Page 14 of Secrets & Curses of Crimson

“Don’t ask too many questions,” he warned. “You’re in danger here.”

Before I could react, he disappeared. It was clear that my family didn’t see or hear the man. I waited for him to reappear, but he didn’t.

“Jesper,” my father spoke in a tone that seemed strange. “Did you speak with Cassius?”

It wasn’t lost on me that they all stared at me as they spoke. They were testing what I knew. Who was Cassius, and why would I care? My chest ached at the mention of the name, but I ignored it and focused on my food. The floating orb turned dark green, and the darkness inside of me started swarming at the name. It was...happy?

“No.”

I continued eating. I had been so hungry, but I couldn’t enjoy the food. I was not asked anything else at dinner until the end. Still, no one told me that I had been missed. No one hugged me. No one touched me. But I also found it odd that I didn’t care. I didn’t seem to miss anyone here either.

“Did I have a boyfriend or husband before I disappeared?”

The man with golden eyes was going to die.Tally made a noise of irritation towards me, and her eyes narrowed on me before grabbing Jesper’s arm tightly.

“We were engaged.” Jesper looked over my face slowly to gauge my reaction, but all I could focus on was his eyes. They weren’t gold. And nothing about him appealed to me. I made a look of disgust before I could hide it.

“Oh,” I sighed.

“This is probably awkward for you.” Jesper started like he might apologize.

“It’s not in the slightest. I have no idea who any of you are,” I said honestly as I downed my drink. Jesper glared towards me but didn’t say anything else. I excused myself to go to bed, but I paused outside of the dining room to see what they would say when I wasn’t there.

“She really doesn’t remember anything,” Jesper sighed.

“No, it seems like she doesn’t remember anything at all this time. She should get back to her old role of captain before the war starts; she is our only hope at winning against Crimson.”

“I’ll walk you to your room.” I turned to see a guard staring at me. I nodded and pretended to not be eavesdropping.

Chapter 5

Thea

“Ilove you,” he called out to me again right before the sword descended on his neck.

“No!” My voice shook the ground below me as I stared into the man’s golden eyes as he kneeled, wounded. I had released some sort of barrier magic, but it did not reach him in time.

That sharp pain on my wrist let me know that I had not been able to save him again.

When I looked up, he was dead.

Dead.

Dead.

Dead.

Never coming back.

Gone.

Hedidn’t exist anymore.

Dead.

A scream tore from me as I fell to my knees and self-destructed.

?????

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