The Curse of Jenny Greene

by Kimberly Loth

  I laid my head back and closed my eyes while she puttered around the room for a few more seconds. Then I heard the door open and close. I kept my eyes squeezed shut and remembered Foster in the last seconds I’d seen him. Remember that I fell for you too, he’d said. I could wait the eighteen years until he came back. I’d be older, not that it would matter; it broke my heart knowing he wouldn’t recognize me. I covered my eyes with my arm, still, too much light stabbed behind my eyelids. I grabbed the pillow, pulling it over my face. I chose the dark.

  Chapter 63

  Two days later, I’d been cleared to go home. My ankle was in a big, black, clunky boot. It was uncomfortable and hard to walk, so I kept mostly to my bedroom. I’d been the last of the group to be discharged. Sam wanted me to read and play with him, but Mom and Dad told him I still wasn’t feeling well. The poor guy had no recollection of what had happened to him, and since Gram was gone, he had to be confused. But I was thankful my parents weren’t pushing me. Mom understood. She’d been in the same place not too long ago.

  Leigh Kate and Chi had visited me—heck, even Lucy had stopped by—but I hadn’t been much company. They brought me flowers and chocolate and my beloved coffee. Nothing helped. The only real solace I’d found was when Leigh Kate lay beside me and rubbed my back. I’d managed to drift off to sleep a couple of times with her help. I’d thought maybe Hannah was teaching Leigh Kate some of her witchy ways, but whatever it was helped, so I’d warn her to stay away later.

  On Thursday, I heard voices in the kitchen and waddled out to see who was there. I hoped they brought coffee. I loved Mom dearly, but the stuff she made was as weak as water.

  Mom sat at the kitchen table, sipping tea with none other than Hannah Grimm herself.

  I turned to leave before they noticed me. That didn’t work.

  “Sophie, dear, look who came to see you.” Mom jumped up and guided me over to the table. She pushed me down into a chair with a firmness that suggested I not try to leave.

  “Hello, Sophie,” said Hannah. I managed to nod at her.

  “I’m going to check on Connor and give you two a chance to chat awhile.” Mom smiled but mouthed be nice to me when she knew Hannah wasn’t looking.

  Hannah waited until Mom had left the room before she turned her cool brown eyes on me. Her hair was twisted, as usual, into a severe knot on the top of her head. I thought of Jenny’s lank hair. She hadn’t even bothered to show her face to me before she stole Foster again.

  “I know you don’t want to see me,” said Hannah, waking me from my memories.

  I shrugged.

  “I hate the thought of you having to have surgery when I could help you.” She held out her hands to me. I refused to take them.

  The orthopedic doctor’s appointment was scheduled in New Haven for the following week. My doctor at the medical center was certain it would have to be a surgical repair.

  “Mon amie, please don’t be stubborn,” Hannah sighed.

  “Don’t call me that.” I ground out.

  “Sophie, he would want me to help you.” Hannah’s eyes were red-rimmed.

  Foster. He would be irritated that I wouldn’t let her help.

  She held out her hands. It was my choice. I didn’t want her to touch me, but I placed my hands in hers anyway.

  The witch pressed her fingertips into my palms. Her thumbs drew circles on the top. She tilted her head and closed her eyes. Maybe she was reading my body. I wondered if she could see my broken heart.

  “Guerir.” She spoke sharply. I jumped at the harsh sound of her voice. Warmth slithered through my body and pooled in my ankle. I hated it, but it did instantly feel better. Her eyes opened, and she smiled. “That should help.”

  “Why do you use French?” I asked.

  “I can speak Latin, Spanish, Dutch. But French is the language of the fur traders. They taught it to the Abenaki and all the other tribes. It is the language of Jenny’s magic.”

  I tried to pull away, but she clamped on.

  “I can make you forget him,” she said.

  “No,” I shouted and jerked back hard, ripping my hands free. “I won’t forget him. I don’t want to.”

  “There’s no point in carrying the hurt around.” She reached out to touch my face.

  I leaned back. “He asked me to remember him,” I said, and her hand fell away. “Would you ever give up your memories of Timothy?”

  “No, I certainly wouldn’t.” Hannah stared out the window. “I spent centuries with my memories, Sophie, and I wouldn’t trade a single day.”

  “I won’t either,” I said and crossed my arms. She reached forward and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

  “Any chance you’ll come out to the house and visit me sometime?” she asked.

  “I don’t know.” I drew out the words.

  “I understand.” She stood. Her shoulders hunched, and I realized her burden was heavy too. She had to face the next years alone. “I do hope you change your mind and visit.”

  “Thank you, Hannah, for the leg thing,” I said.

  “Any time. You loved Foster. I won’t forget that.” She gave me one last sad smile and then turned her back and left.

  Chapter 64

  I unstrapped the boot and slipped my foot free. The bruising and swelling were gone. I used the chair as a crutch and stood, gently putting my weight on my ankle. No pain. I swiveled the foot. No pain.

  Hannah had certainly healed it. With just one word. And yet, she was powerless to change her own circumstances. Maybe next time she would fight against Jenny. Maybe if I did visit her and helped her to know that she wasn’t alone, then she’d want to stop this. In eighteen years, she and I might be able to set Foster free forever. Maybe, just maybe, next time we could free him and the rest of the souls Jenny kept trapped.

  Leigh Kate came over to watch bad reality TV with me later that afternoon. Mom was so ecstatic over my sudden recovery that she joined us. It was the first time I’d let myself relax since leaving the hospital . . . since I’d learned about the second pond. Leigh Kate brought more coffee and big Rice Krispies treats her mom had made. But treats and TV weren’t going to fill the hole in my heart left by Foster’s absence. How was I ever going to face leaving my house again? Or school? Or anything we’d done together? I vaguely wondered if I’d be drawn to sit by the pond the same way I’d done for Sam. Would I wait there for the next eighteen years?

  I’d hoped to get a good, solid night’s sleep without the pain meds. No such luck. Instead, I lay in my bed wide awake until well past midnight. At about two, my body felt heavy as if under the pull of the pain meds again.

  A small object tinked against my window.

  I threw the window open and breathed in the salty scent on my face. Titan.

  Hey, Big Man.

  He chuckled at the nickname. He must have liked it.

  Am I disturbing you?

  No, I wasn’t sleeping.

  He nudged me with his snout, his smooth scales on my arm.

  I want to show you something.

  What? I was curious.

  I must show you.

  I sighed. So much for sleeping. Reluctantly, I shoved both feet into my sneakers. Whatever he wanted to show me, it would have to be done in my PJs.

  So, show me.

  Come fly with me.

  Fly?

  Yes. He laughed again. I am a dragon.

  A dragon I can only see in the sunlight. It’s dark out.

  The best time to fly. No one else can see us. He retracted his large head from my room as I jotted a quick note for my parents. No reason to stop my responsible ways now.

  I grabbed a sweatshirt and climbed out of the window.

  Okay, now what?

  Titan bumped into me. Climb up.

  And how do I do that? I can’t see you.

  Sharp teeth scraped my sweatshirt, and the next thing I knew, he’d flung me into the air. I landed on what I assumed was his neck and slid down to his back. A warnin
g would have been nice. His scales were slicker than I’d expected. I threw my arm out and collided with a leathery wing. He held it out while I got my balance.

  Not so bad, is it?

  Disorienting.

  Titan was completely invisible. If anyone had been looking in my direction, they’d have seen me hanging in mid-air, my arms circling a big, fat nothing. From my perspective, the situation was even more startling. For all intents and purposes, there was nothing underneath me. I may as well have been floating. But I could feel the huge dragon beneath me. The behemoth’s muscles rippled, and his smooth scales were cool to the touch. He smelled faintly of the sea breeze. I rested my cheek on his neck.

  Hold on tight.

  I did. My arms and legs wound around Titan’s neck, and I scooched down until I was sitting on his shoulders.

  I’m ready.

  I listened as Titan flapped his massive wings twice. I grasped him even tighter, realizing how easy it would be for me to get thrown off.

  With a final flap and a leap, we were airborne.

  I yelped. Squeezing my eyes shut, I pressed my face tight to his body. The wind roared in my ears. Now I knew why Titan preferred to communicate telepathically. Surely, he couldn’t hear anything over the flap of his wings.

  Open your eyes, Sophie.

  I shook my head. No way. Normally, motion sickness wasn’t a problem, but I’d never gone for a flight on an invisible dragon before.

  You’re missing the view.

  Were you this much fun as a human?

  He tossed his head back and blew out a huge puff. It surprised me so much my eyes flew open. I expected to see fire, but it was steam. He might be invisible, but I could see the vapor he expelled from his lungs.

  Don’t you breathe fire? I asked. He was a dragon after all.

  No. That’s ridiculous.

  Of course, it was – as ridiculous as riding an invisible see dragon in the middle of the night.

  I laughed. Now that my eyes were open, I kept my head tilted back and peered at the night sky passing over us. The stars appeared so close. I wanted to see if I could touch them. I stretched my arm out. They were still out of reach, but it seemed as if I were sailing in the cosmos.

  Titan, it’s beautiful.

  I thought you might like it. Now, watch this.

  Without warning, he flipped over. The whole world turned upside down. The ocean rushed just above my head. I locked my ankles and wrapped my arms around his neck. I couldn’t reach all the way around, so I found a large scale to hold on to.

  Touch it.

  I decided that he wasn’t going to right us until I did. I let go of his scales with one hand and stretched my arm out; my fingertips ran along the top of the water.

  A whale crested and moaned his lonely song. I whooped along with him, trying to make the same mournful sound. He splashed back under the waves and sprayed Titan and me with water.

  This is amazing.

  Yes. The best part of my curse.

  Titan swooshed around, and the sky was right side up again. He flew close to the water and lowered his clawed legs. Water splashed up, and the waves coiled in huge white caps.

  Thank you for showing me this. Joy. Pure and white-hot happiness pumped in my veins. A gift from Titan. I hadn’t deserved this.

  I didn’t accomplish what we wanted.

  Nonsense. Titan did a barrel roll, perilously close to the water. My hair, long torn free of the ponytail, brushed the waves. You loved my brother when no one else truly did. You fought for him and grieved for him. You accomplished much more than I’d ever hoped for.

  I tucked my face close to his neck again. The wind brushed tears away from my eyes.

  And I think you can still help Foster.

  How?

  Titan doubled back and swooped lower, toward a nearby beach. As we grew closer, I saw a lone figure standing there, buffeted by the wind of Titan’s huge wings.

  Hannah.

  Chapter 65

  Titan landed and dipped his neck down to her. I hoped he was giving her a dragon kiss.

  “Sophie.” Hannah dipped her head in a greeting.

  I released my death grip on Titan’s neck. His scales were damp, and when I tried to climb down, I slipped, almost landing hard in the sand. Instead, a soft pillow of air caught me and carried me down gently.

  “Hey,” I said breathlessly. Flying had been fun, but I wanted to get down to business. “What’s this about Foster . . .”

  “I don’t know how much Titan told you.” Hannah folded her hands primly in front of her.

  “Only that he thought we could still save him.” I bounced on the balls of my feet, more energized than I had been in days.

  “Well.” She pursed her lips. “It’s more about ending Jenny’s time here. I’m not sure what will happen to Foster, Timothy, and me.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We three have been around for hundreds of years solely because of Jenny’s curse on each of us.” The wind picked up and pulled at her bun. Small strands of hair curled and swirled around her, softening her facial features. Her hair had life, unlike Jenny’s. How could I have ever compared them?

  But if we turn to dust, we will still be free. We won’t have to play out these same roles over and over again. We won’t be tormented about what we can and cannot change. Titan’s voice echoed in my mind.

  “I see.” I might not have Foster, but I could unchain his spirit and that of Gram, Little Sophie, and the dozens of other kids that Greenteeth had collected. It wasn’t the win I wanted, but it was better than the reality they currently had.

  “It’s also possible that we will go on forever. We won’t know the outcome until it happens. We might be released from the curse and live out our lives normally, starting at the age we were when the curse was placed.”

  I liked that idea much better. If I could get Foster back—

  I shook my head. Best not to get my hopes up.

  He fell in love with you once. Who’s to say he won’t do it again? Titan sounded amusingly optimistic.

  “What can I do to help?” I asked. I didn’t need time to think it over. As far as I was concerned, helping save Foster was the only option available to me.

  “Sophie, if it doesn’t work, Jenny could very well drag you down into the pond as well.” Hannah frowned. “Consider that too. Imagine what it will do to your lovely parents.”

  Oh. Right. How stupid was I? There had to be a risk. Danger. I chewed on my lip and considered. It would be selfish of me not to help. Titan, Hannah, Gram, Little Sophie. I’d come to care for them all. But Foster. Foster was a different story. The chance to help him . . . no way could I walk away from that possibility.

  “If that were to happen . . .” I paused to choose my words. “Can you promise you will remove the memory of me? Enchant my parents and Sam to forget I existed? Leigh Kate will help you.”

  I liked to think she would. She’d be angry with me, but she’d do it.

  “Sophie.” Hannah shook her head.

  “Please, Hannah. I can’t be helpful if I know I might be subjecting them to the loss of another child . . . this time permanently.”

  I believe that is reasonable. Titan had my back.

  Hannah gazed out over the ocean, clearly weighing the options. I knew, eventually, she’d agree. How could she not?

  Finally, she gave a curt nod, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

  “What do you need me to do?” I asked.

  Chapter 66

  Titan and Hannah had a plan. One that included me being grasped in dragon claws and repeatedly dunked in the frigid North Atlantic. Had I known that, I might have reconsidered.

  My teeth were chattering, and my joints were stiff by the time the dragon set me down on the cliff across the street from the pond. I was still only wearing PJ pants and a sweatshirt. Frozen was an understatement. Surely, people had died from this kind of exposure.

  “I might lose a couple toes after this,” I mumb
led as Titan’s claws released my torso.

  Do you think that’s enough? he asked. The dragon had to be talking to Hannah because I’d hollered enough after the first dunk.

  “I think so.” She smiled at me. I’m sure she was feeling some sadistic glee. Payback for opening her crypt.

  “This won’t work if I freeze to death first,” I said.

  A brisk wind rushed past me, and I heard Titan inhaling. He exhaled with a whoosh, and warm steam washed over me as if I were tumbling in my own personal clothes dryer. Once he was done, my skin and hair were no longer wet but sticky and coarse. My clothes probably could have stood up on their own. Salt was better than starch.

  “Am I crusty enough?” I asked.

  Hannah ran her hand along my arm, and some excess salt flaked off.

  “I think we’re good,” she said. “Are you ready?”

  “No, but I’m not stopping to think about it.” My motto with this stunt was to keep moving forward. Don’t stop to think. I was afraid I’d turn tail and run if I did. In my mind, I focused on Foster’s blue eyes as I’d last seen them: sunken in and reserved. He’d gone back to the pond and whatever nightmare had been meant for me. I was doing this for him.

  “You stay here with Titan.” Hannah wiped salty hands on her sweater. “Jenny will come to see me. Titan will fly you to the pond. The sea breeze and salt on your skin will disguise you. Jenny won’t even know you’re there until it’s too late.”

  “Gotcha.”

  Another flight with the dragon. I’d be dropped down behind Jenny like a ninja, a salt-crusted ninja.

  Hannah sucked in a deep breath and wiped her hands off one more time.

  “Hey . . .” I started to say but realized making this easier was impossible. She was going to effectually kill her own sister in order to save her brother-in-law and all the others that Jenny had taken. I’m sure her emotions were all over the board. I would’ve given her an awkward side hug, but I couldn’t risk sloughing off any more salt. Titan would dip me into the ocean again.