Cursed Hearts (A Crossroads Novel)

by Light

  Rome’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Excuse me?”

  “Did he really just use the G-word?” Jesse mumbled.

  Ariahna was too stunned to speak for a moment. She grabbed Christian’s wrists, throwing his arms away from her in annoyance. “I’m not your girlfriend,” she muttered angrily, “and he wasn’t hitting on me.”

  “Don’t know how to keep a girl happy?” Johnny grinned.

  “Hey, Johnny,” Jesse interjected. “Why don’t I go give you your cut? I needed to talk to you about some stuff anyways… in the office.”

  Rome took Aria’s hand and led her into the back room. Several large stacks of books were sitting on an otherwise lonely table. This room was larger and less cluttered, and seemed to house only items of a magical variety. Strange sounds coming from behind a folding screen in one corner of the room suggested the presence of some kind of exotic creature as well.

  “We should just get what we need and go,” Rome said. “I don’t care if I have to pay for them. I just want to get out of here.”

  “Wow,” Aria breathed, admiring a gigantic stone statue sitting in the center of the room. It was a life-size effigy of a weathered old man. A short, knotty beard curled around his chin, and his face was set in a hard look of determination. Gripped in his hand was a spindly staff made of solid wood. The staff curled into a wide half-circle near the top, and a gorgeous green gem was wedged between the two ends.

  “Azbadon and the Emerald Staff,” she mumbled, reading the placard near his toes. She ran her fingers over his cold grey cheek, surprised to feel the thrum of magic pushing back at her. Her mouth fell open in disbelief. “This… this has to be a fake,” she insisted. “There’s just no way.”

  Rome frowned at her as she regarded the hunk of stone with reverence. “What, was he some famous witch or something?” he asked.

  “A legend,” she replied. “And Azbadon, saddened by the descent of witch and mortal, shed his last tears, and then stood atop the hill, unmoving, unseeing, untouched by the falling of the stars.”

  “He turned himself to stone,” she said.

  “Never again, shine on mine face, sun. Never again, moon, light mine nights. The waters will swell with the blood of the risen. When the hour is darkest shall I then return to fight,” Johnny whispered. He moved from the doorway, coming to stand by her side.

  “You know your history,” he said. “It’s real, by the way.”

  “Who would want to buy that big gaudy thing?” Christian asked.

  “A lot of people. But it’s not for sale.”

  “I don’t even know how you could put a price on this,” Aria said. “Something like this—how did you even get it? I’d expect to find it in a museum, or locked away in someone’s private collection. Not sitting in the back of a pawn shop.”

  “That’s a long story,” he smirked, placing a hand on her lower back. “Maybe you’ll have to stop by sometime and I can tell you.”

  “Yeah, I think not,” Rome said. “How much do I owe you for the fucking books?”

  “It was my understanding that you and Jesse had a deal.”

  Rome could tell that Johnny was aroused, and it was more than pissing him off. “Then let me make you one. Get your hands off of her, and I won’t beat your face in.”

  “Mm,” Jesse squeaked, shaking his head imperceptibly behind Johnny’s back. “Rome, you’re such a comedian,” he said, walking over and punching him on the arm. “Why don’t we grab those books and go?”

  “You should listen to him,” Johnny intoned, feeling Ariahna slip away from his touch. His eyes turned to follow the curve of her body, admiring the gentle sway of her hips. He traced his tongue along the edge of his teeth towards his lips and then over the roof of his mouth.

  Her ass, those jeans… now that was art.

  Rome’s eyes snapped over to Christian. He could hear the soft growl starting to bubble up his throat, see the muscles in his neck stretching taut. The look in his eyes and the change in the air told him Christian was dangerously close to shifting. Rome crossed the floor and threw an arm over his shoulders, dragging him out of the store.

  “What the fuck is your problem?” Christian seethed, glaring over Rome’s shoulder at the shop. “Now she’s in there alone with him.”

  “You need to calm down,” he grit out. He hooked his fingers in Christian’s shirt, demanding his attention and obedience with a single look. “The first thing you need to learn is control.”

  “I thought you said I was on my own?” he countered, feeling the beast inside him still at the sight of Ariahna through the window. She and Jesse were headed outside, each holding a stack of old tomes.

  Rome sighed, shoving Christian a little as he let go. “Clearly I can’t do that. Especially when I know how you really feel about her. Maybe if I can teach you how to be a gentleman, you can work your way back from this hole you’ve dug yourself into.”

  “Why would you do that?” he squinted. “Don’t you want to be with her? Isn’t that a conflict of interest?”

  “You have a lot to learn about wolves,” Rome whispered.

  Christian was about to ask him what that meant when Jesse stumbled out the door, losing a few books in the process.

  “Some help here,” he called, glancing around the heavy pile of dust in his arms. “This wasn’t a part of our deal. I have a strict, ‘no holding books unless they belong to a hot girl’, policy.”

  Rome smiled at him and popped the trunk, helping Aria and Jesse place them in the back. A tabby cat jumped up on his hood and Rome nearly growled. “Shit,” he whispered tightly. “Get it off my car.”

  Christian felt his mouth shaking into a smile.

  “Oh my god. Are you seriously afraid of cats?”

  “No,” Rome lied. “Just get it away from me.”

  Christian snickered as Rome nearly backed up around the block.

  “It’s okay,” Aria said, scooping the cat up in her arms. “He’s not going to hurt you. Look, he’s even wearing a collar,” she said, scratching gently under its chin. The cat purred and pushed off her forearms, bumping the top of its head against her neck.

  “See?” she said. “He’s a total sweetie.”

  Rome pursed his lips, shaking his head tightly as she approached.

  She set the feline back on the sidewalk, watching as it ran off down the street. But not before stopping to hiss at Rome as it went.

  “I think he knew you didn’t like him.”

  “Cats hate me,” he breathed, climbing into the car.

  Thanks to that little encounter, Rome was forced to recount the time he’d been ‘viciously mauled’ by an alley cat when he was a child. Aria had been the only person in the car who hadn’t laughed at him. Christian kept making soft meowing noises from the back seat the entire way back.

  Chapter 33

  The sound of cellphones going off erupted from every corner of the hall as Christian followed Rome and Ariahna up to the library. His phone vibrated in his back pocket and he shifted the books in his arms, slipping it quickly into his palm and unlocking it. He had one new text. It seemed like a lot of people had one new text.

  The drinks were spiked. It’s not your fault.

  “Huh,” Christian said. Had Adam sent that? He’d never thought too intently on it, but he was almost certain Adam didn’t have a conscience. He watched Aria trying to fish her phone out of her jeans and she dropped two large books in the process. They tumbled down the stairs as she cursed softly.

  “Did you get the same thing I just did?” she asked.

  “I’m assuming so.”

  “That’s strange… I just got this phone the other day. Only three people have my number. Do you recognize the sender?” she asked, passing him on the stairs to retrieve the books she’d dropped.

  Christian shook his head.

  “What’s it say?” Rome asked, craning his neck to look back at them over his shoulder. “I don’t have a phone. Though if I did, no one would probably te
xt me anyways,” he laughed.

  “It says there was something in the drinks at the party.”

  “There was,” Christian confirmed. “Adam did it.”

  They stepped onto the second floor and Ariahna walked up to the doors that separated the magical section from the rest of the library. Resting the books carefully on the inside of her forearm she reached slowly for the handle. It was a dangerous balancing act that nearly ended in catastrophe when the door swung suddenly open.

  “Whoa,” Jason said, steadying the stack of books. “Aria?”

  Ariahna looked away from him. He was just about the last person she wanted to see. “Excuse me,” she said politely.

  “Jason, you know about the library?” Christian said sarcastically.

  Matt shot him a look.

  “Know what?” Jason replied.

  Christian snickered.

  “Hey Aria,” Matt said. He caught the insistent glare Rome was giving the two of them. It wasn’t needed. He wanted to apologize. “About last night,” he drawled. “I’m sorry. I was manipulating the bottle.”

  “And I was a perverted jack-hole,” Jason admitted. “But in my defense,” he added, holding up his phone and shaking it, “I had a lot to drink.”

  “It’s fine. It was my fault for going to the party in the first place,” Aria said softly. She paused. “…These are sort of heavy.”

  “Oh,” Jason said, grabbing the pile of books from her without warning. Matt took half the stack.

  Christian started growling softly and Rome nudged him in the side with his elbow. “You’re complaining like a puppy. Stop acting like someone stole your favorite chew toy,” he advised, following Ariahna back to a secluded table.

  “I’m telling her you compared her to a chew toy,” Christian whispered with a smirk. “So, are we really going to read all of these?”

  “I was kind of hoping one of you would tell me there was some magical way to cram all this shit into my head. Like press a palm to the cover and… bam,” Rome laughed. He was only half joking.

  Matt smirked. “There is a limit to how lazy you get to be in life, even as a witch,” he said.

  “It smells like pot in here,” Christian commented. “Did you two really light up in the library?”

  “How do you know what pot smells like?” Jason countered.

  “I’m fifteen, not stupid. Why didn’t you guys just stay in your rooms to do that?”

  “The neighbors are getting suspicious,” Jason whispered.

  “Or you’re just getting more paranoid,” Christian muttered. “Wait, isn’t my room right next to yours? And what about the woods? Wouldn’t that be a better place than the library?”

  “Ha, yeah,” Jason said. “I don’t freaking think so. I saw wolves out there last night. Forget that shit.”

  “Is that so?” Christian smirked, glancing over at Rome.

  “You two aren’t going to… start offering me things, are you?” Aria said, trying to change the subject. “Jesse was high yesterday, and he was acting really weird. He kept trying to give me things.”

  “I’ll give you something,” Jason grinned. Matt slapped him over the back of the head, jarring an apology out of him.

  “Yeah, so the booze only amplified his personality.”

  “Psh, girls love me,” Jason said.

  “Not classy ones,” Matt retorted. He caught Aria smile at that. “So what’s with all the ancient paperweights? These things look older than dirt, and they smell like death.”

  “Oh, you know, we’re cursed,” Christian said casually.

  “What?” Jason laughed. The three of them didn’t even crack a smile. “Is it too soon for them to have a contact high?”

  “They’re serious,” Matt replied.

  “Huh. It wouldn’t happen to be the limp dick curse, would it?”

  “That’s not what it’s called,” Matt said quickly.

  “That’s what I’m calling it,” Jason mumbled.

  “And how would that be effecting her?”

  “Well, it could be a problem for her if they can’t get it up.”

  Rome was trying desperately not to laugh. After everything he’d been through the last week, these guys were actually a breath of fresh air.

  I might keep them around, he thought.

  “Would it be possible for you guys to get off this tangent so that we can just read?” Christian asked. He was surprised when Jason and Matt actually sat down and picked up a book. Jason’s wasn’t even upside-down.

  They sat there silently with only the sound of turning pages filling the air between them. A good thirty minutes had passed before Jason frowned suddenly, looking up from his book. “What are we even looking for?”

  Rome laughed without sound, slapping a hand against his forehead. “Really?” he grinned. “You’re just asking that now? How many pages have you even read?”

  “Mm… six,” Jason said.

  “Six more than I expected,” Christian breathed.

  “You guys don’t have to help us do this,” Ariahna added.

  “I’m actually a little intrigued,” Matt admitted. “From what I gather, you all think you were cursed by the Artisan, am I correct? I’ve heard the conspiracy that the wands were supposedly hexed.”

  “Yeah, anyone from the six families,” Rome said.

  “What makes you think that?” Jason asked.

  “It’s a long story,” he sighed, slapping his book shut. “These are all just about the version of history The Collective knows, or wants us to believe. Ariahna, can we talk for a minute?” he asked, standing from his chair and gesturing for her to follow. Rome led her back a few rows, stopping in a hidden nook of the library near a spacious window. He had intended to talk to her in private about the Artisan’s journal. Instead, he caught the soft, colorful glow of the sunset bursting through her hair. It reminded him of that first night, that near perfect kiss. The way the streetlights had traced elegantly over her silhouette, leaving her soft pink lips begging to be taken.

  “Do you know how beautiful you are?” he smiled.

  Ariahna bit her lip, letting it slowly slip away from her teeth. She was looking up at Rome from under thick eyelashes, barely registering the way the shelf was biting into her spine. “No,” she breathed. Aria wanted to see herself through Rome’s eyes. And more than anything, she wanted to hear his voice, she wanted to feel it wash over her skin like a tender embrace.

  Rome drug his lips over her neck, his breath hot against her skin. “It’s only when I look at you,” he whispered, “that my world stops spinning – that I don’t feel dizzy. Everything else around me ceases to exist, and I’m left with this sensation of weightlessness. In your eyes, there’s no judgment, no fear. There’s no hatred or pain.” Rome felt his throat constrict. “I’m convinced that there’s nothing more beautiful than how you make me feel. Because when I look at you, it’s the only time I don’t feel broken.”

  Ariahna had never truly cried before – not like this. And neither had he. His blue eyes were shimmering with tears just waiting to paint his face, and yet she’d never seen a man look stronger than he did, right now, in this moment. She wrapped her arms gently around his neck, leaning up to press her lips tenderly to his. And just like he’d said, the rest of the world was slipping away, until all that remained was the way they felt about each other.

  The salty taste of tears mingled between them as they kissed. This felt like one of those moments in life that never seems to stop, that you can close your eyes and be transported back to without effort. It was the kind of moment you hoped for, the kind you dreamed about. It was a kiss, with a phenomenal girl – a girl who had, in an instant, captured his heart – a girl that could make him happy for the rest of his life, if he let her—if he was lucky enough to earn her love. And it was then that Rome realized this was more than just a perfect moment, more than just a kiss. It was the beginning of something incredible. “I love you,” he whispered. He closed his eyes, smiling as tears
streamed down his face. He’d finally said it. He’d finally told her what was in his heart. And it felt… indescribable. “I love you.”

  Ariahna let out a soft laugh, crying tears of joy as she leaned against his chest. She’d never imagined she’d feel this way, about anyone. She’d never imagined she’d ever get here. And now that she was, she couldn’t imagine never knowing this feeling.

  “I love you too,” she declared. “More than I can handle. More than I know what to do with. Rome, for the first time in my life, I don’t have to wonder why I was put on this earth. I know now. I was put here for you. All this time, I’ve just been waiting for you to find me.”

  A soft flickering light above them made Rome look up. The air felt suddenly electrified. His attention was being drawn towards the window, pulled physically as if by a magnet. He placed his fingers on the cool glass, staring out at the darkening world below.

  The grounds were unnaturally still.

  “This isn’t good,” Rome muttered. “Can you feel that?” he asked, turning his head back to look at her. Aria drifted closer to the window.

  “Rome,” she whispered fearfully, “look.”

  A man stepped away from the shade of a tall tree, his mouth twisted into a sinister smile. The wind swept by him, whipping silvery hair around his ears as the disappearing sun painted his back in oranges and pinks. The skin on his face looked dull and gray under the overcast sky, and the school eclipsed him in its shadow.

  Rome knew what was coming – he knew why the Artisan was here, and he was tired of being afraid. But looking at him was like feeling death breathing down his neck. The restless spirit of a very jaded man was staring back at him, and what it wanted, the only thing it wanted, was for him to die.

  “We have to warn the others,” he said. Rome cringed as the lights began to burst one at a time, creeping steadily towards them as shards of glass showered down from the ceiling like hail. They were crackling out more and more rapidly as they neared, painting the edges of the room in a saturated darkness. Rome grabbed Ariahna’s hand, feeling his heartbeat in his fingers as they raced away from the engulfing shadow. They swung around a row of shelves, coming to a halt as the others turned to look at them in perplexity.