The Fated Curse

Chapter 13

Valencia

Gideon gave me a t-shirt to wear as my clothes were either soaked or in tatters on the ground. We still hadn't said a word to each other. Our conversations silent. We spent time washing each other in the shower, examining each other to confirm we were whole and unharmed. He had a few bruises but nothing to write home about.

He pulled me into bed with him and I did not resist. He pulled my back to his chest and wrapped his arms around me, holding me close. He nuzzled his head into my neck and inhaled deeply, taking in my scent. Satisfied, he relaxed, and then I heard gentle snoring next to me. His snores were oddly comforting.

I felt myself drifting, my eyes growing heavy. The comfortable weight of sleep spread through my body. Then my body had a falling sensation, the kind that makes you realize where the term 'falling asleep' comes from. Where you have the sensation of free-falling, and the weightlessness automatically triggers your body's survival instinct. Then you jolt awake with adrenaline pumping. I hate it when that happens. And it just did. I jolted, and I heard Gideon grumble next to me before resuming his snores.

I tried to level my breathing to get my heart to slow down. I know there is no danger but my body doesn't know that. I open my eyes to focus on something in the room to ground myself. But, I wish I had kept them closed. Right in front of me was a young woman with long brown hair and beautiful blue eyes. I blinked again to make sure it wasn't a trick of the eyes. She raised her hand and held up 5 fingers. She twiddled her fingers to emphasize the number and smiled. Goosebumps spread across my body and the hair on the back of my neck stood up.

She opened her mouth to speak and the words her lips formed didn't come from her mouth but echoed through my mind.

You are running out of time. The echo was loud in my head. Five months and you will be mine. Her figure flickered in front of me, alerting me to the apparition she was. You play a fool's game. She vanished then reappeared, her face inches from mine. I tried to move, but I was stuck in some sort of sleep paralysis. A cruel thing, letting his feelings fester. How much damage do you intend to cause? Her fingers ran along my cheek. There is no such thing as miracles. She grabbed my chin, forcing my face forward and to look into her eyes. Goodbye to you and hello to new. Your replacement will fail just like you. To think he could have been spared if you hadn't failed. I squeezed my eyes closed and willed this nightmare to end. I could hear her laughter echo through the room. Panic took over my body as I couldn't move, couldn't free myself. I tried to scream, but no sound came out.

"Valencia!"

I jolted up in the bed panting heavily. I must have looked crazed. Gideon was looking at me concerned. That was Elisa, I know it was. I hadn't known what she looked like, but I could feel it in my bones. It was a warning, a reminder. My life was not mine own.

Gideon gently rubbed my back as I tried to level myself. "Sorry," I muttered.

"Don't apologize. You started thrashing in your sleep and making incoherent noises. I tried to shake you, and you wouldn't wake up."

"Just a bad dream."

"That was some bad dream. Want to talk about it?"

"No." I said more sternly than I had intended. He didn't press. He tried to pull me back into his arms, but I flinched from his touch. "Sorry, it isn't you. I just... I need to leave." I quickly shot out of bed. This had gone on long enough. If Elisa showing up proved anything, it was that this needed to end, and now. Before anyone got too hurt.

He called after me but I didn't listen. I must have looked like a woman possessed. And that wasn't far from the truth. I was a woman haunted. I nearly ran back to the guest suite where I had been staying. I slammed the door behind me and sunk to the floor. A part of what Elisa said still bothered me. Who was the 'he' I could have spared?

The universe provided my answer, my phone that I had left on the dresser chimed. I made my way over and picked up my phone. There was a text from my brother.

Anthony: Emily is pregnant...

Fuck. My guess is it's a boy. That's the he. I failed to break the curse, so he is the next to bare it. Their firstborn. What do I say? Congratulations are clearly not in order. But, 'I am sorry for your loss' also feels inappropriate.

Val: How is she handling it?

Anthony: Not well.

Anthony: Since the doctor confirmed it, she has been catatonic.

Anthony: I don't know what to do, sis.

I don't know what to do either, brother. I know it is his loss too, but she has to carry a child that is meant to die. Few women would have the stomach for it. Our mother was an exception.

Val: What can I do?

I saw the typing bubble appear and then stop a couple of times. Likely constantly changing his answer. He decided on a non-answer.

Anthony: I miss you Val.

Val: I miss you too, Anthony. <3

My brother didn't say anything else. I knew I couldn't be of much help. Going home meant she would have to see a living example of her childs future. I would have the opposite of a helpful effect. My poor brother, he must feel so helpless. There is no advice I can give him. Hopefully, mom can help Emily.

I slid to the ground and sat in the fetal position, hugging myself. Everything was so f****d up. I had never felt so much dread. My visit from Elisa wasn't helping. My whole world was being painted in black. To add icing to the cake, the alarm bells rung again. It had only been 3 hours since the last swarm left. They were back again.

It had been a month since the night that Elisa visited me. The demon swarms had changed their tactics to showing up at random hours, each time in these massive swarms. Fighting for a little while, then leaving before returning again. They were trying to wear us out. The warriors couldn't get more than 3 hours of sleep at a time, and that was on a good night. As terrible as it sounds, this was a blessing in disguise. With the fighting non-stop, there was hardly a chance for me to see Gideon. He tried to talk to me after that night and see if I was okay, but a swarm chose that moment to show up. He tried to come up to me several times afterward, but I was either able to deflect or another attack began.

Everyone was at their wits' end with this war. Supplies were running low and morale was even worse. The death toll kept climbing. The warriors were getting sloppy from the sleep deprivation. The most recent attack had just concluded, and I was ready to hit a pillow and fall into a coma. I dragged myself back to my room and plopped on my bed. My body felt like lead. I was about to pull the covers over me when I heard my phone ding. I titled it up to look at it and there was a text from an unknown number.

???: Hi Val. I got your number from Anthony's phone. He doesn't know I am messaging you. It is Emily... Can we meet?