Cursed (2 page)

Oliver
held out his hand wanting his dagger back. Aubrey gave him a look that
suggested he wanted to stick the dagger through Oliver’s chest, but he didn’t.
Aubrey just handed the dagger back to Oliver. “So this is why you have made
your presence known to Lillian. All because she is immortal? Why are you
worried if she can’t die?” Aubrey asked turning his attention back to Victoria.

“Just
because she can’t die, that doesn’t mean she can’t be imprisoned and used as a
means for immortality. Think of your worst enemy, and imagine how things would
change if they found a way to become immortal.” Her voice was firm and cold as
she spoke.

It
was obvious she feared someone in particular. I wondered if she would tell me
who she feared. I doubted it. It seemed like her mission my entire life was to
keep me secret. Now that I knew what I was, I could explain it to Cornelius. It
would be even better if she could explain it to him. “Would you tell my friend
Cornelius all of this? He doesn’t think I am the same person after I came back.
If you tell him, he might believe me,” I said hoping she would. If Cornelius
believed me, then I would get him back.

She
looked from me to Aubrey. “You haven’t told her?” she asked him quietly.

I
looked at Aubrey confused when he didn’t deny knowing what she was talking
about. “What is she talking about?”

“Cornelius
is cursed, Lillian,” Aubrey said softly.

I
felt my mouth go dry. This whole time Aubrey knew what was going on, and he
said nothing. He let me suffer thinking Cornelius really didn’t love me
anymore. “How is he cursed? Who cursed him?” I asked angrily.

“Another
coven. A coven who is working with one of these people I was talking about.
They want you, and in return they will remove the curse,” Victoria said simply.

I
glared at Aubrey. He knew about the curse, and he never said anything. “You
knew about this!” I asked angrily.

“Lillian,
Luca and I thought it best that you didn’t know. We are working on a way to
break the curse. We did not know why they wanted you, and that made us hesitant
to involve you,” Aubrey said raising his hands defensively. He looked like he
was preparing for me to attack.

“Who
are they?” I asked sharply. I wanted to know who was doing this so I could find
them myself. I would make them break the curse. If I couldn’t die I had nothing
to fear.

Aubrey
opened his mouth to speak, but Victoria stepped in front of him, and faced me.
“Do not tell her. It would not be wise for her to go after them, and that is
exactly what she will do,” Victoria said firmly.

I
looked past Victoria, meeting Aubrey’s gaze. “You are going to take orders from
her? Do you really think I can’t find out on my own?” I growled.

He
straightened a little. “I take orders from no one, but I do agree with her. I
am not going to tell you because you may not realize it, but there are worse
things than death,” he said quietly.

I
looked from him to her. “I will find a way to break the curse myself.
Eventually they will come to me,” I snapped. I turned and walked out of the
room. I wanted out of the place. I couldn’t believe Aubrey knew Cornelius was
cursed the whole time. Luca knew too. They were both lying to me and acting
like Cornelius was choosing to distance himself from me. It was the reason he
was acting so off. I was blaming myself for how he was, and it wasn’t me. He
was cursed by some coven. I had to find out which one. I also needed to find
out who was using them to get to me.

“Lillian
wait,” Oliver called as he walked up the hall toward me.

I
stopped and looked at him. “I don’t care what you have to say. I am sure you
will lie to me like the rest of them,” I snapped.

“I
have no intention of lying to you,” he said simply. Before I could say anything
he moved suddenly. He shoved a dagger through my heart. It was the same dagger
he used on Aubrey. He wrapped his arm around me to keep me from falling to the
floor. “It is my intention to keep you safe,” he said softly. The pain was so
intense I couldn’t even think straight. I couldn’t fight or even speak. The walls
around me started to spin, and everything suddenly went black.

I
woke up slowly. My vision was foggy. I groaned and rolled on my side. I blinked
a couple times trying to clear my vision. I remembered everything that
happened. I was going to make Oliver pay for this. I touched my chest where the
dagger had pieced my chest. There was no sign that I was ever stabbed. I sat up
and looked around. I was in a bedroom decorated much like the room Victoria was
in. I knew I had to be in my mother’s hideout. Someone changed me into fresh
clothing. I was sure my old clothes would be ruined after Oliver stabbed me.

The
door opened and Oliver stepped in the room carrying a tray. I glared at him.
“You really think killing me is going to keep me from doing what I want?” I
asked angrily.

He
smiled slightly. “It will at least delay you. Here, you need to eat and drink.”

“You
cannot keep me here,” I said angrily. I was weak from a lack of food, and
water. I was sure the fact that I just died again wasn’t helping either. He
knew I was no threat to him yet, and that was why he was so at ease.

He
set the tray on the nightstand next to me. “Either I keep you, or someone else
will. The difference is you will be safe with me.”

“I
can’t die. I don’t understand how I am in so much danger,” I said angrily.

He
looked at me for a minute. “Like your friend said, there are worse things than
death. I will check on you in a little while.” He turned to leave.

“Wait,”
I said quickly as I stood. “I love Cornelius, I can’t just let him suffer.”

“Your
friends are working to break his curse. They do not need you getting in the
way. You are safe here, and you can learn more about your people,” he said
simply.

“These
are not my people,” I snapped. “My people are the hunters.”

He
looked at me for a minute, then he shook his head. “I told Victoria not to send
you away. I knew you would be too stubborn to accept the truth once it was
known, especially if you weren’t raised as one of us.” He left without saying
anything else.

I
sighed and sat back down on the bed. There was nothing I could do but wait. I
had to get my strength back before I could even think of trying to escape. I
wasn’t entirely sure what I should do. I wanted to help Cornelius, but what if
they were right? What if I ended up being caught by someone who just wanted my
power? That scenario probably would be worse than death.

After
a few hours of contemplating my predicament the door opened. Victoria walked in,
and smiled at me as she shut the door behind me. “Oliver is a little surprised
you haven’t started trying to escape,” she said as she sat on the edge of my
bed.

“So
this is how it will be? Every time I try to leave, you will have Oliver kill
me? It hardly seems fair,” I said quietly.

“Lillian,
there is no such thing as fair, and Oliver took it upon himself to stop you;
although, I do not completely disagree with him,” she said simply.

I
rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. “I’m sure Aubrey didn’t either,” I said
dryly. I knew Aubrey would do what he thought would keep me safe.

“Lillian
this isn’t just about you. This is about your people. My coven is one of the
biggest, and eventually I won’t be around. You will need to take over, and lead
our people,” she said firmly.

I
looked at her confused. “I am not a witch. I don’t know the first thing about
witch craft.”

“I
was actually hoping to start your training. Of course that would require your
cooperation,” she said as she stood.

I
watched her for a minute trying to decide what to say. “I am not taking over
your coven. Besides if I am immortal, how are you not immortal?” I asked
because it seemed like I would only be immortal if one of my parents was.

She
sighed as she started to pace. “Neither me, nor your father is immortal. Your
father was a great warlock. He wanted to protect you, so he put a spell on you
to make you immortal.”

“If
it’s a spell then it can be broken,” I said sitting up a little straighter.

She
shook her head and sat back down. “Your father bound the spell with his blood.
That makes any spell permanent,” she said sadly.

I
suddenly had a feeling he was dead. He was more than likely dead because he put
the spell on me. I wanted to ask, but I was afraid to pry.

“He
died protecting you with the spell,” she said watching me like she was reading
my thoughts.

“Why
would he do that? How was that better than raising me, and being there to
protect me himself?” I asked angrily. I didn’t understand how my father died
for me, then my mother gave me away. It made no sense at all.

“It
is all very complicated, and it will take time to understand. You should get
more rest. We can begin training tomorrow if you decide to cooperate,” she said
softly, as she stood and walked to the door.

“If
I decide I don’t want to train will you let me go?” I asked quietly.

She
hesitated with her hand on the door handle. “I am afraid we cannot do that just
yet.” She walked out before I could even argue.

I
cussed and laid back against my pillows. I was getting more, and more
irritated. I didn’t want to be held against my will. I wanted to find
Cornelius, and fix whatever was wrong with him. Victoria and Oliver were
preventing me from doing that, and it was making me more and more irritated. I
didn’t trust them anymore. I should have listened to Aubrey when he warned me
against going to her in the first place.

After
several hours of no one coming by, I paced the room. I was getting antsy. I had
no concept of time in the room. There was no windows, so I couldn’t see the
sun. I didn’t have a watch either. The whole situation was starting to make me
angrier. The next time someone came in I was determined to fight my way out. Just
as I was planning my escape there was a knock on the door. Oliver and Victoria
didn’t knock. “Come in,” I said waiting patiently for whoever it was to walk
in.

A
young woman opened the door. She gave me a nervous smile as she carried a tray
in. She looked like she was about my age, maybe younger. “I brought you
dinner,” she said meekly.

I
didn’t respond. I moved quickly, and dodged past her into the hall. She cried
out in surprise. I had a feeling she was calling for Oliver. I recognized the
hall that led to the exit. I turned and ran down it. I cussed and came to a
stop when Oliver appeared in front of the door.

“You
cannot get past me, Lillian,” he said quietly. There was a hint of threat
behind his voice. He had to know I wouldn’t just roll over and do what he said.
Even if I couldn’t possibly make it past him, I would still try. I wasn’t one
to just give up.

“You
can’t keep me here,” I said annoyed.

“We
are trying to protect you. We won’t let you walk into a trap because you cannot
get past your ego. Not every war is your war. Aubrey can take care of his
brother,” he said firmly.

“Cornelius
is more than my friend, I love him, and there is no way I am going to sit by
and let these people get away with cursing him,” I said angrily.

“There
is nothing you can do. Going after them will only lead to more problems. Stay
here where you are safe,” he said starting to sound as annoyed as me.

“No.
I am not a coward,” I growled. I lunged at him trying to catch him off guard.
He tossed me into the wall knocking the breath out of me. I liked it much
better when I was a vampire. I didn’t have to worry about being so weak. I was
kind of curious about what Oliver was. He seemed excessively strong for being a
warlock. He lunged at me and attempted to grab me, but I dodged him. I kicked
him in the chest finally getting a hit in. He fell backwards, but quickly
recovered. I yanked the door open, and ran into the ally. I could hear him
behind me. He threw his body into me and pinned me to the brick wall.

“You
cannot win against me, Lillian,” he whispered.

I
was going to fight, but he was suddenly yanked away from me. I turned as
Cornelius threw Oliver against the opposite wall. “Cornelius,” I said relieved
as I threw my arms around his neck.

“We
have to go,” he said quickly. There was a sudden rush, and the world around me
blurred. I heard Oliver yell, but I couldn’t make out what he said.

The
world steadied. We were in Cornelius’s house. I looked up at Cornelius. He
looked worse than he had before. The curse was obviously taking a toll on him.
“Cornelius,” I said softly as I reached up to touch his cheek.

He
pulled away. “She’s not safe,” he whispered shaking his head.

I
looked at him confused. “Cornelius, you have been cursed. I am going to find a
way to fix this. I am safe, I am with you,” I said trying to sooth him.

He
shook his head. “She’s not safe,” he muttered again. He seemed like he was
talking to himself.

I
was starting to really worry about him. I didn’t see how Luca or Aubrey was
helping him. He was getting worse. He looked like he hadn’t fed. His face was
sunken in, and his eyes darted around like he was scared. “I’m safe,” I said
again hoping he would look at me.

He
looked at me for a minute. He almost looked like he was seeing me for the first
time. “What are you doing here? You have to leave! You aren’t safe here!” he
said sounding both scared and angry.

“Cornelius,
you brought me here. You were protecting me. You don’t remember?” I asked
worried. He seemed like he was even more out of it than usual.

“Go
Lillian! I can’t protect you!” he yelled getting angrier.

“Ok,”
I said raising my hands in surrender. “I am going,” I said softly. I turned and
started walking to the door. I was wasting my time here with him anyway. I
needed to find out who cursed him in the first place. If I didn’t, then I couldn’t
do anything for him. I wanted him back more than anything.

He
suddenly appeared in front of me before I could reach the door. “She can’t
leave,” he muttered as his eyes darted around the room. He was back to looking
scared and confused.

I
looked around trying to see if there was someone else in the room with us. He
was acting like he was taking orders from someone. “Cornelius, I have to go. I
can’t help you if I stay here,” I said trying to reason with him.

“She
can’t leave,” he muttered louder. He wouldn’t meet my gaze. It was like someone
else was talking through him.

“Cornelius…”
I started.

He
suddenly slapped me sending me to the floor. “She can’t leave!” he yelled
louder.

I
looked up at him both annoyed and worried. I knew it wasn’t him, but it was
still hard not to get angry. He was holding his head in his hands muttering
incoherently. I wasn’t even sure what he was saying anymore. It sounded like he
was speaking a completely different language. He was fighting whatever was
controlling him.

I
slowly got to my feet trying not to catch his attention. I needed to get out of
the place quickly. He was obviously taking orders from someone else. I knew I
wasn’t safe with him, and I was suddenly regretting being so quick to run from
Oliver. I should have known better than to trust Cornelius when he had a curse
on him. People with curses put on them were dangerous. Vampires who had curses put
on them were deadly. I moved slowly toward the door while he continued to hold
his head and mutter. It would have been impossible for me to get away from him
when he was himself, but because of the curse he wasn’t himself. He was too
distracted to pay attention to anything I was doing.

I
slipped out the door before he could come out of his fit. I ran toward the woods.
I figured cutting through the woods would be the safest way for me to get back
to the hunter’s compound. I wasn’t excited about going back to the compound.
Luca was working with Aubrey. I knew they would probably have Oliver waiting
for me. My only other option was to go to Drake. Hopefully Drake hadn’t chosen
a side, and if he did I was hoping it was mine.

I
easily remembered the paths to Drake’s house. I was surprised I didn’t
encounter anyone on the way. If I had so many people after me, I didn’t
understand where they were all at. Of course they probably thought I would
remain in the city around the compound. Cornelius bringing me to his house
actually helped me. I was closer to Drake.

I
skirted the town via the woods. I didn’t want to run into anyone before I could
speak with Drake. I stepped out of the woods behind Drake’s house. I was hoping
Drake would be at his house. He never specified where he stayed. I knocked on
the front door instead of just walking in.

I
was a little disappointed when Tommy opened the door. “Lillian, what are you
doing here?” he asked surprised.

“I
was hoping to speak with Drake. Is he around?” I asked as I glanced around
nervously.

“He
got called to a meeting by Aubrey and the others. I thought you would be there
too,” he said looking a little confused.

I
cussed in annoyance. If they convinced Drake that he would be protecting me by
letting Oliver imprison me, then I would be screwed. I was hoping to at least
have Drake on my side, and now that seemed unlikely. “The meeting is probably
about me,” I said looking at him.

“Is
it about the whole coming back to life thing?” he asked sounding interested.

I
nodded. “Apparently the hunters I called my parents weren’t really my parents.
My mother is a witch named Victoria, and she is making my life difficult right
now.”

“Come
in,” he said moving aside.

I
slipped past him into the house. “I don’t know what to do now. If they convince
Drake to help them I am screwed,” I said annoyed.

“My
dad would never do anything against you. He knows you have a level head most of
the time,” he said amused. He shut the door and walked over to one of the
couches. He lounged across it watching me.

“I
hope you are right,” I said as I took a seat across from him.

“So
is this Victoria bad?” he asked as he got comfortable.

I
shook my head. “She just has this idea that I will take over her coven or
something. I don’t’ really know. I don’t even know her, and she thinks I am
going to lead her people,” I said annoyed.

He
smiled. “Now you know how I feel. Everyone expects you to do something simply
because you are blood. Who the hell cares what you want,” he said dryly.

I
smiled slightly. He was right. There were countless times I got on him about
not taking responsibility. Now in a way I was doing the same thing. He at least
knew his father. I knew nothing about my real parents. “It’s not that I don’t
want to learn about my real parents. I just have more important things to worry
about like my cursed boyfriend.”

“I
heard rumors that he was cursed. Everyone was keeping it quiet though. I guess
they didn’t want you knowing,” he said amused.

I
scowled. “It isn’t funny. I am tired of people hiding things from me. I don’t
need to be protected. I am not an innocent flower, damn it!” I stood and
started pacing. Thinking about everything was getting me more annoyed. I didn’t
understand why Luca and Aubrey didn’t tell me about Cornelius in the first
place. I knew they didn’t want me getting hurt, but they never even considered
the possibility that I could help.

“I
don’t think they think you are innocent. I think they just don’t want you hurt.
When you died the first time everyone was really bummed.” He said it like it
was no big deal.