The Curse

2

This wish granter has a face pleasing to the eye, many of soft wrinkles, his eyes seem full of wisdom and light. But there is a darkness in his voice when he talks that makes me feel quite off center.

"Ahhh, Beautiful Dominique you have returned as you promised you would"

"Yes I have old man, now it is time you do as you have promised."

The old man smiled and shook his head in slight disbelief at her harsh tone. He then looked at me and at Quivering Estelle. He smiled at Estelle and rubbed a red chalky dust on her forehead and her body became still and she fell into his arms and he laid her on a make shift bed.

"What, what did you do!" I said alarmed

The old man chuckled and said, "Oh my dear Charlotte she is fine, she is just resting her shaking fears. I do believe I make her nervous. Do I make you nervous my dear?"

"How do you know my name?" I gasped

"Because I see all. And Dominique told me" he said chuckling

"Old man! I have brought her as I promised now I want my wish" Dominique said with frustration.

"Yes, yes you have, now come sit with me near the fire so I can do what you have asked of me." The old man said.

"Dominique you never did tell me what this wish is, all you have told me is it will make our lives so much better." I say

"Why dear Charlotte she wants you two to be beautiful" the old man said

"But Dominique you are already the most beautiful why would you need more beauty?" I asked

A smile slid across her face "because I want to be beautiful forever, beauty is fleeting Charlotte and I want to keep mine"

"And you need me to do this with you why?" I asked

"Because I need a favor in return" the old man said in a way that made me shiver. "I have two sons that need wives, beautiful wives like the two of you. Don't let this shack fool you, I have great wealth that my sons share in. I promised their mother that our boys will marry and be happy. And I never break a promise."

"Dominique! Were you aware that you were choosing my future suitor?" I said in an octave higher than I am used to.

"Charlotte this is best for the both of us, do not be selfish. You need to think of others in need. This lovely old man has a promise to keep to his wife, and he has two sons who will be lonely without us. And think of all the money we will have, is it not true your father has lost quite a bit of money due to the many mouths of your siblings he has to feed. Do you want to be a burden to your family anymore? It is about time we were married to suitable husbands, and I did not want to say this but charlotte you have pushed me, no one will ever marry you with that unsightly nose. And I have been so busy being your friend out of the goodness of my heart that I have not had time to meet with eligible suitors. So please think of anyone other than yourself would you?"

I stared at her not knowing what to say.

"Well then give me your hands my dears" the old man said holding an old blade.

He swiftly cut lines across our palms and collected the drops of blood that fell off our hands in a glass jar, then he took a dark brown dirt like substance and used it to stop the bleeding.

I was now frightened and not sure if I wanted to be loyal to Dominique anymore. I cannot believe it took me this long to realize how she will not stop for anything or anyone to get what she wants. Not even me.

The old man throws the glass jar into the fire while saying some words that sound like humming. He then turns and says, "It is done my dears. But there is one more thing, you must stay pure for one year until the marriage to my sons and once the ceremony is complete the wish will be granted, beauty you will have forever. Or else you will suffer, you all will suffer". The darkness of his voice now took the light out of his eyes and he let out a laugh.

I stood up quickly and ran to Estelle to wake her up so we could leave this awful place.

This night I surely never forget.