The Curse Awakens

The Calm Before the Storm

Raven sat on the cold stone steps of Ashen’s family cabin, the wind biting against her skin. The aftermath of the battle still churned in her mind. The tear in the veil was gone, but the memory of Morgana’s chilling words haunted her.

“This isn’t the end.”

The curse within her had settled, its energy subdued but not gone. It waited, lurking in the back of her mind like a predator in the shadows. Raven clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She didn’t want to think about how close she’d come to losing herself.

“Hey.”

She turned to see Ashen approaching, two steaming mugs in his hands. He handed one to her and sat down beside her.

“Tea,” he said simply.

Raven took the mug, the warmth seeping into her cold fingers. “Thanks.”

They sat in silence for a while, the quiet punctuated by the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind.

“Luna’s still in the basement,” Ashen said after a moment. “She’s trying to repair the ward. Says it’ll help stabilize what’s left of the veil in this area.”

Raven nodded, taking a sip of her tea. The herbal blend was earthy and soothing, but it did little to calm the storm inside her.

“You did good back there,” Ashen added, his voice softer.

Raven let out a hollow laugh. “Good? I almost lost control. If I had, Morgana would’ve won. Or worse, I could’ve hurt you… or Luna.”

“But you didn’t.” Ashen’s tone was firm. “You fought it, Raven. That means something.”

She glanced at him, his brown eyes steady and unwavering. He believed in her, even when she didn’t believe in herself.

“I don’t know how much longer I can fight it,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ashen placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch grounding her. “You don’t have to do it alone.”

Before Raven could respond, the cabin door creaked open, and Luna stepped out. Her face was pale, her hair disheveled, but there was a spark of determination in her brown eyes.

“I think I’ve stabilized the ward,” Luna said, brushing her hands on her jeans. “But it’s a temporary fix. We need something stronger if we’re going to stop Morgana for good.”

Ashen stood, his expression darkening. “You think she’ll come back?”

Luna nodded grimly. “She’s too powerful to stay down for long. And now that she’s weakened the veil, she’ll be desperate to finish what she started.”

Raven stood as well, setting her mug down on the steps. “Then we need to find a way to stop her before she gets the chance.”

“That’s easier said than done,” Luna said, crossing her arms. “Morgana’s magic is ancient, tied to the curse itself. To defeat her, we’ll need to unravel the source of her power.”

Raven frowned. “The source of her power… you mean the curse?”

Luna hesitated, then nodded. “Yes. But the curse isn’t just tied to Morgana—it’s tied to all of us. You, me, Ashen, Finn, Ember… everyone marked by it. If we destroy the curse, we destroy her power.”

Ashen’s jaw tightened. “And what happens to us if the curse is destroyed?”

Luna’s silence was answer enough.

Raven’s stomach churned. She’d spent years wishing the curse away, dreaming of a life without its constant shadow. But now, faced with the possibility, she wasn’t sure she was ready to give it up.

“Isn’t there another way?” Ashen asked, his voice tense.

Luna sighed. “If there is, I don’t know it. But we have to try something. The longer the curse exists, the weaker the veil becomes. If Morgana doesn’t destroy it, something else will.”

Raven looked out into the dark woods, her thoughts racing. The curse had given her power, yes, but it had also taken so much from her. Her family, her friends, her sense of normalcy. Could she really let it go?

You need me, the curse whispered in her mind, its voice cold and insistent. Without me, you’re nothing.

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “I’m more than this.”

“What?” Ashen asked, glancing at her.

Raven straightened, meeting his gaze. “I’ll do it. If destroying the curse is the only way to stop Morgana, then that’s what we’ll do.”

Luna looked at her with a mix of admiration and worry. “It won’t be easy. The curse is deeply rooted in all of us. To sever it, we’ll need to find its origin.”

“And where do we start?” Ashen asked.

Luna hesitated, then said, “There’s an old legend about the curse’s creation. It’s said to be tied to an artifact—something called the Heart of Shadows. If we can find it, we might be able to use it to destroy the curse.”

“The Heart of Shadows,” Raven repeated, the name sending a chill down her spine. “Where do we find it?”

Luna frowned. “That’s the problem. No one knows where it is. The legend says it’s hidden somewhere in the Hollowlands, protected by ancient wards and traps.”

“Sounds like a death trap,” Ashen muttered.

Raven squared her shoulders. “Then we’ll face it. Whatever it takes, we’re ending this.”

Luna nodded, her determination matching Raven’s. “Then we should leave as soon as possible. The longer we wait, the stronger Morgana will get.”

Ashen sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Guess we’re heading to the Hollowlands.”

As the three of them began preparing for the journey, Raven felt a flicker of hope. For the first time in years, she had a clear path forward.

But deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that they were walking straight into Morgana’s trap.