The Blackwood Curse

Chapter 17

Sarah’s POV

The rest of the day passed in a haze. I spent most of it wandering the estate, trying to process the whirlwind of emotions that had been building inside me. The Blackwood mansion, with its sprawling halls and ornate rooms, felt more like a labyrinth designed to trap than a home meant to comfort.

The more I tried to make sense of the dynamics within this family, the more tangled it seemed. Eren’s silence was maddening, Axel’s cryptic behavior was unnerving, and Eleanor and Victor... their presence was like a dark cloud, ever-looming, ever-threatening.

I ended up in the library, a cavernous room filled with floor-to-ceiling shelves of old, leather-bound books. The scent of aged paper and polished wood was soothing, a brief reprieve from the tension that hung heavy over the rest of the house.

I pulled a book from the shelf at random, my fingers brushing against its worn spine. The title was faded, the pages yellowed with age. It was a journal of some sort, filled with handwritten entries in a spidery, elegant script.

Curiosity piqued, I sat down in one of the oversized armchairs and began to read.

---

The entries were dated decades ago, written by someone who seemed to have lived in the mansion long before the Blackwoods. As I flipped through the pages, a story began to emerge—a story of betrayal, obsession, and blood.

The writer spoke of a family torn apart by greed, of alliances formed and broken, of a secret hidden deep within the estate’s walls.

One passage in particular caught my attention:

"The Blackwood name carries a weight, a curse that binds all who bear it. The walls of this house have witnessed unspeakable acts, and the sins of the past are never truly buried. Those who enter must tread carefully, for the shadows are always watching."

A chill ran down my spine as I read the words. They felt like a warning, a glimpse into the darkness that seemed to seep into every corner of this house.

I was so engrossed in the journal that I didn’t notice Axel until he was standing right beside me.

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Axel’s POV

She was completely unaware of my presence, her brow furrowed as she read the old journal. The sight of her like this—vulnerable, consumed by curiosity—stirred something deep inside me.

I leaned against the edge of the chair, my voice breaking the silence. “Interesting read, isn’t it?”

She jumped, the journal slipping from her hands and landing on the floor with a soft thud. Her wide eyes met mine, and for a moment, she looked like a cornered animal.

“why do you always sneak up on people?” she asked, her tone sharper than usual.

I smirked, picking up the journal and holding it out to her. “Only when they’re reading something they shouldn’t be.”

She snatched it from my hand, her expression guarded. “I wasn’t doing anything wrong.”

“Relax,” I said, taking a seat in the chair opposite hers. “I’m not accusing you of anything. I’m just curious—what’s so fascinating about an old book?”

She hesitated, glancing down at the journal in her lap. “It’s... strange. It talks about the house, about your family. But it’s from before your time.”

“Ah,” I said, leaning back and crossing my arms. “The infamous Blackwood legends. Every grand estate has its ghosts, doesn’t it?”

Her eyes narrowed. “This doesn’t feel like just a ghost story.”

I studied her for a moment, debating how much to say. “You’re right. It’s not. But it’s also not something you should concern yourself with.”

“Why not?” she challenged, her voice gaining strength. “I live here now, Axel. I deserve to know what I’m dealing with.”

Her defiance only made me admire her more. She was different from the others who had come into our lives—stronger, more determined.

But determination could be dangerous.

“Be careful, Sarah,” I said, my tone softening. “Curiosity has a way of leading people into places they can’t escape from.”

Eren’s POV

I found Sarah and Axel in the library, their conversation hushed but intense. My chest tightened at the sight of them, at the way Axel leaned toward her, his posture deceptively casual.

I cleared my throat, and both of them turned to look at me.

“Am I interrupting?” I asked, my gaze fixed on Sarah.

“Not at all,” Axel said smoothly, standing up. “We were just discussing family history.”

I didn’t respond, my eyes narrowing. Axel’s interest in Sarah was becoming harder to ignore, and I didn’t trust his intentions for a second.

“Sarah,” I said, holding out a hand. “Can I speak with you for a moment?”

She hesitated, glancing at Axel before nodding and taking my hand.

I led her out of the library, down the hall, and into the study, closing the door firmly behind us.

“What’s going on?” she asked, her tone cautious.

I turned to face her, struggling to keep my emotions in check. “I need you to stay away from Axel.”

She blinked, taken aback. “What? Why?”

“Because he’s dangerous,” I said, my voice low. “He doesn’t care about anyone but himself, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get what he wants.”

Her brow furrowed, and I could see the doubt in her eyes. “Eren, he’s your brother. Why would he want to hurt me?”

“It’s complicated,” I admitted, running a hand through my hair. “But trust me when I say he’s not someone you should get close to.”

She crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. “You’re not exactly giving me a lot to go on.”

I stepped closer, taking her hands in mine. “Sarah, please. I’m asking you to trust me on this.”

Her gaze softened, but the tension between us remained. “Okay,” she said finally. “I’ll keep my distance.”

Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived. Axel was a master manipulator, and I knew this wouldn’t be the end of it.

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Sarah’s POV

Eren’s warning echoed in my mind as I lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling. His words had been sincere, almost desperate, but they raised more questions than they answered.

What was he hiding about Axel? And why did he seem so determined to keep me in the dark?

The journal’s cryptic warnings, Axel’s unsettling presence, Eren’s evasiveness—it all felt like pieces of a puzzle I was nowhere close to solving.

I turned onto my side, the weight of it all pressing down on me. I had married into this family thinking I was stepping into a new chapter of my life, but now it felt like I had walked into a nightmare.

But nightmares could be faced. Secrets could be uncovered.

I wouldn’t let the Blackwoods break me.