Cursed Hearts (A Crossroads Novel)

by Light

  Christian wasn’t about to put anything past those two psychos.

  “She was right,” she mumbled, feeling tears slip from her eyes. “It’s better to be invisible than to be seen for the wrong reasons.” She laughed emptily, forcing her mouth closed again when she started to fear the laughter might turn into sobbing. Aria wiped her hands over her face and up into her hairline. “I never thought anyone could hate me as much as I’ve started to hate myself. I guess I was wrong.”

  Christian cupped Aria’s face in his hands, staring at her pleadingly and stroking her hair. She looked so far away from him right now. Had she even heard anything he’d said? Her sadness was so strong he could taste it, and her fear was overwhelming.

  “This is how I feel inside,” she said, looking around her room.

  She was speaking so softly, Christian could barely hear her.

  “Violated?” he guessed. “Scattered?” Her eyes locked on him finally, forging a connection between them with a mere glance.

  “…Broken.”

  Christian’s heart felt like it was shattering into a million pieces.

  “You’re not broken,” he insisted. “And you’re not a slut.”

  “Damaged, then,” she countered. “And how would you know what I am?” She shook her head, lowering her gaze. “No, you would know better than anyone, wouldn’t you?” Ariahna exhaled, and the breath felt just as strained as her body and mind. Exhaustion and fear didn’t usually coincide within her at once, but today seemed an exception. “I want to be alone,” she said, biting her lip after the words had slipped free. “Go away… please.”

  “Well what you want and what you need are at odds,” he said.

  “Christian,” she said, tilting her head and looking up at him.

  “Don’t. Whatever you’re about to say, it won’t matter, because I’m not going to leave you alone. And I’m not going to let you stay here. Aria, I’ve never cared about someone as much as I care about you, and I know who you are inside, even if you don’t. You’re kind, and gentle, and loving. You are the sweetest girl I’ve ever met. You’re smart, and beautiful, and… and I love you. So let me take care of you.”

  She was crying freely now, and as Christian pulled her into his arms, she decided to let herself feel safe with him, to feel loved; even if he didn’t mean it – even if it was just another lie. She needed that lie right now, or she just might crumble. “Frederick,” she said suddenly, pulling away and staring at Christian with worried eyes. “Where’s Frederick?”

  “Oh shit,” he said. Christian snapped his fingers and the small cat tree and toys reappeared in the room, but there was no Frederick. He made a small clicking noise with his mouth, and called him by name a few times. The edge of her comforter moved, and then he was poking his little face out from under the bed. He was okay. Fredrick took a few timid steps out into the room and then ran right to Aria. She scooped him up in her arms, petting him and blinking back more tears.

  “I can’t believe I just left him here…”

  “He’s alright,” he said. “He’s a tough little guy.” An odd thought occurred to him, and he couldn’t stop himself from saying it aloud.

  “It’s lucky you took the wand.”

  “I just had a feeling that I needed to keep it with me.”

  He took one last glance around the room before scooping Aria up in his arms. She made a startled noise, and he smiled down at her softly. He was happily surprised when she simply rested her head against his chest and let him walk her down the hall. Thankfully it was late, and he got back to his room without issue. Christian set her gently on the bed and proceeded to grab a pillow and an extra blanket to set up on the floor for himself. “Do you want something to sleep in?” he asked. “I can’t imagine the school uniform is very comfortable.”

  Aria watched Frederick hop out of her arms and onto the floor, making himself at home on the blanket Christian had laid out. She let out a faint giggle. “You don’t have to sleep down there,” she said. “Besides, it seems like somebody has stolen your bed.”

  “Mm, I’m not sure sharing the bed is a good idea,” he admitted. “Not that I don’t want to, I just don’t trust myself not to be, you know…”

  “We slept together the other night. I trust you.”

  He stood there hesitantly for a moment before nodding. “Okay,” he said. “Did you want a t-shirt to sleep in, maybe some boxers?” She shook her head and he grabbed her some clothes out of his closet, turning around to let her change. Just knowing she was going to crawl into his bed with him was filling his head with all kinds of enticing thoughts. He couldn’t help fantasizing about her, and he was trying to forget that she was probably naked right now, in his room, only a few feet away. Christian risked a glance over his shoulder, watching her slip off her blouse, and then her bra. Frederick chose that moment to meow softly, startling him. He was staring straight at him in open curiosity, and those innocent little eyes were making him feel guilty. He’d been caught by the cat. God, maybe getting her a kitten was a bad idea, he thought. He wasn’t sure he could do anything with it watching.

  Aria finished neatly folding her uniform, setting the articles of clothing on his desk and tugging on the large, soft t-shirt he’d given her. It was so long, it practically hid the shorts she was wearing, making it appear that there was nothing underneath that shirt but skin. It smelt of him, and she smiled slightly at that. Christian’s scent was comforting. “Thank you,” she said, turning to find him sprawled out on the bed. He was wearing nothing but boxers, and her face flamed to life in embarrassment.

  “Is that all you’re wearing?”

  “Sometimes I don’t even wear this,” he smiled.

  “You know, I’m sure my room’s safe,” she said nervously.

  Christian sat up, leaning over and taking her hand. He pulled her gently into the bed and underneath the sheets with him. “See, this isn’t so bad, is it?” Even as he said the words he was fighting not to touch her, not to bring his lips straight to her neck. “How about a goodnight kiss?” he whispered.

  It was her turn to be apprehensive.

  “Just a little one, right here,” he said, tapping his cheek.

  Ariahna narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m not falling for that again,” she said, half smiling. “I remember your tricks.”

  “How about this, if it’s a trick, you have permission to slap me.”

  “I need permission for that?” she laughed.

  “No, I guess not,” he grinned.

  Aria moved to kiss him on the cheek, and Christian turned at the last moment, kissing her so hard it took her breath away. When he finally pulled back, she fixed him with a half-hearted glare. “You said it wasn’t a trick,” she complained, slapping him lightly across the jaw.

  He laughed, gazing back at her in amusement. “No, I said if it was, you could slap me. I never said I wouldn’t like that, though,” he smiled. “In fact, that was a little weak. Why don’t you try again?”

  She smiled at him in disbelief, jutting her jaw out and shaking her head. “Why do I find your most aggravating traits endearing?”

  “Maybe because you love me.”

  Chapter 42

  A soft glow illuminated the room. The small ball of energy in Rome’s palm was swirling as he tried desperately to conjure a daffodil. This was maybe the fiftieth time he’d tried. Every attempt had ended with pedals, or some goopy substance. He wasn’t sure he even wanted to know what it was.

  “Son of a bitch!” he cursed, shaking the yellow glob off of his hand and onto the floor. A loud knock came at his door a moment later, and he jumped off the mattress. Was he being too loud? he wondered, cringing as he looked over at the clock. It was two in the morning. He was definitely being too loud.

  “Kaleb?” Rome said, opening the door wide. “God, you knock like you’re the police.” He gestured for him to come in, looking around the empty hall before closing the door. “Sorry, was I keeping you up?”

  “No, jus
t making me curious. You’ve been shooting off some colorful expletives for the last hour and a half,” he smiled. “What is that?” he asked, frowning at the gunk on Rome’s floor.

  “It’s anyone’s guess.” Rome jumped back onto his bed and nodded for Kaleb to follow. Once he sat down, he held his palm out and started concentrating on conjuring a flower. He’d been working diligently on this as an apology for Aria, but in this moment, he really just wanted to impress Kaleb. That, and his competitive side wanted to show him up a little.

  Kaleb shifted uncomfortably away from Rome, staring at the ball of energy in open unease. “Can you not do that around me?”

  He glanced up at him, losing his concentration, and when he looked back down, there was a wilted daffodil in his palm. Rome couldn’t help but grin at it. It was dead, but at least it was actually a flower.

  “What’s wrong? Worried I’m going to blow us up?”

  “I just don’t want to see it,” Kaleb said offhandedly.

  The comment took Rome by surprise. “Why?” he asked. “I thought you’d be as excited about this stuff as I am.”

  Kaleb was silent.

  “I don’t get it. I’ve seen you do magic before.”

  He scowled at him. “No, you have not.”

  “Yeah, I have,” Rome said. “You kamikazed my hospital room.”

  “Can we not talk about this?”

  “Or maybe talking about it is exactly what we should do.”

  Kaleb slapped his hands down on his knees, standing slowly and marching back towards the door. “You should get some rest.”

  Rome followed after him in bewilderment. “Talk to me. Is it because of your father? I know you said magic is forbidden where you come from, but it sounds like you were sent here to learn.”

  “I was sent here so that I would be out of the way,” Kaleb snapped, turning to face him. “If you think my father is thrilled about having a little witch for a son—”

  “What, and you think mine is happy about me liking you? Who cares what everyone else thinks? I’m not meaning to overstep here, but you have magic. It’s in your blood and it’s a part of who you are. Maybe it’s the only reason you and I have been able to find some common ground and not kill each other. I’ll admit, this is all a little new to me, and I’m not telling you what to do or how to feel. I’m just asking you to confide in me. If you can’t do that, then me telling Aria how I feel about you today may have been a complete and total waste.”

  Kaleb went quiet in contemplation.

  “How do you feel about me?” he asked. He shook his head. The truth was, he was afraid to know the answer. Rome wanted him to talk, he wanted him to trust. That just wasn’t something that came naturally to him. He licked his lips, still deciding what he was going to say.

  “My mother never wanted me,” he whispered. The words felt like glass in his mouth. Kaleb rarely spoke of the woman, and he tried to think of her even less. “She left after I was born. She’s the reason I am what I am – weak, unnatural, unwanted by everyone.” He locked eyes with Rome, feeling his own glisten with anger and some other emotion he refused to acknowledge. “I shouldn’t have a heartbeat,” he said, pressing a hand to his chest. “I shouldn’t have to eat food. I shouldn’t be able to walk in the sunlight without getting sick. I should be faster, and stronger. And you and I, we’re supposed to be enemies. The reason we haven’t killed each other yet, the only reason, is that I’m less than I should be. As the only true son of the King, I should command respect without a word. Instead, I’m starting fires and terrifying people. Being liked and being feared are not the same, and I’d rather have one over the other. They don’t respect me, and they never have. I’m nothing but a curiosity, just like that stupid bitch that gave birth to me and then took off. Everything I am, I am because of her. I don’t want to have magic—I don’t want to run around casting spells. I just want to be normal.”

  “...I’m sorry,” Rome said slowly. “But I want you to know that you’re wrong. You’re more than a curiosity. I want you, and I respect you. I’m not going to pretend to know what you’ve gone through, but if there is anyone who could understand, I think it would be me. This entire town has treated me with nothing but disdain my whole life. But the thing I’ve learned is that at the end of the day, they don’t matter. Do you know who does? You,” he said, pressing a finger to Kaleb’s chest. “Personally, I think you are better than any of them will ever be. So what if you’re different? So what if your heart beats in your chest, or you get to enjoy both food and blood? Who cares if they’re faster, or stronger? Who cares? The fact of the matter is neither of us will ever be normal. And personally, I think that’s a good thing. Only those who live outside the norm can really make a difference. Instead of fighting what you are, maybe you should fight for who you are. Because you happen to be in a real position of power; maybe one day you can use that power to incite change. And by the way, I feel strongly about you, I feel protective. And I want this to mean something. I want this to be something real.” Rome was standing directly in front of Kaleb, staring intently into his eyes. “I guess what it boils down to, is that I like you for who you are.”

  Kaleb looked away, trying to hide how flattered he really felt. “Oh, is that all?” he said sarcastically. He couldn’t stop the smile playing at the corner of his mouth. “…Good to know.”

  He opened the door, stepping out into the hall and shutting it behind him. And thanks to Rome, he hated himself just a little bit less. In fact, for the first time in his life, he was wondering if being different wasn’t a blessing instead of a curse. Even though it had come from her, even though at times he wished he could get rid of it, his magic had brought him here.

  Without it, he would have never met Rome.

  Chapter 43

  Being woken from a good dream by the sound of excited knocking was not Christian’s idea of a nice morning. Realizing Aria was still lying in his bed helped, but only until he remembered he wasn’t supposed to have a girl in his room. “Fuck,” he groaned, shaking her shoulder gently. “Aria, you have to hide.” She rolled over, curling up against his chest, and Christian wanted to shoot whoever was standing on the other side of that door just a little.

  “It’s Adam, open up!”

  Now he wanted to shoot them a lot. Christian glared at the door in annoyance. “Aria, come on,” he whispered.

  “No, no,” she murmured.

  “Go away,” Christian yelled.

  “You’re gonna miss it,” Adam replied enthusiastically. “The cops are here. They’re dragging Mr. Richmond off the property!”

  “I don’t fucking care,” he shouted back.

  “What do you mean, you don’t care? You got one minute before I’m busting this door down and dragging you out in cuffs.”

  Aria sighed sleepily. “It’s never this loud in my room.”

  “You have to hide,” he repeated. She seemed to be waking up, and Adam’s voice on the other side of the door startled her into motion. She jumped out of bed so quick all Christian could do was follow her, tripping over his pants in the confusion. The door to his closet slid closed just as he cracked his bedroom door open. “I told you to go away. I don’t give a shit about the counselor. I’d rather be sleeping than looking at his fucking face.”

  “Do you think he really did it?” Adam smiled, inviting himself into Christian’s room. Christian stood beside the door, staring between Adam and the empty hall.

  “Maybe I just don’t give a shit.”

  “You don’t give a shit if people are being molested? I know we’re kind of heartless sometimes, but damn.”

  “That’s not what I meant,” he said tightly. His closet door creaked and he clenched his jaw. “I’m kind of mad at you right now anyways.”

  “Me? What the hell did I do?”

  “You really have to ask that question?”

  “Oh no, you’re not going to do the girl mind-reader thing, are you?” Adam said, squinting at him. “You’re going
to have to tell me what I did to piss you off. I suck at this game.”

  Christian slammed his door closed.

  “I told one person that I slept with Aria, and now the whole damn school knows. So tell me, what do you think I’m mad about?”

  “Oh, that? Dude, I did you a favor.”

  “Are you serious? How in the hell was that a favor? I’m lucky she’s even speaking to me still. People have been tormenting her ever since, thanks to your ‘favor’. And now I think Logan might be targeting her too. You already know he stole something personal of hers the other day, and last night, he and Trent trashed her room.”

  “Yeah, about that,” Adam said quietly. “I tried to stop them.”

  Christian’s expression melted away, leaving only a blank, disbelieving stare behind. “You were there?” he said, his tone deceptively calm.

  “Hey, I said I tried to stop them, but you know those two. If you’re not with them, you’re against them. And psycho one and two are not high on my list of people to cross.”

  “I’m not someone you want to cross, either.”

  “She’s just some chick, man,” Adam said, resting a hand on his shoulder. “God, was her pussy made of gold?”

  “I’m going to kill you,” Christian said.

  “Do you know that girl does not own a single thong?”

  “How could you—” He sighed.

  “Hey, I may not have slept with her, but I wasn’t passing up the chance to snag a pair of panties. Besides, that seemed to distract Logan and Trent from their reign of destruction for a while.”

  “You’re giving those back.”