Beauty and The Cursed

Witch from Punjab

What was wrong with him? Edmond had not been able to stop himself from going to the woman's room after receiving word from Susan that she had woken and found her wandering the halls. Edmond had immediately risen and headed in the direction of the room. Susan was just as surprised and had jumped out of his way.

Edmond had not even knocked. He barged into the room and just stared at her. During that entire conversation he had not even asked for the woman's name. Edmond groaned inwardly at himself. Edmond was more on edge. There was only one more day until the next full moon. Edmond was grateful that her fever had broken, and she was now awake before the full moon.

Edmond would keep his distance until after the full moon. He had already proven that he could not control himself around her. He had not realized how worried he had been about her well-being until Susan said she was awake. A heavy weight that had been sitting on his chest instantly lifted.

There was a light knock at Edmond's study door. "Enter." He said plainly. The visitor slowly pushed open the door. Rose walked through and stood on the other side of the desk. "How is she?" He asked.

"I left her a tray with broth and a small amount of bread. Cookie added some pastries as well. I only put a couple on the tray as I did not want her to hurt her stomach." Rose explained.

"Did you happen to find out her name or anything about her?" Edmond asked. He had not thought at the time about asking and hoped that Rose was able to get some information from her.

"I only found out that her name is Tresa O'Neill and she came from Ireland. She had stowed away on a ship that had been leaving and they found her before they arrived at their destination. She was thrown overboard."

"Does she happen to recall the name of the ship?" Edmond felt his blood boiling at the thought of someone throwing a defensive woman overboard and into the unyielding sea below.

"She did not say," Rose answered. Edmond would have to ask the woman if she could remember the name. He would do some asking around the town to find out where it makes berth.

"Did you ask her why she left Ireland suddenly?" If she stowed away on a ship, she must have been running from something. The question was, what?

"I did not pry my lord." Rose bowed to him and waited for him to dismiss her. Edmond said that she could leave and turned in his chair to look out upon the dark sea. The light from the almost full moon illuminated most of the cliff and water below. Edmond needed to know why Tresa had left. A thought occurred to him. He hoped that it was not what he thought. He would have to confront the woman in a few days. In the meantime, he would have Rose and Susan keep an eye on her and help her get her strength back.

Edmond was lost in his thoughts for some time before he finally rose from the chair at his desk and left his study. He still was not tired. His body buzzed with energy. He decided to walk through the gardens that were nestled in the back of the mansion. Being outside and having the moonlight on him usually helped when he was this close to the full moon. His body drew energy from it.

Not for the first time, Edmond cursed the dain that had put this curse on him. Edmond had been roped into fighting in the Punjab War. Due to his family being among the wealthiest in the town. Edmond joined the army and was immediately given a Sergeant position. He had a small group under him that he led. Edmond had not agreed with the war in the first place. Britain wanted to expand into India and the Sikh Empire was the last largest force that had stood in their way.

Edmond's father, Jeffory Walker, would not allow his son to take over the title without first doing a tour for the British Army. Edmond had reluctantly agreed. Edmond tried to stay away from political affairs within the government. There was enough to keep him busy in his own business endeavors.

One night when Edmond had been leading his small group of soldiers, there was an attack. Edmond had no choice but to engage. The group that had attacked with nothing more than the rocks that they had found nearby. Had Edmond known, he would not have killed the group outright. Edmond felt guilty immediately finding out.

The wife of one of the men that were killed had run out after the battle and threw her body over her husband's. She had been screaming in her own tongue. Edmond did not have enough time to learn the language of the country they were in. The woman stood by her husband's body and pointed her finger straight at Edmond. A chain of words escaped her lips almost in a chanting form.

Edmond had later found out that the woman was known as a dain. Or commonly known as a witch. It was not until Edmond returned home from his tour that he found out what the woman had done. He had no way of finding her and making her take back what she had cursed Edmond with.

Since that dreadful day, Edmond replayed the scene every full moon, as his body twisted in excruciating pain. Every bone in his body would break to help form the beast that he now was. Something from fables that grandmothers told their grandchildren to scare them.

As Edmond walked along the garden at the back of the mansion, he could not help his gaze traveled up the brick walls to a window that he knew belonged to Tresa. He was shocked to see a silhouette standing at the window and looking out. Edmond wondered if she was looking at him or something else. She then moved back. Edmond hoped that she would regain her strength. Seeing the beauty beaten down and timid did nothing to help his anger at the entire situation.

Edmond turned on his heel and walked the other way. He worked to tire himself out enough to try and lay down before his journey to the cemetery the following day.