The Curse of Time

by Andreea Pryde

  “But what about my work?” I waved around at all the stuff around my desk, raising my voice unintentionally. “If I’ll take days off, I’ll be off the schedule.”

  “No, you won’t because you are ahead of it, anyway! Keep up like this, and you’ll run out of thing to do.” Laura crossed her arms. “Go home! Now!” She pointed the door.

  I barely got up from the chair, but when I did, from my head and shoulders fell a black scarf. I looked at it confused as I didn’t recognise it; it certainly wasn’t mine. Perhaps Laura’s, but then why was it on my head?

  “Home! Now!”

  “Fine, fine, I’m going. You don’t have to be such a mom,” I said, laughing while heading to the door. Stopping midway, I turned around on my heels and hugged Laura. “Thank you.”

  “Oh, my! You’re welcome, sweets. By the way, what were you dreaming about? You were grumbling in your sleep.

  Be careful who you trust in.

  It certainly couldn’t be about Laura, but maybe it wouldn’t do any harm to be a bit more cautions.

  “I dreamed of the time when I was a child and developed an interest in Greek mythology,” I said.

  “That must’ve been nice. Now I’m sorry I woke you up.”

  “Don’t be. I prefer to dream in my bed, than on the top of the desk.” I reached for the door handle.

  “Scarlett, wait!” Laura jumped.

  “Yes? I looked back, confused. Just a few minutes ago, she tried to kick me out the door, and now?

  “If I were you, I would be more careful when and where I use my abilities. In my case, not everyone can see the energy waves, but you . . .,” she hesitated.

  “I what?” I asked, not liking the sound of it.

  “You are a bit more obvious,” Laura finally said.

  Maybe it was just my fault, but I couldn’t understand a thing she said.

  “What you said right now makes absolutely no sense to me.”

  “Your hair, sweets, your hair. When you use your power, even if unconscious, it changes its colour, from black to red.”

  “Please tell me you’re joking,” I said, feeling the blood draining from my face, but her expression told me it was no joke. I untied my hair fast and pulled a strand in front of my eyes, but nothing looked different to me. I moved my eyes, questioning, to Laura, who watched me in silence.

  “You can’t see it now. Once you stop the energetic flow which nourishes and sustains your ability, everything returns to normal.”

  “Start what? Stop what? I don't know how this thing works; how it flows or however you called it, and I really have no desire to have my hair turning red around a bunch of people,” I said helplessly, still holding the strand between my fingers.

  “I will help you with that, but first, you need to get a better grasp of what you can do. Take advantage of these few days and explore your potential. Practice. Try to see how different emotions affect your ability and control over it. And most importantly, try to stay awake when you do this.”

  “But what about the changing hair? I don't think I can hide it if it happens in public.”

  Laura, with a solemn look on her face, raised her hand and stopped the avalanche of words which opened the path to a small panic attack.

  “That’s where I come in. You go home and leave it to me. Just because I had to discover my powers all by myself, it doesn't mean you have to do it as well. You are not alone. Go home, don't worry, and leave hiding your hair to me.”

  She winked and smiled, I waved and left.

  I couldn't wait to get home, Laura's words reassured me to some extent, but now a strange curiosity made my soul burn. I had to test something, but first a final stop: ice-cream.

  Chapter 7

  Unbelievable.

  The biggest ice-cream shop in the city and yet, my favourite favour just ran out. They had from the classic flavours like vanilla, chocolate, and fruits to the strangest combinations with garlic, sea-fruits, even a bacon limited edition. They had all that, except for what I wanted.

  What did a girl have to do for a salted-caramel ice-cream?

  I supposed my only option was to get something else and try to be happy about it. Ten minutes later and twenty different flavours in my basket, I went for the cashier.

  If I wouldn’t have been so absorbed by the inside of my bag while looking for my wallet, perhaps I would’ve noticed the person in front of me before stopping with my face in the middle of their back. I would have apologised, but I was too busy running after the ice cream cups that rolled between the other customers' feet. One, two, three . . . seventeen, eighteen, nineteen; one was missing.

  “Did you lose something?” a male voice spoke from behind me.

  Focusing on counting the cups, I failed to notice him getting closer. It was the same person I’d bumped into and didn’t apologise to, yet he returned my missing cup.

  “Thank you, and I’m so sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going,” I tried to explain.

  “Don’t worry about it, Scarlett. I think you’re just tired,” he smiled.

  I gazed surprised at the man, who seemed in his late fifties and couldn’t help but think how familiar he looked, but from where? And it wasn’t just his appearance, but his voice as well. In fact, his voice seemed more familiar to me than the beard and grey hair, blue eyes, or the ancient framed glasses sitting on his nose. My brain tried hard to remember where I knew him from. It was evident that he knew me; he’d just called me by my name, but the answer came shortly.

  “I take it that Laura passed the message.”

  Laura, how could I not have realised earlier? On the one hand, it was understandable since we rarely met, the conversations between us taking place on the phone and through emails. But what kind of an idiot doesn’t remember their own boss’s face?

  “Yes, sir,” I answered quickly. “Actually, I wanted to email you as soon as I got home. I would like to thank you for the time off and ask when you would like me to return to work.”

  “Worry not. In the short time since you joined the team, you’ve exceeded all my expectations. You earned yourself these few days, and before you ask; I will not deduct them from your annual leave, but I am going to pay them.”

  “That’s very generous of you,” I said, embarrassed. “You’re too kind.”

  I didn’t know what else I could say. I really wasn’t expecting such a gesture from him. Behind that cold, rigid façade, was a big heart.

  “Oh, child, this has nothing to do with generosity. I’ve lived a long life, and I’ve learned that it’s good to show gratitude towards the people who work hard and from the heart. You are one of those people. A few days off are nothing compared with what you truly deserve.”

  I expected him to continue, but that never happened. The silence between us felt a little heavy, but I didn't dare to ask him what he meant. The situation became awkward, yet I didn’t have a clue what I could possibly say. Slowly, my eyes slipped to his basket, which was empty.

  “This is not good,” he suddenly spoke, making me jump. “This is not good at all.”

  “I’m sorry, but what do you mean?” I frowned a bit.

  “We stay here chatting while the ice-cream melts. Scarlett, go home, have a rest, and I’ll see you at work on Tuesday morning.”

  Without waiting for an answer, he turned around and left, leaving the empty basket at the shop’s entrance.

  I got home faster than I thought, yet not fast enough. The dark clouds gathered in the sky, hiding away the sun’s light and warmth, making way to the cold raindrops. In mere minutes the small, rare drops turned into showers. The clouds became thicker, forbidding the light to pass through. Bolts of lightning whipped the tensed air, ripping frightened screams from children who were still outside. The wind shook everything; the shops’ windows trembled, the cars’ alarms went off, and people tried in vain to find shelter until the squall passed. It’d been a long time since I’d seen such a storm, and even longer since I’d been alone during on
e.

  With water dripping from my hair and clothes, I threw the ice-creams in the freezer and running to the bedroom, I dumped my cold, wet outfit in the corner of the room. Before I managed to get my hands on a dry change of clothes, a clap of thunder shook the building from the ground, making my knees weak. I gave up entirely on the idea of dry clothes, and with seconds before another thunder brawled on the busy streets, I hid between the sheets and pulled the pillow over my head.

  Focus, Scarlett, focus on something else. You are an adult woman, there is no reason to be afraid, I told myself.

  Without taking my head out, I reached my hand, and after a few tries, I found the phone and the handsfree I’d left on the nightstand. With the music ringing in my ears, the pillow attenuating the storm’s noises and the blanket warming my cold body, I was defeated by the exhaustion of the long and loaded days of work. I fell asleep, unintentionally.

  ***

  I was already used to waking up in a different period, but this time, I arrived in a moment I would’ve wished to avoid.

  I was in a dark place. The heavy curtains, covering the windows let only a few rays creep into the room. Seated on a chair by the bed, Leah fell asleep while watching her lady. Jubilee, once a dazzling beauty, now looked more dead than alive. She was so thin that it seemed as if even the sheet she was covered with could crush her at any moment under its insignificant weight, and her hair, once long, thick, and glossy, was now short and sparse.

  “Scarlett?”

  “I’m here, Leah. You can rest. I’ll watch over Jubilee for you.”

  “Thank you.”

  That was the last thing she could say before falling back asleep. I could feel how worn out she really was. Physically, she wasn’t too bad, but psychically, she was drained. And all I could do to help was to let her rest.

  I fixed my eyes on the figure sleeping on the bed. Her chest movement assured me she was still alive, but they were so heavy and rare that it was hard to tell how long she could keep on. From time to time, a whimper broke through the dry lips, as if she was in pain. I wished I could do something to alleviate her suffering, but it was beyond my capabilities.

  Sitting on the edge of the bed, so I could be closer if she needed me, I gently squeezed her cold hand when she cried again. I wanted to reassure her that she wasn’t alone, but then Jubilee opened her eyes and looked at me.

  “Where’s Leah?” she asked, her voice weak and broken.

  “She’s sleeping,” I told her, whispering. “Do you want me to wake her up?”

  “No.”

  “Is there anything you need?” I asked, worried.

  “I need you to listen carefully. Take Leah as far away from this place as possible.”

  “She won’t want to leave.”

  “I’ll tell her myself. If she stays, she will suffer a lot and only because of me.”

  I could feel the remorse in her voice, but I didn't understand. Leah loved this place and the people in it. It was normal for her to suffer once Jubilee was gone, after all, she was the person she held most dearly.

  “Why would it be your fault?” I tried to sound comforting. “You can’t control what’s happening to you, and Leah understands that. She suffers but understands.”

  “You are the one who doesn’t understand,” she protested. “I am the one who told my father years ago that in our house would come a young girl with the ability to control the artefacts. That was the moment the future changed irreversibly.” But a violent cough interrupted her protest. She covered her mouth with the white night gown’s sleeve she wore, but when she removed it, it was full of blood.

  After she calmed down a bit, Jubilee continued.

  “I’m begging you, save Leah of what’s to come. Take her away from here; as far as possible, where my father won’t be able to find her. Please, Scarlett.”

  Talking was a considerable effort for her, quickening her breathing.

  “But how can I do that? I don’t know anything about this place, and not to mention, I can’t be with her all the time.

  “She’s strong. She’ll be fine. Search in the jewellery box,” she struggled to point, with a trembling hand, to a box in front of the mirror. “You’ll find a recommendation letter, which will help her find work no matter where she’ll go, and, also, take the black-stones necklace. If she is ever in trouble, she’ll be able to sell that without too many questions.”

  I got up and went to the box. I found the letter on the very bottom and the necklace in a small black pouch. Taking them both, I shoved them in a pocket. When I returned by the bed, Jubilee had her eyes closed and was breathing with much more effort than before.

  “Scarlet . . . call Leah,” she barely said.

  “No, no, no,” I panicked, understanding exactly what she meant. “You can’t do that. Leah, you need to wake up! You can’t give up now. Just a little bit longer. LEAH!

  I felt suddenly pulled back in the spectator’s seat, and Leah’s desperate voice cried through the room.

  “My Lady!” she fell on her knees, by the bed.

  “Leah, sweet child. You need to leave this house, and so do I, we’ll just go in different ways.” Jubilee patted her head.

  “My Lady, please don’t talk this way.” Leah pleaded.

  “This is for the best. My time is almost up. Leave, and don’t look back. You can’t stay here any longer.”

  “But this place is my home, please don’t chase me away, not now,” she answered amid tears, taking Jubilee’s hand.

  “Leah, I’m not chasing you away, but if you stay, nothing good will come. It’s time we both moved on. Go . . . and may the gods keep you safe.”

  Leah tried hard to stop crying, listening quietly to her Lady’s words.

  “Leave my friend, my sister . . . my child.”

  When the last words left her lips, the last breath left her body, leaving behind a broken-hearted child, who once again lost her home and family. With her head on the edge of the bed and still holding Jubilee’s hand, Leah sobbed.

  “Leah, I’m sorry.”

  I didn’t get any answer from her.

  “I know it’s painful, but we need to leave.”

  No movement, no sound except the sighs that had become more regular. If I hadn’t participated at this scene from the backstage, maybe I would’ve never really comprehended what she was going through. I wouldn’t have felt the wound which consumed her soul and burned her heart.

  Leah was unable to leave Jubilee’s inert body, and I couldn’t blame her.

  “Leah, let me take over. You don’t have to do a thing,” I tried to convince her.

  I felt a short hesitation from her, but then the fabric of the sheets was under the palm of my hand. Standing up fast, I wiped the tears off of my face. Lady Jubilee said to leave as fast and as far as possible. With the letter and the necklace already in one of the dress’s pockets, I entered the side room, which belonged to Leah. I couldn’t take too many things. This had to be a light, fast trip. In a bag, I packed a dress and undergarments. From the untouched food tray, I took the bread, the cheese, and the fruits, and without looking back, I went out the door and down the long manor’s corridor.

  I knew where I had to go; to the back of the house. But I’ve been there only once before and could only vaguely remember the way. Leah wasn't much help in the state she was in, sinking in so deep that I almost couldn't feel her anymore. It was as if she’d built a wall between us, but with all this, she’d walked by there so many times that her body knew automatically where to turn and what doors to open. It was a real miracle that we didn't meet anyone inside the house, but the danger was far from over. Now we just had to cross the back yard, without being noticed. I ran as fast as I could to the shelter provided by the trees where we were safe.

  Maybe the gods really were on our side.

  Chapter 8

  “All these books are useless!” he shouted, frustrated, smashing his fists against the massive desk, grinding his teeth. “I need
to find that girl! I need to find that blasted Watch.”

  In one move, he threw everything he had on the desk to the floor, howling in anger like a caged, wild beast. It made no difference to him that all those books, letters, and diagrams were left as a legacy from one generation to another, dating back hundreds of years ago.

  He was running out of time.

  “Cursed Watch!” he swore under his breath.

  According to all the research made along the years, only one conclusion was reached. The Watch revealed its location only to certain people; people with particular abilities.

  Jubilee knew where it was, and also knew who the girl that could control it was, but she stubbornly refused to tell him.

  The thought that his own daughter hindered his research drove him mad more than the fact that he had a hard time decrypting the three diagrams which could at least give him a clue regarding the location, if not pointing it out precisely.

  It was well known it should be somewhere inside the house, but in time, a lot of changes had been made. He personally checked every room, every corner, the greenhouse, the cellar, the attic, even the stables, and the servants’ rooms, without avail.

  Straightening his back and arranging his coat, he went to the window. In his mind, there were only two options left: he could either find the Watch, or give up. But if he gave up, all the efforts and sacrifices until then would’ve been useless. All those moments when his beloved wife needed him, and he wasn’t there . . . and now, in any moment, their daughter was going to follow her mother’s steps, and he would be all alone.

  His lips stretched in a cold smile, and his eyes burned impatiently. Once Jubilee has gone to waste, there would be nothing left in his path. He was going to rummage the entire domain if needed.

  Hysterical laughter began to shake his whole body and clenching his fist, he punched it through the window’s glass. Glass shards of all shapes fell off the broken window, along with the red splashes of blood that trickled from his arm.

  I will get that Watch even if I have to step on bodies, he thought, holding his hurt arm.