𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 - 𝐄𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧

𝐗𝐈𝐈

𝘊𝘏𝘈𝘗𝘛𝘌𝘙 𝘛𝘞𝘌𝘓𝘝𝘌

(the cursed witch, act one)

NINA WOKE UP TO A BRIGHT LIGHT SHINING DOWN ON HER – IT REMINDED HER OF BEING IN A DENTIST'S OFFICE. Squeezing her eyes shut, she opened them again, this time much slower.

Her once steady breaths turned uneven when she realized she didn't recognize her surroundings.

"Hey, hey, it's alright," A voice spoke suddenly as the door opened and closed, footsteps soft as they padded toward her.

Nina looked at the figure, her vision still blurry. "Eeyore?"

Edward would have rolled his eyes if he wasn't so worried. Setting the tray of food he had brought in down on a side table, he moved to sit in the chair beside the bed. "Yeah. It's Eeyore."

She hummed softly, eyes closed as she held a small, tired smile. "My favourite character... Why do I feel like I'm floating?"

"I think you're still half asleep," He explained, his voice soft, not wanting to alarm her. Rosalie had warned him she might not deal well being in the same room as a man. She had even offered to go in herself, but Edward insisted he be the one to talk to her unless she was too afraid.

When Nina tried to sit up, she stopped herself instantly when she felt pain bloom from her ribcage. "Ow," She groaned softly, laying back down and huffing.

Pursing his lips, not enjoying the sight of her in pain, he placed an icepack on the bed. "Put it on your ribs. It'll help a little."

She grabbed the cold object and placed it where he said. She was thankful he hadn't handed it to her, she wasn't sure how well she would respond to the touch.

"Why were you in Port Angeles, Edward?" Nina asked. "How did you know where I was?"

He looked down, folding his large hands together slowly on his lap. His eyes flickered up at her from under his lashes. "I followed you to Port Angeles," He admitted, speaking in a rush. "I've never tried to keep a specific person alive before, and it's much more troublesome than I would have believed. But that's probably just because it's you. Ordinary people seem to make it through the day without so many catastrophes." He paused. Nina wondered if it should bother her that he was following her; instead she felt a strange surge of gratitude. He stared, maybe wondering why her lips were curving into an involuntary smile.

"You so like me," She teased, laying her head back on the pillow.

"Well, it would be a lot easier to like you if you stopped getting into trouble all the time."

"But if I don't get into trouble, who is going to make sure your heart still beats?" When he grinned, she continued, "Did you ever think that maybe my number was up the first time, with the van, and that you've been interfering with fate?"