FD: Birth of a Wishing Heart

43. A Faded Memory

Grizelda went to Nicholas's bedroom. She remembered the last time they had spoken. He was still dedicated to her mission while granting mercy to others. She hated the gods for forcing her down one path. So she had decided to play her part better than they had ever dreamed, ruining their world in the process. In the meantime, she had become a god herself, forcing Nicholas to work for herself and causing him pain and agony. He had still found a way to make it his own. She had gone too far but behind it all, deep inside she was proud of him. He was still there doing good through it. She was no longer capable of loving Nicholas but she admired him. If only she could feel more of her humanity. In a few days, she'd be gone, she knew what her plan was going to be and she wouldn't see Nicholas again.

She wondered if someone could take him in. Adiscordia wasn't stable enough and there was no one else. She had burned all her bridges to ask anyone to help take care of him. Maybe relationships did have some sort of purpose. She knocked on his door softly. Her other hand held tightly to a somewhat dusty sealed envelope. This was going to be a heartfelt moment if she would ever have one. She knocked on the door a little louder but was met without a response.

"Nicholas! Open the door!" Her voice was too harsh. She took a shaky breath. "Curse. Grant me an evening. I've gotten you closer than anyone else, haven't I? The way I see it, you owe me. I could have just set myself in flames." The curse didn't respond, but they had been a partnership of dual respect. The curse did as it was told, separating itself as much as it could.

"Nicholas. Please, open the door." She felt her throat start to well up as blood and bile dripped from her lips released from the stone's cracks. Stones were being held. She had humbled herself. She was met again without a response and the curse erupted back in place. She felt her body push forward as the pillars of stone went further past her throat and grew vertically. Her lungs had long been crushed. Only the curse was keeping what was left of her soul in her mutilated body. It gave her an artificial feeling of life that couldn't be separated.

"I was trying to meet you at your level!" One kick sent the door flying towards the wall. She stood quiet for a moment as she realized the room was empty. Where was Nicholas? Had he finally chosen the heart over her? He was usually alone drinking blood and sulking. Had he had enough, a few days before her grand debut? Was she alone. Feelings began to poke at her rock-hard exterior as the curse blocked them.

"I only need you willing to live for 5 more days." The curse spoke to her. Grizelda clung to it.

"I will!" She felt completely detached in all areas. Everything stretched just to reach for the curse that kept all her limbs and organs in place. The world barely made sense to her, and she struggle to tell what was real. What was important? What was the value of life, did any of this world matter? "I need you to keep me together."

In Nicholas's absence, she became fully aware of how mad she was becoming and how vulnerable she was. The most powerful villainess of the world stared at the bodily fluids dripping down onto her dress as her feet were shoved closer together. Only time could tell how long she would survive... if time existed. As she focused more on the gods and became one with the curse she failed to see our world. Each step we took was predetermined by them. Our reality was subjective, and if she lost this weekend she'd know for certain. Nothing mattered.

The fear of losing made her body move only lightly which sent sharp pains across her nerves as what was left inside her continued to go upwards.

"Empty" Was all she heard before she found herself racing downstairs again. Chains clanked and pulled forward as she grabbed a victim. Her body was quick to rip apart muscles and meat. Blood smothered her body as she fell once again to the curse's instincts for survival in its vessel. It ignored the cries and screams of its victims as it only went deeper inside until their resistance stopped.

Nicholas watched from the corner of the room. He had wanted to try to ready himself for the weekend by doing something undoubtedly cruel but after hearing a child cry he couldn't do it and instead chose to sip red near them. He had hoped that hearing their begs for mercy would make him stronger or more immune for when the time came to take my heart but it only worsened his guilt. He was about to head upstairs when he found himself hiding in the corner from the rampage that was Grizelda gorging on a victim. He rarely exposed herself to her feedings and now felt his blood grow cold as his feet froze in place.