Curse of the Oak

Chapter Thirteen

Desiree heard people murmuring beside her. She wanted so badly to stay asleep, letting the safety and comfort from the dream, lull her into a place of rest. Away from the stresses of the day. She wanted to fall back in her dream, letting the sunlight and warmth from Kol radiate over her once again. Being in his arms felt safe. Enjoying, the way Kol's lips felt on hers, making her forget awful and corruptive entities in the world. And then she remembered seeing the man in the cloak. The one who thrusted a blade through her heart. But he wasn't a screecher. He spoke without the hiss of darkness. Nevertheless, he seemed composed of worse dusky and immoral qualities than the screechers. But she couldn't shake the feeling of meeting him before. Not directly, but somewhere in the past.

A big loud chink brought Des from the dark memories inside her. She opened her eyes, sitting up quickly, unaware of the surroundings around her. The first thing she saw was a dark gray wall, coated with what looked like ancient markings. She turned her head, seeing a group of people to her left, sitting in chairs and leaning on walls, while two were trying to pick up the broken glass from the floor.

"I can't believe you dropped the glass, you senseless buffoon," the soothing and lyrical voice said. "You're going to wake the poor child. She's already been through enough."

"It was an accident Josie," A deep elderly baritone voice replied. "Besides, she's been asleep for a couple of hours. Des needs to eat before she becomes thin as rail."

"The poor thing is already a rail," the woman replied.

"Ugh, guys," Kat interrupted with a cough, trying to get her parents attention. "Look."

Des watched as Alfred and Josephine "Josie" Louis gazed toward her, giving her a comforting smile. Alfred was a tall elderly man, dressed in slacks and a sweater vest. He only had a little bit of brown hair left on his head, while he was covered in a lake of gray. There were a couple of wrinkles on him, flaunting his age as he entered in late fifties. On the other hand, his wife was the exact opposite. She was very petite and small, smothered with long black hair that held the smallest of gray in the tips. She was wearing a dark hue dress shaping her elegant and beautiful skin. She used to be a prima ballerina, until Alfred stole her from one of the shows. Josie used to tell Des it was the greatest moment in her life.

Des looked around, noticing her grandmother sitting in the chair beside her, and a red headed man leaning against the wall. He looked like one of the men who rescued her from the elves. His bulky and massive muscles made him look like he was about to burst from his dark green uniform he was still wearing.

"Oh, Desiree Michael Collins!" Josie went toward her, wrapping her arms around her neck. "I don't know whether to love or kill you at this moment! Thank the forest you're okay!" Josie squeezed harder, soaking up every minute in this reunion.

"Well, you'll definitely kill her if you keep this up Josie." Alfred commented, walking toward her. "Her face is turning into a violet, and not the flower type."

"You old fool!" Josie replied, releasing Des from the tight grip, to have her hand swing in an arc towards her husband.

"Come here squirt," Alfred said in an affectionate tone with a soft face, taking her in for a big hug. "I knew that those elves would be nothing against you little stag."

She couldn't help but hear pride in his voice. Des hugged him back, absorbing this comfort of joy. Since she was little, Des always remembered Alfred and Josie being there. They were at all her birthday parties, her school programs, and even enjoyed the holidays with Des and her family. They were like a fun loving Aunt and Uncle, something Des had been deprived of, seeing as her mother nor her father had any siblings.