A Curse Love: Bound by Shadow

Chapter 4: The Curse Revealed

The next morning, I woke with a heaviness in my chest, an ache that lingered from the night before. I could still feel Luca’s presence as if he’d left an imprint on me, a ghost that refused to fade. Despite his warning, I knew I couldn’t stay away. Whatever tied us together was stronger than fear, stronger than caution, and it was pulling me deeper into the tangled web of Blackwood.

That day, I decided to dig into the town’s history, hoping to uncover whatever it was that bound Luca and me. If Blackwood was holding secrets, I intended to uncover them.

---

The library was quiet, the musty scent of old paper thick in the air as I combed through shelves, pulling down books on local folklore and legends. I poured over worn pages and brittle newspaper clippings, my fingers running over faded ink and cryptic phrases. Most of it seemed like superstition, fragments of old tales passed down through generations. But one particular story stood out—a legend that sent a chill down my spine.

It was the tale of two lovers, bound by fate yet cursed to live out lives of torment and betrayal. The legend claimed that these two souls, drawn to one another with an irresistible pull, would face their darkest fears in each other’s presence, sharing emotions and memories that would make them one. But love would always turn to sorrow, and desire to betrayal; the curse would twist their connection until it destroyed them both.

My heart hammered as I read, each line hitting too close to what I’d been feeling since arriving in Blackwood. Could this curse be the reason behind the connection I shared with Luca? Could it be why I saw his memories, felt his emotions as if they were my own?

“Amelia,” a voice interrupted my thoughts, and I looked up to find Evelyn standing nearby, her expression unreadable. Her eyes, however, were filled with something close to pity.

“Evelyn,” I greeted her, feeling a bit caught off guard. “Do you know anything about… this?” I gestured to the book, my voice hesitant. “About the curse?”

She studied me for a moment, her gaze sharp and knowing. “Some things are better left alone, child,” she murmured. “But I suppose curiosity has never been easy to tame, has it?”

Her words were cryptic, but I could tell she knew more than she was letting on. “Please,” I said, my voice firmer than I felt. “I need to understand what’s happening to me. To us.”

A sigh escaped her lips, and she glanced around as if checking to make sure no one else was listening. Finally, she took a seat across from me, her hands folding neatly on the table. “The story of the cursed pair isn’t just an old wives’ tale, Amelia. Blackwood holds many secrets, and that legend… well, it’s one of the town’s darkest truths.”

I leaned forward, hanging on her every word, my pulse racing. “So, is it real? The curse?”

She nodded slowly, her eyes distant. “Long ago, two lovers were bound by forces they couldn’t understand. They were destined to share each other’s burdens, to feel each other’s pain and pleasure. But that connection turned to torment. Betrayal, heartbreak… they couldn’t escape the cycle, no matter how hard they tried. It was as if the curse fed on their suffering.”

I swallowed, my throat dry. “And you think… that’s what’s happening to Luca and me?”

Evelyn’s gaze softened, a touch of sadness in her eyes. “Sometimes, fates are bound by blood, by ancient promises or old sins that cannot be undone. I’ve seen it before in this town. Souls drawn to each other with a force neither can control… destined to bring out the best and worst in each other.”

A shiver ran through me, but I forced myself to stay focused. “Is there a way to break it?”

For a moment, Evelyn hesitated, as if weighing her words carefully. “Some say it’s impossible to break. That it’s bound to the very essence of those cursed. But others believe that facing the truth of the bond, confronting the darkness it reveals, can release them. The curse isn’t just supernatural, Amelia. It’s as much a part of the heart as it is the soul.”

---

That evening, still reeling from Evelyn’s words, I headed to the Blackwood Tavern, hoping to find something to take my mind off the revelation. The tavern was packed, the warm lights and laughter spilling out onto the streets. I spotted Jared behind the bar, flashing his usual charming grin as he served drinks to the regulars. When he saw me, his face lit up, and he motioned me over.

“Hey, Amelia,” he greeted, setting a glass of wine in front of me. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Maybe I have,” I muttered, lifting the glass to my lips.

Jared leaned in, curiosity flickering in his eyes. “Care to share? Blackwood has its fair share of secrets, you know.”

I took a deep breath, the need to confide in someone overpowering my caution. “Have you ever heard of the legend of the cursed pair?” I asked, trying to keep my voice casual.

Jared’s smile faded, and he glanced around before answering, lowering his voice. “So, you’ve heard about it, then?”

“I’ve been hearing a lot of things,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. “But no one will give me a straight answer. I just… I feel like I’m caught in something I don’t understand.”

He studied me for a moment, his gaze intense. “Look, Amelia, if you’re asking about Luca… he’s not someone you want to get tangled up with. The guy’s got a past—one you don’t want to get mixed up in.”

“What do you know about him?” I pressed, needing more than vague warnings. “Please, Jared. I need to understand.”

Jared sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Luca and I… we were friends, once. Good friends. But things happened—things that changed him. He’s not the same person I used to know. Whatever’s haunting him, it’s dark, Amelia. I’ve seen it, and trust me, it’s not something you want to be near.”

“Maybe it’s not something I want, but it’s something I feel,” I admitted, my voice cracking slightly. “I don’t think I can just… walk away from it.”

He looked at me, a mixture of sympathy and frustration on his face. “Well, if you’re determined, there’s someone who might be able to give you more answers. Damon, he’s an old friend of Luca’s, knows more about Blackwood’s history than anyone. But he’s got his own reasons for keeping Luca at a distance.”

“Where can I find him?”

Jared hesitated, but eventually gave me an address on the outskirts of town. “Be careful, Amelia,” he warned. “Damon’s got his own agenda. Don’t trust everything he says.”

---

I found Damon’s house late that evening, a weathered old cottage nestled on the edge of the woods. I knocked, my heart pounding as I waited. The door creaked open, and a tall man with piercing eyes and a guarded expression stood in the doorway. He looked me up and down, assessing me.

“You must be Amelia,” he said, his voice smooth and calm. “I’ve heard about you.”

“You have?” I asked, surprised.

He nodded, stepping aside to let me in. “In a place like Blackwood, new faces tend to stand out. And if you’re tangled up with Luca… well, let’s just say people are talking.”

The inside of his house was filled with books and artifacts, shelves lined with relics that looked ancient and worn. There was an air of mystery about him, something that hinted at secrets he wasn’t ready to share.

“I need answers,” I said, getting straight to the point. “About the curse. About Luca.”

Damon’s gaze sharpened, a flicker of something dark passing through his eyes. “So, you’re bound up in it too, huh?” He shook his head, almost pitying. “I warned Luca to stay away from things he didn’t understand. But he never listens.”

“You were friends?” I prompted, hoping to understand more.

He laughed, but it was a bitter sound. “Friends, rivals, call it what you want. We shared a lot, including things we probably shouldn’t have. But whatever you think you know about him, you don’t. The curse… it brings out parts of a person they’d rather keep buried. And Luca’s darkness… it runs deeper than most.”

A shiver ran down my spine. “What do you mean?”

“Let’s just say he’s not as in control as he wants you to believe. The curse has a way of consuming people, pulling them into their own worst fears and desires. You should walk away, Amelia. Before it’s too late.”

I swallowed, the weight of his words settling over me. But I knew, deep down, that walking away wasn’t an option. Whatever this curse was, whatever bond Luca and I shared, it was a part of me now.

“Thank you,” I murmured, standing to leave. “But I can’t just turn my back on this.”

Damon’s expression softened, but there was a shadow of warning in his eyes. “Be careful, Amelia. Not everyone in Blackwood is what they seem.”