New York: Allie's War, Early Years

"So Ponytail and his pals...?"

Simon shook his head, clicking a little with a sigh.

"I don't know," he admitted. "I was almost too late. All of the actual followers I could see were human..." He gave me another apologetic look. "...I waited too long because of that. I thought I could push them, from the Barrier..."

Seeing something in my face, he trailed, shrugging again with a wave of his hand.

"...It doesn't matter now," he finished, his voice still apologetic. "But I'll be more careful in the future. I promise I will, Allie."

"In the future...when you're guarding me again."

"Yes."

"But I'll have no idea you're doing it."

"Yes."

"...And if I see you, I won't remember you," I clarified. "...And I won't remember that those freaks tried to burn me alive...or that I'm this weird kind of extinct seer."

Thinking briefly, Simon nodded again.

"Yes," he said.

I stared into the fire for another few seconds, nodding, although to what or to whom, I have no idea. I was so exhausted at that point, I didn't have the energy to try and argue with him. I still couldn't decide if I was in danger. He didn't seem to want to hurt me.

"I won't hurt you, Allie," he said firmly.

"You promise?" I said, turning.

"I promise," he said. "I'll get you back to your hotel room without a scratch..." Looking at me then, and at the state of me most likely, he amended. "...No new ones, anyway."

"And you won't hurt Jaden? Or Jon? Or Cass?"

He gave me another bewildered look.

"Of course not. No."

"Will I remember that Jaden kissed that girl?"

At that, Simon hesitated. Clasping his hands together between his knees, he shrugged, his face and voice neutral.

"It's not always easy to be that precise," he said carefully. "You saw the man who abducted you right before you saw your boyfriend with that...girl. From what I understand, you saw me directly after. It would be extremely difficult for me to erase your memory of the Myther and of me and not erase what you saw your boyfriend do. I doubt I could do it even with the Council's help...and I'd really rather not involve them, Allie."

"So, no, then," I said.

"No," he said. "I can try, but if there is any doubt at all, I will err on the side of erasing the memory of me and the Myther. I'm sorry, Allie."

"Will he remember?"

"Jaden?" Simon gave me another strange look. "He won't remember you kissing me," he said. "Would you rather if he didn't remember kissing that girl, either?"