Page 387 of Evil Hearts

“It is a fate I would not wish upon anyone,” he said quietly, his voice rough with emotion. “But perhaps, with your help, I may find a way to break this curse and restore the balance between the human world and the supernatural. If you are who I believe you to be, your blood may be the answer.”

Elena’s breath caught in her throat, the weight of his words settling upon her shoulders. She had always been drawn to the mysteries of the past, but never had she imagined that she would play a role in unraveling them.

“I...I don’t know if I can help,” she stammered, doubt creeping into her voice. “I’m just an art teacher, not some kind of magical expert.”

Aldric’s lips twitched into a faint smile, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. “You have already shown more courage and compassion than most, Elena. Together, we may find the answers I seek.”

As they continued their walk through the city, Elena’s mind raced with questions and possibilities. She had set out to capture the beauty of the cathedral on canvas, but now she found herself drawn into a world of ancient curses and forgotten legends.

And despite the fear that twisted in her gut, she knew that she could not turn away from this path, not when Aldric’s fate—and apparently others like him—in the balance.

Aldric led Elena through a labyrinth of narrow alleyways, their footsteps echoing against the cobblestones. The city seemed to hold its breath, as if sensing the weight of the secrets about to be revealed. She’d spent every day in her youth exploring these areas, but she couldn’t help but believe she was about to learn so much more.

They paused before a weathered archway, its stones worn smooth by countless years of wind and rain. Aldric’s paused, his gaze distant as if he saw the past overlaying the present.

“This place...” His voice was a low rumble, tinged with melancholy. “It was once my sanctuary, a refuge from the burden of the curse.”

Elena’s eyes widened. “Tell me more,” she urged gently, her hand finding his in the darkness.

Aldric’s fingers tightened around hers, drawing strength from her touch. “When the weight of the centuries became too much to bear, I would come here. The garden’s untamed beauty reminded me that life persists, even in the face of darkness.”

He led her deeper into the garden, to a stone bench nestled beneath a canopy of gnarled branches. Aldric’s fingers traced the weathered surface, his touch reverent.

“I spent countless nights here, lost in thought, yearning for a connection I feared I’d never find.”

Elena’s heart ached for him, for the loneliness that had been his constant companion. She tugged gently on his hand, guiding him to sit beside her on the bench.

“We could rest here for a while,” she suggested, her voice soft. “If you’re willing, I’d love to learn more about your world, about the experiences that have shaped you.”

Aldric’s eyes met hers, a flicker of vulnerability in their depths. “Are you certain you want to know? The tales I carry are not for the faint of heart.”

Elena’s smile was gentle, her gaze unwavering. “I’m not afraid. Mostly because I still partially think I’m crazy.”

The air around them was heavy with the scent of night-blooming jasmine, the fragrance both soothing and intoxicating. Aldric’s shoulders relaxed, the tension of centuries slowly easing in Elena’s presence.

“Very well,” he murmured, his voice low. “But be warned, the truths I share may change the way you see the world, and your place within it.”

Memories surged through him, centuries of solitude and longing condensed into a single, aching moment.

“This place,” His voice was a whisper, barely audible above the gentle rustle of leaves in the night breeze. “It was here that I first realized the true weight of the curse.”

Elena moved closer, her presence a silent comfort as she waited for him to continue. Aldric drew a deep breath, his shoulders sagging beneath an invisible burden.

“In those early days, I would come to this courtyard to watch the sunrise, clinging to the hope that somehow, the witch’s words had been a cruel jest. But each morning, as the first rays of light touched my skin, I felt the curse take hold, my flesh hardening into unyielding stone.”

He clenched his fists, the roll of muscles in his forearms rippled beneath his taut, gray skin.

“I’m so sorry, Aldric,” she murmured, reaching out to lay a hand on his arm. “I can’t even imagine the pain you’ve been through.”

He turned to her, uncertain if he could trust that she could help him. “The true pain lies not in the physical transformation, but in the isolation, the knowledge that I am forever cut off from the world of daylight and human connection.”

Elena’s grip tightened, her voice fierce with determination. “But you’re not alone anymore. We’ll find a way to break this curse, together. And if it works, maybe I can touch some of the others, too. Help them out as well.” She gave a light laugh. “I sound crazy now.”

A flicker of hope danced through him, a tentative smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Thank you, Elena. Your words mean more to me than you can possibly know. I’ve been alonefor so long,” he whispered, his voice raw with emotion. “I feared I would never know the comfort of companionship again.”

“How long?”

Aldric nodded, his gaze meeting hers once more. “For centuries. Two to be exact. In that time I have watched this city change, unable to truly be a part of it. Until you, Elena. You who clearly made an accidental touch of your skin to mine, but it brought me back.”

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