Escaping Her Curse—Completed

Chapter Thirty-Two

Lauren sat down across from Bossman and stared at him wearily. With everything that had happened, she knew that she couldn’t trust him at all. Though he attempted to smile brightly and appear nonchalant, she could see the fissures in his calm demeanor. He was cracking ever so slightly.

“I have our contract, here,” he started, taking out a sheet of paper. “And don’t worry, it has been enchanted to ensure that it is unbreakable by either of us.”

“Let me read it,” she replied, accepting the proffered document.

Skimming it over, she made sure that it reflected her demands and was worded in a way that wouldn’t allow for any tricky business. Her resolve had been shaken because of the previous night’s events. She didn’t want any language included in the contract that would allow for things to slip through.

“We will be adding another one,” Bossman said, breaking her concentration.

“And what is that?”

Taking a deep breath in, he slowly let it out. “About last night…”

“Ah, yes. About that.”

“It would be in your best interest to keep what happened to yourself. Only those involved in the situation are aware of what took place. Keeping it a secret would be advantageous for all of us.”

Lauren raised an eyebrow at him. “What was that thing? I think I deserve answers since I’m now involved.”

Bossman studied her for several minutes. He seemed to be searching for something to read in her features, and though she wasn’t sure if he found it or not, his look of resolve told her that he had decided to answer her questions.

“It is called a Wanderer.”

“And it was created with black magic?” Lauren asked before she could stop herself.

He looked surprised at her question and glanced at where he had hidden his book. “I suppose either I’m slower than I used to be or you are sharper than I gave you credit for.”

“I’m sure it’s the former.”

“Though, somehow I think it’s the latter. It is of no matter now. Yes, it was created with black magic. They are a very old species that is all but forgotten.”

Lauren frowned. “Old species? If it was created, then how is it a species? I mean, the human race is a species, so are you suggesting that black magic can create entirely new species?”

“There is much about black magic that has yet to be fully learned. The Church deemed it black magic because they did not understand its potential. That is why it is banned. There is nothing inherently evil about black magic. To an extent, this magic can take something living and morph it into something else that may or may not be living as a result. It is a type of transmuting, if you will. For instance,” he paused and grabbed two different pieces of fruit. “If I wanted to change this apple into a pomegranate, I could use both the apple and this banana to create the pomegranate. It would consume both pieces of fruit in order to make the result.”

“But it may not always turn into a pomegranate.”

“Correct. As in the case of the Wanderers. It was not the expected result, but it was a result.”

Lauren pursed her lips. “So, black magic is uncontrollable. But, I thought that black magic only dealt with the undead and necromancy.”

“That is how most people view it because of what the Church teaches as well as how it’s mostly been used. There are a plethora of uses for this magic. We have barely scratched the surface of what we could achieve because of it.”

“Can I see the person who wields this magic? Please?”

“Oh? Why?” Bossman asked, flabbergasted.

Unsure of how much information to divulge, Lauren kept it vague. “I want to know if all magic users can use such magic or if it is only certain types of magic users.”

Bossman rubbed his chin in thought for a moment before finally nodding. “We can arrange that. However, we will both sign the contract first.”

“Alright. That seems fair,” Lauren said, keeping her face from emoting.

What she really wanted to know was whether their manaforce was different from hers or from the normal manaforce she saw in everything around her. And if it was, could she manipulate it like she did with the other manaforce?

“Why was it after me?” she then asked, genuinely curious.

“That is also a question I have. It heard from Jay that it was unusually drawn to you, and that concerns me. Wanderers are known to attack and be unruly, but they can be trained. This was trained. And yet, it lost its senses when it came upon your room.”

“So you don’t know what it wanted from me?”

Bossman shook his head. “No, I’m afraid I don’t. They are fear eaters, but it apparently was interested in you before it started feasting on your fear.”

Lauren blinked blankly in confusion. “What? Wait, what?”

“Fear eaters. It consumes fear as nourishment.”

“Uhh, okay. That’s weird. But, also, how do you know it was interested in me before the whole fear thing?”

Bossman cracked a grin at her. “My magician can tap into its simple brain and read its feelings. They don’t exactly think, but they do convey needs and emotions through simple pictures in its head. They communicate through an interesting version of telepathy.”

“Hmm.”

“And last night, it developed a new emotion: curiosity.”

“This is a lot to take in.”

Nodding at her, Bossman said, “Yes, and I have to say, I’m impressed with how well you’re taking this.”

“Thanks, I guess,” she mumbled.

Her mind was reeling from the information dump she’d just received. If what he was suggesting was true, then everything she knew and was taught about black magic was a lie meant to keep magic users from dipping into it. She didn’t really want to trust Bossman nor think of him as an ally, but she did appreciate him telling her the truth. Or at least the truth he believed in.

Both of them signed the contract, binding their words to the script. After a few minutes of silence, Bossman cleared his throat.

“I’d like to start today.”

“Start what?”

“By the end of the day, I want the entire Undergrowth to know your name. However, I will need you to return to the name Jessie.”

Lauren shook her head. “I still don’t understand why. I’ve signed the contract. My word is now bound to yours. Won’t you shine a little light on the secrecy?”

Bossman sighed. “To have someone defect from the palace and rise up among them; well, it will mean more to the people.”

“But why not lie and say Lauren worked at the palace?”

“Jessie has roots at the palace. Lauren does not.”

Lauren frowned. “Meaning that if anyone looks into palace records, Jessie will be fact checked, and Lauren will be a lie.”

“Yes.”

“Why not just say that from the start? I am smarter than you give me credit for.”

“It has nothing to do with your intelligence.”

Sighing, Lauren crossed her arms over her chest. “You are an infuriating man. Are you aware of this?”

He grinned at her. “I’ve heard that once or twice. I told you that I enjoyed our banter. If given the opportunity, I will indulge.”

“I’d rather you didn’t.”

“We’ll circle the Undergrowth. Now that you’re officially on team justice, I will happily show you the projects we’ve been working on. I’ll even take you to meet my magician.”

“Where does he reside?”

Bossman shrugged. “Here and there. He likes to roam around. Sometimes it’s here, and sometimes it’s in the house he owns. Perhaps with a woman. I let him go where he pleases if he comes when called.”

“Sounds like you’re talking about a dog instead of a human,” Lauren said bitterly.

“He is indebted to me, so I can speak about him how I like.”

Lauren pushed away from her place at the table and stood. “Shall we get on with it then? Seems like we have a lot to do today.”

Bossman gave her a half-smile before rising from the table as well. “If the lady says so, then I guess we shall be on our way.”

The two walked out of the dining room and down the hallway to the front door. As he opened the door, they were greeted by a shadowy figure. It filled the doorway, and though Lauren jumped back, taken aback by the sudden situation, Bossman only frowned as he folded his arms. He waited for the person to step into the lantern light. The man greeted them with a smirk and a nod. He was tall and lean with rippling muscles. His eyes were practically grey, with only a hint of blue in them, and they held a forlorn sadness in them that she couldn’t shake off. His hair was a sandy blonde that dropped below his shoulders, and it matched his facial hair, which had specks of red in it. When he looked at her, it was as if he was looking through her, and it sent an unsettling shiver down her spine.

“The man of the hour. We were just coming to fetch you,” Bossman said with a haughty look. “This is Michael.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Jessie.”

“So yare the woman I’ve heard so much about,” Michael replied, his eyes doing a once over her body. “This oughta be fun.”