Cursed

by Jamie Leigh Hansen

  It wasn’t her pain that mattered, though, but the kids’. Abby was too young to remember her mother. But David and Danielle knew their mother, loved her beyond all logic as children were wont to do. and despite their overt cynicism their young hearts would shatter if they lost her.

  Elizabeth would do anything to keep that pain away from them. That was why, when she’d come home three months ago, she’d spent weeks tracking down Felicia and coaxing her home. She’d talked to her sister, gave her time with her children, and watched the slow deterioration of an addict forced to do without. It hadn’t taken long for Elizabeth to realize ten kids, a dying mother, and an addict in the midst of withdrawals was too much. So she’d taken her sister to rehab and checked her in.

  Maybe that isolation had been too much for Felicia.

  How could someone fight the lure of an addiction when the reasons for her fight were kept away from her?

  Alex pulled to a stop in front of the room Ron had mentioned and they were out of the truck in moments. Just when she would have veered off to find a manager and get the key, Elizabeth saw the door was open a few inches. She rushed in, not caring about any danger to herself, then skidded to a stop in the center of the room, frozen in the middle of a moment she’d feared would come.

  Felicia lay alongside the wall. A white foam covered her mouth and her entire body was limp. Alex brushed past Elizabeth and settled beside Felicia, listening for breath. Finding what he needed, he laid his palms over her heart and abdomen.

  Elizabeth stared in horrified fascination, hoping Felicia lived, and thankful Alex knew what to do. Elizabeth hugged her arms tightly around herself and watched as Alex’s eyes rolled back, showing only white, and a blue glow spread from his hands, reaching out to cover Felicia’s bare limbs in color.

  Elizabeth backed up until the door clicked shut behind her. She stared around the room, then back at her sister. Whoever had been here with Felicia had taken their fun and split when it began turning ugly. Leaving her baby sister to die. Fury welled inside her even as her mind pointed out that this was where Felicia’s choices had been leading her. But logic didn’t calm the fury.

  The helplessness of watching someone she loved self-destruct while she couldn’t stop them was all too terribly familiar. Alex’s breathing became heavier, deeper. The meager light from the windows struck his arms, highlighting the sweat running down his arms and emphasizing his struggle.

  Elizabeth flipped the light switch and the room lit up, bathing them all in a dingy glow. Elizabeth moved toward them, halting to kneel by Felicia’s head. Reaching out, her hand hovered hesitantly over the long brown hair. Could she touch her or would it interfere with Alex’s healing? The blue light emanating from his hands gave off a comforting warmth, but Elizabeth pulled back, afraid of hurting the process. Could he really heal someone this close to death? And what would it do to him?

  Elizabeth looked up in time to see a bruise forming around Alex’s left eye, dark and purple, as if someone had hit him. Had someone from the bar gotten in a lucky punch after all? But no, another bruise was blooming under his right eye and a split began separating the fullness of his lip even as the first bruise faded away. Elizabeth looked down at Felicia. Her pale skin was now free of the bruises that had marked it.

  Somewhere, a clock ticked with a steady, thin sound. Elizabeth leaned back against the wall, her legs curled to the side as she stared at Alex. His body was rigid, his concentration total.

  No one had ever focused so hard on saving her family the way he did. And not just for her. Despite all their scars and traumas, Alex cared for each member of her family. He opened up to each one of them, as if he didn’t comprehend the meaning of self-preservation. Of protecting his heart from the pain loving someone could bring.

  Elizabeth reached toward the light again, wanting to touch her sister, but kept her hand just above the blue surface.

  “It’s okay. You can touch her.”

  Elizabeth jumped.

  Alex’s voice betrayed none of the strain the sweat on his arms bespoke of. “She needs your love.”

  Cautiously, Elizabeth lowered her hand and ran her fingers through her sister’s hair, the strands greasy but soft. When she was cleaned up, Felicia was so beautiful. Her features fine and delicate, like a porcelain doll. As a little girl, she’d often climbed into Elizabeth’s lap with a tattered copy of Highlights.

  They’d spent hours going through those magazines, much to Bobby’s disgust. It had been the one pastime the twins had never shared. He’d preferred G.I. Joe. So Elizabeth and Felicia would cuddle and search for the hidden pictures together.

  Alex smiled and the blue glow deepened, darkening to a pure cobalt, strong and shining. Elizabeth brushed the hair from Felicia’s face, her hand surrounded by the light. What had happened to change her from the beautiful, hopeful little girl to the broken, destructive, and hopeless woman she was now?

  Alex would heal her and Elizabeth would bring her home. Make her say good-bye to Mom, hug the kids, and then what? Felicia would leave again because Elizabeth couldn’t force good decisions on someone determined not to make them.

  “No, Elizabeth. Only love.”

  Elizabeth closed her eyes and her hand shook. It was so much easier to be angry. It didn’t hurt as much if you were angry. But Alex was right. She could actually feel it. The healing light grew warmer, stronger, when she thought of the love she felt for Felicia.

  No matter what she’d done to be here, no matter the justice or logic of it, Felicia was her sister. She’d changed her diaper, taken baths with her, fed her. It was Elizabeth who’d dressed her for her first day at school, pulling her long hair into a curly ponytail tied with a turquoise ribbon that matched her dress. It was Elizabeth who’d read to Felicia.

  And now that little girl was dying. Elizabeth’s eyes traced the soft contours of Felicia’s face. Then she watched Alex, her eyes filling with tears of amazement. Such a beautiful gift. He healed with love. Love powered his gift. Elizabeth narrowed her eyes on him, watching him inhale slowly and exhale even more slowly. Liquid dripped steadily down Alex’s muscled forearms, too thick to be sweat. Was he drawing the drugs into himself, then pushing them out like he had the bullet? He accepted the damage in Felicia, making it his. Because he cared enough to save her.

  He was love. One big blue light of love. For a man to hold that much love inside himself for others, whether he knew them or not, was such an inspiring sight. A humbling example. Had she ever loved someone enough to do something so extraordinary? The kids, obviously, but they were easy to love.

  Elizabeth looked back to her sister and ran her fingers through her hair again. Suddenly, it was there. All the love and hope she’d ever felt for her mother, Felicia, Bobby, and even Dallas. So strong and overwhelming, fear tried to close her off again, but Elizabeth pushed it away, concentrating on the positive feelings.

  The light deepened again, running in tight swirls over Felicia’s body, Elizabeth’s hands, and up Alex’s arms until they were all linked together. Elizabeth looked at Alex, her heart the most open to him it had ever been.

  He looked into her eyes and smiled. Sitting back on his heels, the blue light absorbed inside him and she didn’t need to hear Felicia’s steady breaths to know he’d saved her sister.

  “You are the most amazing man I’ve ever met.” She stared at Alex, more sure than ever that out of all the men in the world, he was the one she could love the most. Hell, who was she kidding? She did love him the most.

  “Don’t sell yourself short, sweetheart. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  Elizabeth shook her head, not believing him for a second.

  Felicia opened her eyes, struggling to rise more from instinct than need. Elizabeth helped her sit up, her back against the wall. At first, Felicia blinked dazedly, but when the confusion cleared and she noticed who was with her, she started tugging at the hem of the shirt. Alex withdrew to the other side of the room, affording them a semblance of p
rivacy.

  Felicia leaned her head against the wall, her brows drawing together. “Where’s Dave?”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “I don’t know. There was no one here when we arrived.”

  Felicia snorted, shaking her head. “Figures. How did you find me?”

  “Ron told me where you were. He said you weren’t doing well.” Elizabeth studied her sister’s eyes. They were the clearest they’d been in many years. Did she know she’d almost died?

  “He shouldn’t have called you. I just took a longer trip than I meant to. I would have been fine.”

  Where had Elizabeth heard that kind of brash assurance before? “No, honey. You almost died.”

  Felicia rolled her eyes. Bitterness laced her tone. “Like that would have been so bad.”

  Oh, how familiar those words were, as well as the attention-seeking ploy behind them. Elizabeth so did not have the time or patience for those tricks, not after a night like they’d had. “You have three kids who hope to see you again real soon.”

  “Come on, Beth Ann. Excuse me, Elizabeth,” Felicia stressed mockingly. “Rehab wasn’t working. Besides, they’re better off without a mom like me.”

  Elizabeth gritted her teeth. “This isn’t the time for self-pity, Felicia. You need to come home. Mom—”

  “It’s not self-pity.” she said defensively. “They have you, the perfect sister. They don’t need a fuck-up like me.”

  Elizabeth took a deep breath, refusing to rise to the bait. She was far from perfect, she knew that well. “Fuck-up or not, they need you. And Mom is dying. You need to see her before she goes, Felicia.”

  Her little sister flinched, then covered it up by laughing, “Poor Elizabeth. Stuck in a family full of imperfect people. None of us can make you happy, no matter what we do.”

  “You don’t have to be perfect or try to make me happy. That’s not your responsibility, it’s mine. But you do need to quit hurting yourself and making life harder than it has to be.”

  Felicia rolled her eyes, shook her head, and climbed to her feet. “Quit preaching to me, Elizabeth. It might have helped when I was thirteen, but then you graduated and took off. It’s too late to come back and pretend you care about us. That we’re a family.”

  Elizabeth scowled. “This isn’t a pretense, Felicia. You know that. I love you and we are a family.”

  “Whatever.” Felicia tried to push past her, but the anger Elizabeth had been holding back erupted. The women in her family were so damn pigheaded.

  “Fine.” Elizabeth snapped. “If you’re so determined to kill yourself, go ahead. I won’t keep beating my head against a brick wall. But first, you will damn well give me twenty-four hours. You will see Mom before she dies and you will see your kids before you die. Now get in the shower. I won’t take you home in this shape.”

  Felicia looked downright murderous as she stomped to the bathroom. Moments later the shower was running. Elizabeth fisted her hands in her hair and pulled. “So much for being full of love, huh?”

  Alex rose from his quiet spot on the corner of the bed and strode over to her. Kissing her lightly on the forehead, he said, “I heard nothing but love. I’ll get her stuff.”

  Elizabeth frowned at his slightly unsteady gait as he left the room. No doubt he needed the cooler, fresher air outside. They needed to get out of here soon. Quickly looking around, she tried to gather anything that might be important to her sister, but there wasn’t much. Finally, Elizabeth sat on the edge of the bed and waited.

  * * *

  It was early morning by the time Alex stopped his truck in front of Elizabeth’s house. The kind of deep night where all lights were out and nothing moved. Elizabeth climbed out of the truck, moving her seat forward so Felicia could extricate herself from the back of the extended cab. Without a word to either of them, Felicia stomped through the gate, up the stairs, and through the front door.

  Elizabeth sighed, exhausted to her core. Alex waited for her, leaning against the truck. She rounded the front of his truck and stopped uncertainly before him, sliding her hands into her back pockets and staring up into his bright eyes.

  “What do we do now?” She’d never had a lover before. She’d also never been threatened by a fallen angel bent on revenge. “I’m not so sure it’s wise for you to leave.”

  “You’re probably right. I can sleep on the couch,” he offered.

  Elizabeth smiled, grateful. He understood that sleeping in her room would send a bad message to the kids. They’d seen enough men come and go. They didn’t need to believe he would do the same.

  Elizabeth braced her hands on his chest, stood on her tiptoes, and gently brushed her lips over his. His arms surrounded her, warming her against the cool breeze. His hair was silky against her fingers, his jaw warm and scratchy.

  When Elizabeth finally leaned back, she stared at the lips she’d just kissed and wished she could simply lay her head against his chest and stay in the circle of his embrace for the rest of the night. “Thank you.”

  “Anytime, sweetheart.” He pressed his lips to the center of her forehead and reluctantly released her. “Could you send Geoffrey out for a minute? I’ll catch him up on events without little ears around. I don’t want to scare anyone.”

  Elizabeth chuckled. She was worried the kids were too jaded and he worried they were too innocent. “Sure.”

  Alex’s warm eyes crinkled at the corners. “You better watch out, a smile like that can make a guy weak in the knees.”

  Elizabeth smiled wider.

  “Oh, gag me.” Shelly’s voice cut through the darkness.

  Alex laughed at Elizabeth’s blush, enjoying the sight of her perfectly formed derriere as it swayed away from him. A silly grin spread across his face. He stared until all he could see were the buttons of Geoffrey’s shirt.

  Alex slumped back, letting his controlled façade slip. “Hey, buddy.”

  Geoffrey raised a brow, his knowing gaze narrowed on Alex.

  “Felicia almost died,” Alex said defensively. “What’s a healer to do?”

  “Nearly kill himself to impress his girlfriend?”

  “Exactly.” Alex nodded. The truck decided not to hold him up anymore and he began a slow slide to the ground. Geoffrey’s shoulder in his gut halted the slide and Alex grunted. Patting the shoulder, he frowned and said, “Thanks, buddy. But, maybe next time, not so hard.”

  Geoffrey grunted and rose to his full height, leaving Alex to dangle over his shoulder and stare at the moving ground as Geoffrey walked back up the sidewalk.

  “I was hoping you’d be discreet about my little problem here. Maybe help me hide it.” Alex’s stomach started to heave and he squeezed his eyes shut.

  “Puke on me and I’ll castrate you.”

  Okay, so no discretion. Elizabeth would have to see him weak as a baby. And whoever else happened to be nearby.

  Alex tried to still his stomach. Geoffrey’s shoulder was doing more damage to him than an entire night of torture at Kai’s hands.

  Geoffrey stomped up the stairs to the front door, then stood him on his feet.

  Alex fell back against the frame, blood rushing painfully out of his head. “Now that’s just plain mean. I wouldn’t threaten you while you suffered the aftereffects of … you know … dying.”

  “Yes, you would,” Geoffrey stated flatly.

  “Well, yeah.” Alex thought for a moment, fumbling with his keys and dropping them. “But I’d shut up when you could hear again.”

  Geoffrey leaned down and snatched the key ring off the porch and slapped them into his hand. “The drugs should be out of your system by now.”

  Alex closed his eyes and leaned back. “At least I got the bullet out okay.”

  Geoffrey growled. “I’m never letting you go out alone again.”

  “I wasn’t alone.” Alex grinned. “Elizabeth was there. She got mad and used rubbing alcohol at the last minute.”

  “Good.” Geoffrey grunted and opened the door. Alex stumbled in b
efore him, pausing to lean on the banister until he could make it to the couch.

  “Nice shirt.”

  Elizabeth sighed and pulled the door shut. “I got something all over my blouse and had to change.”

  “Right.” Shelly rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Whatever. I don’t know why people feel they have to lie to me, then insult me with lame cover stories.”

  She swung around and headed for the baby. Gathering Veronica gently in her arms, Shelly stood and tugged a blanket around her.

  Elizabeth held up her hands. “Fine, you caught me. Alex and I shirked our duty to find Felicia, had hot, uninhibited sex, and the shirt got ruined in the process.”

  Shelly froze and stared at Elizabeth with wide blue eyes for a few stunned moments. “Alright already. I believe you spilled something on it.”

  Elizabeth’s mouth fell open and she couldn’t tell if she should laugh or feel insulted.

  Shelly laid the baby on the love seat, her ponytail bouncing behind her as she shook her head. “I swear, you have to be the only person in this family who sucks at lying.”

  Elizabeth raised her eyes to the ceiling, actually thankful when the phone rang.

  Alex barely had time to catch his breath before he saw Elizabeth run toward him.

  “I need to go to the hospital. Mom’s really bad.” Her eyes were wide, her features pale.

  Alex pulled his keys from his pocket. “Okay, let’s go.”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “I’d rather you were here with the kids. Besides, you look really tired. You were shot, and with Felicia—”

  “I can go,” Geoffrey offered.

  Elizabeth refused. “I’ll be okay alone. Just please watch over everyone.”

  He nodded and walked to the chair.