The Curse (GxG)

Chapter 6

   "Was the Trojan Horse a real thing?" Vicky asked.

   I folded my arms over my chest. "Yes. And, for the record, I didn't trust it."

   She looked at me from her spot next to me on the couch. "What about Achilles?"

   I shot her a smirk. "Sure, but he didn't look anything like Brad Pitt."

   She laughed in return. "I can't believe I'm sitting next to you... You're practically a relic."

   I pointed at her. "Easy now."

   She waved her hands. "I didn't mean it like that... I meant the stories you must have... The things you must've seen..."

   I crossed my legs on the couch, gesturing to myself. "I'm an open book, ask me anything you'd like."

   She turned to me, mirroring my pose. "Ok... Did Oswald really shoot Kennedy?"

   I chuckled. "You have a firsthand account of the last three-thousand years of history at your fingertips and that's what you wanna know?"

   She nodded enthusiastically.

   I rolled my eyes playfully. "Fine... No, he didn't."

   "I knew it!" She squealed, causing us to break out in laughter.

   My laughter subsided though as hers turned into a violent cough.

   Fear and concern spread through me. "Vicky? Are you ok?"

   She wiped a little blood from her lips, nodding her head. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine."

   I took her hand. "Are you sure?"

   "Yes... Now, what about the pyramids of Egypt, did aliens really build them?"

   I flashed her a smile, but it was slightly forced. I knew her condition was getting worse. "That was a little before my time."

   "What about Roswell? No way that was a weather balloon."

   I laughed again. "Alright, I think I've had enough conspiracies for one night."

   "Oh, c'mon, no fair." She pouted.

   I pressed a kiss to her lips with a little giggle, pulling her up off the couch. "C'mon, let's get some rest..."

   While Vicky slept in our room, I sat awake on the couch, flipping through my spell book. Tomorrow was Vicky's birthday... Given, her condition, it would probably be her last... Unless I found a way to cure her.

   I read the book from cover to cover. I've done it so many times since we met and still came up empty.

   'Why do I even bother?' I thought.

   "What're you still doing up?" I heard, quickly closing the book as Vicky entered, rubbing her tired eyes.

   "Sorry, I couldn't sleep." I replied, setting the book on the coffee table.

   Vicky sat next to me on the couch, running her fingers over the worn, leather cover. "You know, you still haven't told me what's so special about this book."

   I let out a sigh. "You really wanna know?"

   She nodded.

   "Alright... It's a spell book... I got it from a witch a few hundred years ago."

   Her eyes widened a little. "How'd you manage that?"

   I picked the book up, memories of that day flooding back. "It was the height of the Salem witch trials... A lot of innocent women were senselessly murdered... But, there were a few that actually practiced witchcraft. And, even fewer that were actual witches. I crossed paths with one on the streets. She was orphaned as a child and a local coven took her in. Taught her a few tricks. She used them to make a few bucks... But, she wouldn't have hurt a fly..."

   A few tears dripped down my cheek. "When the trials were in full swing, the coven decided to fight back. But, she wanted no part of it. She didn't want anyone else to die. So, I took her under my wing, kept her safe. She stole the book on her way out and the coven threw us to the wolves because of it... She was barely eighteen when the hunters caught up to us..."

   "What happened to her..?" Vicky asked.

   The flames danced behind my eyes, the screams echoing through my ears. "They burned her alive right next to me..."

   "Liv... That's awful..."

   A sudden anger filled my gut. "They let my fire burn for three whole days... When it didn't kill me, they banished me... Once I healed, I came back and got my revenge on the coven and the hunters... Every last one of them died at my hands..."

   Vicky covered her mouth. "Oh my God..."

   "The girl... Constance... I loved her. She was like a daughter to me... She wasn't a witch, just a poor kid who got herself mixed up with the wrong crowd..."

   Vicky slowly pulled me into a hug. "I'm so sorry, Liv..."

   I closed my eyes, melting into her embrace. "I love you..."

   She pulled back, wiping a few stray tears from my eyes. "I love you to..."

   I stood up then. "C'mon, let's go back to bed..."

   The next morning, we tried our best to get the apartment set up for Vicky's birthday. I was determined to give her a party she'd never forget... But, our conversation from last night still bounced around my thoughts. I couldn't save Constance all those years ago... And, I most likely wouldn't be able to save Vicky either...

   "What's got you so down?" Vicky asked.

   I let out a sigh before sitting down at the kitchen table, opening the book. "No matter how many times I read this... I can't find a way to save you..."

   She sat down across from me, taking my hand in hers. "Liv... You've already saved me... I was doomed to live out the rest of my days alone... But, then you came along and reignited my passion for living. You've given me so much joy and happiness since we've met and now... When it's my time, I know I won't be alone and I won't be sad..."

   I gave her a little smile. "You're way to optimistic."

   She chuckled lightly. "It's all I have left."

   I stood up then, newfound determination coursing through me. "Well, you're still here. It's not your time yet. And I'm gonna throw you the best damn party of your life."

   She stood up as well, letting out a little cheer. "Now you're speaking my language..."

   We spent the next couple hours getting everything in order... Genuine excitement in the air...