The Curse

Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Ember

Audrina was wide awake by the time I had returned home, but she was still sitting in the same place that I had left her, as if she had never moved. 

I ignored her wondering gaze at me as I peeled the dark-colored cloak off my slightly sweaty body from all the running I had done from that asshole prince. Hanging the coat up on the hook by the front door, I made my way around the room, closing every window it held ever so carefully. Then I pulled the drapes in front of the window just for reassurance. 

"What the hell are you doing Ember?" Audrina wondered as the whole room began to dim by the second from the lack of light it used to have. I didn't stop until I made sure every window was shut, and then I moved towards the front door. I turned the lock until it couldn't turn no more before leaning my back against the door and then sliding to the ground, sighing with relief. 

After a few moments of silence with my heavy breathing filling the air, I stared at my fingers and tried hard to calm my heart down. I had enough of running today. 

"Well?" Audrina prompted, looking at me from my bed. She ran her hand through her slightly tangled black hair and stared at me. "What happened?" 

I sighed before staring right back into her eyes. She held my gaze long enough before I said, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you." 

She laughed half-heartedly. "Ember, when haven't I seen something crazy enough for me to not believe? I'm sure whatever you saw or did will be--" 

"IgotchasedbyawitchbecauseIstolesomepotionsandthenImettheprince."I rambled, not stopping once for a breath. 

"You what?" 

I winced and wrung my fingers together. "I got chased by a witch because I stole some potions and then I met the prince." She stared a little too wide-eyed at me and I quickly said, "On accident." Her mouth dropped open and she stared some more. "What?" I finally snapped, hating the look she was giving me. 

"Why was there a witch involved?" Audrina's lips moved slowly, as if it pained her to ask so. I was about to argue something when I realized what I meant. She thought I had found the witch who had cursed us for eternity. But sadly, no, all I found was a witch who was probably waiting beside her cauldron, coming up with her revenge to kill me. 

"Audrina, it wasn't her--" Audrina cut me off abruptly as I tried to explain to her what had happened. 

Her gaze was hard as her eyes narrowed and her face looked even more pained than before. Her messy hair fell in front of her face slightly, as she repeated, "Why were you involved with a witch?" She looked at me for an answer. 

"Audrina, I was just trying to get some potions for--" 

"Me. You were trying to save me. How lovely." she said sarcastically. Her pretty face was slowly changing expressions, as her personality had already done so. What had happened to her since this morning that I had left her asleep and unconscious? 

"Audrina, why are you so mad? I was trying to help and I'm back and I'm fine, too, so why--" 

"I don't need your help. And I'm not going to put your life on the line just because of some stupid curse that I'm going to be stuck with for the rest of my life. I am not going to sit here knowing that you could die any second because of me.  So you just stay out of it, okay, Ember?" 

I didn't say anything. It was me who was shocked now. Was this really how she felt about this whole curse? That everything she did was going to put me in danger? I opened my mouth to reassure her that nothing would ever hurt me, because I was invincible, but we both knew that that was a lie.