Page 205 of Evil Hearts

Chapter 2

“ E lara,” a voice whispered in the shadows.

Through the tears in her eyes as she stopped to shake her beloved Rafe awake where he had collapsed on the table in sleepy stupor, she turned to see a figure emerge, cloaked in darkness. It was Brian, his expression serious and unreadable.

“What have you done?” she demanded, anger bubbling to the surface. “What sorcery is this? Why are they asleep?”

The whole place was quiet, one could hear a pin drop. Even the guards crashed on the marbled floor, snoozing despondently with their weapons. Here and there, people– men and women were strewn everywhere her eyes could reach, snoring healthily away.

“It is not my doing,” he replied, stepping closer. “It is the curse that binds you, Princess.”

“Me?” she echoed, shaking her head in disbelief. “I don’t understand. I bit the apple, but why… why is everyone else asleep?”

Brian hesitated, his emerald eyes searching her face. “The spell you unwittingly embraced was meant to protect the forest. The golden apple was not just a gift; it carried with it a powerful magic that—”

“Magic?” she interrupted, feeling her frustration grow. “You mean to tell me that this is a result of a magical trick? I didn’t want this! I just wanted to savor the moment, not destroy my family!”

He stepped closer, his presence intense, and the air between them crackled with unspoken tension. “The creatures of the forest sought retribution against the humans who stole their land. In their desperation, they cursed your kingdom with eternal slumber.”

Elara took a step back, her heart pounding. “But why am I awake? Why was I spared?”

“Because the golden apple was meant for you,” Brian explained, his voice low. “It was crafted specifically for the one who would bridge our worlds—the one who could awaken the forest’s magic. You are now part of this land, a being of the forest.”

“No!” Elara shouted, her voice rising in despair. “I refuse to believe that! I won’t accept this! I want to wake them! I need to wake them!”

She felt tears prick her eyes as she knelt beside her fiancé’s still form, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. “Rafe, please. Wake up,” she whispered, desperation lacing her voice. She looked back at Brian. “Is there a way? Tell me there’s a way to break this curse!”

Brian studied her, his expression unreadable. “You must search within yourself. The memories lie dormant, hidden in the recesses of your mind, awaiting the right moment to resurface. But it won’t be easy; the forest will test you.”

“Test me?” she scoffed, her anger mixing with fear. “What does that mean?”

Before he could respond, Elara caught sight of the golden apple, half-buried in the grass beside her. Its golden hue glinted in the dim light, calling to her like a siren’s song. She reached for it, feeling its warmth as she picked it up, her heart racing.

“Perhaps it holds the answers,” she murmured, staring into the apple’s surface, her reflection distorted in its shine. “Maybe it can tell me what I need to know.”

“Do not bite it again!” Brian warned, stepping forward, his voice sharp with urgency. “The magic within is potent. It has already changed you. Consuming it again may seal your fate forever.”

Elara’s breath quickened. “But I have to try! I can’t just leave them like this!”

Ignoring Brian’s warning, she raised the apple to her lips and bit down. A burst of sweetness flooded her mouth, but this time it was accompanied by a surge of energy that coursed through her veins. Her surroundings began to swirl, the forest blurring into a kaleidoscope of colors. The laughter of her family echoed around her, mingled with whispers of the forest.

“Elara!” a chorus of voices called out, familiar yet distant. She could see fleeting images of her past—her fiancé laughing at a joke, her mother’s gentle smile, friends sharing secrets in the castle garden. But with each moment, the memories began to fade like smoke slipping through her fingers.

As the last remnants of her memories slipped away, a powerful transformation overtook her. She felt herself shifting, her body adapting to the magic of the forest. Her senses heightened—the scents of damp earth and blooming flowers filled her nostrils, the sounds of rustling leaves becoming a symphony that resonated deep within her.

“Elara!” Brian’s voice cut through the haze, but it was as if he were speaking from miles away. “Fight it! You must resist!”

Unfortunately, Elara was lost in the magic, her thoughts swirling, memories dissolving into a haze of light. She could feel her form changing, her skin tingling as it transformed. The weight of her humanity slipped away, replaced by something wild and ethereal.

“Embrace your true self,” Brian urged, desperation edging his voice. “Remember who you were meant to be.”

In that moment of chaos, Elara felt a flicker of recognition—a glimmer of who she used to be. But it was fleeting, vanishing like a wisp of smoke. The last remnants of her former life flickered and faded, and she gasped as a wave of power surged through her.

The next thing she knew was darkness.