Page 3 of Secrets & Curses of Crimson

Chapter 2

Thea

Isometimes dream of a man I have never met. Sometimes I can feel him watching me in the shadows of Exile as I explore the dead woods. There is nothing in particular that I can recall about his features when I wake up from my dreams. Only the piercing gold of his eyes that watch me like I’m a sight to behold remain clear in my mind during the days. I don’t remember his words, face, or anything but those eyes.

I had been in a fog-like haze of confusion for months. I still wasn’t sure what was causing it. It was like my mind was trying to claw its way out of a dark cave to tell me something. I was always so confused when I woke up in Exile, which made no sense. I have been here for years.

Even Sybil and the twins were acting strange. When Sybil burst into tears at the sight of me that morning so long ago, it made me feellike I did something wrong. She never told me why the sight of me coming out of my room that morning had made her sob, and I didn’t push it. Because even though I couldn’t remember anything, I knew something had happened to me. I was different. I felt different.

I searched the grounds of Exile at night because I felt like I had lost something important. I felt incomplete... lost. Something was missing, and it haunted me with loneliness and heartbreak. It was the reason I was currently sitting in the darkening woods near the shadow border. I was always drawn to this spot of the border, and sometimes I thought of jumping through it, but I knew what would happen if I did. I would die. So, I sat here and waited for something—anything—to happen. It never did.

My eyes looked up at the starless sky, and I sighed heavily. I wished to see the stars and the moon again. The hot, sticky air clung to me, and I wished I could cool off somehow; even the creek was warm. But maybe it would be enough to make me feel clean. I stood and walked farther into the woods. A few yards into the tree line, the wide creek met me. The sound of the rippling water soothed my aching mind.

I stripped off my clothing and laid my bow next to my viper-handled dagger. My eyes lingered on the blade. The vipers coiled their way around the handle, and their eyesbored into me like they knew my secrets. I walked into the creek and sighed at the comfort it brought, even though it was warmer than I would’ve preferred.

My body was less tense as I lay in the deepest part of it, floating on my back. My eyes closed with exhaustion. My days were not taxing by any means, but I was always exhausted. I felt myself drifting in and out of sleep as I lay there, but I didn’t get up and leave. I was too relaxed to get out. My body relaxed for the first time in weeks. I was always so tense, like something bad was going to happen.

?????

When I finally opened my eyes, I was confused by the landscape around me. I sat up quickly when I realized that I was no longer in the creek of Exile. scanned the shoreline of some sort of hot spring I was in. Something about it seemed familiar. I heard him before I saw him lurking in the shadows. My hand hurried to grab the viper dagger.

“No need for that, my love.” His deep voice twisted around my heart and squeezed it.

“Do not call me that,” I hissed at the shadowy figure. He laughed softly. I remembered I wasn't wearing clothing. I looked over my skin and paused at the tattoos I had. Pretty crimson-colored flowers and trees surrounded the letter ‘C’ above my heart. No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t remember how I had gotten them. I couldn’t remember anything before a few months ago, but I sharedthat secret with no one.

“Sorry, it’s a habit.” He paused for a long moment, and I thought he had left. “What a nice hot spring... Why are you dreaming of it?”

I glanced around, and something familiar struck me, but I couldn’t exactly say what.

“Come out where I can see you, coward.”

“I love it when you call me that,” his deep voice sighed.

My heart picked up speed. Was he flirting with me? I guess I was naked and alone, but this was a dream; he couldn’t hurt me here. A moment later I could make out his silhouette in the darkness at the edge of the spring. He wore a large, hooded cloak. My muscles relaxed as soon as his golden eyes shone brightly. The darkness that lingered inside of me hummed in approval.

“Is that better?”

“No. I want to see your face.”

“Hmm.” He paced slowly at the shoreline. “That’s probably a bad idea.” His voice was almost playful, and I liked it.

“Why? Are you ugly or something?”

He laughed so loudly that I found myself smiling at this stranger in front of me. Something about the noise felt familiar and comforting.

“I thinkyou might like what you see and fall hopelessly in love with me.” There was a hint of sadness in his voice.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

“Aren’t you a cocky son of a bitch.”

“Very well, but I did warn you, little viper.”

The nickname made my chest heavy with something I couldn’t explain. I watched as he slipped the hood from his face, but he didn’t stop there. He slipped his clothing off and slipped into the spring with me. I still couldn’t see his face as he sat in the water by the dark edge.

“Are you going to stab me with that?”

“Depends,” I answered him, even though my grip on my dagger was loose. He nodded slowly. He did not make me feel scared; his presence made me feel safe. Slowly, I sank into the water to cover my naked body from him, but I gripped the viper-handled dagger in my hand just in case he tried any funny business. I stared directly at him as he slowly made his way out of the shadows.

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