To Love A Curse

CHAPTER 5

Derek Johnson was unlike any man I had ever met. He was in the same year as me, handsome but humble, gentle, yet so strong. From the very first day we met, he treated me like an egg that could c***k at the slightest touch.

At first, I thought he was just like the others. His kindness felt like a mask, another ploy to take from me what every other guy wanted. I was wrong. He never once asked for intimacy. He respected my boundaries in ways I didn't think were possible. He walked me to class every morning, made sure my meals were ready before I even realized I was hungry, and ensured I was always cared for.

Derek healed me in ways I didn't even know I needed. He lifted the burden I had carried for so long, the trauma of being unwanted, of never being enough. He made me feel worthy of love, of protection.

And yet, he also awakened something dangerous inside me. Whenever his hand brushed against my skin, a shiver ran through me, my body tingled with a craving I could not suppress. When he leaned close to whisper, his breath lingered near my neck, causing every nerve in my body to ignite with fire.

I wanted him. Craved him. Yet I knew I could never have him.

The witches’ covenant weighed heavily around my neck like an invisible chain. Intimacy, true intimacy, was forbidden, unless it was to deliver a sacrifice. But my Derek wasn't prey. He wasn't someone I wanted to destroy. He was the only light I had left in a world enveloped in darkness.

Still, temptation gnawed at me.

One evening, we sat together under a tree near my dorm room. The night air was warm, crickets chirping in the background. Derek leaned against the trunk, legs stretched out, and I sat beside him, close enough that our thighs brushed.

“You always look so lost in thought,” he said softly, pulling me back to reality.

“I laughed lightly, “And you always seem to notice.”

“Because I pay attention,” he responded, fixing his gaze on me, like he could see through the walls I hid behind.

“You try to act tough, like nothing can touch you. But I see your pain.”

My chest tightened. I looked away, unable to bear the weight of his words. But then he held my hand, his fingers brushing against mine. A sudden wave of electricity shot up my arm, and my lips parted in a soft gasp I barely contained.

He didn't let go. Instead, he laced his fingers through mine slowly but deliberately, as though giving me the chance to pull away. I didn't

“Dina,” he whispered, “One day I'll make you believe you deserve everything good in this world and more.”

My throat dried up. All I could manage was a weak nod. But deep inside, my body was restless. I wanted him to kiss me. To hold me against him until my resolve shattered. Yet I couldn't. If I gave in, I risked losing him forever.

That night, as I lay in bed, replaying the feel of his skin against mine over and over. I pressed my palms to my chest, hoping I could still hold on to the spark he had left behind.

But the witches hadn't forgotten me.

“You have not brought us any new sacrifices,” Mama Joy hissed one night, appearing in the corner of my room while everyone slept. Her voice was sharp, angry.“Our leader is growing impatient. You made a promise in return for your beauty, and you will keep it.”

I sat up, heart pounding. “I can't do this anymore,” I whispered angrily. “I am in love. I cannot cheat on him.”

Mama Joy tilted her head, her eyes full of mockery. “Love?” She let the word hang midair before laughing hysterically. “That boy only loves you because of the beauty you bought. Strip it all away, and you will see him for who he truly is.”

Her laughter echoed even after he vanished, leaving a chill that rattled my bones.

I refused to believe her though. I clung to my man, and brought no one new to the coven.

Two years later, Derek and I graduated together. On that day, walking across the stage to receive our degrees, it felt like the world was finally opening up its doors for us. Our parents met each other for the very first time, their joy mirroring the pride we felt in our hearts. That moment wasn't just about diplomas and certificates; it was about the future we would share. Destiny had brought us together, and we were walking into it side by side, forever.

That night, after the ceremony, we sneaked away from the crowd. Derek pulled me into the quiet shadows of a hallway, his hand resting on my back.

“You looked so beautiful up there,” he said, his voice full of pride.

My breath paused. His thumb grazed my waist, slow and intentional. My body betrayed me with a shiver. My lips ached for his.

“Derek…” I whispered, my voice shaking.

He leaned closer, so close that his breath warmed my lips. His eyes searched mine, full of desire. “Tell me to stop,” he murmured, and I will.”

But I couldn't, I wanted him so badly. My silence was enough. He brushed his lips against my forehead instead, pulling me into a tight embrace.

I closed my eyes in a mix of relief and frustration. The witches’ curse still bound me, and even in my hunger. I couldn't cross that ultimate line.

A year after graduation, on a Saturday night I'll never forget, Derek went down on one knee. His voice was shaky, but his eyes never wavered.

“Dina, he began softly, “From the first day I met you, I knew there was something different about you. You are not just beautiful, you are light in a world filled with so much darkness. These years with you have healed parts of me I didn't even know were broken. You've opened my heart to kindness again, to love, to loyalty. You've been my peace, my strength, my reason to smile even when the days felt heavy. I don't just want you for now, I want you for every day, every night, every breath. I want to build a life with you, fight for you, grow old with you. You are my heart, Dina. My everything.”

He brought out a small silver box, in it was the most beautiful sapphire ring I had ever laid eyes on.

“Please… make me the happiest man alive. Be my wife.”

In that moment, every shadow, every warning from the witches faded away. All I saw was a man who wanted me forever. The warmth of being chosen. That was all that mattered.

Before he could even finish, the word rushed out of me: “Yes”

And just like that, we had a wedding to plan.

But beneath my joy, deep in the pit of my stomach, the witches’ laughter stirred.