LOVING FOR THE CURSE

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

"Wizard, Now you are just being old and rusty. I've met him by the river a couple of times. I know him very well I'd recognise him in the darkest night. What do you mean he thinks he imagines me? " I'm still speaking on top of my voice. 

Maria bursts out laughing. I still want to strangle her. She can't just be happy at the expense of my wounded ego. I bet it would be nice to twist that pretty little head of hers backwards. I know Tom won't mind because the curse would break at least! 

"Calm down Yasmin! " Tom says through gritted teeth dangerously low. 

I quickly look at him ready to lash out at him but smirk when I realize he is looking at Maria very murderously. I look back at Maria who has no clue then back to a raging Tom. Repeat that and it's when Maria looks at Tom. She freezes but after a gasp is caught in her throat. I have my last laugh. 

"He can't think he imagines me. We've met, talked, laughed and almost ki..." I hold myself before spilling that little secret. 

I have a feeling the wizard knows about it. He knows everything somehow. It drives me crazy. 

"Talk to him again and convince him. " Tom encourages. 

"I'd rather not. We have to set camp for the night. " I dismiss him walking around aimlessly as if looking for materials to set up camp. 

"The sooner we find him the better it is for everyone. Only then can we right all the wrong. " Tom says seriously. 

"What do you mean? Some times I think you make these things up. " Maria whines. 

"Please let her concentrate. "Tom shushes Maria. 

"What's the point if you say he thinks it's imagine. Who sets out on a journey to meet someone they think they just imagine? " I snap. 

I've never been a big fan of someone who insists on things. Deep down I want to talk to him again. I want to stare into his dark eyes and feel his skin against my fingers. My eyes close on their own accord. Connor. I trace the scar on his shoulder blade. Trail a finger down his muscular arm. He smells like grass, pine wood and fresh mud. He is sweaty and panting softly. 

I slowly raise my eyes towards his. See his soft, slightly parted and a little chapped lips. I want to moisten them for him but I look at his nose. Sweat is covering his skin making it glisten. I look into his eyes. His very dark eyes. Something is not right. He is looking at me but it's not like usual. Almost as if he is not. 

I call him. Strangely I don't hear my own voice. I cup his face and pull him closer. 

"Connor, please come meet me at the eastern plains in two days. Go pack your stuff right now. Enough food and water for you and the fastest horse in your stables. We'll organize everything when we meet okay? Do you understand? " 

"Yes milady. " He says dutifully. 

Feeling better about the situation, I want to tell Tom I've succeeded so quickly open my eyes forgetting it breaks the connection. I could be with him like that all day. 

"Good news? "

"Yeah, he agreed to meet me. " I say joyfully then frown. 

"Something wrong? " Tom asks. 

I shake my head confused a bit. 

"He seemed really tired. Is that the exhaustion you were telling me about? He wasn't even paying me much attention. Yes he was looking into my eyes but he seemed as if looking past my eyes. I almost looked behind me thinking he was looking at something through me. Or maybe it's the sun and his hard job chopping down pines. " I wonder to self. 

"You compelled him. " Tom says in a tone I can't quite decipher. 

"What do you mean? Know what it doesn't matter, we just get started with our journey. " I say walking away after retrieving the torch I threw away earlier. 

I walk a few strides and don't hear any footsteps after me so I turn around with a questioning look. They are looking at me uneasily. 

"This journey is not going to walk itself. We'll buy horses in the morning but now we are just going to walk. Move in people!" Look at me being so bossy. 

Tom walks past me but Maria stays put crossing her arms over her chest. 

"Tom you don't have to do everything she asks you know. It's dark and I'm tired. I'm not going anywhere. " She sits down to prove her point. 

I don't mind leaving her there for the slavers. Her butt would use some whopping cleaning somewhere. I walk after Tom only to be stopped by him .

"She's right, there is no point walking in the dark like this. Let's camp out and sleep. In the morning when the sun is up we'll know which direction is east. We'll buy those horses and recover the time we've lost. " Tom reasons. 

I want to not listen but know all too well I might have gotten us lost already so maybe just chill and wait for light. I just nod because I don't trust my voice. Last thing we want is for me to compel another man to do things he does not want to do. 

How that happened with Connor, I don't know. I can't wait to see him in two days because now even I feel like he's not real. Maybe if I see him I'll believe he is there and I'll have to interrogate Tom in the morning about how I can talk to Connor like that for the past couple weeks. 

Tom and Maria are the worker bees setting up camp. A fire to keep us warm. Dry leaves to cover up. Tom does some wizard spell thing saying to keep insects away. This is going to be a long night.