The Thousand Year Curse (The Curse Books) Read online

  I walk back towards Ollie and peck his cheek. I don't want to say anything because I'll burst but I want him to know that I appreciate him, so much.

  "I'll be downstairs if you need me." He says with a reserved smile on his face as he leaves the room.

  I go into automatic mode starting the shower and turning it as hot as it goes. The only way I can shower is with steamy water. I look around the bathroom for shampoo and soap and find them on the floor of the shower stall, both axe scented.

  I go through the pile that Ollie gave me and find everything I need. A towel at the bottom of the stack appears to be brand new and smells clean. He also left me some clothes—a pair of boxer shorts, basketball shorts, a grey tee shirt and tube socks.

  I will look and smell like a boy now. At least I know these are Ollie's clothes. For some reason that comforts me. Anything is better than walking in that nasty beer soaked dress. Ollie completely saved me tonight.

  I jump in the shower standing under the scalding hot water. Since I don't play any sports, weekends are my relaxing time. I like to read and watch TV.

  At least one day a weekend, I go out with Junior. He has to force me though. I used to run a lot but have been slacking the past couple months. My favorite thing to do is wake up leisurely and sit in the shower, reflecting on my week.

  I remember this one time I was literally sitting on the floor of the shower letting the water run over my body. I had the water extra hot so the heat would relax my muscles. I ended up falling asleep on the floor of the shower.

  My dad came home for lunch and found me in the shower. The only reason I woke up was because of him pounding down the door. He said he was knocking for five minutes before I finally answered. My skin was so waterlogged that I couldn't wash my hands for a week. He now comes home for lunch every single Saturday claiming I may relapse.

  This shower is hardly relaxing, though. My mind won't stop reeling with random thoughts filling it. I can't get those bright green eyes out of my mind. They are so familiar. It must be because of my dream.

  How can I dream about someone I've never met?

  I let out all of my frustration, letting myself cry like I am dying. The water washes all the tears away like a bad nightmare. How did I get pegged as the gay girl? Something has to be royally fucked up in Becca's life that she needs to make my life worse than hers. My tears start to feel like razorblades running down my cheeks. Strangely the pain feels good.

  "Are you okay?" I hear the door to the bathroom creak open. Quickly, I wipe away any stray tears and put on my mask of indifference.

  Is this curtain see-through? Crap, he's in the same room as me while I'm naked. I cover myself up with my hands even though I doubt it will help.

  "I'm f-fine." I get out, my voice betraying me as I wonder what he's doing in here.

  "Okay." He mutters as he shuts the door. I let out a breathe of relief that I'm alone again.

  This is the second time Ollie has helped me from Becca. Well, he didn't really help me today. More like cleaned up after the fact but still. Maybe I can tell him about my dreams. He seems like he would understand me.

  I finish up my shower and cry fest, shutting the water off before getting dressed in Ollie's clothes, loving how they smell exactly like him. It's like being wrapped up in his body.

  When Ollie is near me a sense of security encompasses me like he will protect me from anything. He did say he promised to never let anyone hurt me.

  I find some mens deodorant under the sink and roll it over me. At least I'll smell good. The combination of mens shampoo, body wash, and deodorant has me all male.

  I walk out of the bathroom and spot Ollie sitting rigid on the couch. Something has him all tense and tortured. I don't want to ruin his night. This is his party, he should be having fun not babysitting me.

  "Are you okay?" I ask as I touch his shoulder. He shudders a little and I pull my hand back worried. This is all my fault.

  "Yeah, I'm good." He claims his posture instantly relaxing. "Junior was looking for you." He says, finally looking over at me.

  "Oh no!" I exclaim, checking my phone for a response. Something has to be up, that phone is his extra appendage and he hasn't responded yet. "Where is he?" I ask Ollie in a panicked voice thinking he left.

  "He's downstairs. I had to carry him to the bathroom. Kid was throwing up every where." Ollie expresses with a disgusted scowl on his face. I laugh a little but stop when Ollie glares at me. I pause thinking he's mad at me, but then he bursts out giggling. Who knew a guy giggling could be so hot?

  "I'm so sorry!" I say to him feeling the need to apologize for Junior's behavior. The fact that Junior is even alive after all his drinking is a blessing. You would think he had a high tolerance but nope, lightweight all the way.

  "Let's go find him." I say as I start walking towards the door.

  "Wait." Ollie remarks and I stop, turning back to face him. "Are you okay, Ryder?" He seems genuinely concerned for me but I don't want to cry any more.

  "I'm good." I respond but I'm not fooling him.

  "Come here." He coaxes and I obey his command. He opens his arms for me and I sit on his lap resting my head on his chest as he holds me still, stroking my hair methodically.

  His voice is so beautiful as he hums softly to me. I can't help the tears that form in my eyes but I am strong so I hold it all in. His hand grazes my cheek and butterflies flutter in my stomach loving the contact.

  For once they aren't the anxious butterflies. After all the bad stuff that went down today, in this moment, I am happy. I lean into his strong frame and let him lull me into a happy place with his perfect voice. It's hard to grasp the fact that Ollie is even real, let alone the fact that he likes me—the school loser.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  cave dream

  I open my eyes and find myself sore and freezing. Checking my surroundings, I can barely make out what is around me due to the dim lighting that only allows shadows to be seen. The air is damp and cold. The ground appears rocky and dust is fluttering around everywhere. I'm in something like a cave.

  My back aches—shooting pain travels up my spine in waves. I stand up, trying to figure out how the hell I got here. I remember last night perfectly. I was at Ollie's party. I took a shower. Then Ollie and I were going to look for Junior. Then nothing—blank. Stretching my back and legs, I plan my next move.

  Some light shines in the distance. The light isn't strong but anything is better than this dark hole. I start walking towards the glow not sure where it's coming from—the outside or a lamp or something else completely.

  The only thing guiding me is small candles against the walls. Instead of being lit with light bulbs, they are real fire. The candles creep me out. It's like I stepped into a portal to the past. Everything about this place leaves me on edge.

  A set of voices trickle to where I can hear them. The noises sound like two males since the voices are deep. I don't recognize one at all but immediately, I recognize the other one.—Ollie. I can tell by the familiar melodic tone in his voice. Thankful I found him, I move faster towards his voice.

  I start jogging and then full out sprinting wanting to find him. I push myself to run faster than ever. It's like my first dream. I run as the walls pass by me in a blur.

  I don't know how to stop myself either. Holy crap. Stop, stop, stop. And I do, the second my thought is finished. I don't understand anything anymore.

  I get to the room and instead of an exit from the cave, I am deeper. The hall opens up into a large circular room without windows or doors. It is a dead end. My heart sinks.

  A large fire pit takes up the center of the room. The booming fire illuminates the entire place as shadows dance along the walls. Stone fireplaces line the far wall and wooden tables are scattered throughout the large room.

  Oddly enough the room is empty except for Ollie and the guy he's talking to. The place could easily fit a hundred people, maybe more. I'm not sure who would want to eat under ground though.
Everything is muddy and cold—not to mention the lack of electricity.

  "Ollie, whats going on?" I ask him walking up to him but he ignores me, completely. He continues his conversation with the other man as if I don't exist. I glance to see who he is talking to.

  Freaking green eyes! The dark haired man from my dream and the party. He knows Ollie. Of course they would be friends. They both have that weird presence that makes me think they're unique. It's like they're glowing.

  Green eyes turns his face towards me, like he's aware I'm witnessing all of this but dismisses me after a moment. His gaze returns to Ollie focusing his complete attention on him.

  When green eyes faced me, I saw deep into his eyes. Multiple dimensions are held within them. I saw at least three different colors swirling all around. Greens, yellows and faint reds all mix together with different shades in between. They are kind of creepy but smoldering as well. He's just as beautiful as Ollie but in a different way—which is also similar.

  They are both calm, cool and collected. Their speech is clipped and aggressive but their body language is relaxed. They both know they are hot—that's obvious. It seems like they dislike each other as they keep sizing each other up. When one talks, the other has to talk louder. When one moves, the other moves faster. It's like watching a competition take place.

  I want to figure out how to get out of here so I grab onto Ollie. "Ollie, what's going on?" I ask him pleading for an answer. He ignores me. I cling onto his arm pulling him towards me but he doesn't budge. His body doesn't even sway. If he's just ignoring me, he's doing a freaking fantastic job.

  Tears begin to prick the edges of my eyes as my chest shrinks, the air refusing to enter my lungs. I can't breathe at all. I'm going to die trapped down here. Who would ignore someone having a melt down? A tear escapes my lid but I ignore the wetness.

  I suck in my fears and observe what they're saying, thinking I might as well eavesdrop on their conversation and hope to follow them out. I doubt I'm getting out of here anytime soon alone. Crying to myself isn't going to do me any good.

  "Not this lifetime, leave her be." Ollie says to the guy, his eyes pleading.

  "You know I can't." He replies almost with regret. I almost want to comfort him as I stare into his emotion filled eyes.

  "Let me have one life. Fifty years at least." Ollie pleads, trying to bargain—for what, I have no idea.

  "Then let me get one. An eye for an eye." The guy tries to compromise back.

  "No way. You know she loves me." Ollie declares. They're talking about a woman?

  "She loves me too!" The guy expresses throwing up his hands as he starts pacing around the fireplace. Neither one of them talk as they fume. Finally the dark man stops pacing and faces Ollie, his demeanor shows defeat and sorrow.

  "You know damn well it's not the same Aristeus." Ollie whispers. More silence. It's killing me not to be able to comfort someone. I want to understand what is tearing them apart.

  They start getting blurry and flickering in and out like holograms. I look at myself and I'm transparent. My arm is gone! What the hell?

  What were they talking about? One life... An eye for an eye? Nothing makes sense. This has to be a dream, my mind playing tricks on me. Suddenly everything goes black and I get the sensation of falling. I scream from the uneasiness in my stomach.

  "Ryder. What's wrong?" I faintly comprehend. I just want to sleep. I'm shaken awake by two large hands wrapped around my shoulders. I am not a morning person at all. I shrug the hands away.

  Turning over, I slowly open my eyes and find two big, blue circles staring at me. Awakening from the fog, I realize it's Ollie. I quickly panic sitting up fast.

  Bang.

  I smack foreheads with Ollie. I fall back down rubbing my forehead. I shut my eyes so I don't have to stare at Ollie. Damn that guy has a head made of steel.

  After the pain has subsides, I slowly sit up out of—bed? Where am I anyway? Please don't let this be another creepy dream. I start to panic thinking I am alone in a strange place.

  "Where am I?" I ask glancing side to side trying to grasp my surroundings.

  "On my lap. You fainted." Ollie replies, staring down at me, concern in his eyes. I notice the feel of his warm hands behind my head and across my lap. My temperature spikes and I feel heated.

  "What?" I try to recall the bizarre dream I just had. I remember the cave, walking through the old tunnels and Ollie with that guy. They were talking about a girl I think. Ollie said 'her' but they talked like she was some sort of possession. Why would A-whatever love her, too?

  Too much thinking. Where's Junior? Why am I sitting on Ollie's lap? "What time is it?" I ask Ollie hoping to answer one of the hundred questions rattling off in my head.

  "I'm not sure. You were only out for like five minutes." He says acting strange. His brows furrow as his eyes never wander from mine. "I didn't know what happened to you." He explains, his fingers lacing through my hair.

  "I have to find Junior." I tell Ollie while struggling to get off his lap. He looks a little upset at first but the expression fades away as he helps me up. He takes my hand in his after I'm standing and we head out of the door together.

  Ollie leads me down a labyrinth of hallways and doorways. We stop outside of a door on the first floor. We're still holding hands and I definitely don't want to let go. I clench a little garnering a big smile out of Ollie.

  "Junior?" I whisper hoping he's still in there.

  "Ugh." I hear him gurgle out from inside the door. I switch into mom mode rushing to his side hoping to help him. I don't think he has anything left to throw up so I sit him up on the floor in front of the toilet, pushing the now crushed mohawk out of his face.

  He seems okay, his eyes are normal minus the bloody veins branching out. I grab a washcloth from the counter and drench the fabric in ice cold water. I place the cloth on his forehead and he gurgles some more, not liking the coldness.

  "Help me get him home?" I turn asking Ollie with desperation.

  "Of course." He answers coming over to me. He instructs me to walk behind and he'll carry Junior out. At first I am skeptical, Junior isn't a small dude. As if Junior weighs a feather, Ollie lifts him over his shoulder proving me wrong.

  I'm so amazed that I walk in silence after them questioning how it's even possible. When we get to the front door, I hold open it for Ollie letting him through first.

  Thunder booms in the distance as rain comes down in sheets of cold daggers. The sky is black and moonless tonight, a thick layer of clouds covering any stars trying to poke through.

  It's pouring so hard it feels like knifes as I run down the driveway. I get nervous I will trip over my feet but luckily don't. We get to my car and I huddle in the drivers seat. I quickly turn the car on and blast the heat needing to warm my fingers before they break off.

  Ollie jumps in after situating Junior in the back, letting himself into the passenger side. "What are you doing?" I ask him as I put my seat belt over my chest.

  "How are you going to get him inside the house?" Ollie asks me, raising his eyebrows. He has a point. I never thought of the transport into my house.

  "Where are you going to sleep?" I ask him, crossing my arms defensively. As much as I'd like him to sleep in my bed, I don't think that would fly with my dad. Not to mention, I'm not in the emotional state to handle that. I think I would faint—again.

  "I'll take your car back here and pick you guys up tomorrow." He says giving it right back to me.

  "Pick us up?" I ask him not aware of his alleged plan.

  "Yeah, Junior's coming over for band practice. You can come too." I nod to him letting him know he can come so he settles in to the seat rubbing him wet hands in front of the heater. I peer over to him waiting for him to buckle up—my number two car rule, behind drunk driving.

  "What?" He questions me shaking his head back and forth.

  "Buckle your belt." I say averting my eyes to the grey strap.

  "So, are you like
a safely nut?" He asks me while grabbing and clicking the belt—the sound of safety.

  I put the car into drive and start down High Ridge. "I'm not a safety freak. I just like being safe. You should, too." I glance over to him from the corner of my eye but can barely make out his silhouette, the darkness outside hindering my view.

  "I can respect that." He says bobbing his head up and down. "Although it'll take more than a little car accident to get rid of me." He laughs. I giggle a little at how he thinks he's some big macho man.

  "What are you indestructible?" I mutter over to him while focusing my eyes on the road. It's getting slippery and the rain seems to picking up—if that's even possible.

  "Something like that." He says and I catch him smiling at me.

  We pull up to my driveway and Ollie helps me cart Junior into my room. We throw him on the bed and I put a trashcan next him, not wanting to risk it tonight.

  "So this is your room?" Ollie hints suggestively wiggling his eyebrows at me while beaming a shining set of teeth towards me. I smirk at him while narrowing my eyes. I walk towards him playfully punching his arm.

  "Alright. Get outta here." I say grabbing that arm I love—so strong and hard. I push him out of my room and down the stairs towards the door. He's heavy and not helping me at all. Finally we make it to the front door and he stops facing to me.

  "See you in the morning, beautiful girl." He grabs my hand bending down to give my knuckles a loud smooch before retreating to my car. I stand in the doorway, watching him leave.

  I shut the door tight, lock the bolt and retreat to the couch. I don't think I'll be getting much sleep tonight as my mind swirls with different colored eyes.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  song of sadness

  "Junior." I whisper into his ear. "Junior." I speak a little louder, shaking his shoulder. "Wake up." I say, but he continues to ignore me. I walk over to my window and rip open the blinds, hoping the light will wake him up.