The Curse
Chapter Six

Bynx and his dad still have my necklace, I thought the ward would only take a day or two considering how small my necklace is. I was sorely mistaken, “Callum honey you’ve been staring at that wall for the past fifteen minutes. If you stare at it anymore you’re going to burn a hole into it.” My aunts voices catches me off guard. I blink and look over to her, “It’s raining outside, staring at this wall is the best I can do right now.” I reply in a bored tone. I groan and lean my head back, this day has been so boring. It’s been raining nonstop since six o’clock this morning, and it’s not been helping with my already paranoid mood. Each drop of rain cause the hair to raise on the back of my neck, I keep thinking it’s someone walking around outside. Even without my necklace, I can’t help but feel on edge. The buzzing of the ancient magic still clings to my body, every small touch turns into painful pangs.

“The rain is letting up, why don’t you go over to Adeline’s? She can tell you how the high school is around here.” Aunt Lucinda suggests. She’s right, I should get some insight about the school around here. I hum to myself and look at her, “You could just homeschool me.” I reply in a joking matter. She laughs and ruffles my hair, “Nice try Cal, but you gotta go to a real school.” I huff angrily and stand up from the couch, I grab my jacket and slip on my shoes. I put my jacket on and walk out the door, I put my hands in my pockets and walk over to Adeline’s house. I haven’t told her about the talk I had with Bynx and his dad. “My mother still lurks young master, she is trying to to get closer to you.” Alica’s voice whispers softly in my ear.

I pull my hood over my head and shift on my feet, I’ve been trying my best to ignore her voice. “As long as I pretend she isn’t here, then I am still the normal Callum from San Diego.” I mutter as I walk up Adeline’s walkway. I climb the steps and knock on her front door, when the door swings open I jump back in fear. Adeline stands there, her black hair in a mess, and bags under her brown eyes. I let out a low whistle, “Wow you don’t look too good.” I say. A horrible cough causes her body to tremble, “Y-Yeah...I-I’m sick, i-it really sucks man.” Adeline’s voice is all raspy and disgusting. “Have you gone to the doctor?” I ask, she shakes her head and coughs again. “N-Nah...i-it’s just a cold,” she replies softly.

“It sounds worse than a cold Addie, your dad should really take you to the doctor.” I say worriedly. She shrugs as another cough shakes her small form, I frown in concern. “L-Look...c-can you come over tomorrow? I-I’m really tired and my head’s killing me.” I nod and pat her shoulder, “Yeah, you get well soon Addie.” I decide to take a walk to Mrs. Green’s, a blast of cold air hits my back, I shudder and pull my hoodie strings so my hood tightens. “She is getting closer young master, run.” Alica’s voice sends fear into my chest. I walk a little faster and try my best to ignore her, I wish I was back home, if I was home I wouldn’t be dealing with this stupid witch stuff. I take a breath and turn around, “I’m...I’m just going to go back home, it’s too cold to be out here.” I mumble as I walk back to the house.

“Look at the lost little lamb, he has no idea where to go. Show him the way all by the light of one.” Another voice whispers in my ear. I close my eyes and take off into a sprint, this ward isn’t working! Without looking, I slam into someone else. We both fall to the ground with hard thud, “O-Ouch...I am so sorry...I wasn’t paying attention.” I mumble as I rub my head. I look up and see Bynx sitting in front of me, he’s rubbing his elbow grimacing in pain. “O-Oh gosh, I am so sorry Bynx, I heard something and I got scared.” I say apologetically. He looks at me and gives me a small smile, “I-It’s alright Cal. Do you know what you heard?” He asks. I shake my head no, I don’t feel like repeating the words that were whispered to me. I stand up and hold my hand out to him, he takes it and I pull him up to his feet. “Did your dad finish placing that ward on my necklace?” I ask hoping he would say yes. Bynx rubs his neck and gives me a nervous smile, “Well, ya see, my mom is having a hard time replaceing a good spell to block Lianna’s curse.” He replies sheepishly. I hang my head and sigh heavily.

“Well what’s your number? I’ll just call you whenever I feel like asking if it’s ready or not.” I say as calmly as I can. I hand Bynx my phone and watch as he punches in his number, this waiting is really getting on my nerves. He hands back my phone and gives me a bright smile, “I promise we will get your necklace back to you as soon as possible.” He says as he walks past me. Something in his words catches my attention, they didn’t sound promising. I groan and lean my head back so I can stare at the sky, I wish I was back home. If I was in San Diego I wouldn’t be dealing with this stupid witchcraft stuff, “No matter where you go, or where you are. I will be there waiting.” I groan and put my hands over my ears. I’m tired of hearing these stupid voices, I just want them all to go away!

“J-Just leave me alone! I don’t care what you do anymore, just shut up and leave me alone!” I yell as I take off into another sprint. I take a left across the street and sprint down my aunt’s walkway. I dash up the steps and into the house, I slam the door behind me and put my hands over my eyes. “Callum? Are you alright sweetheart?” Aunt Lucinda asks from inside the kitchen. I ignore her and close my eyes tight, unintentional tears fall from my eyes. A whimper escapes my trembling lips, I bite my bottom lip to silence myself. I don’t hear my aunt walk in, I don’t realize until she places her hand on my shoulder. I flinch and look at her, she looks at me worriedly, “Callum, honey what’s wrong?” She asks. I shrug my shoulders and look down at my feet. I really can’t tell her, if I do then she might not believe me, or call my parents. “I-I just miss home is all...I miss my parents.” I mumble as I push past her to my room.

“Cal...your mom and I have been talking, she thinks you should come home.” My aunts words causes me to stop. I turn to look at her and raises my eyebrow, my tears are still falling. “I told her how miserable you were here, and your father told her about yours and his phone call the other night.” I nod. My dream is finally coming true, but now I can’t leave. I need to get my necklace back, if I go home without it then my parents will kill me. “I-I’ll think about it okay? Thanks for letting me know Aunt Lucinda.” I reply softly as I walk into my room. I shut the door and lean against it, the one time I finally get my way and I can’t even enjoy it. “This is so stupid…” I mumbles as I slide down my door. I hug my knees to my chest and close my eyes, I’m just so tired of all of this. I wish someone could just...take me away from all of this, just for a little bit.

I open the young master’s eyes and gasps, I look around in terror. ‘No, no she couldn’t have! She’s not strong enough!’ I thought in horror. A sigh of relief leaves the young master’s lips, he is still here, I can feel his innocent soul lurking. I force the young masters tired legs to stand, I have to use his slim hands to hold myself up. The blood that runs through his veins is what helps me stay in his body, and the magic from my amulet makes him weak enough to allow me to slip in. I’ve always hated this curse, this horrible thing that my mother has bestowed upon me and my young master’s. I remember when this had first happened, Master Carrington was weak from touching my amulet, that now hung around his young daughter’s neck. Not only had the magic made him weak, but so did the guilt he had felt for my wrongful death. I came to him in dreams, I had told him what my mother had done to the amulet.

“I know this is scary M’Lord,” I said unto him. “But I must warn you, the night when Master Gideon was killed, my mother was in the middle of a curse. This curse was known as a ‘Blood Curse’ she had me drink the blood of Master Gideon, I swear to you my lord I did not want to. Even in my death, she was able to complete the curse, she has placed it upon the amulet my liege, you must destroy it.” Master Carrington had not heed my warning, he did not believe me. Once I slipped into my former master’s skin, I had hired a local witch to place a ward upon the amulet. Using his voice and money, I protected his bloodline from my mother. When that life ended for me, I floated endlessly through time, watching as my master’s came and went. I make my young master’s legs move over to the bed in front of us, “You must sleep Master Callum. If you sleep, then you shall return to this world.” I say with his voice.

I lay us on the bed and force my master’s eyes shut, I force his body to relax. I let out a deep breath through his lips, and begin to count backwards from twenty. Slowly, sleep wraps itself around the both of us, I feel my master’s eyelids grow heavy. “Good night young master,” I whisper with his voice.

I am once again in the stone room, only this time I’m not alone. Alica sits in front of me, iron shackles cling to her wrists and ankles. She has her head down, “Alica? Can you hear me?” I ask softly. When her head snaps up, I jump back in fear, her blue eyes look hollow and her pale cheeks looks as if they were sunken in. “Y-Young master you are awake yes?” She asks, her voice comes out raspy and rough. I nod my head slowly, “Where are we?” I ask. She gives me a small smile and hugs her skinny legs to her chest. The skin around her wrists is torn and blistered, “W-We are in the great Salem Steeple my young lord. This i-is where I was kept until my trial.” She explains softly. My heart breaks for her, she looks so poorly. Her dress is torn around the edges, her red hair falls in strands around her pale and dirty face. Her once vibrant blue eyes now look dead to the world, “If I lived during this time...t-then I would have saved you.” I say softly.

Alica gives me a small smile, “I-I know you would...b-but this is not why I brought you here.” She replies. A rough cough leaves her mouth, I watch as the cough shakes her thin form. I stand from the cold floor and slowly make my way over to her, “Y-You...Y-You need to destroy the amulet Callum...p-please...s-set me free and save yourself.” She manages to say through the horrible coughing fit. Before I could answer the large wooden door across from us slams open, in the threshold Peter Bartley, the Marshall stands with his officers behind him. I look between him and Alica, please, please don’t take her. “It’s time witch,” the cold words fall from his lips. Dread pools into my chest, I gasp and sit up in bed. I look around and pant heavily, “N-No..NO! I left her alone! S-She doesn’t deserve to be alone…” I whisper in defeat.

“Then let her take over boy, let her live as you.” Lianna’s voice whispers temptingly in my ear. I shake it off and rubs my hands over my face, I look at the time. “It’s only nine pm...ugh.” I groan as I lay back down on my bed. This is going to be another long night, yet again. Throughout the night I pace back and forth in my room, I am unable to rest because of the nap I took. The hours went by fast, the last time I looked at my clock it read midnight, now it reads four in the morning. I grab my phone and send a text to Bynx’s number, ’Hey, is the ward finished yet?” I wait patiently for a reply, when my phone dings I can feel my eagerness perk. ’My mom actually finished it last night, you’ll be able to get it in the morning when the museum opens.’ I read his text a few more time to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. A huge grins spreads across my face, if the ward is finished then that means I can get my necklace and get out of here! Relief floods through my body as I slump down on my bed.

“Young master...even with the ward, you are not safe from my mother’s wrath. You must destroy it.” I hear Alica’s voice for the first time since my dream. I grip my phone tight, “I’ll talk to my dad about this. Maybe he has felt this stuff before too, if he has then he might understand and let me destroy it.” I reply unconsciously. Alica doesn’t respond. The next morning I hurry to the museum, I wait impatiently in front of the front doors. I may have came a little too early, “Wow, you’re here early.” Bynx’s deep voice startles me for a moment. I look at him and smile brightly at him, “Yep! I wanted to make sure to get here early for my necklace. I’m supposed to be going back to San Diego here soon.” I reply happily.

Bynx laughs nervously as he hands my necklace over to me, I take it and give him a suspicious look. “What’s wrong?” I ask slowly. He rubs his neck and looks away nervously, “W-Well um...y-you can’t leave Salem. I-If you do then my mom’s ward will be broken,” he explains quickly. Without warning, my left eye begins to twitch uncontrollably. ’Don’t lose your cool Cal, it’s not his fault.’ My inner voice reminds me. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, silently I count backwards from ten. “N-Now, I know you’re mad, but the ward only works in Salem because that’s where the curse was originally cast at. Without the magic from the curse, there is no ward.” I just nod. I can’t talk, because if I talk then I will say some really mean things, and really don’t want to be mean to someone that has helped me.

I clasp my necklace back around my neck and give Bynx a tight smile. “It’s okay Bynx, I can stay for a little while longer until I figure out what else I can do. I appreciate yours and your parents help.” I say as I walk down the steps of the museum. I close my eyes and let out a sigh of frustration, when I think that it’s finally over and I’m happy life just decides to say, ’Haha nope!’ And just punch me right in the face. “That pathetic Wiccan’s ward will do nothing, my curse is stronger than her useless magic, brace yourself boy, for you are about to feel the most unimaginable pain in your short existence.” Lianna’s cold tone sends a shiver of fear down my spine. I grip my necklace and bite my lip, the ward has to work, it just has to.