THE CURSE
1070 Words
THORN-BLADE PACK
Lucian's POV
The pain in my head felt like a thousand thorns prickling into my skull.
The pain hit like a dull blade of torture.
My fingers dug into my palm, drawing blood as another wave of fire tore through my chest.
Four years!!!
Four f##king years had passed since I'd taken up the role of an Alpha following my father's death, but with this, also came the harsh price of being a descendant of Thornblade.
An ancient curse that followed each bloodline, transferring to the next line whenever one dies.
For the first two years, nothing had changed and I thought I’d escaped it. I assumed maybe the curse had skipped a generation. Maybe fate had given me mercy.
But mercy didn't exist for Thornblades.
Sometime last year, something had triggered it and now, I also bore the ancient curse and for some reason, it appeared to be getting worse each month.
The curse didn’t just affect my body, it devoured my mind. The beast within me was breaking loose, clawing its way out, my head throbbed again, the air grew thick with the metallic scent of my own blood as I dug my nails further into my palm, desperate for an escape.
"Tighten the chains"
I could hear the voices but could barely decipher from whom they came and honestly, I didn't care, all I wanted at this point was for the damn pain to stop.
My heart pounded erratically, and heat flooded my chest, spreading through my arms and legs like wildfire. I could hear the chains clattering around me, tightening as commanded, biting into my skin.
I roared and the only thing I could see afterward was red.
×××
Lucian's pov
I woke up to the light feel of sunlight against my skin, a soft and warm covering above me.
For a few seconds, I didn’t move. I let the sensation wash over me, let the heat graze into my bare shoulders like I could pretend nothing had happened.
Then reality returned, sharp and uninvited.
My eyes pried open, heavy at first, then slowly adjusted to the dim light filtering through the curtains. I blinked against it, and as my vision cleared, the first thing I recognized was that I was in a room.
My room.
The air felt still and tense, my gaze swept across the room, settling on two figures who stood not too far.
I recognized them
It was Kai and Rigor(the pack healer)
Both stood silently, watching me with that same haunted mix of curiosity and pity I’d come to know too well.
I sighed heavily, already understanding what would have transpired.
"How many?"
I asked, my tone was low and rigid, already dreading the answer.
Kai’s eyes flickered down, and I knew it was bad. He didn’t have to speak. He never wanted to.
Whenever the curse got triggered, my beast was who took control, and having the blood of an Alpha, the mere chains used on regular wolves were never enough to subdue me, I always got out, resulting in people getting killed.
I was feared, by my own people, just like how they feared my father, I hated it.
Kai looked away, his expression already telling me I wouldn't want to hear the answer to the question I'd asked
I could feel the sharp grind of my teeth as I clenched my jaw. A familiar ache coiled in my temples, and the bitterness crawled under my skin until it burned.
"I can't live like this," I muttered to no one in particular. The words scraped out of me into the silence.
“There has to be a way "I continued to mumble
I stared at the wall, my mind racing through every failed attempt, every ritual, every herb, and ancient text that I'd tried that brought nothing but false hope.
Every curse known in history always had a cure, a loophole, anything at all, but this one… this cruel thing that lived inside me… it was something different. Something older, with no way out.
My hands curled into fists against the sheets.
"Well, Alpha....." Rigor began but stopped midway and for some reason, his behavior alone told me he was wary of what he wanted to say, my eyes narrowed at him.
Kai shot him a warning look, subtle but clear. Rigor ignored it.
"I know I shouldn't say this but...."
He continued cautiously "....perhaps an external research for aid could be useful in finding ways to eradicate the curse?"
My curiosity piqued immediately at his words, wanting to know what suggestions he had.
I was desperate for any solution at this point yet when he opened his mouth again, the words that flew out were enough to stir something deadly within me
"We could seek knowledgeable help from witches th....."
He didn't finish
In one second, my hand met his neck, the tight grip forcing back any remaining words he had to say.
My vision clouded, and when I blinked, the green of my eyes was gone, instantly replaced by the burning hues of gold as my beast surfaced
"Lucian!"
Kai called, rushing over, and he tried to pry my hand away, but his effort only fueled my grip. I could feel Rigor’s pulse hammering against my palm, could see the desperate panic in his eyes as he clawed weakly at my wrist.
"Lucian stop!"
This time, it appeared, Kai's voice managed to reach me, that desperate tone he only ever used when he knew I was slipping into insanity.
A moment of clarity.
I released him but the murderous intent from my eyes was still hot and burning under my skin.
Rigor stumbled backward, gasping, clutching his bruised neck, his breath came out heavy and uneven as he tried to steady himself.
I stared down at him, my voice low and thick
“I hear even a breath of such from you again, and you’ll be lucky to see the sunrise.”
The words came out in a deadly threat and I meant every one of them.
I'd rather be dragged through mud than ever seek help from those conniving creatures. The very thought of their existence made bile rise in my throat. To seek help from them would be to spit on everything I stood for.
But before I could dwell longer on my thoughts, a wave of nausea hit me hard.
- Writer
