Misty Meadows; The Curse

Chapter 7

The next day Kane sat waiting; she had decided that as soon as Moth went out, she would go and see Harold.

Alice had agreed to keep Moth busy for the day to give Kane the time she needed.

He kissed her goodbye and as soon as they left, Kane was on the first bus going out of town; she knew if Moth found out what she was doing he would probably get annoyed, but she was sure if she was alone she would have more luck getting through to Harold.

She listened to music on the bus ride and when it eventually stopped outside the asylum she had played her playlist over a few times.

Getting out, she ran to the asylum gates as it started to rain and told the guard who she had come to see.

She waited a few minutes before the gate opened and she rushed in.

The nurse took her to Harold without complaint and Kane closed the door as she went in.

This time he turned when he heard the door; a smile on his face.

“You came back.”

She nodded, “I told you I would.”

“I thought you would forget me like the others.”

Kane sat on the bed, “No, I won’t do that; hey, come and look; I found a picture that belongs to you.”

He wheeled himself over and took the picture from her; his eyes filling with tears the moment he looked at it.

“Where did you get this?”

“Well, I kind of broke into your old house; it’s empty.”

He smiled at her as he clutched the picture to his chest, “Thank you; I had almost forgotten her.”

“Harold, who is she?”

“My wife Bethany.”

“Harold, do you remember your daughter’s name?”

He shook his head, “No; she wouldn’t tell me anything about her.”

Kane sighed, “Harold, I know you were trying to open some sort of gateway between us and the spirits; but what does that have to do with the curse?”

Harold frowned, “The curse, yes; you can’t be with Moth; the curse will drive him down the same path and he will kill you.”

“Harold, I need to know how to stop the curse; how do I save Moth from this?”

“You cut ties with him.”

Kane felt as if her heart had just dropped to her stomach, and she remembered Jasmine telling her to stay away from Moth, and then it hit her, love is what set the curse off.

Kane stood, “I need to go.”

Harold caught hold of her hand, “Please, stay awhile; I miss… People.”

Kane frowned at him; a part of her wanted to leave him there because of what he had done, but there was a part of her that felt sorry for him and she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

She huffed, “I’m going soft,” rolling her eyes she sat back down, “Okay, so what would you like to do?”

“Can we take a walk outside? It’s been so long since I’ve been outside.”

Kane nodded, “Sure.” She stood, taking hold of his wheelchair and walking out with him.

The nurse frowned, “Where are you taking him?”

“Outside; if that’s allowed?”

The nurse nodded, “Yes; but he hasn’t wanted to go out in years.”

Kane shrugged with a frown on her face.

Kane sat on the bus on her way back home; she had spent three hours with Harold, and Faith had asked her to visit the next day.

The bus stopped and Kane got out, taking a slow walk home; her mind on what Harold had told her about the curse.

When she walked into Alice’s house, she was met with Moth’s angry face.

She winced, “I can explain.”

Moth raised his brows, “You can?”

Kane nodded, “Yes, I can.”

He stood, “I’m listening.”

“I figured that having you around confuses Harold because he thinks that you’re Jethro, and I was right.”

Moth frowned, “You can’t go visiting people in the psyche ward alone; we don’t even know what he’s capable of, he could have hurt you.”

Kane gave him a look, “He’s an old man in a wheelchair; what exactly am I in danger of?”

“What about Goran?”

Kane shrugged, “Well he didn’t show up; I’m fine.”

Moth shook his head angrily, “You need to start thinking, London! You can’t just go around doing dangerous s**t alone!”

Kane frowned, “Relax, I’m fine; I don’t need someone following me around nonstop, Moth, give it a rest.”

“I will not! You could end up dead and you’re telling me to give it a rest?!”

Kane took a step back, “You know what, I’m going out; let me know when you’ve calmed down and can have a decent conversation.”

He caught her by the wrist and she frowned down at his hand before looking at him.

His eyes widened and he let go of her as if she were on fire, he took a step back, “Kane, no, I wasn’t trying to hurt you.”

Harold’s words were fresh in her mind and she stood staring at Moth.

“I wouldn’t have hurt you, London.”

Kane took another step back, “Moth, I didn’t say you would; you were just acting differently.”

Moth sighed, “So what did Harold say?”

Kane shrugged, “Not much; he acted a little more normal today though, so I think if I go see him again; I should do it alone.”

“No, I’ll take you there and just make sure to stay away from Harold.”

Kane frowned but said nothing.

She knew she couldn’t tell him what Harold had said or he’d run off again.

Suddenly Veda ran in; clearly out of breath.

“What happened?”

Veda waved her hands around frantically, “Skeleton… house… of Harold’s… skeleton in the yard.”

Kane and Moth exchanged glances before walking out with Veda behind.

Kane and Moth stood staring at the skeleton Cliff and Veda had found and dragged into the living room of Harold’s house.

Moth crouched next to the skeleton and lifted its arm, “This is Jethro.”

Kane frowned, “How do you know?”

“This bangle on his arm.”

Veda frowned, “Well if that’s Jethro, we should burn the body and the curse should go away.”

Moth stood, “Let’s try it.”

Cliff sighed, “I never imagined myself burning a skeleton.”

Kane gave him a look, “I never imagined you dating Veda.”

He laughed and shook his head.

Veda pulled her phone from her pocket, “I’ll call Macy and ask her to bring some supplies.”

Kane sighed, “Sure, make it sound like this is an everyday thing for us.”

Moth chuckled and stood, wrapping an arm around Kane’s waist, “Yeah, burning my dead father's body, after I set him a light years ago is definitely the norm for me.”

Veda put her phone in her pocket, “They’re on their way.”

Kane frowned, “Where are we going to do this?”

Cliff eyed the fireplace.

Kane glanced at the fireplace before turning to Moth with a questioning look.

He shrugged, “I really don’t care where it’s done as long as we don’t burn the house down.”

Kane nodded in agreement.

Cliff laughed, “Yeah, that wouldn’t go down too well with your reputation.”

“Exactly.”

Kane dusted one of the couches off before sitting down, “This place has such potential.”

Moth glanced around, “I agree, it’s too big for two people; although it would be the perfect place to start a family.”

Kane turned to him with a frown, “You want kids?”

Cliff and Veda turned; apparently, they were both very interested in this topic.

Moth shrugged, “I don’t know; I haven’t thought about it…Do you?”

Kane’s frown deepened, “No, I don’t know, no I don’t; I don’t even really like kids.”

Moth nodded, “Exactly; and I don’t want kids because of the terrible genes they’d get from my side.”

Kane looked away, feeling rather awkward.

Veda exhaled loudly, “Wow that was pretty intense.”

Kane rolled her eyes, “So Veda, what are the plans now that you’re back in Misty Meadows?”

“I was thinking of studying law; but the town is so small, that would get me nowhere.”

Moth held up his hand, “I would probably be your main source of income.”

Veda laughed and Collin and Macy came rushing in, “Who are we burning?”

“Jethro,” Replied Kane and Moth in unison.

Macy’s eyes bulged, “Didn’t you kill him already?”

Kane turned to Veda, “You didn’t tell her it’s a skeleton?”

Veda shrugged, “I might have left that part out.”

Moth frowned at Macy, “I’m quite shocked at your willingness to burn someone alive.”

Collin cleared his throat, “Hang on, I thought we were doing something else.”

Macy shrugged, “Veda said to bring gas so we could burn someone; obviously I couldn’t say that to Collin.”

Kane frowned, “I’m really starting to worry about you.”

Moth cleared his throat, “Okay, can we burn this body now?”

Kane nodded and she helped him drag the skeleton of Jethro to the fireplace where they threw him in.

Now, I can’t let you do that

Kane spun to see the spirit of Jethro standing in the doorway.

“Guys, hurry up with that fire; Jethro is here and he’s not happy.”

Moth turned, “Kane, get away from him.”

I just can’t let you burn me like that; wasn’t once enough?

Kane ignored Moth and took a step towards Jethro, “Jethro, you should know we will do anything that has to be done.”

And you should know, that I will do the same

Kane spun and threw the gasoline onto the body as Moth lit a match and threw it in.

Jethro’s spirit disappeared almost as soon as the flames started.

Macy sighed, “I honestly thought this would feel different.”

Moth frowned at her, “We’re burning a skeleton; how did you think it would feel?”

Macy shrugged, “I don’t know, but it feels like we’re doing something illegal.”

Kane scoffed, “I’m pretty sure it is illegal.”

“It most definitely is.”

They all spun to see Rick standing with his arms crossed over his chest.

“What are you even doing here?” Asked Cliff.

“I was alerted that Macy was buying gas and matches; told them I’d check it out because one of the cops followed you straight here.”

Kane shot Macy a glare.

Macy held up her hands, “I apologize; I’m not used to being a criminal.”

Rick looked over their shoulders at the fire in the fireplace, “Please tell me that poor guy was dead already.”

Kane glanced at Moth, “It’s Jethro’s skeleton.”

Rick frowned, “Kane, can I speak with you for a second?”

Kane nodded but as she started forward, Moth caught her arm; his eyes still on Rick.

She frowned at him, “Moth; relax.”

He gave her a look that clearly let her know he wasn’t happy with this and let go of her hand.

Kane followed Rick out, “What is it, Rick?”

“Kane, you agreed to let me help you with all of this; why didn’t you call me?”

“Rick, come on; this wasn’t a big deal.”

“If those other cops had come in you would all have been arrested; don’t tell me it’s not a big deal.”

Kane sighed, “Okay, I’m sorry but you’re here now, so let’s go back in and I’ll bring you up to speed on what’s been going on.”

“Kane, Moth seems to be changing; he has this look in his eyes that I’ve never seen before; a look I don’t like.”

“Don’t try to make me doubt Moth; it’s not going to happen.”

“What if he hurts you, Kane?”

“He won’t; he loves me.”

“Jethro loved Jasmine.”

Without thinking she slapped Rick across the face, “Don’t you ever compare Moth with Jethro again.”

She turned and went back into the house, Moth Stood looking at her with an annoyed look in his eyes but she decided to ignore it till later.

They awkwardly stood as they watched the skeleton of Jethro burn.

Moth came over to Kane and leant closer, lowering his voice, “Can I speak to you?”

Kane nodded and the two of them went upstairs to what had been a study.

Moth closed the door behind them and leant back against it, “London, I overheard the conversation you had with Rick…”

Kane sighed and sat down on the edge of the desk.

“London, he’s right; since we’ve started on trying to break this curse I have changed and it worries me a lot… What if he’s right and you and I are just like my parents?”

“Moth, we can’t keep having the same conversation over and over again.”

“I know that but I can’t keep pretending that I’m the same person I was before; I’m not and it scares me. Every time I see you going off to talk to Rick, I want to hurt him, London, and I start feeling like I can’t trust you and it’s stupid because I know that I can.”

Kane frowned, taking note of the way his eyes flashed suddenly; she stood and walked over to him, “Moth, when your father reached that point where he snapped, did his eyes change?”

“They got a lot darker.”

Kane sighed and took a step back, “Your eyes have gotten a lot darker.”

Moth walked over to the desk, punching it, “I knew it.”

“Moth, we can beat this, I truly believe that.”

Moth spun, “I don’t know if I want to risk it, Kane; if I turn into him and hurt you I will never be able to live with myself.”

Kane sighed, “You tried to tell me to stay away from you before and I didn’t listen then; that isn’t going to change.”

Moth sat on the desk, “London… I love you, I want to spend the rest of my life with you, but I don’t want to risk your life to do it.”

Kane walked over to him and took his hands, “That’s my choice to make, and I’m willing to do this with you; we can overcome this.”

Moth surprised her by pulling her into his arms and kissing her, “London, I don’t want to let you go.”

“Then don’t, Moth.”

He sat back and looked at her, “Let’s get married.”

Kane frowned at him, “What?”

“Yeah, let’s get married.”

“Well, that’s very sudden.”

“No it’s not, like you said, I shouldn’t let go of you.”

“Yeah, but, you want to get married?”

“Yes,” he jumped off the desk and dropped to one knee, “I don’t have a ring on me right now, but Kane London, will you marry me?”

Kane pulled him to his feet and kissed him, “Obviously.”

Veda walked in, “We wanted to leave; what’s going on here?”

Moth grinned, “We’re getting married.”

Veda’s eyes bulged, “What?” she ran out shouting the news at the top of her lungs.

Kane and Moth followed hand in hand.

Cliff ran over and gave both of them a tight hug, “That’s great, congratulations; I’m standing up there with you, Kane.”

Macy gave him a look, “Excuse me; I’m the female friend so I’ll be up there with her.”

Rick cleared his throat, “Uh, congrats, I guess.”

Kane could see he wasn’t happy, but for the first time in a long while she and Moth were, and that was all that mattered.

Kane walked into the asylum; she had just spent two hours visiting Faith and she wanted to stop by Harold’s room to see him too.

When she walked in, she immediately had a feeling that something was wrong; she could see it by the look on Harold’s face.

“What’s wrong, Harold?”

“There was a man who visited me today; he promised to bring my great-granddaughter to me.”

“But isn’t that a good thing?”

“No, you don’t understand; he wants me to help him do something bad first; he won’t bring her if I don’t help him, but I don’t want to do bad things anymore.”

“What does he want you to do, Harold?” she sat down on the bed; she had a very uneasy feeling.

“Please, you cannot be here, you need to go. And don’t go alone, have someone pick you up, quickly.”

Kane frowned, “Harold, what’s going on?”

“Leave!”

Kane was confused by Harold’s sudden outburst but she stood and walked out.

She got into the elevator and as she turned to press the button, her blood ran cold at the sight of the man who had just stepped into the elevator.

Goran stood in a blue button-up shirt with jeans; his face a mess of scars.

“Goran, what are you doing?”

He smiled as he hit the ground floor button, “I’m fetching what is rightfully mine.”

“You’re not taking me anywhere.”

He tilted his head, “Really? And who is going to stop me? The flame thrower is off looking for a ring for you.”

The doors opened and Kane shoved him aside, running out at full speed.

As she reached the doors, a security officer stopped her, “Ma’am, what is going on?”

“I’m being attacked by my psycho ex, get out of my way.” She pushed past him and continued on, walking out of the building and running for the gates.

As she got to the gates, she felt tight hands grip her upper arm, “Kane, darling, let’s not make a scene; I have friends who are doctors here and will happily admit you and sign you into my care.”

Kane froze, “What exactly do you want from me, Goran?”

“I want you to walk with me to my car.”

“Get your hands off me, and I will.”

He let go of her and she walked slowly behind him, stopping at his car, she hit him and tried to run, but he caught her and elbowed her in the face; sending her to her knees.

He lifted her to her feet and shoved her into the backseat of his car before getting in and starting it.

“You’ll see what a lovely life I have to offer you, Kane; I don’t want to have to hurt you, I just want you to see what I can offer you.”

Kane’s head ached and she could feel the blood running down her face; she pushed herself into a sitting position, “Goran…You won’t get…Away with this.”

“Oh, I already have though, darling. I’ve sent Alice a lovely message from your phone letting her know the pressure was all a bit much and how you’ve gone to stay with Gina.”

“Gina will tell her I’m not there.”

“She won’t; I have her phone and she’s six foot under with Scotty.”

Kane frowned; she hadn’t realized that Goran had gone so far.

“Moth will know.”

Goran chuckled, “Don’t worry, I sent him a lovely message too, telling him how you’ve realized that he is in fact just like his father.”

Kane let her head fall against the window; the blow to her head had left her too weak to do anything, and her heart ached because Moth doubted himself and there was a possibility that he would believe the message.

Kane was fighting to keep her eyes open, and just before they closed she saw the spirit of Jasmine, but she wasn’t alone; Jethro was with her.

Kane opened her eyes; her head hurt and she couldn’t understand where she was.

The walls were wood and she was in a bed she didn’t know.

She tried to get up, only to find one of her hands had been cuffed to the bed; and that’s when she remembered what had happened.

“Goran?”

She pulled on the chain that had been locked to her wrist and winced as the metal bit into her skin.

“Oh, my lovely Kay, you are awake at last.”

Kane frowned at him, “You’ve lost your mind, and you hit me over the head and chain me up and still expect me to have feelings for you?”

Goran frowned, “I told you I didn’t want to hurt you, Kay, but you wouldn’t come with me willingly so I had to hurt you; I’ve only chained you because I don’t want you trying to run again because then I’ll have to hurt you again and I don’t want to have to do that.”

“Well the chain is hurting me; can you take it off, please?”

He came over and sat next to her on the bed, “But I can’t trust you yet.”

“Of course you can, you’ve seen I’m no match against you, I couldn’t possibly getaway.”

“You promise you won’t be bad?”

Kane nodded and he unlocked the chain; she briefly contemplated using the chain as a weapon, but decided against it; she would need to gain his trust before she would be able to catch him off guard.

“Would you like anything?”

“Um, food and something to drink.”

He stood, “Okay, there’s a toilet and shower through the red door; I’ll keep your door locked for now so you can’t try and runoff.”

Kane said nothing as he walked out and she heard him locking the door.

She stood and checked the windows which were barred; she realized they were no longer in Misty Meadows because she could see a beach not so far from them.

Kane

She spun to see Jethro standing against the door.

Jasmine and I want to help you

Kane frowned, “Why would you help me?”

You released me from the spirits who had control and now Jasmine and I are together

The door opened and Goran walked in with a tray, “There are bacon, toast and orange juice.”

Kane glared at him, “You know I don’t like orange juice.”

“But you need to stay healthy; can’t have you picking up a weight before our wedding.”

Kane frowned, “Or what?”

“Yes, I’ve booked a lovely chapel for us, unfortunately, the only date they had available was in two months, but it’s better than nothing.”

Kane opened her mouth to let him know exactly how she felt about that.

Don’t anger him yet

“Well, um, thanks.” She took the tray from him and sat down.

“You will love me again, Kay.”

To avoid saying anything, she stuffed a piece of bacon in her mouth.

“I have a lovely book with wedding dresses, I was hoping you could show me which one you like.”

Jethro nodded at her.

“Sure.”

Goran smiled and walked out, leaving the door open for a few seconds before coming back in.

Kane placed the tray aside and forced a sip of orange juice down as he sat beside her with the magazine.

“Have a look and let me know; you don’t have to do it right away, I was hoping we could talk, it’s been so long since we’ve spoken.”

Kane nodded.

“I understand that I did a lot of bad things to you, but I’ve changed a lot and all I want is for you to see that.”

“Okay.”

“I can offer so much more than Jixen, and I’ve decided to kill him so that he won’t be a problem for us any longer.”

Kane frowned, “No; don’t hurt him; we can be together without him dying.”

Anger flashed across Goran’s face, “You still want him rather than me.”

“No, no that isn’t it at all; think about it, you’ve already killed Gina and Scott, that’s already so much bad karma, don’t let Moth ruin things for us, if you kill him, we will be punished.”

Goran frowned, “Well, maybe you’re right, perhaps we can go on without him being dead, but I’ll need to make him think that you’re dead; he won’t give up otherwise; he’s been calling nonstop.”

Kane suddenly got an idea, “Maybe I should answer when he calls again; tell him we’ve worked things out and I’m giving you a chance to prove yourself and let him know I don’t want him anymore.”

“Do you mean that?”

Kane nodded, “Yes, absolutely.”

Goran smiled, “I knew you would come around, Kay.”

**