Black Rose

The Curse of the Briars

On their way back, Emma contacted her parents through her Communication Magic to let them know what happened and that she's fine. When they got back at the Roselei Manor, an elderly woman was waiting for them with Charlotte's parents. She introduced herself as Emma's grandmother and Dornröschen's former healer, Mildred.
Charlotte knew then there's something more to this mission than she had anticipated.
"I was living away from Dornröschen for almost a decade now but when I heard about the disappearances I headed back as soon as I can.. I was afraid my dear granddaughter would be in danger," Mildred began. They waited and gathered everyone at the mansion's study.
"You knew whoever is doing this would come for your granddaughter?"
"Yes, I might also know who's behind this and what's their goal."
A stunned silence washed over the room. The master and mistress of the House of Roselei nodded at the old woman as if giving her their permission.
"One hundred and thirty years ago, a curse mage tried to attain eternal youth by summoning a demon, the demon of lust, Lilith. She's a demon who takes control of human desires. It was said the she has the power to alter reality. But mere magic stones couldn't summon a whimsical demon like her, she wanted a sacrifice, an offering if you will."
"Don't tell me..."
"Yes, she wanted blood of twelve young women and a beautiful human body for a vessel. Just like now, young women from noble houses started disappearing. The first victim was from the House of Reinhardt, then from the Fersens, the Salviatis, then the -"
"Hesses," Charlotte supplied, her expression's quite grim.
"How did you know?"
"It's the order of the missing women this time around too. Whoever's doing this is doing exactly what was done 130 years ago."
Mildred nodded. "That's right, that's why my granddaughter will be targetted again to complete the 12 sacrifices."
"If what you're saying is true, then they would also need a vessel from the bloodline of the previously chosen vessel."
"Yes, as you probably guessed, the ritual was a failure and the demon, Lilith wasn't summoned. It was because the vessel defeated the curse mage before that happened. But before the curse mage disappeared, she cursed the vessel's family and swore to come back and get her revenge someday."
"What happened to the vessel and her family?"
"She lived a normal life after that but every generation, her family dreaded the appearance of the new vessel and activate the curse. Their only clue was the magic attribute of the original vessel, it was believed that if it appears again down the family line, then the new vessel is born."
"Does that mean that the curse was activated that's why this is happening right now?"
"On the contrary, the curse was activated 12 years ago and was lifted right after.. or at least supposedly."
"12 years ago..?"
"The vessel's name was Reira Roselei, a briar magic-user."
Startled glances darted toward Charlotte.
Her expression was grim. On her twelfth birthday, when her parents told her about the curse, she vowed to beat the curse with her own hands. She worked her butt off to become stronger and find a way to overcome it with her own power. Who would have thought that the way to beat it was the exact opposite? In the end, Yami saved her without even any knowledge of it. And now that nightmare had come back to haunt her.
"It's settled then."
Everyone was surprised by the sudden remark by none other than Yami. He looked nonchalant as he lounge lazily on his seat.
"What's settled?" Mildred asked, bewildered by his relaxed demeanor.
"That simplifies things, doesn't it? We know what the motherfucker's goal is and she couldn't accomplish it without these two, whether she likes it or not, she'll have to come for them... And we wouldn't let her."
"Are you saying we're gonna use them as bait to lure the enemy?" Charlotte's father was indignant. He abruptly stood up from his chair, knocking the thing over.
But Yami wasn't even fazed by the older man's reaction. "Your daughter is the main target, like it or not, she'll be in constant danger unless we defeat that mage and her curse."
The older man couldn't say anything to that. Yami, much to his chagrin, was right.
"Besides, you raised her, you should know better than anyone how stubborn your daughter is." He looked at Charlotte before continuing. "She's not the type to cower and wait to be rescued, that's why she's strong."
For the first time since the day she learned she was cursed, Charlotte felt like she could really free herself from the curse. All her self-doubts melted away with just a word from Yami. He might think nothing of it, but he had always acknowledged her strength and it meant a lot for her. It's annoying how simple-minded she became when it came to him but God, how she loves this man, she thought.
A few minutes later, she wanted to throttle him.