Heart of Glass

Chapter 22

"You're dying?" Ariel said slowly. Autumn nodded, avoiding her gaze and Ariel's eyes narrowed. "Are you just messing with me right now? Because leaves die in winter and crap like that?"

"Well, technically that's true," Autumn said nervously. She lifted her hair, which was still hiding the right side of her face. Ariel's stomach dropped. There was a hole in Autumn's face. The leaves had disappeared and she could see more leaves inside. "I really am dying."

Ariel shot up, slamming the bedroom door shut. "What the hell?" she hissed. "Why hasn't the Doc found a cure for you yet?"

"Because there is none," Autumn said. "I've known the Doc and his family since I was seven years old and they have worked relentlessly to find one, but I told you once before – not all curses can be cured."

It was suddenly too difficult to breathe. "How can you be so calm about this? I mean... just how?"

"I've come to terms with it," her eyes were beginning to redden and she looked down at her lap. "I've known for awhile now that I probably wouldn't survive this winter."

"If you know, then why are you still here?" Ariel exclaimed. "You should go home and be with your family and the people who love you!"

Autumn shook her head. "I don't want to go home."

"You don't – but – that's stupid!"

"My parents can't cope with it," she explained. "My mother is what you call a drunkard, and my father is so busy with his job, he prefers that I stay here and get the care I need."

"Surely they would drop everything though when they hear that you're...you know?"

"I've told them," she played with the hair covering her face. "The Doc helped explain to them my situation, but they said they couldn't come."

"What the hell?" Ariel screeched. "What kind of parents do you have? I thought my father was a bastard, but he sounds average compared to your parents!"

"I've barely lived at home since I was cursed. For thirteen years I've either been here with the Doc or living with a carer in Sweden. The carer had to quit because of family reasons three years ago, and since then I've been here permanently."

"I can't believe this," Ariel whispered, collapsing onto the bed. "This is just bullshit."

Autumn shrugged. "I don't blame them." Ariel glared at her in disbelief and she continued. "I was cursed because of my father's job. He's a member of an organization called the Paranormal Investigation Unit. They are like the Police of the paranormal world, I guess. He upset a gang in Sweden and they kidnapped me, wanting to trade for a member of their organization the P.I.U had arrested."

"Holy hell, but your Dad get you back, clearly. Ariel breathed.

"Yes. He was second in command at the time, but the man in charge refused to negotiate. So my father got his own team together to get me out. The gang had a witch working for them, however and before they could get to me, she gave me this curse."

"That doesn't explain why your father doesn't have time for you now." Ariel argued. "I mean if he was willing to go against the rules to get you back, then why suddenly stop caring?"

"He never stopped caring!" Autumn snapped, and Ariel was shocked at the change in Autumn's demeanor. "He was just scared. After that job he was promoted, but he was scared that if other criminals knew about me, they would try to kidnap me again, or something else would happen to me – so he kept me away, to keep me safe.