To Love A Curse

CHAPTER 4

Mama Joy was an old woman who ran a small provisions store at the back of the university. Everyone knew her, she was loud, cheerful, and always had something to say. But beneath that bubbly exterior was strong rumors of her being a witch. People claimed to have seen her wandering at night, mumbling spells, and doing things no normal woman her age should be doing.

Most people brushed it off as gossip. Me? I believed it, maybe because I was desperate enough to.

One evening, just as she was about to close her shop, I ran to her.

“Mama Joy!” My knees hit the dusty ground before I could even think. Tears blurred my vision. “Please, I can't take it anymore.”

She frowned, clutching the edge of her wrapper. “Get up, girl. What are you doing on the floor?”

The words poured out of me.

“They’ve used me, trampled on me…nobody sees me, nobody cares. My spirit is broken. I can't live like this anymore.”

For the first time, I saw Mama Joy go quiet, she studied me with keen, knowing eyes, and then leaned forward towards me.

“What do you want me to do for you?”

I didn't hesitate.

“Revenge,” I whispered amidst my tears. “I want revenge, ma.”

Mama Joy suddenly smiled, not her usual soft smile, but one that curled at the edges. It was like she had been waiting for those exact words.

“Come back here by 3am,” she said.

“I will help you.”

That night, I couldn't sleep. My heart pounded so fast as though it knew exactly what was about to happen. Once it was 2:30 am, I slipped out, careful not to get caught. By 2:50am, I was already sitting in front of her shop, waiting.

Moments later, I saw a hooded figure approaching, I held my breath for a second.

“Mama Joy… is that you?

She didn't respond, she only stretched out her hand, gesturing for me to hold it.

“Follow me.”

I obeyed, her palm was ice cold, and she led me straight into the thick forest just a few minutes away from her store.

We moved in silence, the darkness pressing down on me. I soon saw a flicker of fire glowing in the distance, and as we drew closer, a bonfire came into view. Around it stood several women, also cloaked in dark hoods. My legs trembled, but I kept moving.

The chanting began the moment I stepped into the circle. Then a crooked voice came from the hooded figures.

“What is it you seek, my child?”

I fell to my knees again. “I desire beauty, irresistible beauty. I want people to crave me, to beg for me, respect me, fear me.” My voice lowered. “I want them to bow at the sound of my name.”

The leader of the coven, the one with the crooked voice stepped forward, lifting my chin to meet her eyes which gleamed in the firelight.

“I like you,” she said. “You have a wicked spirit. You will get what you seek.”

She then handed me a bowl full of a strange bitter liquid and commanded, “Drink.”

I coughed as it burned down my throat.

“Henceforth, you will do exactly as I say,” she continued. “Without fail. Or you will pay dearly.”

The next morning, I looked in the mirror and almost screamed. I couldn't recognize my reflection.

“Oh my God!” I exclaimed as I touched my face. My skin glowed, my features more defined, my body radiated like that of a goddess.

But nobody acted surprised, it was as if I had always been that way to them. Still they treated me very differently. Girls argued over who would sit beside me, carry my books, or even do my assignments. Boys stumbled over themselves to walk me to class, buy me food, and shower me with attention, genuine this time.

Life had finally bent in my favor.

Then came the second part of my instructions. I had to choose a victim.

My first was Jason, a handsome smooth talker in his final year who had been trying so hard to get my attention.

“Dina, you have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this chance.” He said as we walked out of a restaurant one evening.

I smiled slyly, “I'm sure you say that to every girl.”

“No,” he insisted, cupping my hand in his. “There’s something special about you, the way you walk, your beauty. Every guy on campus wants you, but I want you more than all of them combined.”

His words flattered me, though deep down I remembered the coven leader’s instructions.

Later that night, we found ourselves at a dark corner behind one of the university halls. He leaned in close, his fingers trailing sensually up my thighs and into my lace panties.

“Dina… let me show you how much you mean to me.”

I didn't resist.

Two days later, Jason lost his mind. Yes, he went mad. He was found in the same forest where I had been initiated, clothes torn, hair ripped out from his scalp, blood dripping down his face.

“Jason, what happened to you?” I heard students screaming.

He only mumbled nonsense in response, eyes wide with terror.

Mission accomplished

From then on, I followed the path set out for me. Some of my victims also went mad, some lost a great deal of money, some never got to graduate or got expelled, a few even died. But no one ever suspected me. How could they? I was the goddess they all adored. The beauty everyone worshipped.

Life was sweet. Too sweet

And I thought things would stay that way forever, until I met Derek.