Page 32 of The Curse

The same useless feeling I’d felt my entire life.

I heard my motorcycle roar to life and figured Corbin had not only stolen my heart but had just stolen my bike. The only means of escape I had available if I could figure out how to get out of the damned house without breaking my neck. When I could no longer hear the motor, and knew he was gone, really gone, I had a temper tantrum of epic proportions. My magic, which was normally piddling unless Corbin was with me, flashed and flared…well, flickered. Fire singed my fingertips and then every piece of furniture in the room.

As I ranted and raved, cursed and cried, I felt my magic start to grow stronger. I blasted the door with everything I had…but Corbin’s spell remained intact. Nothing. Nearly an hour later, I was ready to give up.

“Fucking, egotistical, son-of-a-bitch,” I hissed in outrage and exhaustion. The only thing I’d been able to accomplish was to give myself a throbbing headache. Oh, and I might have cried a little. I was so fucking pissed…so hurt.

“Watch your mouth, young man!” A soft feminine voice tickled my ear. I whipped around, expecting to see that Morgan had somehow managed to break Corbin’s spell and was there to destroy me a day early, but the room was empty.

“Fuck off, Morgan,” I said to the eerily empty room, just in case the bitch was there, lurking in the shadows the way evil did.

“Nicholas Bailey. Cursing your beloved is one thing, but cursing your mother is another. I must say that it is not only unacceptable for a Banks or Bailey descendent, but it’s a disappointment to the woman who gave birth to you.”

And, just like that, a sweet calmness settled over me as tears swamped my eyes. For the briefest of moments, I feared that my heart would burst with love—love for a woman I’d never really gotten to know. I thought back to the letter, to all the things she and my father had wanted for me. My eyes immediately went to the mirror that Corbin had magically repaired, and when I saw the blurry vision of a beautiful woman looking back at me, the tears slid down my cheeks. Rosalie Banks.

“Mother,” I whispered. It wasn’t a question. I knew it was her. My heart knew.

“Yes, my love. It’s me,” she answered. “You are so handsome, Nicholas—just like your father. We are both so proud of the man you’ve become.”

While the vision in the mirror was blurry, I could still make out the tears streaking her face. “How are you here?” I asked. “Is father with you?”

The image looked sad. “No, Nico. Your father was mortal so he couldn’t make the trip with me. It’s just me, and I don’t have long,” she explained. “Your birthday is tomorrow, so Morgan will be coming for you.” The image looked around the room and then returned her gaze to me. “Corbin has you in a safe place, yes?”

“Yes,” I muttered, furious all over again for being tucked away like a helpless child. “He’s protecting me from Morgan, but that’s not what I want. I want to help. I have to be able to help in some way. I know I’m not strong like Corbin and the other members of his coven, but I have powers.”Sure, I did. I couldn’t even get myself out of a locked room.

Her laughter danced around the room. “Yes, my dear, you have powers,” she agreed. “Those were gifted from me and trust me; your powers are strong--stronger than Morgan could have ever had nightmares about.” The image winked at me. “And, oh, how she would have had some nightmares had she known that Banks’ witchcraft flowed through your body.”

“So it was true. You were a powerful witch?” I asked.

“From the Easthampton coven, my son,” she answered. “I masked my heritage from Morgan once I knew of the curse. Perhaps I could have saved myself, but I wasn’t sure I could have saved your father from the curse. The spell that Morgan cast was an evil one, steeped in blood sacrifice. The most difficult to break. But I also knew, through magical guidance, that you, my son, would be the one to unlock the Bailey curse. I…I didn’t want to leave your father to face death alone.” The image looked down and back up. “I’m sorry, Nicholas. I know it sounds like I chose your father over you, but that isn’t the case. I’d seen the future and knew that it was going to be up to you to face Morgan in a final battle.”

The image in the mirror flickered, and her face sobered as she gazed at me. “We must hurry, Nico. There isn’t much time left. It’s up to you to end this curse--only you.”

I frowned, since I knew my own limitations. “What do you mean? I can’t even get out of this room, mother. How am I supposed to be strong enough to end the curse? To end Morgan?”

“Because my blood recognizes the magic Corbin has given you while you’ve…well, you know.” The image of my mother’s face turned a pale pink.

I turned a bright red.

“What…what do I do?” I asked, still feeling like she was so incredibly wrong about my capabilities.

The image flickered and grew weaker, causing my heart to lurch.

“Do what is natural, Nico. Follow your heart…instead of your temper. You’re trying to harness your magic with anger, and that will never work for a Bailey – it will always be driven by love.” The image smiled…sadly. “Hate and jealousy may have started this, but love is what will end it.”

“I…I don’t think I’m strong enough,” I answered in shame.

“Nonsense,” she answered immediately, but the image faded even more. “There are rules to the curse, Nico. Onlyyoucan destroy Morgan—not even Corbin and his powerful coven combined. Morgan must destroy you at the exact moment of your birth. After that, all power she holds over you vanishes away. That’s when she’ll be her most vulnerable. That’s when you must act.”

I frowned. “What? But I’d be dead by then. How can I do this, Mother?” I asked again. “I’m trapped in this room, and I can’t save myself, much less anyone else. What do you mean?”

“You’ll know what to do, my son. When the time comes. You’ll know.” I saw her hand touch the mirror, like she was trying to reach for me.

Then she wasgone.

I stared at the empty mirror in shock. Gone. I was still trapped in this damned room, and she was gone. It had been a great pep talk, and my heart still ached with love, but nothing had changed. I was stilluseless.

I sat down on the edge of the bed and contemplated what just happened--the things that my mother said to me. The faith she had in my abilities. I was the one destined to end the curse.

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