To The Stars And Back - Jack Dawson

Chapter 11 - The Curse

Elizabeth's POV:

I decided to ignore the ringing in my ears that was left after the voice went away. It was probably nothing. I was just hallucinating because I was using my powers so frequently. Nothing else is happening. Dirt kicked up and left dust on the bottom of my blue dress.

I sighed but kept walking, Jack trailing close behind me. I wanted to go home. Not to Grams' house, not to Luna, not to the orphanage. Home. The cottage that I grew up in with my mother. Isolated from society with no trace of the outside world. It's where I learned archery, academics, gardening, singing, and many other things. I missed my mother, but she died when I was very young, and I was left with Ms. DuPont when she found me on the street, showing my powers for money.

"Elizabeth?" I had stopped walking and Jack was standing in front of me. I flicked my gaze up to meet his gorgeous blue eyes.

"Hm?"

"You just stopped walking and was zoned out again." I mouthed 'oh' and nodded slowly. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, fine." I said. "But, why are you being so nice to me? We were just fighting each other."

"Yes, but you look like you need to say something."

"It's nothing that I can tell you." I pushed past him.

"I'm sharing the worst moments of my life with you. You should tell me about you. Level the playing field."

"Yes, but you're getting something out of it. I'm already getting something, the ability to learn about this world, by giving you what you want. I'm helping you find your long lost love. You get one thing out of this, not two. I give one thing, and you get one thing. You will never learn anything about me, you will know nothing about me." I left him in suspenseful silence as I walked away.

To be perfectly honest, I didn't know where home was. Maybe it was back in that cottage with my mom, but I can never go back there. I burned it down. Now I had no home. No one who made me feel safe. I don't belong here. I don't belong anywhere.

--

"What the hell?" I exclaimed, eyes closed as I pressed into an object that Grams gave me.

"Keep focusing!" She said.

"Okay, she hit him in the head with a hammer? And then they-"

"Would you stop this?" Luna yelled, grabbing the small piece of cloth out of my hand. This was the first time I had ever seen her angry. I didn't like it. "Would you stop treating her like an experiment? Because Grams, I know she hasn't told you about how if she keeps practicing her powers, she's cursed, so a demon is gonna come haunt her for the rest of eternity!"

I shot Luna a look and Grams turned to face me. But she didn't look the least bit shocked.

"Oh please, I'm not stupid! I've been doing this for a long time dear. I could sense your curse." Grams said. I gave her a confused look. "You're not going to stop practicing. I want to help you learn and hopefully help you fight off this curse. Now, has anything strange been happening lately?"

I thought of the voice that I had heard. "No." I lied.

"Okay. Okay. One second dear." She motioned for an ashamed and confused Luna to come closer to her. "Don't ever interfere with our lessons again. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes Grams."

She turned to face me. "Now you, I can help you. I just need you to keep taking lessons from me and reading the books and such that I give you. Am I understood?"

"Yes." I said.

"Good." She softened her tone. "Now please pick up the object again."

--

Grams had gone out after the lessons and Luna and I sat on the main settee in tense silence. Both of us reading books that Grams had given to us. She finally broke the tense silence, "I'm sorry about earlier."

"It's fine."

"No it's not. I just care about you Evil. I don't want you to get hurt." She said, putting her book down to look me in the eyes.

"Really. It's fine. Honestly, I have such an amazing gift, why waste it because I'm scared of a little curse?"

"I understand. I just worry sometimes. You have no idea how much good you've done for me since I met you." She said, picking her book back up.

"Like what?"

"I just mean, this is the first time since I've seen Jack be genuinely happy talking to someone. You don't know this, but that first day when he brought you the newspaper and you were reading it, I touched his arm and he was happy. He's barely been social. But now you're here and you're helping somehow. Thank you."

I smiled. I really made him happy? Although I hated to admit it, I really did like Jack. I liked his sarcastic comments, his eyes, and his willingness to help the people that he loves. He really wants to find Rose, and I feel like it's my job to help him. Like it's fate.

"What?" Luna asked, seeming amused by my reaction.

"Nothing." I said.