"What's your curse like?" Estella carelessly asked while staring at the night sky.
Tonight, Seth had bought a blanket for them to lay on and look up at the night sky. The sky almost clear, only the moon was playing peekaboo with the clouds. Estella thought back at her question and froze in embarrassment.
"Actually you don't have to answer that. That was rude of me. I'm sorry." She quickly apologized.
'She's so cute,' He thought then shook his head when he realized what he was thinking.
"It's fine. I don't mind telling you. You see my curse, well, is to be become the leader of my clan."
Estella looked at him confused,"I don't understand why is it a curse to head your family's clan?"
"Well because I have to kill people. Not that it matters to me, just wish I had the choice. You know?" He said it as if killing people was no big deal.
She could feel his sadness but was scared to touch him, 'What if I hurt him?' She thought.
"I'm sorry, you didn't have a choice."
"How about you, what's your curse?"
"I bring misfortune to others."
"With isn't your clan blessed with prosperity?"
She nodded, "Only the boys, the girls have said to only bring misfortune onto the clan and to prevent it from growing more intense. I have to perform an offering to the family's God."
He watched her quietly as she admired the sky, feeling a sense of calm just by being next to her.
"Do you have dreams? Like...a goal?" he asked, keeping his voice soft, almost as if he didn't want to break the spell of the moment.
She looked at him, "Just one, I want to see the world."
"Why? What if the word isn't what you think it is?"
She glanced back up at the sky, her fingers fidgeting with a stray leaf she'd picked up.
"Maybe the world isn't all beautiful," she began softly, "but I want to believe there's some beauty in it, enough to make me feel... safe somehow, like I won't be completely alone."
She paused, the usual sparkle in her eyes flickering. "It's like when I'm out here, looking up at the stars. I feel like there's something bigger, watching, making sure I'm okay. And maybe... maybe if I saw more of that, I wouldn't be as afraid."
She looked at him then, as if seeking reassurance. "Does that make any sense?"
'She's so cute.' He thought, his heart always felt warm when he was near her. The way her voice spoke so freely and sweetly, her innocent and carefree movements, bright smile that almost blinded him, the naive way she thought. To him, she was absolutely perfect. He loved being around her, just her presence brigthen his gloomy, haunted world. Deep down he knew what was drawing him to her,but-
'How can a sinner like ever be worthy of an angel?' He thought as he tried to push back the feelings for her that wanted to surface.
Even with his heart and mind heavy with the unworthyness he felt, despite the way his one tattooed arm, with the written curse, burned whenever he was near her. He couldn't stop himself from being here with her. The Gods were cursing at him for being with her but he didn't care. If they didn't want him near her, why make her so perfect?
'I just want to be near her. She's the first person to accept me, not as a leader, or anything just as a person. If she wishes to see the world, then so be it.'
"Let's go." He finally spoke.
She looked at him confused, even doing a little head tilt which he found unbelieveably adorable.
"Go where?" She spoke curiously.
"Let's go see this big beautiful world together," he said, standing up and extending his hand. "Let's run away from all of this. I know it seems impossible, and I know I'm not the person you'd ever want to go with, but..."
He trailed off, then took a breath, holding his hand out a little closer, offering his truest self. "But I want to be by your side, Estella."
Her heart skipped as she saw a rare, confident smile spread across his face, one she'd never seen before.
'I've never seen him smile like that before. So confident and happy, how could I refuse?' She thought.
Without another thought, she placed her hand in his, the warmth of his rough palm grounding her. "Let's do it," she whispered. "I know, once you're by my side, I'll be okay."
The wind picked up, swirling around them, as they locked eyes. Fully content with their choice, they shared a moment of silent excitement, a bond neither could explain but both needed.
"Pack anything that you think you might need but make it light and meet me here three nights from now. Til then let's not meet to avoid suspicions." He tucked away strands on her her. His hand idilled a bit too long on her cheek.
When he started to pull away, she leaned into his touch. "I'll be counting down the nights."
ns 18.68.41.179da2
