The Curse Conduit
Chapter 18

Once they were satisfied that Elizabeth and Kimberly where okay it was Derek and Simian that escorted them back to Elizabeth’s apartment.

Back in the hotel room once Uriah had gone over his own family tree his interest moved to the third one that Angus had left with them. Sitting on the lounge with it unfolded in front of him Uriah’s heart raced a little and he felt a slight tremor in his hands. “Casta come and have a look at this.”

Casta sat down next to him and let his eyes move across the paper that was set before him. At first the information it contained did not sink in but when it did he swore. “This cannot be my friend. How can this be?”

“I don’t think we should tell Derek.”

Casta looked to his friend. “I don’t think we should tell Elizabeth. She is having a hard enough time dealing with all this strangeness as it is.” He looked back at the paper. “So it is her family that has been crossing your paths. Very strange, very strange.”

Uriah remained silent. It was very strange, their whole situation was very strange and Uriah did not like the fact that he had no way of making it right. He had almost promised Elizabeth he would and he did not normally make promises he could not keep. Maybe this would be the first and he did not like that one bit. “I’m going to bed.”

Again Casta shot his friend a look. “You think that is wise?”

Uriah gave him a sad, defeated smile. “Wise, no, but I am tired and I will fall asleep on my feet if I don’t rest.” Uriah rubbed his arm. “Besides whatever she did to me has made my whole body hurt. I need to rest for a bit.” Uriah paused. “Stick close Casta, you know, just in case.”

Casta nodded. “I will be here my friend.”

As had become his custom Uriah sat on the edge of the bed for a while before lying down. Almost afraid of what sleep may bring. The evenings unfolding events had done nothing to ease his mind. If anything they had convinced him that Derek was in real danger. Now that Elizabeth was part of their lives it felt more urgent that they try and resolve their problem. While she was still a stranger Uriah could keep everything at arm’s length but now and having seen the third family tree. He fell asleep thinking he needed to ask his visiting apparitions if they had seen his and Derek’s future. If he only knew what was to happen and when maybe he could prevent it.

As they walked back to the hotel Derek’s mood became increasingly sombre.

Simian questioned him about it. “What is it Derek?”

At first Derek did not answer and Simian was content to leave him in his silence. Then slowly Derek began to talk. “I’m scared Simian. I feel like I’ve known Lizzie all my life, yet we only just met. In the past we have been more than friends” he looked at Simian. “Much more than friends and I die, I leave her. I can’t do that to her.”

Simian was horrified at his friend’s remarks. “Derek! That was not you.” They stopped walking and he grabbed Derek by the arms. “That was not you! None of it was you. Your future is not set. We cannot know what is to happen.”

“What if it is set? What then? Am I destined to die? Having found my true love I am to die without being able experience life with her. I am to die so young.”

Simian could see the fear in Derek’s eyes. “Simian I don’t understand all this but I do know that somehow I have to save the others to save myself. Don’t ask me how I know I just do.”

It was Simian’s turn to walk in silence. What could he say to his friend? How did he help? He had no explanation as to why things were happening how they were. Life was not supposed to be like this and did Derek really think that Elizabeth was his true love? He worried that he would indeed lose his friend but not in death as Derek seemed to think but lose him because his mind could not hold on to reality anymore. If that were the case maybe death would be a kinder end. For now he would support Derek and Uriah the best he could.

Back at the hotel Derek just nodded to Casta as he went to his own room. Casta in return waiting for Simian to give him an explanation. Simian sighed and sunk his hands into his jeans pockets. “He’s so afraid he is going to die Casta. He thinks that now he has met Elizabeth his future has been predetermined.”

Casta looked at Elizabeth’s family tree. “Maybe it has.”

“What!?”

Casta picked up the paper. “You need to have a look at this.” Simian came to sit next to him. “This is Elizabeth’s family tree. What do you see?”

Casta let Simian work his way through the information much as he had done. It did not take his friend long to connect the dots. “This cannot be.” Simian looked at Casta. “Does he know?”

Casta shook his head. “No….. Uriah does but we think it best not to tell Derek or Elizabeth. Not yet.”

“Considering his current state of mind I think you are right. How is Uriah doing? I feel for him. It’s like he has been thrown into the middle of a storm with no way out.”

Casta shrugged his shoulders. “I fear there is something else my friend.”

“What?”

“I think he may have feelings for Elizabeth.”

Simian just looked at Casta astounded. “But. How do you know? No that cannot be true.”

“I think you may replace it is.”

“What will he do?”

Again Casta Sighed. “About his feelings for her, nothing. He knows that it is Derek she is drawn to. He will remain forever silent, keeping his torment to himself. That is Uriah.”

Simian shook his head. What could he say? Casta was right. If Uriah did have feelings for Elizabeth he would never utter a word of it to anyone and would be mortified if he knew that they even suspected such a thing. Suddenly Simian thought of something.

Casta, maybe this is way they are linked. Maybe in the past after Declan and Danny died Elizabeth, I mean Beth-Elena and Bethie were supposed to be with Uri and Urian. That is why it has come back to haunt them.”

“No” Casta shook his head. Uri was married remember.”

“Thought I was onto something there.”

“Well I am glad you are not. It would mean that Derek would have to die for Elizabeth and Uriah to be together. No matter how he felt about her Uriah would never do that. You know he wouldn’t. ”

Both men fell silent their eyes resting back on Elizabeth’s family tree.

Simian was not sure how much of this he could take. He felt like he was living in a nightmare and could not wake up. Was this how his friends felt?

“So what now Casta?”