Cursed

Chapter 5

I woke up to someone pounding on wood. I opened my eyes, but it was still dark in the room I was in.

The pounding continued. I yawned and forced myself out of bed and into the new clothes that were at the end of my bed. It was a grey tunic, brown pants, a simple pair of boots, and a dark cloak. The pounding continued as I got dressed. Just after I'd clasped the cloak on, something forced me to walk over and open the door. Dreamir crossed his arms and glared at me. "I don't want to make you do everything!"

I stuck my hands in the pockets of my pants. "Then don't."

Dreamir's face turned red and he backhanded me across the face so fast, I didn't know what hit me. I let out a cry of surprise and pain and back tracked a little.

"You'll learn to respect me, boy," Dreamir growled. "I would hate to have to chain you up like a dog all day."

With a hand to my stinging cheek, I stood up a little straighter, but didn't say anything.

Dreamir sighed. "Look...we got off on the wrong foot."

Gee, you think? I thought to myself, but I held my tongue.

"Now, I know you're not what you'd usually look for in a father," Dreamir said. "But with you're mother gone, you're my responsibility."

"About twelve years too late," I mumbled, crossing my arms. "The only person who was ever like a parent to me was Bretta, and you took her away from me!"

Dreamir sighed. "A tragic accident."

I clenched my teeth. "You push that off as an accedent?! How do I know you didn't give the orders to have her killed?"

Dreamir rolled his eyes at me. "She would have died anyway in the fire that you started."

I let my arms drop to my sides. He was right. And even if the fire didn't get her, she had looked me straight in the eyes that night. Maybe you did kill her, a little voice said in my head. Maybe she died partially because of you...

"Are you ready to cooperate?" Dreamir asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Cooperate, how?" I asked skeptically.

Dreamir shrugged. "Oh, nothing too difficult."

"Are you going to use my curse?"

"You're curse?" Dreamir asked, confused.

"My eyes," I said.

"Oh," Dreamir said, understanding plain on his face. "Your gift. Well, yes, but maybe not yet."

I crossed my arms. "No thanks."

The smile vanished from Dreamir's face. "I gave you that gift," he said. "And you act like you don't want it."

I mocked a surprised face. "Oh, sorry. I didn't know I was the only one who doesn't like to murder people, especially just by looking at them."

"You're my son," Dreamir said, his voice dangerously calm. "You'll do as I say."

"Why don't you just force me to do it?" I asked bitterly. "You had no problem with it before."

Dreamir grabbed me by the front of the shirt. "I am your father! You'll do as I say!"

I stood about a head shorter then him. Even so, he seemed way taller than that. His eyes that mirrored my own were gleaming with anger. I tried to stand firm, but my hands were shaking in fear.

Dreamir took a deep breath and let me go. He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm sorry, Asher," he said. "I'm just not used to dealing with kids who aren't slaves."

"You have slaves?" I asked.

Dreamir nodded. "How else would everything get done here? I'm king of the whole country!"

"Right," I said. "And how did you get here anyway?"

"I think you already know that answer," Dreamir said, tapping beside his eye.

So, mind control is pretty powerful, I thought.

"Now," Dreamir said. "I want to hear about how your power works."

I scratched the back of my head. "I-I don't really want to talk about."

Dreamir crossed his arms. "I hear you can kill by just looking at people."

I swallowed and nodded.

"You can also produce fire from nothing," Dreamir said.

I nodded again.

Dreamir smiled. "Amazing."

"No, it's not," I said more forcefully than I meant to. "I killed my mom and countless others."

Dreamir raised an eyebrow. "You're gonna have to get used to that."

My head snapped up. "Get used to it? Why?"

"Because I'll need you to," Dreamir said.

I blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?" I asked.

"It's just who you are," Dreamir said. "If you try to ignore it, it'll just get harder."

I sighed. "I know."

Dreamir put an arm around me and I stiffened. He didn't seem to notice my discomfort. "Don't worry, my boy," he said. "If you're anything like me, you'll learn to enjoy your abilities. As for just looking at people in the eyes and having them killed...that might be a bit of a problem. We can't have you killing everyone you look at, now can we."

I bit my lip. "How'll you do that?"

"Hmm," Dreamir said, rubbing his chin. "I'll get back to you on that. For now, you can't leave your room."

"What?" I asked. "But-"

Dreamir held up a hand. "Don't worry, we'll think of something in no time. This is just for the safety of others."

He was already leading me back to the hole in the wall that was my room. I dug my heels into the ground. "Please don't lock me in there!"

Dreamir shoved me in and the door locked behind me. "Please don't!" I yelled, pounding on the door. I looked around my little room. There was virtually nothing to do. I sighed and sat on my bed. Now what?