Page 26 of Curse of Immortality
Althea stopped singing and stroked Maeve’s hair. “How are you feeling?”
It hurt to breathe because of her injured stomach and her heart felt heavy and miserable. “Better than I deserve,” she answered, “I’m so sorry, Althea. I feel so ashamed of how I’ve acted. I thought James loved me, but I was wrong. And I let him ruin my relationship with you and Rose.”
“Few things are so broken that they can’t be fixed,” Althea said as she leaned her head against Maeve’s. “But don’t ever leave me again. You’re my other half, Maeve, and I need you.”
“I won’t,” Maeve promised with tears running down her cheeks.
They both lifted their gazes when they heard the sound of Rose climbing up the tree. Maeve wanted to crawl under the blankets and hide from the guilt she felt.
“It’s good to see you awake,” Rose said as she sat down on the small terrace that Althea and Maeve had slept on together.
Maeve nodded and spoke with a brittle voice. “I’m so sorry Rose. I didn’t mean any of the things I said. You were right, humans are nothing but evil. I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I want you to know how truly sorry I am.”
Stroking Maeve’s cheek, Rose placed a kiss on her forehead and smiled with teary eyes. “My love for you is unconditional. I want you to be happy even if it’s not with me. But above your happiness, I value your safety, that’s why I may seem controlling at times. I’m sorry if I’ve made you feel trapped.” A tear ran down Rose’s cheek that Maeve was quick to wipe away with the back of her hand. “Do you remember what your name means?” Rose asked.
Maeve thought for a moment while searching her mind. “Althea means healer, but I can’t remember what my name means,” she answered honestly.
“Maeve means ‘she who intoxicates’ and I’ve always thought that name suited you well. Your beauty and personality draw people in, but intoxication is not love, so choose carefully who you trust in this world.”
“What happened?” Althea asked, “Who hurt you? Was ithim?”
Maeve’s head hung low as she nodded. “James wasn’t the man I thought he was. He promised the world, but it turns out that he used me and played with my heart. When I found out that he was engaged to another woman, he… he…” Maeve didn’t want to admit to Rose and Althea that she had revealed to James that she was an Earthen and shown him that she had abilities. “We got into an argument and then he stabbed me and left me to die.” To Maeve, thinking about what had happened, made her feel like getting stabbed in the gut for the second time. Though Rose and Althea tried to ask questions, Maeve changed the subject, and so, Rose and Althea never knew what danger they were really in.
Some weeks passed, and Maeve’s wound which had been deep and large healed nicely due to their abilities and healing herbs.
“I hate that scar,” Maeve said while applying the homemade cream on her stomach while Rose cooked up supper. “It will be a constant reminder of what happened for the rest of my life.”
Rose arched an eyebrow. “At least you’re still alive. That’s the part that matters.”
“I want my necklace back,” Maeve said and touched her collarbone.
“The one you found in the forest?” The moment Rose asked, she saw the expression on Maeve’s face. “Oh, I see. He gave that necklace to you, didn’t he?”
“Yes. But I couldn’t tell you. It was the only thing I had of value, and he stole it from me. When I’m strong enough and my wound is fully healed, I intend to go get it back.”
“Absolutely not!” Rose protested in a stern tone.
Althea who was stirring a pot was quick to support their aunt and put the large spoon down. “It’s too dangerous, Maeve. What if he tries to hurt you again?”
Maeve’s tone turned icy. “Then I’ll hurt him back.”
Rose blinked her eyes twice and stared at Maeve in shock. “I did not raise you to use violence. We never attack, it’s not in our nature. We are healers and caretakers who only take from nature what we need. It’s against our nature to harm others.”
“I just don’t think it’s fair he gets away with it. James doesn’t deserve that locket,” Maeve insisted.
Althea spoke in a soft voice as she placed her hand on top of Maeve’s. “A necklace isn’t worth dying for. That awful man already took enough. Don’t let him take your life too.”
Maeve tightened her jaw and looked away and it made Althea and Rose exchange a glance of concern. With a sigh, Rose tried to cheer Maeve up.
“Besides, your twenty-fourth birthday is coming up, maybe I’ll head into town and get you a pretty new locket.” Rose took a sip of the soup she and Althea were making with smiling lines wrinkling the edges of her eyes.
Althea on the other hand lowered her brow with concern. “I thought we would avoid that place after what happened to Maeve. Don’t you think going to town is dangerous?”
“I think it’s a lot safer than Maeve going to get her locket back from James. And you know I’m always careful.” Rose walked over and cupped Maeve’s chin tilting her head upwards. “He only saw me for a mere second that day I found you together. Even if I met him, you don’t think there’s much of a chance he’d recognize me, do you?”
Maeve shook her head. “I doubt it. James is too self-absorbed to pay attention to people other than himself.”
Soon, she would come to wish she had been right.
