The Curse
Chapter Ten

Bynx, Alica, and I burst into the office of Bynx’s father, Bynx runs over to the desk and pulls the drawers open, moving the papers around looking for the lighter fluid. “Looking for this?” Our heads snap into the direction of the voice, standing in the far corner of the room by the fireplace was Madeline. She was dangling the bottle of light fluid around, “Mom! We need that!” Bynx calls as he walks out from behind his father’s desk. Madeline smirks and tosses the fluid into the nearby trash can, “Hey, lady! We need that!” I yell as I take a step towards her. Her smirk widens as she stalks towards Alica, “Oh, how wonderful it is to have both of my children here.” She says as she stands face to face with the innocent girl. I stare at them with wide eyes, Alica looks terrified as she backs away from Madeline. “M-Mother…” She whispers, “Oh, you remember me! It was quite hard switching from host to host awaiting for you to retain a body Alica my dear! As you can see, with this life of mine, I’ve made...some quite remarkable achievements.” Madeline, no Lianna explains as she plays with a strand of Cal’s brown hair. I look to Bynx, his mouth is hanging open in shock, “Bynx, honey close your mouth. Wouldn’t want your big sister to see how immature you are would you?” Lianna asks as she walks over to her son.

“Y-You...t-that’s why you said you’d be seeing Cal around! You sent him back didn’t you!?” I yell as angry tears fill my eyes. Lianna turns to look at me and grins, “Why of course I did! His fighting became so dull, besides it was about time that I had both my children by my side. Now, if you’ll excuse us…” With a fling of her hand, I was hurled out of the office. I land on the floor of the museum, before I could get back inside the door shut and locked by itself. “NO!” I scream as I bang on the door, “LET ME IN!” I yell.

~Alica~

I flinch when I hear the girl bang on the closed door, I stare at my mother with wide eyes. She gives me a small smile and engulfs me and the black haired boy into a tight embrace. “Oh, Alica honey we can finally have the life we deserved! You get to live a decent life, and you get to meet your little brother!” She says happily as she releases the both of us. I glance over to the boy, he looks terrified, “I knew...that I felt something familiar when it came to you.” I whisper, he looks at me with wide blue eyes, now that I’m looking his eyes are similar to mine. “Y-You...m-mean this w-whole time...I...I-I WAS THE SON OF A MURDEROUS WITCH!?” Bynx finally yells his shocks. I flinch and look down at my feet, our mother laughs at his outburst. “Bynx, honey I wasn’t murderous...that Carrington deserved it, those Gravedon’s deserve to rot for what they did.” I close my eyes and shake my head, my eyes snap open when a shockwave of pain runs through my body. An ear-shattering scream rips away from me, I fall to the floor and hold my arms.

“W-WHAT’S HAPPENING TO HER!?” Bynx yells as he stoops to be by my side. Our mother growls and paces the floor, “That little brat thinks he can run away!” She yells. The young master must be trying to escape the execution, I scream again and double over in pain. “I-IT HURTS! M-MAKE IT STOP!” I yell as I grip my waist tight.

~Callum~

I run from the guards, I was almost out of there without being harmed, but that wasn’t the case. One of the guards had nipped me in the belly with one of their whips, the pain was excruciating. I hide behind a tree and pant heavily, I press my hand to my stomach and hiss in pain, I look down to my hand and see a small bit of blood on it. “I-I can’t hide forever...I-I just need to buy them some time...j-just a little bit of time.” I breathe as I sink down onto the ground. I stare down at my wrists and grimace at the sight of them, the raw skin reminds me of the time dad got burned by the grill. I lightly trail my fingers over my right wrist and flinch, it’s still a little sore. I force myself to stand, slowly I make my way through the woods. “I-I need to hide…” I whisper as I glance around the wooded area, in the far distance, I notice a small abandoned cabin. I pick up the pace and glance behind me every now and then to make sure that I wasn’t being followed. I push the door open and quickly duck inside to the cozy little home, I shut the door and lean my back against it.

I let out a small sigh in relief, I scan the room with tired eyes, there’s no sign of anyone ever living here. By the far side of the room laid an old bed, the mattress was sodden and grey. Slowly I make my way over to it, I push my hand down on the mattress. It wasn’t the best, but it was at least dry, whoever built this cabin did a good job on it. I lay down and close my eyes, ‘Please hurry you guys…’

~Alica~

Tears stream down my cheeks as I try to subdue the pain that I’m feeling, “M-Mother...p-please we cannot stay here…” I plead softly while looking up at her grimacing face. She glares down at me and hoists me up to my feet, “Even now you’re pathetic! Why can’t you see that I am doing this for your own good!” She yells. I place my hand on my stomach and wipe away my tears, “L-Lianna, you’re hurting her more than you’re helping her.” Bynx interjects gently pushing me aside. Our mother glares at him, my eyes widen when she back hands him across the face. “Don’t you ever, use my name again. I am your mother, and you will only address me as that do I make myself clear Bynx Michael Calter!” She yells angrily. My little brother’s hair falls in front of his blue eyes, slowly he nods. I look to our mother, her attention is solely on Bynx. Without either of them noticing, I inch over to the trash can that held the flammable fluid. My brother glances over at me, his eyes flick to the trash can for a moment. Slowly he nods a little, he engulfs our mother into a tight hug.

“I-I’m sorry mom...I won’t disrespect you like that again.” He says as he slowly holds the amulet out to me, with a shaky hand I take it from him. Our mother returns the hug, “It’s alright honey…” She says softly. I gasp softly and hold my throat, I cough and try to suck in a breath. Mother forces Bynx against the wall and holds him there with her magic, “Did you two honestly think you could fool me? I am your mother! I know everything you two do!” She says angrily as she pries the amulet from my hands. I look up at her with wide eyes, everything goes still when the girl who had caused all of this bursts through the door. Our heads turn to look at her, she’s holding my mother’s spell book. “You, brat how did you get that!” Mother yells as she releases my younger brother, he sinks down into the floor. “It’s called breaking the glass! Bynx catch!” She yells as she tosses the book to my little brother. He catches it and looks down at the page that it’s on, I lean up and jerk the amulet from my mother’s hands. Bynx stands up and flings his hand at our mother causing her to slam against the wall, “I-I can’t hold her long! Alica put the necklace on! T-There’s away I can switch yours and Callum’s place’s back!” He says in a panic. I nod and clasp the silver chain around my neck, “Do it Bynx!” The girl yells from the threshold.

“Do you really want your sister to die! If you send her back then she’ll be good as dead!” Our mother yells as she tries to fight against his magic. Bynx swallows and looks at me with guilty blue eyes, “D-Don’t worry about me...i-it was my destiny to die. Bring the young master back little brother.” Tears slip down his cheeks as he nods, “W-With...m-my words I-I allow these souls to switch, let the light be their chariot.” Bynx softly chants. I smile and close my eyes, “ALICA!!” It was too late for my mother to stop it, I open my eyes and look around the rundown cabin that I now occupied. This must be where the young master hid, I stand from the bed I was laying on and make my way out of the cabin. Standing outside were multiple guards, I flash them a small smile and hold my hands out for them to tie. This time I was successful in protecting my child, now I can rest easy.

~Callum~

I gasp and look around the room I was in, “W-Where a-am I?” I stammer. “CAL!” Adeline tackles me to the floor, she squeezes me tight and buries her face in my chest. I look down at her, “A-Addie?” I whisper. “NO! T-This was not how it was supposed to be!” I tense at the familiar voice of Madeline, I glance over and see that she is pinned to the wall by an unseen force. “I-It’s over Lianna!” Bynx yelled as he glares at his mother. My blood runs cold at his shout, “L-Lianna?” I stutter fearfully. Madeline, no Lianna laughs at my fearful words. I look to Bynx, his eyes look so much like Alica’s now that I’m finally paying attention. “T-That means...y-you’re...o-oh Bynx…” I whisper. His glare moves to me, “Shut up! I know what that means!” He yells as he walks over to me. With a rough tug he pulls my necklace off of my neck, he snatches the yellow bottle that laid on the floor and walked over to the fireplace in front of us.

“Bynx Michael Calter! Don’t you dare destroy that amulet!” Lianna screeches as she fights against the unknown force. Bynx ignores her and tosses the necklace in the fireplace, he grabs a few pieces of papers from the table beside the fireplace and tosses it in with it. Bynx pulls the cap off of the bottle and pours the liquid over the contents in the fireplace, he pulls a lighter from his pocket and strikes it. “Burn in hell witch,” he says bitterly as he tosses the lighter inside. The liquid caused the paper to ignite, I flinch at the bright flames and shield my eyes with my hand. Lianna screams in pain, burns begin to appear on her arms. Bynx watches as the amulet and his mother goes up into flames, I blink when I feel something snap. A great weight was lifted from my shoulders, for once since I’ve been here I can finally breathe with no problem. Soon the flames died down, all that was left in Lianna’s place was a pile of ashes. Adeline and I stand from the floor and stare at Bynx with concern, his head is bent so his bangs can cover his eyes.

I swallow the lump in my throat and walk over to him, gently I place my hand on his shoulder. “Bynx...it’s going to be okay.” I say softly, a small laugh escapes him as he shrugs my hand off. “I-Is it? Is it really going to be okay? Because I don’t think so! I...I-I just watched my mother burn to ash, a-and I sent my only sister back in time to die! NOTHING ABOUT THIS IS OKAY!” He yells as a strangled sob leaves him. I allow my hand to fall back to my side, he’s right, nothing about any of this is okay. “I’m sorry...is there anything that Addie and I can do?” I ask, Bynx’s ice cold blue eyes cut into me like a dagger, “You can leave.” He says emotionlessly. I nod and take Adeline’s hand, I pull her out of the office and out of the museum. Once we’re far enough, my long time friend pulls me into a tight embrace once more. “I’m so glad you’re okay…” She whispers into my chest, I wrap my arms around her and rest my chin on top of her head. “I’m...I’m sorry for yelling at you...I was just so frustrated with everything that was going on.” I say softly, Adeline looks up at me with wide brown eyes, “No, Cal, I’m sorry. I should have listened to you, but...now we don’t have to worry it’s all over now.”

I smile and lean my head against hers, “Yeah, it is isn’t it?” I ask softly. A light blush tints her cheeks, with a huff she pushes me away. “Don’t get sappy on me Cal!” She yells, I chuckle and pull her into a side hug, “I wouldn’t even dare to get sappy with you Adeline FitzPatrick.”

~Bynx~

I stare down at the ashes with cold blue eyes, “Why...w-why did you make me do this mom? I-If...i-if only you told me who you really were...t-then we could have found another way to save her.” I whisper as tears slip down my cheeks. “Son…” I look up and see my dad standing in the threshold of his office, I cling to my mother’s spell book. “D-Did...d-did you know who she was?” I ask softly. His green eyes widen in shock, “She’s told you then...before she died I presume?” I blink at his choice of vocabulary. Dad sighs and walks into the office closing the door behind him, “Lianna was never a predictable woman, even when she was my housemaid.” He says as he stoops down next to her ashes. I frown, “What are you talking about?” I ask. Dad looks up at me and smirks, “I never did tell you what really happened to Carrington Gravedon did I?” I take a step back and eye my dad suspiciously. He stands up straight and walks over to the fireplace, he grabs the poker and begins to move the ashes around.

“You see son...when Carrington had died his soul was left to wander throughout the world. That is...until a certain witch found him many years ago.” He explains as he stops stirring the ashes around. Dad reaches in and pulls the red ruby that was in the silver pendant of the amulet. “She allowed him to live a new life, a new life that was granted to him time and time again…” He stops to look at the gleaming gem, “Until finally, they both meet in a new life. A life where they get married and have a child of their own, a child whom he did not have to hide.” He finishes as he walks over to me. I stare up at him in confusion, he gives me a small smile. “Bynx...I’m Carrington...all those years ago...your mother wasn’t trying to hurt me...she was trying to save me from Katherine so her and I could be together. I hadn’t seen it then, I even denied your sister, until I finally got a good look at your other sister...the one Katherine and I had named after Alica.”

My jaw drops, “S-So...y-you’re telling me….t-that...h-how is this possible!?” I yell in exasperation. Dad smiles and ruffles my hair, “That book in your hands made it possible. You can bring your mother and sister back...we can be a family...but you have to do one thing…” Dad replies softly, a dark look cast over his face. “You must kill Callum, use his blood to create a new curse, a much better curse.” He says as a smile stretches across his face. I stare at him with wide eyes, “I-I...I-I can’t do that!” I yell as I back away from him. Dad glares and places the ruby from the amulet in my hand, “I’m not asking you, I’m telling you Bynx. You will do as I say,” I shake my head and look down at the ruby.

I could see some of my mother’s magic still swirling around in the gem, “Oh, Bynx, you’re acting as if you have a choice in the manner.” My dad’s low voice catches my attention before I could react I’m forced against the wall. I gasp and stare up at him, he smirks at me. “Perks of marrying a witch is that you get a fifth of their power, now, you’re going to help me resurrect them whether you like it or not.”