[ Before secreting away to do her work for the village, Vanessa is sociable enough to others who reside in the cave with her. If there ever happens to be dessert leftover from the night before, she will be first to take it for breakfast. That, and perhaps she’ll dust a teasing farewell kiss towards the hand of whoever she passes first. If Vanessa ever has nightmares, they are well forgotten by morning.

And she does have nightmares, but when she awakens from them late at night she has no memory of them. She only knows that she has to act; she has to defend herself. With memories that can’t be her own, any others in the vicinity might find Vanessa crouched in the middle of the night near the cave’s entrance with a bloodied hand frantically drawing out the beginnings of what will become a sigil of a large scorpion.

If approached, she’ll glance aside but won’t stop. ]

It’s so they can’t find me.

[ Since recovering her memories, Vanessa has fewer laughs and flirtations for her cave-mates, instead leaving early and returning late, with little to say for herself and no desire to explain. Occasionally, a plate of sweet treats will be left in a communal space for the others, though she’ll be cautious to do so when they aren’t around to bother her with gratitude. Let the desserts be a 'mystery'.

When the hour strikes late, she awakens from lack of air, choking on a rancid smoke that rises from her pillow. A black cloud billows forth from Vanessa when she lurches and coughs out the poisonous air, then whips around to toss her pillow aside. Underneath it is her tarot set, with one card in particular consumed by the black mass.

The whole set of cards is tossed to the cave floor, and Vanessa is quick to try and smother it with her blankets. She swears for a moment she sees a man in the distance, obscured by the smoke, but he’s gone by the time it subsides. After, Vanessa pulls the blanket aside to find the cards seemingly in fine condition except for the problem card at the center. The back is blank except for a message scrawled in familiar writing: Further still? Will you take us with you?

Compelled to pick up the single card, she crouches and flips it to find a Ten of Swords in her palm. Dread fills her, and Vanessa looks again to where the strange figure once stood. He’s gone, and she knows this won't be the only time this curse finds her. She doesn't need her magic to know. Curses are constant.

There are others here who seem to be burdened with their own curses, and so she tries to stay silent on hers now that she has her wits back about her. ...So to speak. How is one supposed to stay silent after making such a scene? Had others seen the smoke? ]