The Curse of Time

by Andreea Pryde

  "Soon, my love, soon," he pressed his lips to the painted canvas. "Wait for me."

  He stepped out of the narrow space where he had hidden his most precious treasure and collapsing in the large chair, poured another glass. Before he drank, he looked once again at the subtle glow the wedding ring had.

  As he entered the study, he jerked the wedding ring off of his finger and threw it into the fire in the fireplace, replacing it with the old, silver one from Julia.

  "Soon," said he, beginning to laugh. "Soon," and emptied the glass with a single gulp.

  Chapter 18

  He missed me? I said it as a joke, but he answered with such a genuine look on his face. Nah, he must be just messing with me.

  “I don’t think he’s joking; you know,” I heard Leah’s sleepy voice.

  “What do you mean? There is no way he can be serious. We barely met twice, or maybe three times . . .”

  “True, yet he always asks me of you.”

  Always?

  “You look very cute dressed as a bride,” Chance said, slowly tilting his head to one side, and smiling.

  Being focused on what Leah was telling me, his voice took me by surprise. I looked at him with big eyes, aware of the blood that flooded my cheeks, but then I remembered. I was inside Leah, so she was the cute one, not me. No one could see me.

  I don’t know what kind of expression I showed, but Chance came even closer, and with his hand, he lifted my chin enough to look me deep in the eyes.

  “What’s wrong?” his voice, warm and low.

  “You mean Leah is the cute one dressed as a bride,” slipped my tongue.

  Surprised, he stepped back a bit, pulling his hand away, the memory of his touch persisting on my skin.

  “Why would you say that?” he frowned.

  “This is Leah’s body,” I said gazing at my hands. “No matter who looks will see Leah, not me.”

  “But I see you.”

  “Liar,” my bitter-sweet laughter echoed in the room, unable to understand why it bothered me so much.

  “I’m not lying,” he said, seaming a bit hurt. “Whenever you take over, it’s you I see, not Leah.

  Gods, how much I hoped it would be true, but I found it so hard to believe.

  “Then tell me; what’s the colour of my hair?” I asked him, well aware of the apparent differences between Leah and me.”

  “Dark, like the night we first met,” he answered without any hesitation.

  “Then, what about my eyes?” It was me who got closer to him this time.

  “Brown, just like cinnamon,” he smiled.

  “Did Leah tell you?” I asked, frowning, still untrusting, but I wondered; did Leah actually knew?

  “What do you want me to say for you to believe me?” he sighed deeply.

  “I don’t know. An explanation, maybe?” I shrugged my shoulders.

  “Fine, but not here,” his voice turned into a whisper. “Meet me in the library in half an hour. Perhaps you’ll want to change into something more comfortable in the meantime.”

  I nodded, but curiosity had already gotten the best of me. Could he indeed see me?

  ***

  Getting out of the wedding dress turned out to be a more significant challenge than I first expected. There were so many things to undo: buttons, ribbons, layers which had to be removed in a specific order. I began to question my ability to get redressed. I didn’t want to ask for Leah’s help, who looked like she’d fallen asleep.

  The earlier discomfort returned in full strength, but it didn’t come from the wounds on my arms, but from the back. Dumping the thin, white layer left covering me, I walked in front of the mirror.

  Oh, my dear gods!

  Dozens of purplish, striped marks, covered her back, darkening her white skin. I could hardly hold myself back from waking Leah up and questioning her, but there were two problems. One, if Leah would’ve wanted to tell me about this, she would’ve done it earlier, and two, even if I learned about it, there was nothing I could do, since this was not my world.

  I looked for a dress which looked easy to put on and dragging back over my head the white, muslin shirt, I put a blue dress on, skipping the corset. There was no way I could figure that thing out; not without help.

  Stepping out of the room, I headed straight to the library. It wasn’t hard to find, but I didn’t expect something so vast. The shelves fixed on all the walls, and some even arranged in the middle of the room, kept thousands of books. Somehow it reminded me of the museum’s library, the difference was that this one was much more organised. I got closer to a shelf that looked ridiculously familiar. Decorated with leaves and flower carvings, it was different from the rest on the furniture in that room. I reached my hand to touch one of the leaves, but when the door opened, I pulled it back quickly.

  Chance entered the room with a shadow of worry on his face, a shadow that evaporated when our eyes met.

  “For a second I thought you would disappear again,” he said.

  "You don't get away so easily from me," I replied, smiling. "Especially when you promised me an explanation."

  "Yes, about that . . ."

  He couldn't finish what he had to say. Suddenly, grabbing my arm, Chance dragged me behind him. Pulling a shelf near the fireplace, it moved away from the wall. He drove me into the narrow space by sticking me with my back against the cold stone wall, and after he entered, he pulled the shelf back to its original position. The place became so small that we had no choice but to press our bodies against each other.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” I raised my voice protesting, trying to push him away, but just like on the night when we met, he was unyielding.

  “Shh . . . listen,” he whispered in my ear, sending shivers through my body.

  Just then, the library door slammed, making me jump, and Chance, tense.

  From the other side of the shelf, from inside the room, two unfamiliar voices were heard; a man and a woman. The discussion seamed slightly tensed, but they didn’t talk loudly enough for me to understand them. The muffled voices came closer to the shelf behind which we hid. I covered my mouth with both of my hands and felt afraid even to breathe, so we wouldn’t get caught. Something was removed from the shelf; then a few seconds later, the door slammed again. Did they leave? Or did someone else come in? But on the other side was quiet. There wasn’t another sound to be heard, apart from my own heartbeat.

  Surrounded by darkness, I could feel his arms resting against the wall, on both sides of my head. I raised my eyes to him, though I couldn’t see him when I did so, the tip of my nose and my lower lip brushed the thin skin of his neck.

  The chilly, damp air made me wrap my arms around my body, desperately trying to protect myself against the cold which crept under my skin. A small movement, but Chance noticed it.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered, “but I think we might need to stay here for a little while longer. I don’t want to risk being caught.”

  He pulled me in his arms, rubbing my back to warm me up when suddenly his hand stopped on the small of my back.

  “You’re not wearing a corset?” he asked, surprised, his body tensing even more.

  “No,” I answered a bit embarrassed, whispering. “I couldn’t figure it out how to put it on.”

  “Why you have to be so . . .” his words got lost in nothingness.

  Pulling me against him even harder, his mouth took over mine. His smell, his taste, made me drunk, drawing me in even more. I could’ve stepped back, I should’ve stepped back, but it felt impossible. I wanted more. I wanted him. I lifted my hands around his neck, pushing my chest against his. The growl that escaped his throat lit a spark inside me, a spark that soon became a flame. He moved a hand from my back, leaving a blazing trail behind, and putting it in my hair, pulled my head aside. He broke the kiss for a while, only to move his lips from mine to the side of my neck, making my knees go soft.

  Never in my life, had a simple kiss made me feel so high.<
br />
  “Chance . . .”

  Hearing his whispered name, he froze, and releasing me suddenly, he turned and pushed the shelf, stepping back into the library.

  Looking at his broad back, getting further away in the room, I felt lonely, rejected and mostly guilty.

  Just what am I doing? Do I really have to keep reminding myself that this is not my world? That this is not my body? Or that the man in front of me will never be truly mine?

  The last thought came as a surprise. I was, indeed, attracted to him, there was no doubt there, but that’s where it ended. A temporary attraction, without a future.

  “Scarlett!” his sudden approach made me jump. I didn’t even notice when he stopped in front of me. “I am very sorry. Could you forgive me? I don’t know what came over me,” he continued apologetically.

  “What are you talking about? It’s not a big deal. You don’t need to worry about it.”

  “Well, it doesn’t look like no big deal to me.”

  When I looked at him confused, he took my hand, and with the tips of my finger touched the wet trail on my left cheek.

  “It’s from the light,” I lied, though I wasn’t sure, either, what was the real reason. “Never mind that. I think you have something more important to tell me.”

  “Right, I promised an explanation,” Chance scratched his head. “Leah?”

  “I don’t really feel her, so there is a good chance that she’s asleep. Is this something she’s not supposed to hear?”

  “Something like that. It’s not that I don’t trust her, it’s just better, and safer for her not to know.”

  “Know what?” I asked puzzled.

  “That I’m one of you. She has a hunch, but she has no confirmation possibility since my talent doesn’t stand-up in any way.

  “And what would be your talent, more precisely?”

  “I see things normal people miss.”

  “Such as . . .?”

  “Such as, if certain individuals have any sort of power, or if they pretend to be someone else. There are people who can make you see things that aren’t there or people who can make you blind to things right in front of you.”

  “Hypnosis? Illusions?”

  “You could say that, but you see, none of this affects me. And what’s even more, I can easily read a person’s power level.”

  “So, it is true. You can really see me.” I answered quickly, showing a wide, eager smile.

  “You still doubted after how I described you not too long ago?” he asked, laughing.

  “It’s not like that,” I turned a bit red. “It was just that I couldn’t understand how you were the only person in the house who could tell the difference.”

  “It certainly would’ve been interesting to see what would have happened if an unknown young woman suddenly appeared in Leah’s place, and started roaming around the house.”

  He laughed, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

  “Nothing good,” I said quickly, shaking my head.

  Especially for Leah.

  “I don’t think it’s wise to linger around here any longer,” he said, looking towards the door. “After all, Leah is still not allowed to leave her chambers, and no one in the house is allowed to talk to her.”

  “Why?” I raised my voice, frowning.

  “Most likely because of the Watch.”

  “You know about the Watch?” I involuntarily stepped back, my eyes widening.

  “Yes, unfortunately, I know. That blasted Watch is the reason why I’m here.”

  “I don’t get it. What do you mean because of the Watch? Aren’t you supposed to be the Earl’s secretary?”

  “That’s just a cover-up.” he wrinkled his nose. “I was sent here by the Crown to keep Conwell under observation.

  “Hey! Do you think it’s safe to say this kind of stuff out loud?” I jumped, still trying to wrap my head around what I’d just heard.

  “This house is old, and has a lot of secrets,” he continued, ignoring my little protest. “You can’t see them, but I can. Rows and rows of runes which spread from one corner of the room to another. They are still glowing, meaning the enchantment is still active

  “Enchantment?”

  “No one from outside this room can hear what happens in here. Try to imagine twenty children with trumpets and violins, and although not one of them can play, they are all playing with them, yet no one in the house can hear a sound.”

  “Right, but why do you need to keep the Earl under surveillance?”

  “As I said, because of the Watch. Her Majesty is worried about what might happen if the artefact is reactivated, yet she refuses to give me the liberty I need to prevent a possible misfortune.”

  “Maybe she’s unaware of his intentions?”

  “She knows. I travel periodically to London with various jobs for the Earl, and at the same time, I report the situation at the manor, but the orders were clear: observe and report. Nothing more, nothing less.”

  “Then, why?”

  “I’ll tell you on the way to Leah’s room. If someone notices she’s not there, I don’t even want to think of the consequences she will have to endure.”

  “But what if we meet someone on the way?” I asked a bit agitated.

  “Don’t worry. I told you; this house has a lot of secrets, some known only by me.” He smiled mischievously.

  He left the place where he was standing and sank further into the library, with me no more than two steps behind him.

  Maybe if he hadn't shown me, I wouldn't have seen it. A narrow door, the same colour as the walls, was lost within the decor. He opened it quickly, revealing an old, dusty staircase. The light was just the one that came in from the room I was in, and it wasn't too much; the darkness seemed to absorb it.

  Chance reached out under the stairway and took out a half-burned candle that he lit without a second thought.

  "Come," he said, with one leg on the step, offering me his hand.

  Guided by the light of the candle flickering in the beat of the low air currents, we walked through the narrow passageway leading to the upper levels of the house.

  The steps were subtly rattling beneath our feet as we went on. With one hand in his and the other holding the skirt of my dress, I looked around, but there was nothing to see, only wood and stone.

  “What is this place?” I asked Chance, whispering.

  “This is one of the old servants' passages," he replied.

  "Meaning?"

  "Until recently, only high-rank servants were allowed to walk through the manor's corridors. The rest had to walk through these narrow passages. It was considered disrespectful to show themselves in front of their masters, or their guests.

  "You mean they had to go through here, no matter where they had to go? No matter what they were doing?"

  "Exactly," he led me around a corner.

  At very least unpleasant, I thought.

  "So? Why are you not allowed to take action?"

  "I don't know," Chance replied, frustrated. "All I have is a simple guess."

  "Such as?"

  "Some time ago, during the first report, I did the stupid thing and said that the Earl has no talent. Not even a tiny trace."

  "You mentioned earlier that you can see if someone has talents or not. How's that working?"

  "How should I explain . . .? Have you ever heard of auras?"

  "Yes. Sure, I’ve heard, but I thought the auras were more about emotions and things like that," I said, shrugging my shoulders.

  "Yeah, but I can't see that. I don't see the normalcy in people. For example, your aura is a bright red, meaning that your talent is completely awake, while Leah's is a light blue."

  "And what does that mean?" I asked curiously.

  "That she has a lot of growth potential, a latent talent. We have arrived."

  He said we’d arrived, but where? Around us were only the same wooden beams, paring walls, dust, and cobwebs. There was nothing to betray the existence o
f any entrance.

  "We’ve arrived . . . where?" I looked at him, raising an eyebrow.

  "In Leah's room." He blew out the candle flame, leaving us once again surrounded by darkness.

  With a clink, Chance opened . . . a door? A panel? I didn't even know what to call it, but it didn't matter. We were where we needed to be.

  I walked into the room, but Chance didn't follow me. I turned my gaze to him.

  "Do you really think it's a good idea to risk being seen by someone as I leave Leah's bedrooms?" he answered my unasked question.

  Sure, he was right, but I wasn't ready to say goodbye, not yet.

  Probably something on my face gave me away, because Chance took a step in the room, took my hand in his, and pressed his lips on the inside of my wrist, holding my gaze, reminding me of the brief moment of intimacy we’d shared earlier.

  "Till next time, My Lady."

  Chapter 19

  “Is there any particular reason why you look so pathetic on your wedding day?”

  The Lord raised his face, looking at the woman standing across his desk. The only source of light in the room was the fire in the fireplace, every flame playing with contours and shadows of the room.

  “How did you get in here?” he asked after a while, without putting down his glass.

  “Are we seriously going to have this conversation every time I come here?” She smiled mischievously. “So, how is your new little wife?”

  Sunk in his chair and playing with whatever was left of the cognac he had in his glass, he didn’t move his eyes away from Selene, not even for a bit.

  She walked around and sat on top of the desk, by the Lord’s side, who finished his drink and poured another.

  “Stop throwing daggers at me and listen,” she commanded. “The essential condition is fulfilled, now you know what you must do.”

  “And what if she refuses?” he asked, shifting his attention to his drink.

  “Then you will have to break her spirit.” A cold smile spread across her lips.

  “And how do I do that?” He stared in her different-coloured eyes.