The Thousand Year Curse (The Curse Books)

by Taylor Lavati

  "What the hell are we supposed to do?" I shriek, realizing we've reached a dead end that crushes my hopes. I look over the fifty foot cliff and my stomach flips. I jump back, clinging to Ari.

  "Relax, Eury, we're at the first obstacle. This is Akheron." Ari explains very calmly.

  "What's that?" I ask not understanding what he said.

  "It's one of the five rivers we're going to have to cross." He further explains.

  "We just cross a river?" I ask him. That doesn't sound so bad. Of course to get to the river we have to jump down this cliff of doom.

  "This one is called the river of pain if I remember correctly." He confesses, my face instantly falling. We're screwed, totally screwed. I'm guessing by the cliff that Hades wants us to jump straight into the river which in turn causes us pain and then we die.

  "Got any ideas?" Ari asks. I shrug my shoulders in response and offer up jumping but he shoots that down real quick. He assures me I will feel no pain. He devises this crazy plan that, if it works, we'll be okay.

  Walking to the very edge of the cliff, I jump up on his back—piggy back style. Since there's a high possibility of death, I lean over and kiss his neck, sending rows of goosebumps across Ari's back. He looks back at me, surprised. "Good Luck." I whisper into his ear, praying that he can do this.

  "Ready?" He asks. I'm afraid if I speak then my emotions will run rampant so I don't. I'd rather stay quiet and pretend we are just jumping in a lake. Ignorance is bliss. "One... two... three!" He says and it all happens so fast. He jumps and I shut my eyes, too nervous to watch the fall. I completely rely on Ari.

  Next thing I know, I'm being tossed around violently. I open my eyes, now face to face with Ari. He must have flipped me completely around mid fall.

  Before I comprehend what's going on, he grabs me under my arms and tosses me aside, landing me directly on a hard rock. I tuck and roll but my shoulder takes the hit, making me cry out in pain.

  I hit my hand on a boulder when I finally stop moving and struggle to stay conscious. I don't think I black out. I try to stand and get my bearings but wobble a little, holding onto the wall to dust myself off.

  Where is Ari?

  A blood curling scream turn my attention to the river. While flinching from the loud crying, I follow the sound getting louder and louder with pain. The screaming stops completely and I fear the worst—he died.

  I run as fast as humanly possible to get to the riverbank when I see Ari's limp body floating. I gasp at the horrific image.

  He's close enough to the river bank where I can touch him but I'm not sure if I'll be able to pull him out, without falling in myself. I don't care though. I have to try and save him.

  Slowly I bend over grabbing onto his shirt. I pull him until he's at the edge of the water. I try to get him fully out but he's heavy and my fingers slip, dropping him back in so his body submerges completely.

  My fingertips graze the water causing pain to shoot through my entire body. That brief touch is excruciating. I feel like every single bone in my hand has broken over and over again, never stopping the cycle.

  Clutching my hand to my chest, I lay back on the rocks letting heavy tears roll down my face. The pain hurts so bad that I can't even feel it. I cry for a second more before I realize that Ari must be feeling this pain as he lay in the water. I muster up as much strength as I can and reach for him again, taking him by the neck.

  I drag him until he's completely out of the water. I fall back from exhaustion, his limp body landing on top of mine. I want to get us as far away from the water as possible.

  I crab crawl back with Ari in my arms towards the wall, wanting to lean against it as a crutch. There's a small cave like nook that looks like a good place to stay until Ari comes to, so I move us there. It's dark but I can see Ari clearly—his face blank, yet oddly peaceful.

  I lay Ari's head on my lap and start stroking his hair soothingly I don't know how he's feeling and I don't know how to make this better, but I want to help. I rub his head and play with his hair, hoping he feels comforted. I lean down to listen for breathing and thank God, he is.

  "Don't leave me now. I need you." I admit to him, burying my face in his damp chest. I cry into him and although he isn't awake, just having the warmth and comfort of his body makes me feel better. I'm not sure how long we lay there, Ari passed out and me crying into his chest.

  Ari's chest moves as a long breath comes out and I pop my head up, staring down at his face. I want him to wake up so badly that I fear it may just be my imagination playing tricks. A small smile spreads across his face signaling that he's coherent. His eyes stay closed but his arms cling onto me tight like safety. Finally his beautiful eyes open and they stare straight into me with admiration.

  I can't help the joy I feel when he finally wakes up. I grab him, hugging him tight, never wanting to be scared like that again. He makes a gurgling sound and I realize that I'm hugging him too hard. I losen up a little bit and then question him.

  "What happened back there?" I ask, my voice betraying me by shrieking.

  "I had to save you." He whispers.

  "You sacrificed yourself for me?" I ask, not understanding why he would do that.

  "Always, Eury." He states giving me a duh expression, like I should already know that. I blush at his admission.

  "Thank you." I say, not knowing how else to show him how much he matters.

  "You can repay me by never letting me swim in that damn river again. Shit hurt." He jokes, returning back to his old self. I smile down at him, touching the side of his face as I run my hands through his thick hair.

  "I touched the water when I was saving you and it killed. I can't imagine what you felt. I'm so sorry." I apologize, guilty that I took so long to save him.

  "You think we can just rest for a little. My body's still hurting." He says, grasping for words.

  "Of course. I'll keep you safe now." I claim as he closes his eyes. He curls up on his side, tucking his head into my stomach while he wraps both arms around my body.

  I must have drifted off to sleep because I wake up with a start, jumping when I realize where I am. I push Ari aside wanting to progress in our mission. I make sure he is comfortable and then get up noticing the change in weather. I'm not sure how long we were asleep but the area is now really hot—my hair matted down with sweat.

  Ari wakes up behind me, with a panicked look on his face. His head swivels, taking in his surroundings until he spots me and relaxes. He walks over to me and places both of his hands on my face, staring at me to make sure that I'm okay.

  "What's the matter?" He asks. I get the feeling of de ja vu when I know this is that dream I had a couple nights ago! The cave, the worry—oh my god, the kiss.

  "Nothing." I say, faking a smile. Oh my god, same thing as the vision, only this time for different reasons. This is beyond crazy. I actually saw the future.

  "Are you upset?" He asks, placing his hands in mine, our fingers interlocking. After a second, he sighs before wrapping his arms around me, hugging me while sending a bolt of adrenaline through my veins. "We'll get there, I promise." He says as I wait for the kiss.

  He moves his hands from around my neck to either side of my face. Staring into his eyes, I notice the change from dark green to an almost neon color. I know now that he's asking permission to kiss me but I can't remember what I did in my dream so I just stand there, waiting.

  He kisses me and it's a million times better than the dream. It starts very soft, our lips meeting briefly, lingering on each other as we try to figure out what to do next. He pulls back for the smallest second before pressing his lips back on mine, rougher and more passionate.

  He parts my lips with his tongue and explores memorizing every aspect of my mouth. I take this chance to meet him with mine and we revel in the kiss. He moans at the urgency we both share.

  Sadly it ends and we pant as air returns to our lungs. I feel like that was shorter than in my dream. I smile up at him, loving the way his
eyes have changed with his desire—darker and clouded.

  He opens his mouth to tell me something and I remember in my dream I thought he was going to say he loved me. He doesn't say anything again and I'm disappointed—again.

  "We should get going." He breaks the silence. I nod in agreement as we start walking along the rocky path. Our hands clasp together, swinging with each step like we're in eight grade.

  I look over at Ari and take a moment to watch his movements. He still has his bad boy features, mostly his piercing eyes, dark hair and sexy body. I could never forget the way he looks on his bike, or the brooding looks he gets when something doesn't go his way. But with him opening up, I get a glimpse into his real self—the one who's vulnerable and loving.

  As we walk in silence, I wonder what Ollie is doing right now. Does he know I've left? Has he called? I can't worry about that now. I'm on a mission. I have to focus on breaking the curse and finding my mother. No love yet.

  CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

  punishments

  After our lunch break, which consisted of power bars and orange gatorade, we start walking again. Ari takes my hand and we walk ,clasping each other like we have been for a while now.

  My guilt over Ollie holds me back from kissing Ari again. Do I not act on my feelings, or do I just throw caution to the wind? I can choose, not the curse or fate.

  In the distance, a gated off area appears, our path cutting right down the middle. Wrought iron gates line our path showing us the narrow passage way. Beyond the gates is pure mayhem. Thousands, if not millions of people roam around—if the dark shapes are even people.

  "Stay close to me." Ari whispers, leaning into my ear before perking his shoulders up. He looks confident, like he is supposed to be here. I try to mimic his stature, my side glued to him.

  Once they see us, the black shapes come up to the gates, shaking them. The gates hardly look like they can hold up as hundreds of bodies bang against it, attempting to escape. I try not to make eye contact with anyone but I can barely help it. I look at one woman who is crying out to me.

  "Help me!" The woman begs me, dark hair covering her face, her eyes baggy and wrinkled. She keeps asking me to get her out as she cries, reaching towards me.

  She looks so sad and tortured, it makes me want to help her. I start to walk over to her. I touch her hand and she yanks me into the gate, making me bang my shoulder against it. I lose my grip on Ari and our hands release. The lady pulls me so I'm face to face with her, the thin gate the only barrier.

  I look into her eyes and see pain. "Help me!" She screams again, only this time right into my face, making me flinch away.

  She pulls me harder into the gate, pain shooting up my left arm. Her hands start to leave marks where they touch me as her nails bite into my skin. I start panicking using my other arm to pry her clenching hands off of me. I call for Ari to help me and feel his hands on my mid section pulling me backwards.

  Finally I break free of her arm and stumble backwards, Ari catching me. "Stay away." He warns the evil spirit but she doesn't care. She screams at him to give me back to her. He refuses of course and starts sprinting us away, pulling me along with him.

  "Do not leave my side. This is the Field of Punishment. People who do awful things on earth are sent here. That woman probably murdered someone. Leave her." Ari says, chastising me, clasping my hand with his as he leads us out of the gates.

  "Are you okay?" He asks me, looking up and down my body when we're clear of the tortured souls. He lifts my left arm, examining the bruises, touching them lightly. Ari bends down and plants a kiss on every single bruise.

  Looking forward, we spot our next obstacle. The shadows end and all there is is another freaking river. Who knows what this river is going to do? The river goes horizontally across our path. Looking left and right, it's clear that the only way across the river is to go through it.

  It is narrow enough that it will only take maybe five big leaps. The water is clear so I am able to see the bottom—it looks around knee deep. There's a faint sound of soft crying coming from somewhere that leaves me unsettled so I look to Ari for an explanation.

  "This is the river Cocytus. We can walk though but let's be fast." Ari explains, taking my hand as he leads me to the river side.

  "What will happen to us?" I ask before I step in.

  "I'm not sure, it's the river of wailing. I think we'll be okay." He shrugs his shoulders like he doesn't really know for sure but is willing to do it. We each put one foot in and nothing happens.

  "I trust you." I tell Ari. Hesitantly I put my other foot in and nothing happens again. The crying picks up, getting louder but I feel no pain.

  We tentatively take more steps and about halfway through it worsens. My ears start ringing like crazy. The crying pierces the air. I drop Ari's hand to cover both my ears. He does the same thing looking at me, willing me to keep moving. I take a few more steps but the crying only gets worse. I can't take the sound and I drop to my knees. Cradling my head in my hands, I cry out from the pain the sounds from the river give off.

  Ari lifts me off my knees, carrying me the rest of the way. I keep my hands over my ears as he cradles me like a baby. He's trying to say something to me, leaning close to my ear but I can't hear him over the crying. He runs across the rest of the river and then drops us against a firm wall.

  Slowly, the crying dies down to the whisper it was to begin with. I don't dare to take my hands off my ears, in fear that it will begin again. Ari still cradles me in his arms as I straddle him, not moving a muscle. After another minute, I take my hands down.

  My ears feel wet and when I reach up to touch them, my hands come back blood red. I try to wipe it off but it's never ending. Panicking, I wrap my arms around Ari and lean into his chest, needing help.

  It isn't just the pain, I am scared, too. Don't get me wrong there is pain, a lot of it. My heart beat drums in my ears and I'm not even sure if I can hear completely. Not to mention the fact that my ears are oozing blood.

  After composing myself, I look to Ari for my next order. I notice thin red lines running down his neck disappearing into his shirt. I desperately try to wipe it off but it's stained on.

  "We should get going." He states, taking my hand like usual. I refuse to move not liking the way he goes so hot and cold.

  "Thank you." I say. I take a chance and kissing his lips softly, wanting to show him I'm thankful for everything he's done for me. It isn't a gut wrenching passion filled kiss. Instead it is simple, yet meaningful.

  "What was that for?" He asks me attempting to suppress a smile but I see it.

  "Being you." I tell him, letting him hold me. He pulls back, kissing my forehead before we agree to start moving again.

  I have no idea how the hell Ari knows where we're going. I mean there's only one main road or path or whatever but there are tons of little ones branching out everywhere. Other than the rivers of death, it's a straight path. Didn't Ollie say that there was really only one way in and it was hard to get there?

  "How do you know where to go?" I ask him, not seeing a point in beating around the bush.

  "I've been down here before. I used a different portal but it's a similar path so far. The only difference is the rivers and what they do." He answers honestly.

  "Why were you here?" I ask him, having to pull teeth to get the damn answers.

  "I've made many trips down here for you." He reveals like it's no big deal.

  "For me?" I'm not completely grasping it. Ollie was the one who came down here for me, not Ari. The stories don't match up.

  "Yes." He answers simply, clearly not wanting to elaborate.

  "Why? Did I make you?" I try to understand.

  "You didn't make me. This is a first." He states, smiling down at me proudly.

  "So why did you come down?" I ask him getting frustrated.

  "To end the curse or my life. Whichever was easier."

  "End your life?" I ask. I don't believe that he'd kill himself but
my dream flashes to the front of my mind where I wanted to die. I think the curse has a negative effect on us all.

  "I'm immortal. Suicide isn't that easy." He confesses like that is a problem.

  "Why end it?" I ask, trying to understand how he feels.

  "You don't realize what your deaths do to me, Eury." He conveys, showing some emotion. I shrug feeling stupid. "When you die in every lifetime you take me with you."

  "I'm sorry. I didn't think of you." I whisper, ashamed at how selfish I've been.

  "It's fine. You're here now." He adds, squeezing my hand.

  "I am." I say, kissing him on the cheek.

  We walk in silence for a little which lets me think, which is never a good thing. I can't help but wonder how Ari, and Ollie too for that matter, feel about me. It's creepy that Ollie loved me before he even met me.

  Does that mean that Ari loves me right now? How can they love me without even knowing who I am? I mean clearly I'm different this time. I might even be part immortal.

  My head keeps spinning with ideas. Like, am I the same person over and over? That makes sense why they love me, but I'm my own person. I have free will. I've made choices and become someone. I'm not just a cookie cutter Eurydice. I have my own unique personality.

  Breaking me out of my mental tirade, I spot similar gates in the distance to the Field of Punishment. I start to panic dreading the bad souls. I look down at my bruises and my heart flutters—not the good flutter, either. Ari must be able to tell because he drops my hand placing his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into to him.

  This place is different than before. There's souls in there like the other one but this time they aren't begging to come out and pleading for me to help them. Instead they're just floating around, ignoring us altogether. In fact, it's pure silent.

  The grass inside the gates is greener and the air around is cooler, more mild and even. There's light coming from above that makes this area look more earth-like. I immediately think it's a sun, but that's impossible—we are way too far under ground. There's also some houses and buildings in the distance, maybe a mile or two back.