Eternal Curse: (The Cursed Series, Book 1)

by Kara Leigh Miller

  He had his hands in his pockets again, his pace slow and steady. The trail was lined with trees, offering quite a bit of shade, making it much cooler. He’d dressed more appropriately than I had with jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt.

  I, on the other hand, wore leggings and a short-sleeved, V-neck sweater—wishful thinking that my wardrobe choices could influence the weather to be as nice as it had been on Saturday.

  “So, do you move a lot?” I asked, tired of the silence between us.

  “What?”

  “The other day you said you liked to read about the history of the towns you live in. Made it seem like you move around a lot.” I hoped I hadn’t somehow offended him or crossed a line into prying.

  “Yes, I’ve lived a lot of different places.”

  I wanted to ask why but figured that was a little too personal. “What’s been your favorite place to live?”

  “Here.” He grinned.

  I laughed. “You’ve been here less than a week. You can’t possibly know this is your favorite place to live. It could turn out to be awful. The weather could be terrible. Or the crime rate could be crazy high.”

  “It’s not so much the place as it is the people.” An almost smile pulled at his lips but quickly disappeared.

  My heart fluttered. “That sounds like something my mom used to say.”

  Normally, mentioning her or the things she used to say would upset me, the grief like an anvil on my chest, but that didn’t happen this time. In fact, I felt lighter, like talking about her with Trent somehow honored her.

  We came to a fork in the trail, divided by a large tree with various signs nearby. One way would take us to the top of the falls, the other would take us to the base.

  “Which way?” I asked.

  “We should probably go to the base of the falls today. It will take too long to get the top, but we can come back this weekend, if you want.”

  My eyes widened. Was he asking me on a date? Excitement welled up inside of me, but I tamped it down, not wanting to appear too eager. “Yeah, that would be cool.”

  He headed down the trail, and I once again found myself in step with him. His gaze was focused straight ahead, but mine bounced around, taking in my surroundings. There was no one else out here, so the only sounds were our footsteps, the birds chirping, and the occasional rustling of leaves when the breeze would pick up. With each step, the sound of rushing water got closer.

  Despite the cool air, a sheen of sweat formed on my forehead, and my breathing was rough.

  As if sensing I needed a break, he slowed his steps. “You okay?”

  “Yeah.” I grimaced as a sharp pain stabbed my side. I put my hand against my ribs, applying pressure to ease the ache.

  Trent, however, didn’t seem to be bothered at all by the hike. In fact, he was just as calm as he had been when I’d climbed into his truck. Obviously, he was in much better shape.

  “We’re almost there,” he said, keeping his pace slow.

  I was grateful but also a bit embarrassed by my lack of stamina. Finally, we arrived at the base of the falls, and I lost my breath for an entirely different reason.

  “Wow,” I whispered.

  It was much bigger and more majestic than Bushnell Falls. Huge boulders collected at the base of the falls, as if the force of the clear water crashing down shoved them up against the earth and pinned them in place. A fine spray misted out around the clearing, and I wiped a hand over my brow.

  Momentarily closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply. The air smelled sweet and fresh, like crisp water and lush grass. Trent seemed perfectly at ease here, as if he were meant to be out in nature.

  I took a step toward the water, then another. I leaned over and gazed into the pond. More rocks lined the bottom. Crouching, I dipped my fingers into the water and jerked them back quickly, wiping the icy coldness on my pants. I cautiously moved toward the large, flat rock on my right.

  “Chloe. Don’t.” Trent grabbed my arm, stopping me. “It’s too dangerous.”

  “Dangerous?” I looked down to where Trent held my arm.

  Only, he wasn’t just holding it, he was caressing my elbow with his thumb. The sensation sent jolts of energy up my arm. His hand was much cooler than the air, but not as frigid as the water. My breath hitched, but he still didn’t let go of me.

  “I just want to check it out,” I whispered, leaning closer.

  “It’s much too easy to slip, twist your ankle, break your neck. Drown…”

  “Aw, are you worried about me?” I teased.

  He, however, didn’t find my question amusing. He frowned, and his brow furrowed. “I can’t say anything to change your mind, can I?”

  “It’s a rock. What’s the big deal?”

  His lips quirked into a smile. “Ah. More questions.”

  I laughed. “I distinctly remember you saying you wanted more questions.”

  “Yeah, I did.” He finally released me.

  I liked the feel of his hand on my skin, and the sudden absence of his touch left an invisible mark on me.

  “Okay, we’ll check it out, but I’m going with you,” he said.

  “Try to keep up.”

  I stepped on the first rock, then onto another. They weren’t slippery, but one wrong step and I’d be taking a very cold swim. I held my arms out to my sides to keep my balance as I moved to a third, much larger rock. Then I sat.

  A moment later, Trent sat beside me. Sighing, I glanced around, trying to memorize every detail so I could tell Mom about it later. I leaned to the left and dipped my hand into the water again. I cannot believe Abby went swimming last weekend and didn’t freeze to death.

  Trent clutched my right arm as if he was worried I would topple off the rock and into the water. “Could you please be careful?” he asked.

  Straightening, I flicked the water at him and chuckled. He barely flinched, but I did score a smile from him.

  “Sorry. I’ve always had a thing about the water,” I said.

  When Mom had learned of my penchant for water, she’d put me in swim lessons, and I’d loved them. I even joined the junior high swim team. It was the only sport I excelled at.

  “Well, you could’ve warned me that you’re an adrenaline junkie.” He playfully nudged my shoulder with his and wiped the water from his face.

  “Trust me, I’m not. I just like this view.”

  “It is nice.”

  For once, he didn’t have his sunglasses on, which was weird because the sun was directly in front of us, shining brightly through the trees. His eyes were like sapphire prisms, twisting the sunlight in a way I didn’t know was possible. It mesmerized me for a few moments too long.

  Blinking, I tilted my head back and closed my eyes. This was the most relaxed and “at home” I’d felt since arriving in Keene Valley. After several seconds, I opened my eyes and found Trent staring at me.

  “What?” I asked self-consciously.

  “Nothing,” he said quickly and looked away.

  But I’d noticed the red streaks on his face, exactly like they’d been the other day. Maybe, like his eyes, his skin was sensitive to the sun, too.

  Trent stood, wiped his palms on his jeans, then extended his hand to me. “Come on, let’s go.”

  I stared at his hand, then up at him. His face was back to its normal pale complexion, and he’d put on his sunglasses.

  “What’s the rush?” I asked. “I’m in no hurry to go back to school. Are you?”

  He shoved his hands into his pockets. “No.” Without another word, he sat back down next to me. “I figured we could explore more together.”

  “We have plenty of time for that.” I rested my head on his shoulder and sighed with contentment. “I could stay here all day.”

  He laughed, and I felt that familiar heat spread through my body. “I’m sure your family would worry if you didn’t come home.”

  “Probably.” I straightened. “You’re different out here, you know?”

  Trent jerk
ed his head toward me. “What does that mean?”

  I shrugged. “It means… I don’t know. You’re nicer, I guess.” I scrunched up my face, annoyed that I was rambling and unable to say what I really meant. “You seem more willing to talk. That’s all.”

  His lips twitched as if he were going to smile, but he didn’t. I really didn’t like it when he was so serious.

  “You think I don’t talk enough? I’m sure my brother would disagree with you on that,” he said.

  I perked up when he mentioned his brother. It was exactly the opening I needed to learn more about him. “The two of you are close, huh?”

  “Like brothers.”

  A surprised laugh escaped, and I stared at him in disbelief. “Trent Halstead has a sense of humor? Color me shocked.”

  “You’re not the only one who can make corny jokes, you know.”

  “My jokes are not corny,” I said defensively, only half joking.

  He glanced over at me momentarily, then turned his gaze back to the falls, his lips pursed into an adorably sexy pout. The urge to feel his lips on mine was overwhelming. I’d never had a burning desire to kiss anyone before, not like I did right now anyway. I licked my lips and forced my gaze away, but it was too late. He’d caught me staring.

  “Are you and Abby close?” he asked.

  What was his obsession with Abby? He always found a way to bring her into the conversation, and it was starting to get on my nerves.

  “Yeah, I guess,” I said, looking down at my legs. “Up until recently, we really didn’t know each other that well. She came to visit me and Mom in Florida once, but that was it.”

  “I’m sorry about your mom,” he said, his words and tone so sincere it felt like he’d punched the air from my lungs.

  Not a single person had said that to me since I’d been here. It’s like they were all too afraid that if they talked about her, I’d break down into a crying mess.

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  “I lost my mom, too. She died in childbirth.”

  “Oh, wow, I’m so sorry, Trent.” I took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

  Only someone who’d lost a parent could truly understand the pain of it. I hated that this was the thing we had in common.

  Trent turned his hand so it was palm up, and then he laced his fingers with mine. Awareness shot through me, and I shifted closer. There were so many things I wanted to say, to ask, but I was afraid if I spoke, I’d ruin the moment. He ran his fingers over the back of my hand that he still held, and goose bumps erupted on my arms.

  “Well, at least you still have your dad and your brother,” I said, unable to keep quiet a second longer. He was actually opening up to me, and I wanted to know more. “I didn’t have anyone once Mom died.”

  “What about your dad?” he asked, using his hold on my hand to tug me a little closer.

  “He left when I was seven. When Mom had her accident, she tried reaching out to him, but we couldn’t find him. When she died…” My throat constricted, and I couldn’t force the truth past my lips.

  It was easier to let everyone believe she’d died naturally. Heck, it was easier for me to believe the lie.

  “When she died, Aunt Beth tried again, but it was useless. For all I know, he could be dead, too.” I sighed. “That’s why I’m here with my aunt and uncle and Abby.”

  Removing his sunglasses, he captured my gaze and held it as if he were memorizing my face. Then he reached up and brushed a strand of hair from my forehead, letting his hand linger on my cheek.

  I sucked in a breath, wishing he’d kiss me, and he leaned closer like he was going to, but then he pulled away and let go of my hand. I blew out a breath in disappointment. As insane as it sounded, I never wanted him to stop touching me.

  “I’m sorry,” he said.

  “It’s okay.”

  I’d stopped caring about what my dad did, or didn’t do, years ago, after I finally realized he wasn’t coming back. With a sigh, I rested my head on his shoulder again, and he leaned closer as if trying to make the position more comfortable for me.

  “I can see why people like to live here. It’s beautiful. And so peaceful,” I said.

  Trent remained silent. And then, slowly, he wrapped his arm around my back and tucked me firmly against his side.

  My heart lodged in my throat, and I held my breath until I couldn’t hold it a second longer. I’d never felt as safe as I did right then.

  He turned his head slightly, enough for his lips to graze my forehead. I trembled involuntarily, and he squeezed me closer.

  “I really shouldn’t be alone with you like this. It’s not safe for either of us,” he whispered. And then, faster than I could comprehend, he released me and pulled me to my feet.

  My head spun, and I reached for his arm to steady myself. What was that all about? I tried to blink away my confusion, but that only seemed to make it worse. I thought we had a moment, but apparently, I was wrong. What had he meant it wasn’t safe? I opened my mouth to ask, but he spoke before I had the chance.

  “Lunch?” he asked.

  On cue, my stomach growled.

  “I’m going to take that as a yes,” he said. “C’mon. I know the perfect place.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN:

  The Halstead House

  AS WE WALKED BACK TO HIS truck, I couldn’t help but notice how he timed his steps to mine, as if he was attuned to my every move. I wasn’t sure if I should be flattered or weirded out. But I was too winded to speak, so I kept quiet, praying my lungs wouldn’t explode from all the exertion.

  There was a faint rustling sound to my right, and I inched closer to him. A moment later, something fat and furry ambled across the path in front of us. I yelped with surprise and grabbed hold of Trent’s arm.

  The animal—a raccoon—stopped and turned toward us as if just noticing we were there. Its beady eyes glowed eerily, making it look possessed. I froze. Were raccoons dangerous? They didn’t attack humans, did they?

  Tail thrashing violently, the animal raised its fur and let out a guttural growl, teeth bared. I half expected to see it start foaming at the mouth. That’d be wonderful—get bitten by a rabid animal when I was supposed to be in school. Aunt Beth would ground me for life.

  Trent protectively guided me behind him, and I wasn’t about to argue. Then he stepped forward, and I clutched his hand, fear stealing my voice.

  “Get out of here,” he said in a menacing tone that turned my veins to ice. He took another step toward the crazed animal, and I squeezed his hand. “Go on.” He stomped his foot, and I swore the ground shook beneath me.

  The animal moved forward, its growl turning to a hiss. I buried my face against Trent’s back, hoping he’d start to back up. I was sure we could outrun the raccoon. But he didn’t.

  He tensed and then bent over slightly, almost like he was preparing to lunge at the thing. He let out a throaty hiss.

  If I wasn’t so utterly terrified, I would have laughed, because he sounded ridiculous. Instead, I kept hold of his hand, refusing to lift my head from where it rested between his shoulder blades.

  A moment later, he straightened. “It’s gone.”

  “What?” I peeked around him. Sure enough, no raccoon. “Hissing at it actually worked?”

  He shrugged. “He felt threatened, so he was defending himself. When he realized we weren’t going to harm him, he left.”

  None of that made sense. Trent had been rather aggressive. If anything, the raccoon should’ve attacked, not run away. Either way, I wasn’t going to stand out here and debate the issue. The next animal might be bigger than us. I shuddered at the thought.

  We continued on, and his truck came into view. I let out a relieved sigh.

  Once we were safely inside and headed away from the falls, I asked, “Where are we going to get lunch? We can’t exactly go home, and I’m sure if we go to the diner in town, someone will recognize us.”

  “My dad is out of town until tomorrow. We can go
to my house and grab something.”

  I tried to hide my shock, but I’m pretty sure doing so only made me look silly. I was going to be alone with Trent—at his house.

  Panic seized my chest, and I fought to draw a deep breath. It’s not like I hadn’t been to a boy’s house before, but I’d never been alone with a boy in his house. There had always been parents or siblings or other friends around.

  “I figured we could use my laptop to start doing some research,” he said, seemingly oblivious to my mental freak out.

  “Yeah, okay,” I said. Did my voice sound as frazzled as I felt? “But I’m not sure what good it will do. I spent a lot of time online this past weekend and didn’t find much.”

  I couldn’t ignore the thrill that shot through me at the thought of casually directing Trent to the website I’d found. I wanted to see his reaction to the photograph. Maybe then I’d get the truth because I knew he was hiding something.

  “Maybe you weren’t looking in the right places.” He turned to me, then chuckled.

  I narrowed my eyes but didn’t say anything further as he gave a casual shrug. He was so calm and collected, had everything figured out and under control. It made me feel wholly inferior, like I was some sort of spaz fumbling through things. Was he always like this? It was hard to tell at school because he never said anything, wore a scowl most of the time, and had those sunglasses perched on his face every time I saw him.

  He drove toward the outskirts of town and then took a winding road that steadily climbed up into the mountains. Pressure built in my ears a second before they popped. God, I hated that feeling. It was one more thing that sucked about being here. Although, I couldn’t deny how beautiful the scenery was—it beat the concrete jungle I used to live in.

  “Here we are,” he announced as he pulled into the driveway.

  An older man stood across the street, staring at us. An angry scowl was etched onto his wrinkled face, and his thin lips were pursed. With that look, I wondered if he was somehow related to Trent.

  “Who’s that?” I asked.

  “Mr. Moore, but we call him Old Man Moore. He’s a nosy grump. Ignore him. We do.”