The Amaryllis Curse

Prologue

(Note: any and all comments throughout the story by readers are welcome as I am a new writer and would love some constructive criticism :) )

"She's growing sicker by the minute..." Miyako said as she looked at her husband. Her blonde hair was frazzled into an unkempt bun on her head. Her green eyes shadowed by the darkness underneath, from long nights of worry. Her plain blue blouse and tan pants spotted with dirt and tears, which she had given up trying to wipe off.

The man standing over the child shook his head. "There isn't anything we can do. The doctor says she's too sick for any medicine to help, and...I'm out of ideas."

Hina's voice was soft, but it carried in the small house. He then looked at the girl, only a month old now, pale and quiet as she slept in the crib. Hina then sighed as he looked out the window, the mid-December snow falling silently in the nights' sky, blanketing the land.

Miyako looked down as she thought, her eyebrows scrunched as she searched for the answer. Without a word, she stood up and walked out of the room, down a small hallway to the study they had.

The room was rather large, the largest room in their house, but also full to the brim in books. They were in no order, stacked amongst shelves, on tables, even the floor, some of them open to show it's contents. Miyako looked around a moment, tucking a wisp of hair behind her ear as she walked around, scanning the stacks for anything that showed the slightest hope of a cure for the mysterious illness that plagued her daughter.

"Miyako?" Hina said as he peeked through the door to see his wife standing in a silent repose before an open book. As he walked over to her, he looked at the book over her shoulder. Scanning the page which showed a flower, he frowned. "These are legends.... stories we tell children at bedtime." He said.

"Stories that we research. Stories that might save our child. " Her voice now had a resolve in it, a determination. She pointed at the page.

"This flower, Amaryllis. It says it heals any illnesses, but....at a price." focusing, she read the page more. "Part of the page is blackened, I can't read the rest. But it does say that it is found near here, in someplace called...." She paused.

Hina looked again at the page, scanning to the part she was on. His eyes grew wide as he read. "No. Absolutely not. Everyone knows the cave of Serpenburn is off-limits. They say it's cursed and no one has ever returned from there." His face now looked troubled.

"I'm sorry what was that about 'its all just stories'"? Miyako gave a small smile as she teased him, trying to give a moment of relief in the given situation.

Hina chuckled a bit as he looked at the book. "Well it's an idea to try, and considering we don't have any others, let's go." He said as he tore the page from the book. They then grabbed a few travel items such as warm clothes and food, Miyako grabbing their daughter. "You're going to be alright, Hikari." She whispered to her as they walked out of their home.

Due to the cave's remote location, they had to take horseback instead of a car. Hina helped Miyako onto the horse, getting on after her. A blizzard began to brew, as they neared the cave, one so strong they were forced to abandon their horse.

Smacking the horse on its backside, it ran off to their home once again. Miyako shielded Hikari from the fierce winds and ice as Hina lead the way. After walking through the piles of snow for what seemed to be hours, the storm suddenly came to a stop, a small cave now in view.

"So...the storm would prevent any travelers from finding it. Most would turn away from a storm such as that, or perish within it." Hina said as he moved the cloth away from his mouth. He turned to Miyako. "Hikari?" he asked.

Miyako looked down at her daughter, moving a thick blanket to reveal her face. Hikari cooed a little before sneezing. Covering her once again, Miyako nodded in response, before they began to walk again.

Now at the cave, they took shelter inside. A warm glow of red-lit the cave, to which both of them looked around for the source. Moving a small abandoned carriage, it was revealed to be the flower from the book. Glowing red with it's three large petals, it's stem green with dark parts of red. Without thought, Miyako picked the flower as she then turned to the entrance again.

"Well, that was... Anticlimactic." Hina matter of factly said as he followed. Miyako opened her mouth to respond but was stopped as the cave began to shake, the rock ceiling beginning to crumble, pieces falling to the floor.

Running out of the cave, making it out as the whole cave collapsed, Miyako spoke. "You just had to say it." She said as her breathing was heavy. Hina gave a small smile as he rubbed the back of his neck, before whistling. Their horse came running now, stopping a few feet away.

Once home, placing Hikari into her crib once again, Miyako took the flower to the kitchen. Boiling the last cup of water they had, she dropped the flower into it. It dissolved, turning the water black. Placing the drink into a bottle, she walked back into the living area, sitting down on the small chair next to the crib. Hina reached and grabbed Hikari, handing her to his wife.

"You're sure?"

She nodded.

Placing the bottle in her daughter's mouth, Hikari began to drink. It wasn't much, only enough for her to drink for a moment, but it was adequate.

Within 24 hours Hikari seemed to have strength again, her pale skin now flush with natural color. The days passed quietly, as nothing ever really happened in their town, that is until Hikari turned 6.