Page 177 of Castings & Curses

I kissed her knuckles. “I feel the same, my love. You are what I was missing in my life. Not this.” I tipped my head to indicate my undead body. “I made a terrible mistake. This is all my fault. But I’ll find a solution.”

“We’ll do it together.” Her beautiful eyes brightened with hope. “We need a plan.”

“We have to be careful,” I agreed. “It’s late now. The sun will be rising soon. But let’s begin by searching through all our tomes and scrolls. There must be an answer somewhere, a way to break that curse.” I glanced up at the slowly brightening sky. “For now, I should get you home.”

She nodded, and I pulled her into my arms once more, my soul filled with love for this fearless woman. We kissed slowly, letting our lips linger, tongues silently making promises for nights when we could be together as one.

As we made our way back through the forest hand in hand, I couldn’t help but feel the enormity of our situation. Our love was a beacon, but it was also a target. In the shadows of the forest, I promised myself and Sage that no matter what, our love would not be a casualty of the impending storm.

CHAPTER13

Sage

With our conversationof the night before bearing on my mind, I woke the following day with a new sense of purpose. What once felt insurmountable now seemed like a problem that required a solution. And if there was one thing I had learned from my grandfather, it was that no problem was without a solution. We just had to find it.

Early morning sunlight streamed through the open window of my cottage as I started sifting through ancient texts and forbidden lore. I was searching for anything that could give us a clue about breaking the ancient curse that divided our communities and ending the feud. The smell of parchment, the dust dancing in the warm sunlight, the ink-smeared pages all created a comfortable cocoon of familiarity that helped to ease my troubled thoughts.

Midway through an old and worn-out grimoire, I paused. “Love as the antidote to curse, a bond stronger than hatred.” The words stirred something within me. Could love truly be the key to overcoming the centuries-old curse? I quickly penned a note to Cristian, my hand shaking slightly with excitement and apprehension. My enchanted white dove carried the note to his window.

Later that evening, once the daylight had waned, we met again in our safe haven, the secluded forest. The twilight cast long shadows that mirrored our unspoken fears. But the stunning blues and purples of the setting sun painted a picture of hope on the canvas of the evening sky. I held up the grimoire.

“Read this,” I said, pointing to the passage about love and curses. His dark eyes skimmed the lines, then he looked at me.

“You think our love could be the solution?” His voice held a note of skepticism, but his eyes were hopeful.

“I’m not sure. But it’s a start,” I said. Our eyes met, and in that moment, the outside world faded. We were just two beings fighting against the world to be together. The thought was terrifying, but oddly empowering too.

Over the next few weeks, Cristian and I threw ourselves into the task at hand. We consulted old texts, and we strategized, always careful to keep our actions covert. We worked tirelessly, driven by the hope of a future together. The world may have been against us, but we were resolute in our mission.

Two weeks later, the strain of our secret efforts began to show. I was helping my fellow villagers during the day and diving deep into forbidden lore with Cristian by night. The weariness was starting to seep into my bones, and it seemed the same was happening to Cristian. I knew that for my sake, he’d forgone feeding on the neighboring villagers and had resigned himself to feed only from animals. But his determination never wavered. It only served to strengthen my resolve.

One night, after an intense discussion on our next steps, we took a moment to rest. We sat beneath our usual tree, the serenity of the forest a soothing balm to our weary souls. Cristian was unusually quiet, his gaze fixed on the horizon, lost in thought. I studied his profile, his strong jaw and noble brow, and felt a wave of tenderness wash over me.

“Are you afraid?” I whispered, breaking the silence.

He turned to look at me, his eyes reflecting the silvery glow of the stars. His fingers intertwined with mine in a comforting grip. “We are walking a path fraught with danger. There’s a council of vampires and an ancient coven of witches against us. Fear is inevitable,” he quietly confessed. “But your strength gives me courage. Your love gives me hope. So, yes, I am afraid. But I am also hopeful,” he finished, squeezing my hand.

His words reflected my own feelings. As I leaned against him, his arm wrapped around me, I knew this was where I belonged. Fear be damned, we were in this together.

We’d been digging into the darkest corners of vampire and witch history, unearthing secrets, piecing together puzzles. Our progress was slow, but each new discovery ignited a spark of hope, fueling our belief that we could find a charm, a spell, or an incantation that would counter the sorcerer’s curse.

I also started noticing a change in the villagers’ attitude toward Cristian. They had always feared him, but now, there was a subtle shift. They were beginning to see the man behind the nobleman, behind the vampire—the man I loved. It was a small victory, but a significant one. It gave me hope that if the curse could be lifted, the feud could be put aside too. Despite everything, my heart was full.

As the moon illuminated our secret sanctuary in the forest, I looked up at Cristian, his eyes filled with the same love, the same determination. Whatever came next, we were ready to face it. Together.

CHAPTER14

Cristian

The burdenof our clandestine work had been heavy, and I saw fatigue etching itself on Sage’s beautiful face. She hid it well behind smiles and stubborn resolve, but I saw it. I yearned to take away the weariness and replace it with joy. And so I decided to surprise her, to give her an evening of respite, of romance.

I’d found a secluded garden on the outskirts of the village, bathed in the glow of moonlight, flowers shimmering with evening dew. The scent of jasmine and lavender perfumed the air. A serene pond reflected the starry night sky, its tranquility punctuated only by the soft whispers of the wind. In the heart of this garden, I prepared a small clearing adorned with wildflowers Sage loved and lit by fireflies encased in delicate crystal orbs.

As Sage approached the garden, blindfolded and guided by my hand, I felt nervous excitement fluttering in my chest. “Are you ready?” I whispered.

“I trust you,” she replied, her brow knit with curiosity.

With a deep breath, I gently removed the blindfold. Her gasp was all I needed to know that she loved it. Her eyes shone with joy, reflecting the starlight and the soft luminescence of the fireflies.

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