by Alicia Rades
“You really want to risk it?” she asked harshly. “How badly do you want to die for this?”
My eyebrows shot up. “Die for it? What, you’re going to kill me if I don’t leave?”
She glared at me. I’d never seen so much hatred in someone’s eyes before. “Someone has to die. Don’t you get it, Nadine? Once we both go through with our Evoking Ceremonies, that’s it. That’s all the time we have. One of us has to leave.”
“Why!?” I yelled. “What has you so fucking terrified of me?”
“We’re cursed!”
Chloe’s words stopped my heart. I swayed on my feet, but I barely had a chance to process what she said before another voice boomed throughout the foyer.
“EVERYBODY STOP!!!”
Chloe and I both turned to see Professor Richards standing in the center of the room. He held up a large vial of green liquid. Everyone had gone totally still. Ryan and Lucas both had each other by the collar, and they’d stopped with their fists pulled back. Amy and Mandy were on the ground with Camille and Gwen. Mandy had a fistful of Gwen’s white hair, and Amy had twisted Camille’s arm around her back.
All eyes turned to Professor Richards.
“Make one more move, and I’ll set off this sleeping potion on the whole room,” he threatened in a stern voice.
Nobody said a thing. All I heard was the click of heels down the hall, then Headmistress Verla stepped into the foyer. She wore a look of utter disapproval. It was so intense it could cut straight through you. For a moment, she actually sort of scared me.
“Everyone back to your dorms,” she commanded. “Now.”
People started to hurry up the stairs and scatter in either direction. Chloe stomped past me, purposely slamming her shoulder into mine on the way. I moved slowly, still trying to grasp what she’d said.
I was cursed.
Why had Grammy hidden this from me? Why had she written it off as some dead feud?
I ended up in the back of the crowd. Ahead of me, Cody was helping Talia up the stairs, while Grant glared from behind them. Amy and Mandy made faces at Gwen and Camille while they headed back to their room. Isa joined me at my feet.
Lucas found his way over to me. A bruise was forming beneath his eye, but his knuckles looked raw, like he’d gotten in a few good punches. Shit. I didn’t want this for him. I didn’t want him getting hurt because of me.
“You okay, Nad?” he asked softly.
I swallowed. I couldn’t lie to him. Today had been one shit show after another. I was beyond exhausted.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” I whispered under my breath. I didn’t want to tell him about the curse out in the open, though.
“Nadine?” Headmistress Verla cocked an eyebrow in my direction. She looked less than happy.
I scooped Isa into my arms, then looked to Lucas. “Come with me.”
We walked over to Verla. The room had been cleared out, so no one heard us.
Verla placed her hands on her hips, like a mother disappointed in her children. “What happened here?”
Though she looked at Lucas and me with tight lips, I realized she wasn’t mad at me. She’d asked me over because she trusted me to tell her the truth.
“It was a prank, Headmistress,” I told her. “Someone used illusion magic to make it look as if there was a dead body hanging from the tree outside. People got upset, and a fight broke out.”
I didn’t know why I didn’t tell her it’d been my body hanging from the tree. Something didn’t feel right about telling her about Chloe and me. If Chloe got in trouble for it, it’d only make things worse between us, and they were bad enough already.
Verla breathed a heavy sigh, like she couldn’t deal with such pettiness today. “Very well. You may return to your dorms.”
Lucas and I turned, but Verla stopped us once more.
“Oh, and Nadine?”
I stopped to look at her. “Yes?”
Her shoulders fell. “I’m very sorry about earlier. We’ll get this worked out, and you’ll pass your Evoking Ceremony.”
I nodded, though deep down in my gut, I wasn’t sure. I only had a few weeks left. On top of it, there was this curse Chloe just told me about.
“You don’t look well, Nad,” Lucas pointed out as we climbed the stairs. “Is there anything I can do?”
“No,” I told him. “But there’s something I have to do.”
“What is it?” he asked. “Let me help.”
I shook my head. “I have to do this by myself. My grandmother has some explaining to do.”
“Nadine.” Grammy sounded pleased to see me when I arrived at her house that night. “What a pleasure!”
“Cut the crap, Grammy,” I snapped.
She gaped at me. “Is something wrong?”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “You could say that.”
Grammy’s eyes widened in concern, and she stepped aside to let me in. She gestured to the living room, but I just stood there in the hallway, my arms crossed. I felt weak on my feet, but I was too angry to sit down. Cornelius rubbed up against my leg, but I wasn’t interested in his affection.
“What’s wrong?” Grammy asked.
“Why didn’t you tell me about the curse?” I demanded.
Grammy’s features immediately darkened. She looked pissed that I’d brought it up. “I didn’t tell you because there is no curse, Nadine.”
“Then why does Chloe Olson insist there is?” I shot back. “I knew you were hiding something from me the last time I mentioned her.”
Grammy sighed. “Nadine, please sit down and let me explain.”
I threw my hands up. “I don’t want to sit down. I want you to tell me everything.”
“I will,” Grammy promised. “Let’s talk about it over a cup of tea.”
Please. Like I wanted tea right now.
Grammy’s lips tightened. “Sit down, Nadine.”
She spoke in a tone I’d never heard her use before. I felt like I had no choice but to sit. It seemed to be the only way I was getting answers.
While I stepped into the living room, Grammy went down the hall to brew us some tea. I was fuming so badly I could hardly sit still, which was saying something considering how exhausted I was.
Assumptions raced around in my head while I waited for Grammy to return. Did Grammy want the curse to hurt me? Did she think I was better off dead?
Or had Chloe been lying to me?
Somehow, I doubted that.
Grammy returned to the living room with a tray. She set it on the coffee table, then pushed a cup of tea into my hands. “Drink, Nadine.”
I started to sip it, and I noticed my anger begin to wane immediately. I realized what horrible things I’d just thought about Grammy, and it killed me to think them. She loved me to death. Surely she had a good reason for not telling me.
Suddenly, I felt angry for a different reason. I set my cup back on the table and glared at her. “If you’re going to serve someone a potion, you should probably tell them first.”
“It’s nothing more than a calming tea,” Grammy assured me.
My lips tightened. “Forgive me if I’m having a hard time trusting you right now.”
Grammy straightened in her chair. “Look, Nadine. I’m not going to lie to you. There was a curse.”
Well, at least she was starting to be honest with me.
“What was the curse, exactly?” I asked. “What were our grandparents fighting over?”
Grammy took a long breath before diving into the story. “Years ago, when I was pregnant with your mother, your grandfather served on the Imperium Council. He was the last Curse Breaker and the only male to ever serve. Chloe’s grandfather stole a valuable item from the council, and though he denied it, the two of them fought over it. Chloe’s grandfather wanted to get rid of yours, so he cast a curse upon him and his descendants. This curse would allow only one of the families from each generation to remain in Octavia Falls. The other either had to leave…
or die.”
“Wait…” The pieces began falling into place. “Is that how Grampy died?”
Grammy’s eyes watered. “Nadine... your grandfather was murdered. Chloe’s grandfather killed him.”
The air left my lungs. “Mom didn’t leave the coven for my dad, did she?”
Grammy shook her head regrettably. “She left to outrun the curse.”
“How exactly does this curse work?” I asked.
Grammy sighed. “According to what your mother learned before she left, the curse only touches you once you’re accepted into the coven. Since you haven’t gone through with your Evoking Ceremony yet, it can’t hurt you.”
“But it has,” I argued. “Grammy, it’s been there my whole life. I can feel it inside me.”
Grammy dropped her gaze. I’d never seen her look so guilty.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I demanded. “Why would you keep any of this from me?”
“Because the curse is over, Nadine!” Grammy cried.
“How do you know that?” I asked. Chloe sure seemed to think it was alive and well.
Grammy’s breath caught. “I refuse to believe your grandfather died without breaking it. He was a Curse Breaker.”
“Oh my God…” I pressed my hand to my forehead. She was seriously basing this off… nothing?
“Why would you even take this chance?” I snapped at her. “If this could cost me my life—”
“It’s going to cost me my granddaughter!” she erupted. “I already lost my husband and my daughter. I’m not going to lose you, too!”
The room went dead silent.
After a few moments, I finally spoke. “It wasn’t right of you to hide this from me, Grammy. You have no proof that the curse was broken.”
“And you don’t know it wasn’t,” she said softly.
“Is that something you really want to risk?” I asked. I was offended she’d play with my life like some sort of slot machine. “The curse isn’t broken, Grammy. And I think deep down, you know that.”
Grammy’s face paled, and her voice quivered. Slowly, she rose to her feet and came over to sit beside me on the couch. Her eyes watered, and a pang of guilt hit me. I felt bad about lashing out at her.
“Nadine, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” she said softly. “It was selfish of me. All that really matters is that you’re safe. Can you forgive me?”
I hesitated. “I want to, but…”
My unspoken words hung in the air. But she broke my trust.
Grammy reached up and pulled a chain out from beneath her shirt. An antique skeleton key I’d never seen before hung from around her neck. It looked really old, and had a pretty swirly design on the end.
“I want you to have this,” she said.
I furrowed my brow. “What does it go to?”
“It’s not what it goes to,” she told me. “It’s what it does. I’ve worn this key for over forty years. Your grandfather gave it to me just before he died, in the midst of his feud against Jeb Olson. He said it was enchanted to protect the owner.”
“Is that true?” I asked. “Is it really enchanted?”
“It’s served me thus far,” Grammy answered. “I should’ve given it to your mother ages ago. I want it to protect you now, Nadine. I can’t lose you. You’re all I have left.”
She pulled the necklace over her head and handed it to me. My heart warmed at the kind gesture, and I wrapped the key tightly in my hand.
“This should protect you from the curse,” Grammy said, though she looked uncertain.
Silence settled between us, until I finally spoke. “What happens once I go through with my ceremony?”
“If the curse is still alive, you have until Chloe goes through with hers, since you two are the only descendants of your generation.”
“And if we both joined the coven?” I asked. “How long would we have?”
“Your mother guessed a month, tops,” Grammy said. “But she didn’t stay that long. She left the night of her ceremony.”
“My ceremony is before Chloe’s,” I pointed out. “That puts me at an advantage.”
Chloe would have to forfeit her own ceremony if she wanted to stay. Otherwise she’d be submitting to a game of Russian Roulette with this curse. The only other option was to kill me and save herself, but she hadn’t done it yet. To be honest, I didn’t think she had it in her.
“Please don’t leave me like your mother did,” Grammy whispered.
“I won’t,” I promised. “I’m going through with my Evoking Ceremony. I’m going to pass, and I’m going to show Chloe that I belong here.”
If anything, she’d be the one that would have to leave. Because I wasn’t going to.
The following night, I couldn’t sleep, even though I was really tired. After I told Lucas about the curse, all I wanted to do was be by him because he made me feel better about the whole thing. My heart yearned to be in his presence, and I couldn’t stand to let my hunger for him go unchecked.
To hell with it. I was going to be spontaneous tonight.
I crawled out of bed as quietly as I could so I wouldn’t wake Talia. I changed into a swimsuit, grabbed a towel, and then quietly left the room. I tiptoed down the dark, quiet hall and stopped at Lucas’s door. I knocked lightly, but no answer came, so I tried again.
A few moments later, the door swung open. A sharp breath passed my lips when I saw him standing there. He wore nothing but sweats that hung off his hips in a way that made me want to drool. His abs were freaking amazing. I just wanted to reach out and touch them. His hair was tousled and looked really sexy. Just seeing him standing there shirtless did things to my body I couldn’t control.
“What’s this?” he teased in a low whisper so he wouldn’t wake Grant. “A booty call?”
I laughed lightly. “No. Did I wake you?”
He shook his head. “Nah, couldn’t sleep.”
“Me either,” I admitted. “I’m going swimming and wondering if you wanted to come along.”
He hesitated. “The pool’s closed this time of night.”
I shrugged. “You think that’s going to stop me?”
“Um… it should,” he said, sounding equally curious and confused.
“Well, if you don’t want to come, I’ll just go myself,” I said.
I turned from the door and started down the hall, but I was totally bluffing. I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist his curiosity.
“Wait, Nad,” he hissed.
I smiled brightly and turned back to him. “You’re coming?”
He groaned, though he didn’t sound upset. “Hold on a minute.”
Lucas ducked back into the room and changed into his swim trunks, then grabbed a towel. He emerged looking hella sexy. The light from the sconces along the wall accented the hills and valleys of his abs. It took all I had not to stare.
“What?” he asked innocently.
I forced my gaze away from him, hoping he hadn’t seen me blush. “Nothing. Let’s go.”
Lucas and I tiptoed quietly down the stairs and to the rec center. The door was locked, but all it took was one tiny incantation from Lucas, and we were in. The air was warm and thick inside, but it felt really good. The room was dark, but a light streak of moonlight came in through the tall windows that faced the forest, glistening off the water.
“Do they have some sort of magical alarm system for this?” I asked, though I didn’t really care. The threat of getting caught was all part of the fun.
Lucas shrugged. “Security isn't a huge deal around here. Most people aren’t brazen enough to sneak in.”
“I’m brazen?” I teased as I dropped my towel on one of the pool chairs.
Lucas laughed and tickled me in the side. “Why do you think I like you?”
My heart fluttered at those words. I mean, I already knew he liked me, but hearing him say it got me every time.
“Don’t tickle me,” I snickered. I reached out and tickled his side. An electric shock traveled thr
ough my fingertips and up my arm when I touched him. I didn’t think that would ever get old.
“Hey!” Lucas cried, his voice echoing throughout the pool. “Tickle me again, and I’m throwing you in.”
My jaw dropped dramatically. “You wouldn’t dare!”
He cocked an eyebrow. “You wanna bet?”
I shrugged and tugged at the string on my robe. The flaps fell open, revealing my black bikini. Lucas’s gazed dropped and roamed across my body. His eyes lingered on me a few moments, like I wouldn’t notice.
“My eyes are up here, buddy,” I joked, reaching out to tickle him again.
“Hey! I said no tickling,” he teased. “That’s it. I’m throwing you in.”
I smirked. “You’ll have to catch me first.”
I started running away from him. Lucas caught me around the waist, and I yelped. My voice echoed through the room, as did Lucas’s laughter.
“No!” I yelled through my laughs.
I locked my arms around Lucas’s neck. He tried to throw me in, but I didn’t let go. Instead, we both went tumbling down into the water together.
I held my breath as my head dipped below water. My feet touched the pool floor below me, and I pushed upward. My head broke the surface, and I inhaled a large breath. Lucas came up a second later, gasping.
“That’s what you get,” I laughed, splashing him.
“Hey!” he splashed me back.
That turned into a full-on splashing war. Our laughter filled the entire pool. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had this much fun.
“Your splash game is weak,” I told him.
“Is it?” he challenged.
He kicked forward and glided through the water, until he was right in front of me. I tried to splash him, but he grabbed me around the middle and tossed me upward out of the water.
I screamed playfully as I went flying, then landed safely in the water a few feet away. “Not fair!” I cried, wiping my eyes.
“Totally fair,” he countered.
I raised an eyebrow. “Oh, so we’re playing dirty now?”
He smirked. “That’s the only way to play, isn’t it?”
That sounds like a challenge!
I ducked my head below water and swam forward, until my shoulder met his knee. I wrapped one arm around his leg, then pushed off the bottom of the pool. He was light in the water, but as more of his body got out of the water, he got really heavy. I pushed with all my might, until my head broke the water. Lucas flailed as he went tumbling backward, kicking up water.
