The Fall of the Cursed
Chapter 19

Isobel

Daniel and Austin help her to lay on her back, delicately laying her down. The sooner they do this, the sooner she and Austin can spend their lives together.

"Okay, Isobel. Take a deep breath. Let your whole body become relaxed. Austin is here and we're not going to let anything happen to you. When you go into your dream, she won't be able to hurt you. You will be in control. Tell me you understand."

"I understand."

"Very good. Now I want you to keep relaxing and I'm going to count down from 5. When I get to one, you're going to be asleep. 5... 4... 3... 2... and 1... Isobel, can you hear me?"

"Yes."

"Where are you?"

Isobel looks around the familiar scene. "I'm in the woods. In front of the tree."

"Great job. You're doing so well. Isobel, I want you to look around. What do you see?"

"I see the forest... I think I see something in the distance... Oh god... She's here..."

"Isobel, listen to me. You're okay. She can't hurt you. I want you to go back to the object in the distance. What does it look like?"

Isobel takes a deep breath, trying to stay calm. She looks at the ridge that overlooks the forest and sees what looks like a bunch of ruins. "It looks like an old castle. But they're ruins..."

"That's okay. That's what we're looking for."

Isobel swallows thickly, the air around her changing. "Austin? I'm scared... She's watching me. I can feel her."

"I'm right here, baby. She can't hurt you."

She takes a deep breath, making a move to walk towards the ruins. As she walks, she starts to see images. "I can see them. It's like I'm getting glimpses of their memories. Wow, Keeva was beautiful. I can see them planting the tree. I thought you said she just had a nature affinity? She's manipulating fire and air."

"There wasn't mention of that in the journals but that might have been to protect her."

Isobel keeps walking when she hears a twig snap behind her. "Who's there?" She sees Keeva again, with tear stains on her face. Out of nowhere she disappears in a cloud of smoke. "Keeva... How did she do that? She just disappeared in a cloud of smoke."

Isobel walks further into the forest, but it starts to get cold. She shivers in her dream and in real life. She suddenly feels warmth spread from her hands, causing her to smile. "Austin..." He was keeping her warm.

She gets to the place where she had seen the ruins, only they aren't ruins. The stones aren't new, but the building can only be a few decades old. "I'm coming up on the castle... Oh my god... I can feel the power..."

Isobel makes her way to the front door, following the sound of sobbing. She opens the door and replaces Keeva on the floor in a heap of tears. For a moment, she feels pity for the woman. Her eyes roll over the room and she replaces herself looking out the window that faces the tree. "I think this is before the curse... I can see the tree and it's still whole."

She suddenly feels an ice-cold hand grip her arm. "Wake me up! Wake me up! She's here!"

"Okay. Isobel, take a breath... I'm going to count back from 5 and when I get to one, you'll wake up. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1."

Isobel wakes, sitting straight up and looking around for Austin. She's instantly in his arms and is able to calm her breathing.

Daniel smiles sadly, "Thank you Isobel. That was very brave and very helpful. I think we should wait until next weekend to go to the tree. As a Fae you heal quickly but I want to make sure you're completely healed and ready to go on Saturday."

Isobel nods, "Is there anything we can do about the dreams?"

Daniel nods, "There's an elixir you can make that will give you dreamless sleep and still leave you well-rested."

Isobel takes the ingredient list from him, "Thank you Daniel. I don't know what we would do without you."

Daniel smiles warmly, "I appreciate you saying that. I'll keep in touch and we will want to get an early start on Saturday.

Austin sees Daniel out and Isobel gets to work on the elixir. When he comes back, Austin kisses over her shoulder gently.

"You are the bravest, most wonderful woman in the world."

Isobel smiles, turning her head to kiss him. "I don't know about all that."

Austin pulls her into a deep kiss, "You could have taken the easy road and left. That might have stopped the nightmares..."

"I could never do that..."

"That's why I'm saying you're the bravest and most wonderful woman. You're staying with me even though it means having to do all of this."

It looks like he wants to say more. "Austin, what is it?"

He smiles, kissing her again. "I'll tell you when we get through this."