Page 183 of Castings & Curses

Intrigued, I watched as she gently flipped open the aged book. The pages were covered in elaborate illustrations and cryptic verses. As Sage began translating, I felt a strange tingle, a sudden shift in the air, a pull toward the pages in front of us.

And then we found it. Nestled in the middle of the ancient tome, surrounded by darkly intricate illustrations, lay the prophecy. It spoke of an unbreakable bond formed in love, of the moon and sun uniting, of a witch’s magic and a vampire’s blood breaking an ancient curse. But it also warned of an “ultimate sacrifice.” The words rang in the air between us, heavy and foreboding.

“Could it really mean…” Sage trailed off as she reread the passage, her expression reflecting the fear I felt deep in my gut. “Could it be talking about us?”

“I think so,” I said. “It’s too coincidental.”

“But this sacrifice,” she said, her fingers gently tracing over the ominous words. “What is it?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But I’m willing to do anything.”

We continued to scan the tome, stopping at an interesting section of text.

“The witch must meet with a high priestess and the vampire with its elders to learn of their sacrifice,” Sage read aloud.

It was a monumental discovery, a potential solution to our dilemma, yet the gravity of the prophecy weighed heavily on us. And there was no guarantee the high priestess or the elders would cooperate. Nevertheless, as we left the library, I looked up at the sprawling expanse of the star-filled sky and wondered if this was the path we were destined to take. If I was ready to make that ultimate sacrifice.

“Sage”—I reached for her hand—“are you sure you want to do this? I cannot bear the thought of you in danger.”

She turned to me, her eyes filled with determination. “I made a promise to you, and I intend to keep it. We’ve faced so many challenges already, and I’m not about to back down now. I’m willing to face whatever it takes to be together.”

I clasped both her hands in mine, drawing strength from her touch. “I know you’re brave, but this is no ordinary journey. The high priestess and the vampire elders are powerful and wily beings. They may demand sacrifices that are too great for us to bear.”

A flicker of uncertainty passed over her features, but she quickly masked it. “We won’t know until we try. I believe that our love is stronger than any prophecy. We owe it to ourselves to find out what we must do to break this curse. Not only for us, but to end the feud between witches and vampires that has gone on for so many centuries.”

Her words resonated deep within my soul. “You’re right. We can’t let fear hold us back. But promise me this: if the sacrifices are too great, we will find another way. I cannot bear the thought of losing you.”

Sage squeezed my hands gently, her eyes filled with love and understanding. “I promise.”

CHAPTER19

Cristian

The Carpathian Mountains loomed ahead,towering snow-shrouded peaks blanketed in an eerie mist that seemed to whisper ancient secrets. The journey had been arduous, but I knew that within these formidable mountains lay the answers I sought—the vampire elders held the key to breaking the curse. These were the masters of all the lands’ councils, and their decision would overrule those undead who had already turned against me. I could only pray they would hear me out.

As I approached the ancient temple hidden amid the mountains, I felt a mixture of trepidation and determination. The tall, weathered stone pillars stood like sentinels, guarding the sacred knowledge within. I took a deep breath and entered the dimly lit chamber, the scent of incense filling the air.

“Welcome, Cristian Lazar.” A voice arrowed through the chamber, ethereal and commanding. I turned to see a group of elders seated in a semicircle, their eyes gleaming with their preternatural power.

“I seek your counsel,” I said, trying to conceal the urgency in my voice. “I wish to break the curse that binds me…and the woman I love. She is a mortal. A witch.”

The vampire who had greeted me nodded solemnly. Seated stiffly in his throne of white marble and gold, he regarded me with piercing ice-blue eyes set within a chiseled alabaster face, his pale gold hair falling over his shoulders. “We know who you are and why you have come. We have foreseen it.”

Of course they had. I had never felt like more of a fledgling than I did just then. I nodded and said, “Then you know I’ve come to you with a proposition. We want to break the curse so that we may join together in love, as husband and wife. And we believe we have found a way.”

The elders exchanged doubting glances, and their leader addressed me once more. “The curse has withstood such efforts before, Lord Lazar. What is your plan?”

I held out the book. “According to this text, if we each make a great sacrifice, we’ll be able to be together. And vampires and witches will no longer be under the yoke of the curse.”

“Are you willing to make such a sacrifice?”

I clenched my jaw and nodded resolutely. “Yes, I am. I will do whatever it takes. This scripture says that the witch must ask her high priestess what her sacrifice must be, and as for me…I am asking you all to determine the price I must pay.” I scanned their merciless gazes, but could not tell if they were moved by my plea.

In the ensuing silence, I sensed they were communicating with one another through the power of their inscrutable minds. After a moment, the blue-eyed leader intoned, “Then you must give up something you love dearly. Your land must be relinquished to your nemesis, Radu Mirea. Only then can the curse be lifted.”

I suppose I shouldn’t have been so surprised that they knew of Radu and our antagonistic relationship. These wise, if ruthless, beings rode the winds and saw all. My gaze darted among the elders, and I hesitated. My love for Sage was boundless, but the thought of surrendering my land to Radu Mirea was a bitter pill to swallow. It was more than just an estate—it was a legacy, a symbol of my family’s history and honor. It was the very reason I had given up my mortal life.

“My land is not just property to me. It holds significant importance, not only to me, but to the peasants who live in the villages surrounding the estate. I must weigh the consequences carefully.”

---