The Mayhem Sisters by Lauren Quick

dark wizard had come for her. “He is stronger than anyone realizes,” Esmeralda’s voice whispered in Vivi’s ear. He crossed the room in a dark blur and poured a jar of blood salt into the bath, staining the water with crimson swirls. A black cloth smothered her face, pushing her down farther and farther into darkness. A burning sensation exploded in her throat and neck, making it impossible to breathe. Her limbs grew heavy and weak.
    Vivi jerked awake. Freezing cold water sloshed over the side of the tub in the darkness. She panicked, jerked up, and knocked the wine glass to the floor, shattering it into a million tiny shards. She clutched at her neck, recalling the strangling nightmare. Slowly her body calmed and her senses returned. She had fallen asleep in the tub. The candles had long since burned out. Illuma light glowed from the living room, but otherwise her apartment was shrouded in darkness.
    There was no one there. She was alone.
    She climbed out of the tub and wrapped herself in a towel. Tiptoeing through the minefield of broken glass that covered the bathroom floor, she realized it was the perfect metaphor for how she felt—one misstep and she would slice open a gash in her foot and bleed, but the glass was nearly invisible, impossible to see.
    Sick and tired of being at the mercy of her persuasion , Vivi couldn’t go on like this. Something was pounding on the door of her intuition, wanting to get in, calling for her to listen. She needed to figure out how to harness her persuasion and make it work for her. If she didn’t find this girl, she would never forgive herself, and from her latest vision, it was becoming clear that the wizard responsible for her suffering was involved in a dangerous magic and would haunt her dreams if she didn’t do something. Now.
    Vivi woke early, threw on a sweater and a jacket, and headed out, but before leaving, she popped out back and gathered a small bouquet from the flower garden that grew in her yard. The shop didn’t open until ten, giving her about an hour to pay a visit to the old witch in the healer ward. She knew it was a long shot the woman would be able to help her, but she had to start somewhere. The healer ward was on the other side of town, so she took the closest portal gate, which dropped her off a block away.
    The ward was quiet when she entered. She approached the receptionist’s desk and asked to speak to the healer in charge, hoping to check on the witch and express her sympathies. A gentle-looking witch dressed in a simple tunic and slacks led her into a waiting room. Vivi explained that she had been working with the sheriff and found the witch yesterday in the woods. The healer nodded and gave her a kind smile. “Yes, Sheriff Gardener was in last night with her and gave you all the credit for finding the poor dear. You should be proud.”
    Really? That was nice of him. “Is she speaking? Do you know who she is?” Vivi asked.
    “She hasn’t said a word. We did a blood test and looked her up in the Everland registry. That’s how we got her name and address. She lives alone on the edge of Willow Realm near the Meadowlands and has no family. We’re still searching. So far we haven’t found anyone.”
    All witches and wizards were recorded in the public registry when they were born, and it contained a birth certificate and known addresses, although it wasn’t always kept up to date with witches moving from place to place. They were lucky to have found her current residence.
    “How’s she doing, if you don’t mind my asking?”
    “Not bad for the state she was in last night. She’s suffering from dehydration, exhaustion, and is very weak. I shouldn’t say more about what was done to her.” Her brow furrowed. “What she endured was terrible.”
    Vivi nodded. “I understand. May I sit with her for a few minutes? I won’t disturb her. I just wanted to bring her these and make sure she was okay.” She held out the small bouquet.
    “I