The Curse Of Mizu Chai

Chapter One

The first time I saw him I was cautious about approaching him because of my curse, the curse that killed everyone I knew. But I had no choice to approach him, he was dying and I could help as long as I didn’t stay too long.

I told myself I would just help him and leave so my curse didn’t take hold of him just like the others. But as I approached him it was like he enchanted me, like he pulled me closer though he was unconscious. The closer I got the more majestic he looked to me. He had dark black horns with black scaly wings to match his horns, his hair was a beautiful snow white, around shoulder length. His skin looked as though it was shining in the light through the trees he laid beneath, but the more I looked at him the more he seemed to be tanned from the outside world as well. He was a curious creature. I wished he would open his eyes so I could see the world that was hidden behind them.

I leaned down and shook his shoulder gently, causing him to awaken, and then I spoke for the first time in years, “Can you move? Or do I have to move you?”

When he responded it was quiet but strong, “Leave me alone and I’ll be fine. You don’t have to do anything to me.” And then he passed out again.

I sighed and walked away, back to the house I lived in, the house hidden deep in the woods, forgotten by everyone. I went back to grab some supplies to help heal the man underneath the tree.

By the time I got back to the enchanting man it was dark and I could hear him breathing harder as the night air got colder and colder. I leaned down and lifted his shirt to see the wound on his side. I grabbed one of the containers of ointments and rubbed it into his wound.

Feeling this the strange man awoke with a gasp and that was the first time I saw his eyes, a beautiful green that seemed to glow in the darkness of the night. His pupils were narrow and my instincts told me he was a descendant of a demon and maybe some other species as well. I tried to think back to the last time I had seen anyone with such kind yet broken, shielded eyes.

“I told you to just leave me alone.” He pushed himself up leaning against the tree for support.

“What you say doesn’t matter to me when it would lead to your death. Especially knowing that I could have saved you. Now if you can walk I’d like you to come to my place so you don’t freeze to death out here.” I said watching as he lifted his shirt looking at his wound and the ointment I had put on it.

“What’d you put on me?” He said cautiously.

“Just some stuff to help you not get infected and to heal quicker. Now answer my question please. Are you capable of walking by yourself?” I said, looking him up and down as he continued leaning against the tree for support.

“I can walk by myself.” He said pushing away from the tree and walking towards me, stopping right in front of me, looking down. He was probably at least 6 foot, maybe even taller. I looked up at him thinking about how I wish I had grown a little more than just 5’7”.

“Follow me then.” I said as I walked off in the direction of my house.

We walked to my house in complete silence.

When we arrived he looked around at the surroundings and seemed slightly surprised at how bright and warm it was even though it was night.

The nights in these woods have always been cursed since I started to live here, so the trees all had started to die and the wind was stronger and colder than in other places. The people that inhabit this world don’t remember a time when these trees were once alive because it’s been a very long time since I left these woods so the trees haven't had a chance to come back to life. The people all call them the Cursed Forest and at one point people used to throw away the people they didn’t want into this place to die.

“Why’s it so warm here? This forest has never been this warm anywhere.”

“It’s because I can control the temperature here.” I said while opening the door and letting him in.

“Haha. Very funny. No one can control the weather anymore. Most all the gods that could have long since been killed or have disappeared. I can’t even control the weather anymore.” He said while now looking around the inside of my house, examining every little detail of the wood and taking in the sweet smell of flowers that have yet to die.

“You’d be surprised at what all I can do. And what do you mean by you can’t control the weather anymore? Are you by chance… A god?” I watched as he ran his hand along the wooden table that sat in the middle of the room that he had ventured into, the dining room I do believe people nowadays would call it.

“I am not a full god anymore but at one time a long time ago I used to be. The day I lost most of my powers as a god I wandered the world looking for a way to get them back but I’ve failed and am ready to give up now. I see no point in trying any longer when I know the end result will be failure, it’s impossible to get my powers back when the person who might have them is long gone by now.” He looked at me with slight sadness showing in his eyes, a sadness that shouldn’t be in the eyes of someone so beautiful, so seemingly perfect.

“I might be able to help. I’ve been known to return powers to gods before. But there’s a side effect of getting them back so I don’t usually help because it results in, well, basically an expiration date on your life due to a curse.” I walked over to a room and opened it looking back at him and gesturing for him to follow me. “This’ll be your room to stay in for now.”

He ignored the room and said in disbelief, “What do you mean you can get my powers back?”

“That's exactly what I said. I can get you your powers but it’ll put a curse on you that’ll cause you to die in a few days time, so if you only want your powers for a few days then I’ll consider helping you.” I looked into his eyes, seeing the pain and hope faintly there.

“Can I think about it?” He asked quietly.

“Sure, but even if you decide you want me to help it doesn’t mean I’ll agree to help unless you give me a valid reason.” I said while grabbing a pillow and blanket from the closet in the room, setting it down on the bed.

“Ok…” He said quietly.

“Get some sleep.” I said gesturing towards the bed.

He walked to the bed and laid down not glancing in my direction even once. I walked out, shutting the door behind me and going into my room.

I layed down and wondered why I felt so sad for him even though I barely knew him. When I heard how sad he sounded it broke my heart and I wanted to help him in any way I could but by helping him I would end up killing him. I wanted him. I want to keep him here with me, to keep him forever. I knew I couldn’t because he would die and even if I didn’t have a curse he would have no reason to stay here with me. The one reason he would stay would be for me to help him get his power back but that would only allow him to live a few more days at most. I really hope he chooses to just leave and not make me give him his powers because I’m not sure if I could refuse him if he still wanted them knowing he’d die.