Cursed by Fate (COMPLETE)

Chapter Two

Matthias’s gasp echoed in the car as we pulled up the gates of my home. I was used to it but I guess to an outsider it would be impressive. The house had been our family forever, no one could really date back to when it first came to us. My parents finally started renovating it and turning it into more of a modern day style mini castle. 

It was nothing compared to the castles that stood over seas, but it was still large. It was built from grey stone, turrets rose skyward while ivy still snaked over the walls giving it a kind of eerie feel. The front door was a heavy dark oak. The home had fifteen bedrooms and each bedroom had its own bathroom. There were three floors, the third floor was mine. It had my bedroom, a small kitchen so I didn’t have to go up and down so many stairs at night. I had a library, a study, my photo room and a movie room on my floor. The bottom floor held the main kitchen, the dining room, a small ballroom (Courtesy of my mother.) Five bedrooms, a living room and entertainment room. While the second floor had nothing but bedrooms and a small kitchenette. 

“Pick up your jaw before you catch some flies, officer Cromwell.” I tried and failed to teased, getting out of the car when we reached the front door. 

“How do you live here alone?” He asked handing me my keys. I just shrugged. 

“I’m used to it I guess. I do have Natalie and Jonah. Natalie helps me keep the place clean and Jonah is the cook. If it weren’t for him I’m sure I’d forget to eat half the time. Come on I’ll show you where you can sleep.” I motioned for him to follow me. 

As we walked through the castle I told him where everything was and showed him where he could sleep on the second floor. I even gave him some of my fathers old clothes that looked like they would fit him pretty well. I told him where I would be if he needed me and made my way to my room, more than ready to strip and scald my skin until I felt like it had been sanitized of the blood. 

Unfortunately that feeling never came. No matter how hot I set the water, no matter how much or how hard I scrubbed, I still felt like the blood coated my skin. I knew it wasn’t there, I knew I was clean but I could still feel it. I’m sure it will go away soon. I thought as I got out of the shower and wrapped a towel over my hair and around my body. 

Walking through my room my breath caught in my throat and my heart plummeted to my feet. Photos among photos of me and my friends lined my walls and dressers alongside my parents. Everyone. I had lost everyone I had ever loved. Maybe I was cursed. Cursed to love and then lose that love. Cursed to roam the world alone. Because that is how it seemed. Everyone I had ever cared for had been taken from me in some violent way. 

Knock knock knock 

“Nicole? Are you alright?” Mathias asked. 

I didn’t look over to him as he walked up to me. “No. No I’m not. Look.” I said pointing to a picture of Mathew. “That is Mathew. The boy I was holding on the field. I found him and Max with their arms wrapped around Jazelle, Beth and Marie as if they wanted to protect them. And then there are my parents.” I said pointing to a picture of them from our last vacation together. “Each of them, my friends and my parents were taken from me brutally and violently. I’m nineteen Mathias, nineteen. And now I’m left with no one else to lose. I’ve lost everyone. Maybe that’s a good thing. Having no connections, nothing to hold me here so I can go to college and study photography like I want. But then again how can I do that after what happened? How can I leave after everything?”

He seemed at a loss for words, and I honestly didn’t expect him to have an answer for me. How could he? “Nicole, I know it must feel like the world is against you right now, and you have every right to feel that way. But trust me when I say there is more out there than what this small town can offer. You will find more people who will love you. More friends who will understand what you’ve been through and support you. And one day, you will find someone you want to spend your life with. 

But right now, I say go to school. Go after your dream. That’s what your friends wanted for you right? Honor them by being happy. Remember them by making yourself into the best damn photographer this country has ever known. And then use them. Display their photos, use them as a story of how you began, where you started. They will always be your beginning Nicole, it’s up to you how you end and who you end with.” 

His words shocked me. Not because a man had such depth, but because he was right. And that’s what I had told my friends this morning. That I would tell the world how they were my muses, how they inspired me. “You’re right.” I breathed looking around at the smiles and laughter in the photos. “I will go to school, and I will be the best there is.” Determination filled me as I spoke the words. “Thank you Mathias.” I said turning to him. 

His green eyes seemed to sparkle as he looked down at me. “You’re welcome Nicole. Now I think we both need to get some rest. Good night.” He said as he walked out, closing the door behind him. “Good night Mathias.” I whispered at the closed door. 

There was something about having Mathias in the castle that both made me comfortable and set me on edge. I was no longer used to sharing the house with anyone. And even though I didn’t run into him physically, just knowing he was there was enough to fray my nerves. Eventually though, after hours of trying I was able to fall asleep. I wish I hadn’t.

I was back on that field. But this time everyone around me was alive, smiling, laughing and cheering as names were called to go receive their diploma. I was surrounded by my friends' happy faces and my heart swelled at seeing them again. I was beaming as I watched them laugh and bicker with each other. But out of nowhere everything stilled. People just froze in place as blood started trickling out of their mouth, nose and ears. And one by one people just started dropping. Wet thuds echoed around me as I watched body after body hit the ground until all that was left was my friends and I.

I closed my eyes tightly not wanting to see them like the others, but when a hand touched my cheek and I felt warm liquid in its wake I startled and my eyes flew open. Max was in front of me. His hazel eyes were wide with pain and shock, his hand were covered in blood as he held them out in front of him as he was begging me for help. Blood flowed from his eyes like tears, it streamed from his ears and nose. I shook my head, tears blurring my vision as I tried to back away from him. But I backed into someone else. Jazelle was there when I turned around. Her black eyes pleading with me, her mouth hung open in a silent scream, a hole in the middle of her forehead oozed blood as she reached out for me. 

I screamed, and screamed and screamed. Until I was jolted awake by someone shaking me. I snapped upright, barely missing colliding with Mathias. I looked into his worried eyes and shook my head as I pulled my knees to my chest and buried my face in them. I would never escape the horror that I saw. It would follow me wherever I went, haunting my dreams. 

Mathias rubbed my back as I sobbed. I knew he didn’t sign up for this and I felt bad that Adam stuck him with babysitting duty, but at this moment in time I was thankful he was here. Because honestly, I didn’t know if I would have been able to make it through the rest of the night in this castle alone. 

When I woke up I was surprised to see that Mathias was still in the room with me. He lay on top of the covers beside me, his handsome face looked peaceful as he slept. I eased myself off the bed trying not to wake him and gently lay a blanket over him before going to the kitchen to make breakfast. It was the least I could do after all that he did for me last night. 

The smell of bacon and coffee must have woke him up because not long after I began he popped into the kitchen asking where the coffee cups were. using the fork i was cooking the bacon with, to point to the cabinet before returning to the bacon to flip it over. I leaned back against the counter and watched him as he made his coffee. He used creamer and sugar in his, odd for a man. Most men drank it black with sugar. 

He quirked a brow at me taking a sip of his coffee. “What?” He asked. 

“Nothing.” I said shaking my head and turning back to the bacon. 

“No, tell me.” He urged coming to stand beside me. 

“The way you drink your coffee.” I smiled. “You drink it with both creamer and sugar. It’s different, most men drink it black or black with sugar.” I said with a shrug. 

Mathias chuckled as he braced himself on the counter and crossed his ankles. 

“Who says I want to be like most men?” He questioned with a smirk. 

“No one I suppose.” I answered, plating the bacon and popping bread in the toaster. I quickly whisked some eggs and poured them in the bacon grease. Cooking eggs in bacon grease made the eggs taste so much better than when you just cook them in butter. 

“What are you doing?” Mathias asked as he watched me. 

“You’ve never had eggs scrambled in bacon grease?” I asked. He curled his lip and shook his head. I laughed at his expression. “Trust me, it is delicious. You’ll love it.” I assured him. 

“If you say so.” He said hesitantly. 

“Just go sit down and wait. You’ll see.” I said and pointed to the small table in the corner. He did as I asked and sat down and drank his coffee silently as he watched me finish cooking. Finally after everything was done I made our plates and sat his in front of him before sitting down across from him to eat mine. 

Mathias kind of sneered at the eggs as he poked at them and pushed them around the plate. I watched with an amused smile. “Just try it.” I chuckled. 

He looked up to me and narrowed his eyes. “Fine.” He pouted before lifting a bite and placing it in his mouth. He chewed it for a few seconds before his eyes went wide and he shoveled the rest of the eggs into his mouth. 

I couldn’t help but laugh at him as I watched him down the eggs. “I told you.” I said in a sing-song voice before starting to eat my own food. 

“You have got to teach me how to make that.” He said excitedly. 

“It’s simple. Fry bacon and scramble eggs in the bacon grease. That’s it.” I shrugged. 

After breakfast I was reluctant to drive him back to the station but I knew I had to. We were both showered and ready to go in no time. Mathias in his uniform and me in black skinny jeans, a red halter top, and red flats. I let Mathias drive my car one last time after he begged me to let him. How could I say no to that? He had the best puppy eyes I’d ever seen. I feel bad for whoever ends up as his girlfriend, she’d never be able to tell him no. 

“Tell Adam I said bye.” I said through the window. 

Mathias furrowed his brow. “Bye? Why?” 

I gave him a quizzical stare before answering. “I’m leaving for college today. I’m going to go home and finish packing and leave. I’m going to school in Ohio and I’ll be gone for a few years.” He almost looked sad before he schooled his features and smiled. “Good luck Nicole, I hope you find what you’re looking for.” He said then turned and walked into the station. 

I smiled as I watched him disappear through the doors. I just met him and I think I’d actually miss the man. Which was strange to me because I didn’t bond with people easily. And to have bonded to him so quickly and easily it felt odd. I brushed it off though and drove home. Equal parts excited and nervous to start this new chapter of my life.