Page 159 of Awakened
She glared at me, waiting to see if I acted out again. When I huffed but rested my head on the ground, she smiled. “Good girl. I can guess what questions you have. Let’s start with Marie’s, now your, curse. The details of how she got it are hers to tell. I would never betray that trust, but I can tell you what you can expect.”
I rolled back to my stomach to better focus.
“Marie has carried a blood lust curse for almost as long as I’ve known her. The other night, she was so wild, I didn’t know if this would be the time I couldn’t bring her back.” Rose’s eyes glazed over, but only for a moment.
She cleared her throat. “It’s exactly as its name suggests. Once you make a kill, the curse will push you for more. The more you feed it, the more it will control you. You will always need to be careful in battle.
“Marie has found ways to deal with it. One is avoiding violence, something I don’t think will be possible for you. Another way is to make only defensive kills. She says it takes longer for the blood lust to set in. The final wayshe has found is to have a loved one there to bring you back like we did the other night.”
Grandma Rose inched closer and gently scratched behind my ear.
“The blessing flowing through you right now was passed onto me by my great grandma. I always knew you would be the one I would give these gifts to. I just didn’t know it would be so soon. The blessings will balance you out, I’m sure of it.”
I scooted my head to her lap. Her touch and assurances calmed me and made me feel safe.
She kissed my nose. “You’re a strong woman. Even though it doesn’t feel like it now, you can handle this. You’re meant for greatness. All the women in your family are.”
I tilted my head. Clearly, there was more to my mom than I ever knew.
“Those are stories you’ll have to dig out of the Howlers, but trust me, they’re worth it.” Rose pulled a phone out of her bag. “It’s getting late. I can give you a lift back to St. Louis if you want. Otherwise, you’re in for a two-day trek.” She shrugged, tapping away. “I know I’d rather not be in the woods for that long.”
Weighing my options, I nudged her leg.
“Good choice.” She took a pair of my sweats and a T-shirt from her bag.
Shifting, I quickly dressed. “Is your car far?”
“Not too.”
We walked in silence for an hour. I shivered against the dropping temperature, struggling to understand everything she had told me. No matter how many times I started, I couldn’t figure out what to say to her.
Getting into the driver’s seat, Grandma slipped the keys in the ignition but didn’t start the SUV. Slapping her knees, she turned to me. “I understand that you’re still angry with me, and I accept that and deserve it, but please, don’t be angry with Marie. She would never have given you this burden, blessings or not.”
Blinking away tears, I nodded. “I’m not mad at Marie—just hurt that she never shared this with me.”
She smiled sadly. “Honey, you are the daughter she never had. She would never want you to see her as anything other than invincible.”
Grandma Rose patted my leg and then started the car. The green trees and hills gave way to cornfields and flat land the closer we got to St. Louis. We drove for hours without stopping, so by the time we turned onto my street, I was ready to stretch my legs.
Grandma parked in front of my duplex, and I opened the door. “You staying the night?”
“No, no. I’m staying with Marie. You grab a shower and unwind. I’ll see you in a few weeks at the wedding.”
I leaned across the seat and hugged her. “I might be mad right now, but I know you’ll be there to help me figure this out. Love you.”
“I love you too. Be safe.”
“You too.” I shut the door and slapped the roof before turning to go inside the dark building.
Sarah must be with Michael. With Zach gone . . .
My bags from the retreat sat lined along the wall of the entryway. A little gift from Sarah. Grateful that someone had the foresight to bring my stuff home, I grabbed my toiletries bag and went upstairs to shower.
Cleansing my body of four days of wilderness stank was no easy task. So many brambles were stuck in my strands that I made my peace with living forever with bits of the forest in my hair.
As I watched the brown suds circle the drain, I tried to keep my mind neutral. I used the familiar motions of washing, drying, and lotioning to settle into a Zen state. That is, until the smell of popcorn and pasta wafted up from the kitchen.
Throwing on my fluffy pink robe, I hurried downstairs. “Sarah, why are you making popcorn at three a.m.?”
