The Keeper's Curse

by Diana Harrison

  Emmy rolled around onto her back to face Rozelyn, who was still holding onto her waist. The girls glared at each other for several moments, neither backing down.

  “You sound like a bad romance novel,” Emmy finally said.

  “I don’t care. I’m not going to let some stupid kid run off and get Breckin killed, which is what will happen if you’re not careful. Which you aren’t.”

  Emmy rolled her eyes. “You’re three years older than me. Don’t be condescending. Believe it or not, I don’t want to die.”

  “But Breckin –”

  “I don’t want Breckin to die, either. Think of it this way – if I leave here, Thoreoux won’t know where I am. It’ll be safer for Breckin too.”

  “Yes, for a while. And then Thoreoux will inevitably find you, and Breckin won’t be around to protect you. I’m sorry, but I’m not putting Breckin’s life in your hands. You already nearly got someone else I care about killed.”

  Jade. Emmy had forgotten about Jade and the crushing guilt that came along with her.

  Emmy fell back on the ground. What was she supposed to do? She had two lives to consider, and although she didn’t want to admit it, Rozelyn was right. Methelwood was the toughest, most militant orb, and the strongest crafter in the world was here. If there was anywhere she should be, it was Methelwood.

  “Think about your mom,” Rozelyn said.

  Emmy wanted to hit her again. Ah, yes, her mother. If she left, she wouldn’t pass her admission exam, become a citizen, and her mother would be stuck in prison forever. Her mother would never see her father again, which apparently was at the top of her priority list.

  Rozelyn must have seen something on her face, because her grip loosened on Emmy, and she slid her arms out from under Emmy’s waist. Rozelyn lay down beside her.

  “I’m going to want complete protection, around the clock,” Emmy said.

  “You’ll get it. And everything else you might want. I’ll see to it personally.”

  Emmy couldn’t believe she was doing this. She was going to stay in a death trap, and it had been Rozelyn Woodworker who convinced her. Emmy wanted to punch the delight off her face.

  “I’ll stay. You have permission to bask in your sanctimonious glee now.”

  “No, not really.”

  “Nothing makes you happy, does it?” Emmy said, sitting up and getting to her feet.

  Rozelyn snorted in disbelief. “You’re his Keeper, Emmy. You do realize I’ve been praying ever since he told me about the curse you’d never show up, right?” She ran a hand through her hair. “I’ve read more about Keepers than Breckin has. Breckin didn’t care one way or the other, but I wanted to know who you were. And I found out most Keepers and their partners ... when they meet, and they always eventually do ... they marry.”

  Emmy froze again, like when her mother had told her story. This was not a subject she wanted to discuss in detail, especially with Breckin’s girlfriend.

  “I’m fifteen.” It was all Emmy could think of to say.

  “Yes, I’m not saying it’ll happen now, but I’m willing to face the fact he might leave me one day. For you.”

  Emmy couldn’t keep the smile from her face. Talented, beautiful Rozelyn was jealous of her, even if it wasn’t necessary. “He doesn’t think of me that way. Trust me, I keep searching through his head, and I can’t find anything.”

  Now it was Rozelyn’s turn to be unable to suppress a smile. “Really?”

  “Really. It’s you he’s crazy about. He likes me, but not in any special way.”

  “Well, Breckin is a bit ... clueless on that sort of thing. It probably hasn’t even crossed his mind to think of you like that. That might change.”

  Emmy didn’t respond. It filled her with both joy and terror imagining him feeling the same way about her, but it would probably be better if that never did happen. The idea that she might one day say his name the way Rozelyn did did not help the case to stay, so she pushed it aside. That was for another day.

  At the moment she had to deal with the fact that she was carrying around his soul, which was more than enough for now.

  Chapter 16

  Surprise Letter

  As they began their tread towards the hospital, the pain in Emmy lessened. By the time they reached the grounds, her insides practically purred. Rozelyn gripped Emmy all the way back, and Emmy let her. She was too exhausted to fight her off.

  “I’m not going to take off if you let go,” Emmy said, gesturing to her arm.

  “You left him.” It was almost a hiss. “I can’t trust you, and now neither can he.”

  “You’re being melodramatic. I’m sure he understands – anyone would have reacted the same way I did.”

  Rozelyn threw Emmy’s arm down violently and took a step towards her, so close she could smell Rozelyn’s sandalwood soap. “You aren’t anybody else. You don’t know him like I do. You don’t know how vulnerable he is.”

  Emmy backed away, all but tripping over her feet. “Would you relax?”

  But she had already triggered Rozelyn’s anger again. “When his uncle took him in, it took Breckin a year before he even began to start trusting him. Noah told me about all the weird things he used to do, like sleeping outside, too scared of Noah to sleep in his room. How he hid food all over the house in case Noah starved him. How he would have random panic attacks.”

  If Emmy hadn’t been so horrified, she would have begged Rozelyn to stop talking. This was none of her business, and she knew Breckin wouldn’t appreciate her saying these things about him behind his back.

  “There are still things he keeps to himself about what happened with the Crows. I know because I’ve heard him waking up thrashing and screaming, and when I sneak up on him, he flinches. But he’d rather suffer on his own than tell me because he’s that terrified that if I know everything, I’ll leave him. I’ve been with him two years, and he still doesn’t trust me.”

  “So you’re putting all that pressure on me?”

  “I’m just trying to make you understand – he only sees two kinds of people. He sees people like Rhoan, who’re sadists that enjoy hurting him. And then he sees his father, his mother, and Becca. People who leave. And you left.”

  She didn’t respond; the point had been made: Emmy was a self-absorbed little brat who didn’t care about anyone but herself. Emmy wanted to point out she also changed her mind, but thought better of it – she hadn’t come back for Breckin, after all. Her heart contracted at the idea of her mother’s disappointment when she found out Emmy had stayed.

  It was just after noon, and the corridors which had been nearly deserted that morning were now filled with patients and their families.

  The two girls panicked when they came to Jade’s room and found it empty. Emmy was on the verge of tears when Milo ran into her and informed her nothing was wrong with Jade. She had just been moved to make more room on the main floor.

  “I’ll take you to her myself,” he offered.

  “So how’s Jade?” Rozelyn asked, as the three of them made their way.

  “She’s doing fantastic. She woke up about half an hour ago, actually. The Eldoir and her friend – the short girl – helped her up to her new room and the three of them are in it together. She’s a strapper – she’ll heel fast.”

  Both Emmy and Rozelyn sighed in relief, their argument forgotten.

  Milo led them past the psych ward, which Emmy couldn’t help but notice had few visitors. The rooms were for the most part unoccupied with the doors open for any passerby to see. She vaguely remembered Milo mentioning once that mental health wasn’t high priority.

  The next level was the hospital wards, for the more stable patients. Milo tried to chat with Emmy about how her arm was, and if he should make another appointment, which she said yes to while only half listening to him. She could hear arguing at the end of the hallway.

  “I can’t believe she didn’t tell me all this!” Jade’s voice echoed down the hall. “And honestly, I’m a
little insulted you didn’t tell me, Crawford! Gabe didn’t tell me either!”

  “I was just trying to protect you, Jade,” Breckin said, trying to calm her down. “I’ve only ever told people I had to tell.”

  “Is that why you can’t seem to die? Remember all those attempts on your life when you moved here? I remember once, the rumours were a sword went right through you and came back out without cracking your skin.”

  “Yes, I remember. It freaked me out, too.”

  Emmy said, “Maybe that’s because you’re a freak.” She stood in the doorway, her arms across her chest.

  Breckin and Jade jumped, their faces tightening in shock. She realized then that they hadn’t thought she was going to come back.

  The first thing Emmy did was examine Jade, who indeed looked much better. The bruise already started yellowing and her cheeks were flushed pink.

  Emmy burst into tears. “I’m sorry, Jade, I’m so sorry,” she cried, taking a few long steps over to her bed and throwing her arms around her. The shock of a spontaneous hug from Emmy sent Jade tumbling back into her pillow, taking Emmy with her. Jade squeezed her tight, patting her on the back.

  “Hey, it’s okay, honey, I don’t blame you. It was my mistake, I didn’t follow the plan. I should have stopped fighting them.”

  “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!” Emmy wailed. “It was my idea.”

  “You had no idea those – those things would be there.” Jade took Emmy by the shoulders and pulled her back to face her. “Breckin’s been telling me some interesting things while you’ve been gone, though.”

  For the first time since she entered the room, Emmy and Breckin made eye contact. She shook her head, annoyed at him. This scrawny, quiet boy had wreaked havoc on her life, and she wasn’t even mad at him. The lines were back on his face, worried and tense, with a tilted head waiting for a response from her. He wasn’t anxious because she quite literally held his life in her hands – she heard it in his head – but because he didn’t know how she would take the news. He wanted, quite badly, acceptance from her. He wanted her to like him.

  “You’re an idiot,” she was all she said, before getting up off Jade’s bed and, very slowly, gave him a hug. It was the most awkward hug she had ever had to suffer through. Breckin tentatively put his arms around her in return, but kept her at a distance, so their bodies weren’t quite touching.

  When he mercifully pushed her back, he said, “So, your name is ‘Emmy’, huh?”

  She couldn’t breathe when he said her name. “Yeah, but you can keep calling me ‘Lana’ if you want to.”

  Great. Because I do.

  Then go right ahead. The expression on his face indicated he had received her message.

  “Right then,” Jade said loudly, breaking the moment. “Now that that’s out of the way, can someone please fully explain to me what a soul transplant is?”

  ***

  Jade’s parents arrived minutes after hearing she had woken up. The reunion was loud and tearful, the most excitement emanating from Vera. Jade grew tired of assuring her visitors she really was fine, even suggesting that she should go to school the next day, something everyone was against.

  Despite their joy, Emmy couldn’t help but notice Persephone never came back to visit. Milo had said she helped Jade to her new room, but she hadn’t been there when she and Rozelyn had showed up. Whenever she brought this up, Jade would hastily look away and Breckin would seemingly grow a pulsing purple vein in his throat, so she finally let the issue go.

  It was only the next day, when Emmy and Jade were alone in her hospital room did she ask again.

  “Persephone got ... very defensive,” Jade said, picking at the loose threads of her bed sheets, “when Breckin asked her how she knew about the Keeper’s Curse. They really had it out when you were gone.”

  This was what Emmy had been afraid of. “It is a little weird though, isn’t it? That Persephone knows?”

  Jade pulled too hard on the thread, ripping a hole in the sheet. “It’s weirder that she didn’t tell me. We’ve been friends for years, Em. She’s never shown any interest in the thirteen books or Breckin for that matter. Why did she feel she had to keep this from me?”

  “Because of exactly how Breckin reacted. We can’t start accusing her of anything yet. I know it looks bad, but there’s no way that she’s –”

  “In league with Thoreoux?”

  The interruption was not from Jade. The voice was a dry, soft voice, and Emmy knew who would be standing behind her before she turned around just from the sudden cold draft in the room. Cyrus stood in the threshold with an unreadable expression on his face, his eyes locked on Jade.

  Emmy was on the balls of her feet in a flash. “Stay away from her.” She jumped in front of the bed, the metal frame digging into her side. “Or I’ll break every bone in your body.”

  Cyrus only stopped staring at Jade after a couple of seconds, and then decided to acknowledge Emmy’s existence, as if he had a delayed reaction. She readied herself for him to laugh at her, but he tilted his head instead.

  “How is she feeling?”

  “She’ll be fine,” Emmy snarled. “Do you want me to get a doctor?”

  “That won’t be necessary.” Before she could respond to him, he was gone.

  How dare he just walk away from her? Emmy stomped into the hallway, feeling more angry than sensible, and chose to ignore Jade’s protests for her to stay.

  Cyrus stood out starkly in his usual black clothing against the bland ward, making it easy for Emmy to spot him. They were the only two in the corridor.

  “You think I don’t know that it was you?” Emmy bellowed. He kept walking, not turning around or acknowledging she had spoken. “You sent those monsters after me, didn’t you? Was it because I didn’t listen?”

  “I told you to stay away from him,” Cyrus said, not turning around. Although his voice was loud, he sounded tired.

  “Well, next time you try to kill me,” Emmy shouted, “come after me yourself, you coward.”

  This was the wrong thing to say. Cyrus froze, jerking his head around, his eyes crackling with silver flames. His long legs strode back towards her, moving twice as fast as he had been moving before. Emmy tried to move, but she was petrified by his gaze, rooted to the ground.

  “You’re – calling – me – a – coward?”

  The moment came when he was in arms reach of her, and he pushed her into the wall. It didn’t hurt, but it was very deliberate.

  His face was just inches from hers when he spoke again, his voice ghost quiet. “Do you have any idea what I’ve done for you, you ungrateful, stupid girl?”

  Emmy shut her eyes, too afraid to look at his face. “Someone will walk by any minute now.”

  He pushed his body closer to her, crushing her further into the wall. Her hands shook so badly it took her a moment to notice he had grabbed hold of her left one, wrapping his fingers around hers. She felt something crinkling between them. He pushed the something into her hand and let go of her.

  “If you want to help your little soul partner,” he said, “don’t do anything stupid.”

  She heard the clacking of his shoes walking away, and after about a minute, she opened her eyes, and he was gone. Emmy swiftly checked to make sure no one was in the hall, and when the coast was clear, she checked to see what Cyrus had given her.

  It was just a piece of paper, but she was too curious not to read it.

  Evangeline,

  You now know - as Thoreoux and I were unable to stop you from finding out - Crawford’s soul is inside you, and you are responsible for both of your lives. Thoreoux has had eyes in Methelwood for years, and as Breckin and you have probably already theorized, I was sent here to kill you if you proved to truly be the Keeper.

  The attackers sent on you last night, as well as the animals you have probably seen lurking around, are spies of Thoreoux, and they watch every move you and I make. They know you know about the curse, and have
no reason not to kill you now. I don’t know if I should be telling you this, but if you felt a sudden rush of power last night, suddenly able to fight your attackers off, that was me. I ordered you to save yourself, giving you just enough time before Crawford arrived.

  Although you are probably tempted to show this letter to Breckin, I beg you not to. By telling you this much, I have already jeopardized my own life. We both know Breckin well enough to know that he is impulsive and reckless – he will go straight to the authorities, Thoreoux will know what I have done, and he will kill me.

  If you trust me, and do as I say, I will tell you everything we need to do next. I am sincere when I say I have no intention of harming you.

  Cyrus Crow

  Emmy must have read the letter five times before she truly understood the meaning of it. And it still didn’t make any sense. It went against everything she knew about Cyrus.

  This was too much, she couldn’t deal with this right now. She slipped the note back into her pocket, went back to Jade’s room, and didn’t say a word.

  Chapter 17

  The Crow Mansion

  The whole family came over to Jade’s room in the evening for supper. Jade was thrilled, slightly embarrassed from all the attention she had gotten, but pleased nonetheless. More than anything, she was just restless from having to stay in bed all day.

  “So, Doc, am I free to go yet?” Jade asked when Milo came to check up on her.

  The young doctor shook his head reprovingly, but Emmy could see he was repressing a smile. “There’s a reason I hate dealing with strappers. So unpredictable.” Jade put on her best pleading face. “But you do seem well enough. Everything seems completely healed.”

  “Completely healed,” Jade said.