The Curse ✔️

Chapter 42: Under the Surface

Professor Darth stared at the red egg, and the rest of us held our breaths. My heartbeat reverberated through my veins; strong and steady. Without even fully thinking about it, I glanced up at Thar, who was in return looking at me. His expression was one of concern.

"Eugene." Darth grabbed the bowl and threw the red egg in the marble sink built into his dark oak table. "Another egg."

Eugene jumped immediately, shaking out of the trans, and handed another egg to the professor. Amma latched onto my arm, holding me stronger with each second.

Professor Darth broke the egg into the bowl, then took a new, clean needle, "Now give me your finger."

Eugene's throat bobbed as he held out his hand. Darth grabbed it and pulled it over the bowl. He pricked Eugene's finger and let the drop fall into the bowl.

The drop splashed across the surface of the egg yolk, colouring it slightly. The rest of the egg remained its normal colour. I stopped breathing for a few seconds.

Darth let Eugene's hand go, "That's truly something."

Thar immediately turned the key under the door handle, locking us in. Amma's nails dug into my skin. Morta came closer to us.

"Is the room secured?" He asked.

"Yes." Darth put his palms against the table. "Eugene?"

"Yes?"

"Will you kill the black ooze for us, please?"

Eugene opened his mouth, but the words stuck on his tongue. He wanted to protest, tell Darth that white magic was useless against the ooze, but he's just realised the same thing we all have.

"Yes, Professor Darth." He switched places with Darth and stood right in front of the glass container on the table.

He put both of his hands on the glass, careful not to touch the runes drawn over it. The black ooze, simmering lightly under the glass up until now, sprung into action. It tried to approach Eugene, but it couldn't touch the spelled glass.

Forgetting my senses were still open, I got slammed by the sudden burst of magic, my head spinning. Energy spread through the room, and the black ooze went wild right before it burst into flames. A screeching sound broke my eardrums. Everyone covered their ears as the black ooze burned before us, turning into ash slowly, but surely.

Eugene removed his hands from the glass and stared down at them with some kind of wonder. Darth had the same look in his eyes, accompanied by parted lips. I met Thar's gaze; full of realisation and concern.

"Well, that settles it." Darth looked up. "We're cursed."

"Shit." Morta cursed. "I'm way more scared now than this morning."

"Okay." Thar took a step forward, glance jumping between all of us. "I want you all to go back to your rooms and do nothing for the next twenty four hours."

My first instinct was, as always, to protest, but the look in his eyes stopped me.

"Eugene will stay." Darth said.

Eugene looked like he was about to pass out.

"Yes, Lange will want proof." Thar nodded. "Jade, can you promise me something?"

Something inside me cracked at that question, but I managed a nod.

"Can you do nothing for the next twenty four hours without protest?"

I swallowed my heartbeat, wondering what in the world I had still to do except stay put until someone smarter and older dealt with the situation in my stead.