Dark Curse

by Danielle Rose

  “Maybe we should wait,” Malik says. “There is always tomorrow.”

  I smile at that because he’s right. There is tomorrow. There will always be tomorrow now that I am once again a vampire. I curl my lips, exposing my teeth, as I lean against the mirror. I use my palms to hold myself upright so I can get close. I stare at my canines, which hang only slightly lower than they used to. They are low enough and strong enough to tear through flesh, and suddenly, I am overwhelmed by my desire to feed. My stomach rumbles, and I make a mental note to feed after training.

  “The others needed to rest,” Malik says. “Maybe you should take a day too. Just to be safe.”

  I shake my head, standing. I push myself off the mirror and turn to face him. I am annoyed by his insistence that I need to rest, but I do not show it. Malik might want to get rid of me tonight, but I am not going anywhere.

  “We have bigger problems than my need for R and R,” I say.

  “Like what?” Malik asks.

  “Rogue vampires attacked our nest for a reason. They might have died, but there are always more where they came from. Who is to say more are not already on their way?”

  “There is always a risk,” Malik argues. “You cannot let the idea that we might be attacked rule your life.”

  “Vampires are not our only concern,” I say.

  “The witches?” Malik asks.

  “By reversing my spell, I have freed the witches from my hex. But they are still at the mercy of their black magic curse. Only now, they have their magic back. If they haven’t noticed yet, they soon will.”

  “And you fear what they might do when they discover their magic has returned.”

  I nod. “They aren’t happy with me.”

  “They wouldn’t dare return here,” Malik assures me.

  “They aren’t of right mind right now, Malik. The evil possessing them is…” I sigh loudly. “They are slowly losing their sanity. Good decisions never come from that mentality.”

  “You can protect yourself now,” Malik says.

  “I can, and I will. I owe them nothing.”

  “And if they come here searching for a fight, are you prepared to wage war?” Malik asks.

  I shake my head, causing him to frown.

  Because I am not prepared to start a war.

  I am prepared to end one.

  The blast of energy emitted from my palms slams into Malik. He soars through the air and lands awkwardly on his side. I hear something snap, and he groans as he clutches his side.

  I rush over, skidding to my knees when I reach him. I fumble, trying to assess the damage, but he stops me and insists he is okay.

  “You did good,” Malik says, breathing heavily. “You harnessed enough energy to—”

  “Nearly kill you,” I interrupt.

  I too am breathing heavily. Malik is a ruthless trainer, always keeping me on my toes. He enjoys catching me by surprise, because he insists these little moments are the difference between life and death when we’re patrolling. I need to be able to save myself from any attack, and this is the place where I learn how to do that.

  I swipe at the sweat that drips into my eyes and try to help him up. He shakes his head, telling me he’s fine.

  “You need a minute?” I ask.

  Again, he shakes his head. I can tell he is keeping something from me. And just when I am about to ask him what, I smell it.

  Blood.

  When Malik’s gaze reaches my own, I can tell he knows I am aware that he is bleeding. Again, I try to reach for him, and again, he stops me.

  “You’re bleeding!” I shout, annoyed that he is still trying to prevent me from assessing the damage done.

  “I’m fine,” Malik grumbles.

  He pushes me away and begins to stand. When he’s not paying attention, I steal a glance at his side, peering beneath his tattered shirt before he even realizes I’ve moved. His skin is charred and black, with a bright red center, as if he was burned by my magic.

  “Malik,” I whisper, and he catches sight of what steals my attention. “It’s bad.”

  “I’ll live. The important thing is you are accessing your magic.”

  “I didn’t even try to…” I shake my head, trailing off.

  How is this possible? I barely harnessed any energy at all. I sent what I call “baby magic” at Malik—something that was supposed to be an annoyance, not a real threat. I never would have sent a blast of magic at him if I thought I could actually hurt him.

  “I think it’s safe to say you have not lost your edge,” Malik says. “Let’s call it a night.”

  “I hurt you,” I whisper.

  “Ava, look at me,” Malik says, stealing my gaze. “As long as I don’t die down here, I don’t care what you do. You will never be prepared out there if you hold back in here.”

  “But—”

  “I will be fine. Now leave,” Malik says, giving me a clear order.

  I walk backward, my gaze stuck on the side Malik is still clutching until the door to our training quarters slams shut before me. He moans, and my heart burns at the realization that I did this. I hurt him this badly. And I didn’t even try.

  Quickly, I turn on my heels and sprint from the basement. The moment I enter the kitchen, I find who I am looking for.

  Will is gorging on the same food I survived on mere hours ago. Now, the sight makes my stomach churn. I crave blood, and while my body yearns for it, I ache for something else at the moment.

  Answers.

  “Tell me more about the spell,” I say. There is no time for pleasantries.

  Will is mid-bite. The fork hovering in the air is carrying a heap of something that smells absolutely disgusting, so I keep my gaze on Will, not the mess of food before him.

  “Hello to you too,” Will says. He almost sounds annoyed, like he was hoping to indulge in peace.

  “Tell. Me. More,” I say, emphasizing each word. I cross my arms over my chest.

  “Which spell?” Will asks, clearly confused. His lack of answers only infuriates me further.

  “The spell you cast to break the curse. Something is…off about me.”

  “Did something happen during training?” Will asks, concerned. He drops his fork and uses the napkin to wipe his mouth. His eyes never leave mine.

  I nod. “Something has changed. I think the spell did this.”

  “Did what?” Will asks, still unsure of what actually happened downstairs.

  “It made me…different.”

  “Ava, you are different. Just like I am different now too. I already told you this.” He breaks my gaze to glance down at his plate. He licks his lips.

  I shake my head. “No, you don’t understand. I nearly killed Malik during our training, and I certainly didn’t intend to do that.”

  Will sighs and motions for me to sit down, but I don’t. I only walk over to him and stand beside him. I don’t mean to be so threatening, but I am out of options and in desperate need of answers.

  “The ritual required a sacrifice and a power overload. There was only one way to do this. I transferred my power, placing it within you.”

  As Will explains his part in the spell, he speaks about it so casually, as if he were ordering dinner or making a list of errands to run. He doesn’t sound like a man who just gave up his life for someone he has only known for a month or so.

  “You… You what?” I ask. “How is that even possible?”

  “I have always been curious to know if it’s possible to…relocate power. I didn’t think I would be able to become human again. I thought that was impossible, but I thought I might be able to give up my powers—so to speak. That was something I researched while looking for a way to save you.”

  “The coven you found helped you with that too?” I ask.

  Will nods. “It’s not a common ritual, for a witch to give up their powers, but it is possible. Most witches simply store their magic somewhere with the intention of getting it back one day. Sometimes mothers do this with c
hildren, especially if they live around the human population. It was used to prevent exposure. I used it as my only chance at freedom.”

  “But…why?” I ask.

  “Because I wanted to be human, and the spell to save you called for a great deal of magic. I had the power you needed, and I didn’t want it anymore. It was a simple decision.”

  “But what does that mean for me?” I ask, still reeling from my training session with Malik.

  “That means you have a great deal of magic at your disposal, Ava, and you need to be careful. Never harness too much. We still don’t know what might happen if you do. You weren’t meant to carry the magic of two hybrids, but it is now your burden to bear.”

  My heart nearly skips a beat. I am eternally grateful for Will’s sacrifice, because he saved me from death by completing this ritual. But the cost seems too great. I know he wanted to be human, but there might have been another way. Who is to say we couldn’t have saved Will and me without breaking as many natural laws?

  Will must take my hesitation as regret, because he speaks again before I have a chance to respond.

  “I don’t regret my decision, Ava, so you shouldn’t either,” Will says, as if he can read my mind. “You needed the strength to defeat the curse, and you got it.”

  “But by doing this, you have effectively lost your magic. You are mortal now. You must live a mortal life,” I say.

  Will nods. “I know. I will live and die as a mortal, the way I was always meant to, the way I have always wanted to. You are made for this life, Ava. You want to save the world and live in darkness. I don’t. I miss the sunlight. I miss people.”

  “But—”

  “My sacrifice was the only way to save you, and you were worth it. You didn’t deserve to die by black magic, Ava. You are a good person. You’re a good vampire. You fight every day to save people, to help people. You are the kind of person who should live forever.”

  “And you’re not?” I ask.

  Will chuckles. “I mean, I’m not rogue-bad, but I’m not quite as selfless as you are.”

  “And you’re sure this is what you want?” I ask, even though I know this spell must be irreversible.

  Will nods. “I am positive. I’m finally happy, Ava. Can’t you tell? Can’t you see that? I can eat food and watch the sunrise and live a normal life. That’s all I ever wanted.”

  “Not in Darkhaven,” I say, the words slipping from my lips before I can stop them. I hate myself for even thinking this, even if it is true. Darkhaven is home to too many supernatural creatures. Will will never be safe here—unless he never leaves the manor. And what kind of life is that? I was miserable when forced to stay within these walls. I know Will would never be happy.

  Several moments pass in silence between us, and I curse inwardly for saying what I just said.

  “Will, I—I didn’t mean you can’t stay here. I just…I just shouldn’t have said that.”

  I palm my hair, which is still wet and sticky from today’s training session.

  “You’re right,” Will admits. “I can’t stay here, and I don’t plan to.”

  I suck in a sharp breath. “You’re leaving?”

  Will nods. “I want to live, Ava, and if I stay here, I will spend my days on a vampire’s schedule. Besides, I’m no use to you now. I’m weak, fairly useless. I will only be a burden.”

  “Will,” I say as I take a seat beside him. I reach for his hand. He grabs on to my offering, and we stare into each other’s eyes. “You could never be a burden.”

  Will smiles softly. “The way I see it, I’ve done my part. I cast the spell, made the sacrifice, and now we both benefit. I’m human, and you’re stronger than ever. It’s time I go home.”

  “Where is home?” I ask, whispering.

  If he isn’t going to stay here, then I need to know where he’ll be. Will might not be a hybrid anymore, but I am still devoted to him. Our friendship means more than he’ll ever know.

  Will shrugs. “Not sure yet.”

  “Maybe you already are home,” I say.

  “Maybe. And if I’m meant to be here, I’ll come back. I just need some time to figure out who I am now that I’m mortal again.”

  “Are you scared?” I ask.

  Will snorts. “I guess I should be. I mean, I know what lurks in the shadows. I know about the monsters who thrive in the night. And I’m effectively too weak to stop them. But that’s how I’m supposed to be. We’re meant to be human or witch or vampire. One is always weaker than the other.”

  I glance away, not wanting to look at him any longer. Never have I felt like more of an abomination than at this very moment.

  “Ava, I didn’t mean anything by that. I’m not talking about you,” Will says.

  “But I’m a hybrid. I am both witch and vampire, and now I am more powerful than both.”

  “But I was not meant to be that way,” Will explains. “I never wanted that life. That’s all I’m saying.”

  “And you think I wanted this life? You think I wanted rogues to attack my coven that night?” I ask, offended. I pull away from him, yanking my hand free of his. His skin is hot, almost scalding.

  I miss his cool caress, his confident reassurances. Over the weeks, I came to depend on Will. His visits always held promise of something more. There is a world beyond these walls, beyond the forest of Darkhaven, and Will continuously coming and going meant I might one day escape this place too.

  Will shakes his head. “Of course not. No one would wish for such a heinous act. But since then, you have transitioned. You have acclimated. You thrive in this world. Ever since that night, you have welcomed the darkness into your soul. You became one with it. You are meant for this world. You want it the way I want the light.”

  “Does that make me a monster?” I ask.

  Will smiles. “We’re all monsters in some way, but you are no more a monster than anyone else.”

  Will and I sit in silence, stealing glances when we think the other isn’t looking, and even though he never says it aloud, I know this is the last time I will see him. Tomorrow night, when I wake, he will be gone. He will slip away when the sun is high in the sky, and he will run to the ends of the earth in search of something more.

  Will yearns for something that calls to him the way the moon speaks to me. He will run from the shadows, and he will find his recluse the way I have found this manor.

  Born from nightmares and powered by darkness, Will has emerged from these muddled depths, and when I look at him, I see nothing but promise. He is a shining example of how wonderful, how life-changing, and how utterly powerful magic can truly be.

  Chapter Eight

  First, I feel the heat.

  It is blazing, stifling, like fire scorching my skin. Even in my dream, I begin to sweat. The real world affects so much, forcing itself into the astral plane as a stark warning. It is not subtle, and still, I miss all the signs.

  I am standing on a beach, basking in the sunlight. This alone should tell me I am not awake, for the sun is never kind to creatures of the night.

  The water before me is clear and crystal blue at the same time. It looks refreshing and rejuvenating, like it truly can wash away my worries, my fears. It lies to me, promising to soak my pain, replacing agony with peace. It taunts me with visions of everlasting life. Even though I know this place is a lie, I do not leave. I do not want to be cast back into the darkness that awaits me.

  As I walk closer, approaching the water’s edge, I notice little fish swimming in the shallows. Every time they try to free themselves by swimming into the murky distant depths, the waves push them back to shore. They continue their pursuit, never giving up even when the odds are so greatly stacked against them. They do not seem to know they will never find freedom. They are forever condemned to live out their lives in this place, knowing the world beyond them is vast and open, but they lack the ability to reach it.

  When I dip my toes into the water, these tiny fish swim closer to me, fluttering aro
und my toes before disappearing as I take another step. They are cursed to live within the shallows without the strength or protection needed to survive here. At any point, I may accidentally crush them. Has life always been this cruel? Or am I only noticing it now?

  I look down. The water is at my ankles now. It is cool and refreshing, but the heat is still overpowering. It is hard to breathe and even harder to swipe the sweat at my crown. My muscles are weak, stiff.

  When I do relieve myself, my hand is coated with my sweat, but I miss some. It dribbles down my cheek. I shiver, feeling every moment it drips down my skin, and I hear the exact second it splashes into the water. The tiny fish swarm that spot, eager to discover the foreign substance that has contaminated their home.

  When I look back, glancing over my shoulder, Jasik is there. He stands in the distance, watching me, waiting for my return. He smiles when he notices me watching him. His pale skin—much paler than my naturally bronze skin—is too bright in this light. I shield my eyes against the assault, trying to see him clearly even though the sunlight is blinding.

  Jasik says something to me, and I frown. I cannot hear him, and he must know that. I think I ask him to say that again. What? I think. But my lips never move. Still, my questions circle in my mind, and Jasik never responds.

  What did he say?

  Does he need me?

  Is he okay?

  The sunlight does not seem to bother him. Not here. Not in this place. On this plane, we are tucked safely in my mind. I protect us from the dangers of the outside world. We can enjoy the sunlight and run barefoot through the night, never fearing what may lie in wait. We are free, safe from the dangers that haunt us at home.

  Jasik does not repeat himself. He must be fine, I tell myself. If not, he would have said something; he would have better caught my attention. I think he must be enjoying his time here too, so I look away.

  I stare into the distance. The sea seems to be endless, and I wonder if this is the same water that borders Darkhaven. I decide it is not, because that water is dark blue and deep, whereas this water is warm and clear. But if I am not at home, where am I?