Heaven: A Maiden's Curse

08 - Unmasking Heaven

The silence between us stretched, heavy and brittle, as we trudged through the overgrown forest. My mind churned with fragments of what I’d just witnessed—the souls, the shadows, their cries for help still echoing in my ears.

She walked ahead of me, her steps deliberate and her shoulders tense. I had questions—too many—but I didn’t know where to begin.

Finally, I broke the silence.

“Back there...those souls,” I began, my voice hoarse. “Do you think...do you think we can save them?”

Her pace didn’t falter, but her cold tone sliced through the stillness. “You don’t save what’s already lost.”

I quickened my steps, moving beside her. “You don’t know that. They spoke to me. They were scared—of Hyacinth, of something worse. We can help them.”

Her sharp gaze cut to me. “They’re echoes. Fragments of what they once were. Don’t mistake their pleas for hope. You’ll only lose yourself trying.”

I clenched my fists. “Maybe you’ve given up, but I haven’t.”

Her expression darkened, and for a moment, I saw something raw flicker across her face. But she said nothing, turning away and pressing forward.

When we reached a clearing, the tension between us finally snapped.

“I know you’ve lost people to this curse,” I said, my voice rising. “But I don’t understand why you’re so focused on Heaven. What did she do to you?”

She froze, her back to me.

“What happened to your family?” I pressed.

Her shoulders stiffened, and for a moment, I thought she’d ignore me. But then, without turning around, she spoke.

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me.”

She whirled around, her cold mask cracking under the weight of her words. “Fine. You want to know? Heaven killed them. Every last one of them.”

I stared at her, the air punched out of my lungs. “What?”

Her lips twisted into a bitter smile. “Your precious Heaven, manipulated or not, slaughtered my family. Hyacinth might have pulled the strings, but it was her hands—her blade—that ended their lives.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “That’s not...that can’t be true. Heaven wouldn’t—”

“She did,” she snapped, stepping closer. “She destroyed everything I had. And you expect me to sit back and let her rest in peace?”

“She didn’t have a choice!” I shot back, my voice cracking. “Hyacinth controlled her, just like she’s controlling those souls. You said it yourself!”

Her eyes burned with rage. “That doesn’t erase what she did. Or the blood on her hands.”

We stared at each other, the air between us electric with anger and pain.

“You’re blinded by your grief,” I said, my voice trembling. “I get it. I really do. But punishing Heaven won’t bring them back.”

Her laughter was sharp and hollow. “And stopping the curse won’t erase what she did. This isn’t just about revenge. It’s justice. For them. For everyone Hyacinth and her pawns have destroyed.”

I stepped back, my chest tightening. “If you go down this path, you’ll become just like her. Consumed by the curse, by hatred.”

“I don’t care,” she said, her voice a cold blade.

---

We continued in strained silence until we reached the edge of a crumbling stone ruin. She moved with purpose, her sharp eyes scanning the area.

“What are you looking for?” I asked, my unease growing.

“The journal,” she said simply.

I frowned. “We don’t even know who took it.”

She stopped, turning to me with a ghost of a smirk. “I have a lead.”

I narrowed my eyes. “How?”

Instead of answering, she reached into her coat and pulled out a familiar notebook—my copy of the journal.

My heart sank. “You...you stole it?”

“You weren’t using it properly,” she said, her tone dismissive.

I stepped toward her, anger bubbling to the surface. “Give it back.”

“No,” she said, her voice as cold as steel. “I need this more than you do.”

“You don’t understand it!” I shouted. “You’re so focused on revenge, you can’t even see the bigger picture!”

“And you’re too naïve to realize what’s at stake,” she countered.

We stood there, the notebook a fragile barrier between us.

“Give it back,” I said again, my voice low and dangerous.

“Not unless you agree to one thing,” she said, her gaze unwavering.

“What?”

“Stay out of my way. Let me deal with Heaven my way.”

I stared at her, disbelief washing over me. “You’re asking me to let you kill her.”

She tilted her head. “And I’m offering you the chance to walk away with your hands clean.”

My fists clenched at my sides. “You don’t get it, do you? This isn’t just about Heaven. It’s about everyone suffering because of this curse. If you kill her, you’re no better than Hyacinth.”

Her jaw tightened, but she said nothing.

“Give me the journal,” I said again, desperation creeping into my voice.

She hesitated, her grip on the notebook tightening. Then, with a sharp movement, she shoved it into her bag.

“I’ll find my own way,” she said, turning to leave.

“You’ll regret this,” I said, my voice trembling with frustration.

She paused, glancing back at me. “We’ll see.”