FD: Birth of a Wishing Heart

29. Love is a Myth

Nicholas stared at his mother in horror as he cried. She let them go, and he had watched the boy run still limping from his wounds. They had left a trail of blood as they ran out. Hansel's blood still stained his lips as he began to wail. Had he killed him?

"If it upset you so much, You should have bitten straight through the vessel." Grizelda started. "They die faster and feel less pain." Nicholas could barely look at her anymore. He didn't understand any of this. He was terrified. His one and only mother had become a monster without warning. He wanted to go home safely and abandon his mother to her needs. Another hit came towards him. He whimpered as his head was cut up again. "Nicholas! Don't cry! You're acting like cattle! Are you cattle?" Nicholas shook his head in fear of any other answer. "Good, this is my chance to raise you properly. Listen carefully. The first rule, don't show weakness. Your wails are annoying me, you know better. The second rule, you will no longer eat food made for cattle. We're the predators, not the prey. Lastly, I am no longer your mother. You are not my son. You are mine because you're useful. That's all."

Nicholas didn't respond. He only continued to cry without understanding. He was only four years old. This was far too much at once. His head was swirling with questions, fear, and pain. His biggest question was, Why? Why did his mother become this? What had she done wrong? Grizelda wasn't that old either. She was only eleven, but her complete loss of family, goals, and free will had matured her in a strange way. She was now hellbent on getting it all back. Her body had been consumed by the curse in a moment of vulnerability in a way that her sister hadn't experienced. The sudden change had brought what she considered to be wisdom as the curse spoke to her and told her secrets. She huffed as she looked around the room. She had told him what he had to do, and yet he was still crying. "You can be of use to my hunger, or you can be of use to my goals. Choose by tonight Nicholas." With that she went to explore the other rooms.

This was her home now. This was her destiny. She was cursed, it was pathetic to think she could escape it. She observed Adiscordia's room, looking around for clues to her goals. There was no doubt in her mind that after she had seen Adiscordia's soul return within the girl that this was all part of a plan. What other goal would she have than to eradicate the curse? The book was quick to catch her eye. It was open next to a pen and ink on the night table. Adiscordia's journal told of her journey to find a wishing heart in order to send the curse back to the gods. She explained that she had put some of herself into Verre to look for it even after death. She knew she was dying. Grizelda slammed the book shut after reading it. That's why she invited her.

"Tell me. What do you want?" Grizelda asked out loud. "If I remember correctly, you can grant immortality, you never wanted Adiscordia did you?"

There was a chuckle as the curse emerged from Grizelda without a single tear on her skin. "She was too torn and unfocused. She wanted to use me to save you, and viewed her love for you as only a weakness. I needed someone who was focused and whole. Now there's nothing left for you to be distracted by."

Grizelda stared at the curse in front of her unfazed by its sudden appearance. She should have been terrified, instead she felt nothing. She had been in through much pain too early. She had a good life with Milia and Gotto, but deep down she always knew that it wouldn't last. Her whole life was spent battling for her purity, but now she had lost even that. What was the purpose of living if all her efforts were useless and would lead her to losing everything no matter what. Now all she wanted, was for this to be over. "I still love the boy."

The curse flew besides her. "Let me reveal the truth your sister lacked understanding in. Love is not weakness. Love is a myth. It doesn't exist! We make attachments in this world, but we don't love, not here." Grizelda lifted a brow in curiosity. "The gods created the curse and the wishing heart, both hold the truths of their humanity. Everyone else lives in ignorance as they try to fill the gaps between the two truths ."