Page 9 of A Curse So Vile
“Fine then! Move aside.”
“You are not entering the cottage. Not like this. There is a sick child in there, with days left to live. Let her have peace in what little time she has left.”
“But you told me to ask Cole why the fuck he brought me out here!”
“Yes, I did. You can do so when you’ve gathered your bearings.”
“My bearings? My fucking bearings? I was lured out here with the hope of my own fucking curse being lifted, only to find out that you have your own damned curse? How the fuck am I supposed to ‘gather my bearings?’”
“You may not have found what you were looking for, but that doesn’t mean you will leave empty-handed. Something brought you here—something powerful. Maybe you need to relax and see this through.”
Brenna tried to replay what the blood witch had said, but it was a blur. The entire night was gone, as if the memories had been stolen from her.
Suddenly Brenna saw the wisdom of Dorthea's words. If she really wanted to, she could help the girl. There'd be a price, but it was within her ability.
"There is a way I can help," Brenna confessed. "But I'm not sure you'll like it."
* * *
BRENNA
Brenna entered the room quietly, still unsure of what she should do.
Cole knelt by his sister's bed, head buried in his hands. Her rage diminished as she gazed upon him looking so vulnerable. He clearly loved his sister and was heartbroken by her wretched form.
His sister’s pale face poked out from underneath the blanket. She was tiny. So tiny, Brenna was surprised she still had any life in her at all.
“How did it happen?” Brenna whispered.
“Shouldn’t you be gone?” Cole snapped.
Guilt needled her gut. It was obvious something was amiss, and whatever it was, she was sure Cole had not willingly taken part in the deception. The smart thing to do would be to turn and leave. After all, they couldn’t help her.
But something Dorthea said nagged at her. Maybe she was meant to be there.
“Last night…I was told that upon waking, the seventh person I glimpsed would be the one that could break my curse,” she confessed. “You were the seventh person.”
“I suppose it was too good to be true.” He looked up at her, his worry-lined face a mask of anguish. “It appears you were not the only one made to look like a fool.” He returned his gaze to his sister, his fingers brushing the girl’s blonde hair straight.
What if I counted wrong? What if Cole wasn’t the seventh person?Her heart leapt in her chest, suddenly afraid she had missed her opportunity. But she had been ever so careful, and the truth of it was, she was meant to meet Cole, if not for her own benefit, for his.
“What’s her name?” Brenna asked.
The weak child looked up at her. “My name is Fiona.” Brenna knew it took an enormous amount of strength for her to even utter those few words.
“Well met, Fiona. My name is Brenna.”
“You should—”
“It’s okay, Cole,” Fiona said. “I think…I think I’m ready.”
His body shuddered. He was grieving for his sister, as Brenna had been his last hope. Despite Fiona’s acceptance, he was clearly not ready to let her go, as very few could ever completely let go of a child.
“Only someone truly vile would place a wasting curse on a youngling,” Brenna said.
“Does it surprise you that vile creatures exist?” Cole replied with an edge to his voice.
The tiny body coughed a terrible guttural sound. She wasn’t long for this world.