The Curse Conduit
Chapter 13

Elizabeth found herself on her knees with Declan in her arms once again. Part of her mind willing her to wake up the other part retaining all of Beth-Elena’s memories. She hugged Declan with tears rolling down her face then looked at Uri. “Why Uri? I can’t do this again.”

Uri did not understand her question nor get the chance to ask her anything as she pulled his knife from his side and cut her own hand then cut Declan’s. As Elizabeth cut Declan’s hand her words reached Uri. “I promise she will replace you.” She kissed Declan and felt the life leave him.

Uri was about to go to her when he saw Derek appear at his side and called his name. Elizabeth looked to him. “Where is Derek?”

Uri looked back at Beth-Elena and realised that it wasn’t her. “You have to go. Help him.”

With his words Elizabeth found herself back in her apartment with Kimberly shaking her.

“Elizabeth….Elizabeth…. Damn it wake up!”

Elizabeth woke with a start for a moment not knowing where she was except that Kimberly was shouting at her.

“Kimber…”

“You’re bleeding. Your hand is bleeding.”

Kimberly rushed to the bathroom to get some bandages as Elizabeth work up and began to cry. She was overcome with grief, Beth-Elena’s grief.

Kimberly rushed back in and put a rolled up bandage in Elizabeth’s hand.” Hold this to stop the bleeding.” She looked into her friends eyes. “Lizzie. What happened? You were crying, calling someone in your sleep. Your hand?”

Elizabeth looked at her hand. “It’s okay Kimber. It will heal. It always does.”

Kimberly had to stop herself from stumbling as she felt her knees go weak at her friend’s words. “It always heals? How many times has this happened? Lizzie….”

Elizabeth looked at her friend. “A few times over the last few weeks. It never happened before, but now. It’s like I am part of her, I am her when I dream, and I feel everything.”

Kimberly rubbed her head as if trying to get her thoughts to stick. She had listened to Elizabeth in the restaurant but had not really believed her, thinking that maybe she was actually coming unglued for some reason. But seeing her hand bleeding and not being able to replace any evidence that Elizabeth had done it herself she was beginning to think that her friend was telling the truth and if that was the case she had no idea how she was going to help her.

Kimberly pulled the bandage away from Elizabeth’s palm; it had stopped bleeding and looked much the same as it had when she had shown her in the restaurant. Kimberly sat next to her friend. “Lizzie, this is scaring me. Every fibre of my body is telling me this is not possible but I look at you.” Her words trailed off.

“I know Kimber. Somehow the past and present have collided and I am stuck. Every time I sleep I get pulled back into their lives.” Elizabeth looked seriously at her friend before she continued. “I know this sounds crazy but Derek from Synergy is involved. I just know it.”

Kimberly could not speak but her mind raced and Elizabeth squeezed her hand. “Please believe me. Without you I will go crazy. I need you to believe me.”

Kimberly could see the tears welling up in Elizabeth’s eyes again. “Lizzie. I might not understand what is happening to you but I do believe you. What can I do? I have no idea how to help you.”

Elizabeth smiled. “You already have. You believe me.”

The two women hugged then Kimberly got up top make tea more to try and keep her wits about her than anything else. As she waited for the water to boil they continued their conversation.

“So Lizzie. I guess it is impossible to stay awake for the rest of your life right?”

Elizabeth gave her friend a weak smile.

“So we have to figure this out. Maybe your dreams are trying to tell you something, give you a message.”

“Uri said I had to come back and help him.”

Kimberly stopped pouring the tea in mid-stream. “Help who?”

“Derek I think.”

“Derek, Help him do what exactly?”

Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders and moved to put another cup under the tea pot so Kimberly would not spill the tea. “Well it’s not to stop him spilling the tea.”

They both laughed a little.