. Try to relax and let your memories come to you.”
“Thank you, I will.” Mackenzie grins back at him.
I wonder if that second person is the key.
Who were they?
So far Mackenzie is dreaming about three people.
Eric, Tommy, and this other person.
I wish I could piece everything together and see what it means.
She makes another appointment for next week, but Dr. Parker gives her his cell number in case she needs to call in the meantime.
Mackenzie and I head out and get back in my car.
I'm going to take her back to the cottage and encourage her to rest. She was planning to go to class today.
“I think you need to take the day off and start fresh tomorrow,” I suggest.
“I think you’re right. Will you stay with me again tonight?”
“Of course. I have to grab my laptop and a few things. It should only take me an hour.”
“Okay. Thanks for coming with me and being here.”
I reach across and take her hand then bring it to my knuckles for a quick kiss. “We’ll get through this.”
“I hope so. Dmitri, what do you think of Eric?” her eyes lock on mine.
“I don’t know yet. But I’ll find out. I wonder why you’ve suddenly started dreaming about him?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Maybe it's because of me. Because of us being together.”
“Maybe. I suppose the only person I trusted to help me through that time was you. Now that you’re with me it’s coming out.”
“I'm here now and we'll do this together.”
We’re back at the cottage in half an hour but I head out again to get my stuff.
She falls asleep when I return and I use the time to investigate. I go through all of Eric’s records that I can find. And I come up with nothing.
He said he was in Switzerland at the time of the incident but I see no record of that. My assumptions are running wild, but I need something more concrete. Either evidence that he wasn’t in Switzerland or something to say he was in New York.
That’s probably where speaking to my father comes in.
I guess I’m going the extra mile to check things out because it’s Eric and I don’t want to believe he had something to do with Tommy’s death.
Mackenzie and I resume or usual schedule the next day.
When we split off I send my father a message asking to speak to him. But he doesn’t get back to me. No surprise there. That’s what he’s like.
I try to call several times through the day, but he's not answering.
By nightfall I still haven't heard from him, so I decide to head over to the cottage.
He can't avoid me if I just turn up on his doorstep, demanding to speak to him.
Yuliana opens the door for me, surprised at my presence. “Hey, Dmitri.” She gives me a kind smile.
“Hey is Father home, I’ve been trying to reach him all day.”
“No, he's not back yet. He's on Knights business. I'm sure he’ll be back soon though.”
Well, at least I know he wasn't ignoring me.
“Is everything okay?” She asks pulling our cardigan closer as the wind picks up and lifts her hair.
“Yeah, I just have something urgent to discuss.”
“Why don't you come in and have some dinner. He might be back by the time you finish.”
“Okay. Thanks. That sounds good.”
I follow her into the kitchen where she serves me some of her special lasagna and makes hot cocoa like she did when I was younger. She makes herself a cup and joins me at the table.
“I heard about the party on Saturday night,” she says in that cautious tone. “I heard Mackenzie was hurt and the elite dealt with it. Were you there?”
I allow my fork to dangle between my fingers. “I was there. Did my father go crazy when he heard that?”
“Of course he did, but I guess it helped that you weren't alone.”
“Things like that are going to happen where the elite have to deal with a situation,” I explain.
“I know. I just thought I’d give you a heads up that he knows.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.” The heads up will give me an idea of what mood he’ll be in.
“Is Mackenzie okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Something like that happened to me back in college. It was awful.” She bites the inside of her lip.
“I’m sorry that happened.”
“That's okay. I just know how she feels. The poor girl seems to have gone through so much. I’m still disgusted with the way your father behaved the other week. It was uncalled for.”
“I know. But we know what he’s like.”
“I wish he wasn’t like that. Especially with Mackenzie. Any problem he has shouldn’t be with her it should be with her father. He’s the one who killed Tommy.”
Things are all circumstantial and vague but I feel a sense of duty to set her straight. “There’s a chance we may have some evidence soon that will give us answers about Tommy’s death.”
“Evidence? What kind of evidence?”
“Mackenzie is starting to remember what happened.”
Yuliana straightens instantly. “Oh my God really?”
“That's why I need to speak to my father.”
Yuliana presses her hand to her heart. “Did she remember anything useful.”
“A few things .” I decide against telling her too much. Like about Eric.
“Be careful Dmitri. I don’t mean to sound like a bitch. I like Mackenzie and I know you have deep feelings for her. But Mackenzie may say anything to clear her father’s name.”
“Don’t worry I’m aware of that.”
She nods. “Good. As long as you’re aware. Eat up. Don’t let the food get cold.”
I give her an appreciative smile.
I hang around for an hour and there’s no sign of my father, so I decide to head back to Erebus.
It's almost ten when I get there.
Kade meets me at the door when I walk in. In his hand is an envelope.
“Hey. Where have you been, man?”
“All over.”
“This came for you yesterday. It needed to be signed for. It’s from the storage unit in New York.”
I take it wondering what it could be.
There’s a letter inside explaining that a note from Tommy was found amongst his things that Father and I put in when we were there last.
Inside the envelope is another small envelope with my name scrawled on the front. Instantly I recognize it as Tommy’s handwriting.
I open it and find the note inside. It says:
Dmitri I hope like hell you get this. I sent a note to Father too, hoping one of you will receive my message and come to help me.
Something terrible has happened. I need you to get Father to come to my cabin in the woods as quickly as possible.
I have Mackenzie. I'm keeping her safe. She saw Yuliana and Eric together. They’re having an affair. I’m worried about what they’ll do. They tried to kill her.
Bring Father, I'll explain everything when I see you,
Tommy.
My eyes freeze on the words and my heart stumbles in my chest then beats faster like someone cranked up an engine way too much.
I read over the words of warning from my dead brother, each one grabbing me with invisible talons. I read them again and again, my brain not comprehending.
Then it does and it’s like a sledgehammer to my gut.
Tommy didn’t kidnap Mackenzie. He was protecting her.
My God.
I got it wrong. Tommy didn’t kidnap her at all. And Adrian didn’t kill him.
It was Eric and Yuliana . They were having an affair.
My father can get away with his women but if Yuliana cheats it will be reason enough to terminate their marriage, and she’ll get nothing.
She cheated on my father with his own brother. Eric.
Fuck.
The second person Mackenzie saw in her dream must have been Yuliana.
Jesus , Mackenzie was safe while she didn’t remember anything. All these years as the memories lay locked in her mind it protected her.
And I just gave Yuliana all she needed to know and I put Mackenzie in danger.
My hands dropped to my side and I whirl around, rushing toward the door.
“Dmitri, what the hell is going on?” Kade catches up to me.
“I have to get to Mackenzie, she’s in danger.” I pull out my phone and call her. The phone goes straight to voicemail, probably because she’s at the theatre dancing. Fuck.
“What kind of danger is she in?”
“My step mother and my uncle.” I hand him Tommy’s note then we continue outside. “Mackenzie started to remember what happened to her and Tommy. I just told Yuliana.”
Kade scans over the note and instantly understands my worry. “Did Mackenzie remember Yuliana being there?”
“No not yet.”
It’s just us who knows. Thanks to the note. But it doesn’t take a genius to guess Yuliana will go after Mackenzie thinking she’ll be protecting her dirty secret.
That fucking, lying, manipulative bitch. She was lying the whole time to protect herself. Including earlier.
There she was pretending to grieve Tommy when she knew what happened to him. She knew Adrian was innocent too and allowed this feud between our families to go on for years.
None of that matters now. If Eric and Yuliana tried to kidnap and kill Mackenzie before, they’ll do it again. And worse.
I have to get to Mackenzie.