by Brenda Drake
He longed for something like Aster’s home. Hers was crowded with overstuffed furniture, knickknacks, and items discarded here and there, waiting for someone to put them away or retrieve them later. The smell of baked goods always lingered in the air, and rarely was there a moment of silence.
After unloading his suitcase, he stood surveying the tall ceilings and expensive artwork on the walls. It was his tomb—literally and figuratively. He should feel free. The rooms were no longer off-limits to him. There weren’t any red velvet ropes blocking off restricted areas. But he felt anything but free.
“You opened all the rooms,” Reese said. During the times his family was in residence at the castle, they occupied a large apartment in the west wing, which was closed to tourists.
“Yes, we have many guests coming in for your birthday,” his mother said enthusiastically. “We can’t have tourists about the place.”
Blecker, one of the five staff members, crossed the foyer. Reese was glad to see him. Nearing fifty, his limbs lanky and joints pointy, he’d been around since before Reese was born. “Welcome home, Master Reese. Your guests are in the game room.” He picked up Reese’s suitcase and headed up the wide staircase.
Reese made his way down the many halls. He imagined walking them with Aster, pointing out his favorite artwork and antiques to her. He would take her to the oldest tree on the grounds, the trunk so massive a hobbit’s house could be built inside it. Then, with the sun low in the sky, they’d stroll through the many gardens to a secluded bench and do what lovers do in such a place.
He entered the game room. Henry leaned over the pool table setting up his cue stick while Lars stood to the side watching. Both of them were tanned and already pissed. Several beer bottles crowded the bar. Henry made his shot and scratched.
Lars laughed. “You are horrible at this game.”
Henry straightened. “And you’re a real wanker.”
“Glad to see you two are still madly in love with each other,” Reese said and crossed the Persian carpet to them.
“Ah, the prodigal son returns.” Henry placed his cue stick in the rack attached to the wall. “Now we can leave this crypt and go to Amsterdam.”
After an eight-hour flight, Reese just wanted a shower and a bed. But the red-light district might just be what he needed to get his mind off Aster. “Let me freshen up a bit, and we’ll leave.”
He dragged himself up the staircase to his room in the west wing. If it took being stoned from now until his grand exit to keep his mind off Aster and death, he was all in. Knowing your time of death was a curse Reese wouldn’t wish on anyone. With each passing day, the fear mounted. Who could blame him for wanting to be completely out of it until then? He wanted to get lost in every distraction he could find.
He wanted Aster, but he’d settle for a substitute. The red-light district had many women willing to take his mind off of her, for the right cost. His stomach soured at the thought. Desperation could make a good man falter.
Several hours later, Reese stumbled out of the cannabis coffeehouse with Henry and Lars. He was so high, the lights seemed foggy and the cobblestoned street felt unstable under his feet. All three of them stared in the direction leading to the women in the windows.
Henry clapped his back. “If there were someone like Aster in my life, I wouldn’t soil it with another woman. I suggest we return to the castle.”
“I agree,” Lars said, swaying on his feet.
Reese had a feeling that he’d droned on about Aster in the coffeehouse. He was relieved at their suggestion. He’d had a moment of weakness, thinking sex with someone else might take his mind off his troubles. It was a daft idea. Besides, not knowing what was on the other side of death concerned him, and he figured it was wise to keep his sins to a minimum.
As they headed to where Blecker waited with the auto, a girl in a group caught his eye. She had long auburn hair and curves like Aster.
He tugged his phone out from the front pocket of his jeans and searched for Aster’s number in his contacts. Her caller ID photo was one he took in the lunchroom at school when she wasn’t aware. It was a side shot, and she had the loveliest profile—her nose a little upturned and her chin slightly rounded. A lump stuck in his throat at the sight of her.
Reese swallowed hard and pushed the button to send a text.
What am I doing? Leave her alone.
With a final look at her, he turned off his phone and slipped it back into his pocket. Remembering the anger in her face the last time he saw her, she was most likely pleased to be rid of him. But that thought didn’t stop him from missing her and wondering what she was doing that very moment.
Chapter Nineteen
Aster
Every noise in the house grated on Aster’s brain. The scene of Dika with Armand, a Van Buren firstborn son, played in her thoughts. Dika had tried to undo his curse. She’d told him to hold on, but he’d let go when the shock surprised him. Had they been hurt? Did they die? She needed to know.
She tried to sit up, and pain shot across her skull. Groaning, she sank back and pulled the pillow over her head.
“Hey, you’re up,” Leah said from somewhere in the room.
“Way to state the obvious.” The pillow muffled Aster’s words. “How long have I been asleep?”
The pillows on the window seat rustled. “Since last night.”
“Ugh. Kill me now.”
Leah’s bare feet slapped across the wooden floor and then padded across the area rug. She sat on the edge of the bed. “Here, Gram said to drink this when you woke up.”
Aster peeked around the pillow at her. “Is Gram a witch now?”
“That’s just dumb,” she said. “It’s gingerroot tea. And these”—she held out her hand where two red, blue, and white capsules rested on her palm—“are Tylenol.”
“Thanks.” Aster scooped up the capsules and popped them in her mouth. She eyed Leah as she drank down the gingerroot. “It’s cold.”
“Your gram stopped me from calling 911. I still think we should have called them. But then you woke up and told that story.”
“Wait. I woke up?”
She gave Aster a worried look. “You don’t remember?”
“No. What story did I tell?”
“About that woman and man.” She handed Aster two crackers. “You know, how she tried to undo her lover’s curse and they both died during the attempt. You kept screaming for Reese to hold on and not let go. Good thing your mom and aunt took Violet shopping for her trip or you would be in the hospital right now.”
Aster shoved a cracker in her mouth and washed it down with a big gulp of tea. “Where is Gram?”
“She and your aunt are packing Tillie’s stuff and cleaning the apartment,” she said. “Your aunt is moving in there. I, for one, wouldn’t live where someone had died. It’d give me the heebie-jeebies.” She exaggerated a shudder for effect.
At the mention of Tillie, a flutter of guilt stirred in Aster. She wouldn’t be afraid to live in the apartment, because Tillie wouldn’t haunt it. Aster chose to believe that Tillie had gone on to be with Renaldo, her lost love. Aster recalled Tillie’s last words. Great tragedies have been written about lovers and their sacrifices.
Dika and Armand had a tragic ending just like Romeo and Juliet, sort of. There was no poison or knives, but Dika had to have known it was a gamble. She’d begged Armand to hold on. They hadn’t been expecting the shock. But Aster would be. She could do it.
Gramps died because of the curse. I can’t let Reese die, too.
Aster sat up, her head protesting. She handed Leah her teacup and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Her head was swimming, the scene with Dika trying to change Armand’s fate replaying in her thoughts like an old-fashioned movie.
Dika must have known that she’d have to pull Armand’s curse from him and use the crystal as an insulator. But it was too weak to contain the intensity of the curse, which caused the surge of energy, like a lightning strike. It had
been too painful, causing Dika and Armand to let go before the curse could transfer to the crystal. The charge had no place to go, so it fried them.
Aster had to figure out how to redirect the charge, or she and Reese would suffer the same fate.
“Are you going to vomit?” Leah interrupted her processing. “If you are, use the trash can.”
Redirect the charge.
“I know how to save him,” Aster blurted, her muscles shaking with excitement.
“Save Reese?” Leah put the teacup on the nightstand.
“It will work. I know it will.” Aster untangled her legs from her sheets and stumbled to her dresser. “It has to.”
“What the hell are you doing?” Leah asked, as if Aster were crazy. “Reese is…” The Aster-is-crazy look on her face changed to something else. Something like pity.
“Reese is what?”
“Leaving. Sometime today.”
“What?” Aster paused riffling through her drawer. “Today? When?”
“I’m not sure. Jan’s been so upset, I didn’t ask for details.”
Aster grabbed her cell phone and scrolled through her recent calls for Reese’s number. His phone went straight to voicemail. “Damn it. He didn’t charge it again. Can you call Jan?”
Leah heaved a sigh before dialing Jan’s phone. “He’s not answering. Probably playing that game he’s addicted to with his headphones on.”
“I have to go to their condo.” Aster grabbed a pair of yoga pants and a T-shirt.
“But I promised Gram I wouldn’t let you out of bed except if you had to pee,” Leah said. “And you don’t disobey Gram. She may be the sweetest grandmother in the world, but cross her and…well, she scares me.”
“Then tell her I had to pee…and shower,” Aster said, determined to sneak out and get to Reese.
“Okay,” Leah sounded uncertain. “You have twenty minutes. Be back or…or…I don’t know, just get back here fast.”
“I will,” Aster assured, yanking open the bedroom door. “I only have to stop him from going home. I can save him later.”
When Aster had finished dressing in the restroom, she ran the shower, locked the bathroom door behind her, and slunk down the back stairs. Pausing at the door, she peered through the window, scanning the yard and Tillie’s apartment. There was no sign of Gram, so she snatched her purse on her way out and got in the Bug.
It had rained while she’d been dead to the world. She sped the Bug along the slick road, excited to get to Reese and tell him she had the answer to his curse. Large puddles formed in depressed areas of the gutters. Her tires hit them periodically, splashing muddy water across her windshield. The Bug fishtailed, and Aster pulled it to a stop against the curb.
“What’s wrong with you? You’re going to kill yourself,” she scolded her image in the rearview mirror before getting back on the road. “It’s not like he’s going to die today.”
Though her inner voice kept saying to forgive Reese, she couldn’t convince her head. It was cruel of him to pretend he was falling in love, then let her give herself to him. Still, she understood how he must feel. Knowing that you’re going to die would make a person desperate. But he’d gone too far. All he’d had to do was be up-front with her. She’d rescue her worst enemy if that person were dangling from a cliff.
She sat parked across the street and stared at the door to Reese’s condo before she got the nerve and marched up the sidewalk to the door.
She took a deep breath. Okay, Aster, no matter how gorgeous he looks today, you will not cave. Be strong. You’re only there to help him. Right. You’re full of shit, you know that. Exhaling, she pounded hard on the door, her knuckles stinging from the force.
When the door opened, Jan stood before her. At seeing her, an expression crossed his face—part confusion, part sadness.
“Is Reese around?” she asked, worrying her brows.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “He went back home this morning.”
“What?” Did she hear him right? Reese is gone. I’m too late.
She wasn’t listening to what Jan was saying. Without her, Reese would die.
“Aster?”
She glanced up at him. “Yes?”
“I asked if you wanted to come inside,” Jan said, opening the door wider. “Reese left you something.”
She’d never seen Jan so somber before. Gone were his cocky grin and mischievous glances. He led her to the window seat. All the furniture was missing. There was only a camping mat, some pillows, and stacks of schoolbooks on the floor.
“I would have cleaned the place if I’d known you were coming,” he said, trying to joke. He fetched an envelope off the counter and handed it to her. “This is for you.”
There was a single white aster flower taped to it, and the sight of it caused tears to sting her eyes.
Aster’s fingers shook as she removed the folded stationery from the envelope with her name written across the front. Reese had extremely neat penmanship. She read the letter. Tears burned the back of her eyes. Her heart took flight, reaching levels never felt before. He loved her back. And just as quickly, it had all been taken away from her.
No. No. No. She shook her head. He’s gone. Her tears dripped onto the letter.
His words rang through her head and settled in her heart. For I was lucky enough to have experienced love with you. And it is because of this love that I can’t ask you to suffer the consequences.
She bit at her lip. “I must get to him, Jan. But how…?”
“He won’t let you help him,” he said. “Your baby cousin will die if you do.”
“I found a way. It’s a long story. But first, I have to get to him.” She wasn’t going to tell him that there was a very good probability that both she and Reese would die in the process.
“Do you have a passport?” he asked.
“Yeah, why?”
“I have the money,” he said. “Go home and secretly pack. Make sure not to forget your passport. I’ll text you a time and place to meet. You can explain all the details to me during the flight.”
“Will we make it in time?”
“Jan!” Leah’s voice rang out from somewhere in the apartment.
“How is Leah here?”
“She isn’t.” His eyes widened. “We were talking on the mobile before you came.”
A sudden knock on the door made them jump. Leah didn’t wait for Jan to open the door. She just barged in, her shirt damp with sweat, her hair frizzy, and glared at Aster. “Gram showed up just after you left. She’ll get suspicious if you stay in the ‘shower’ too long. And there is no way in hell you are leaving this country without me.” Then she stood there, panting. Obviously, she had sprinted from her car to the condo. “Now get going. You have maybe ten minutes before Gram breaks down the bathroom door. I have to pick up some milk at the store for her, so I’ll see you back at your house.”
“Okay,” Aster said as if she was dealing with a crazy person. Because obviously she was.
“Good. Hi, sweetie,” she said to Jan and gave him a sloppy kiss on his mouth. “I’ll text you all the pertinent information for Aster and me. Make sure to get me an aisle seat. I freak on planes.”
“Okay,” he said uncertainly, giving Aster a look, as if asking her if she was cool with Leah going.
“Then we’re set, right?” Aster said, pulling open the door.
“Yes. Just make sure Gram doesn’t see you sneak up the back stairs.” She turned to Jan. “We’re going to do this. Aster will save Reese.”
Aster wasn’t too sure of that. On her drive home, she shuffled through the buried knowledge in her brain for a way to reduce the curse’s charge.
Grounding. It’s the most effective way to initiate an alternate path. But how? This isn’t electricity, it’s magic…a curse. She slammed her hands continuously against the steering wheel. Think. I have to ground the power the crystal can’t hold. Direct it away from Reese and me instead of letting it shock us.
She
swung the car in a U-turn and headed for the boardwalk.
…
Miri was just as surprised to see her as Aster was to find herself sitting at the reader’s table, staring at the half-naked Jim Morrison on the wall. Miri drummed her fingers. “You want a tarot deck with only the death cards. Why?”
Aster turned her stare on Miri. “Because I’m going to trick Reese into picking his fate. I’m going to change his cursed one.”
“You don’t have to fool him into it. The death card will always find him while he’s cursed.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that.” Aster shifted in her seat. She was uneasy at being there. She wasn’t sure if she could trust Miri.
“Now, about your grounding issue. You said a charge killed those two lovers. Where I grew up, we had many lightning strikes hit the land. Everyone had lightning rods around their homes. Possibly that would work, no?”
“No.” Aster shook her head. “I mean, yes. That’s it. I need to lessen the charge between us. Possibly with a rod or a wire.”
Miri rubbed her chin. “I don’t know about this science stuff, but I wonder if the curse would find its way to someone else through this grounding thing.”
“I hadn’t thought of that.” Aster was now rubbing her chin, and when she spotted her reflection along with Miri’s in the window, she quickly stopped. They looked too similar for Aster’s comfort. “I have to study Dika’s notes a little more. I’m missing something.”
“I have it.” Miri stood and rushed out of the room. When she returned, she carried a small leather-bound notebook. It looked ancient and she held it gingerly, as though fearing it would crumble in her hands. “Here. You take this. It’s all about curses.”
“Are you sure? It looks way old.”
“It is, but it’s the least I can do after…anyways, if it helps you at all, I’m pleased to give it.”
Aster stood this time. “Thank you. I have to get back.”
“Before you go, I must give you something else.” Miri gathered a bunch of herbs together from the vases on her shelves. She tied them into three bundles with twine and handed them to Aster.