Sarah’s eyes opened at a start. Panting, she looked around the dark room, glancing at every shelf, book, and potion. Even when she knew where she was, she still didn’t feel at ease.
All these nightmares were getting to her, making her fear her mind to the point of where she was too afraid to sleep. And this made her feel like she was going insane.
All the sudden, a low glowing light caught her eye, and she turned to find someone holding a glass lamp with a dimly lit candle burning within, making the room glow slightly.
One look at the shadowed figure, Sarah’s heart dropped down to her feet, and she started scooting back toward the head board. The figure just reached out toward her, but she flinched back.
It was the demon... the demon came to life from her dreams. The shadow of her nightmares was real, hovering over her like her awaiting death.
Sarah scrambled the nightstand for some type of defense method. Something sharp, like a letter opener or a knife or something. Maybe something heavy... if she could somehow gather enough force to smash it over its head.
She hoped she was strong enough... She was so frail that her muscles mind as well become dust...
But they never would...
She might suffer weakness, pain, and suffering... but Sarah could never die...
Never.
It was impossible.
The figure lightly placed their hand on her wrist, and she almost screamed... but she felt their body heat sink into her skin...
Demons couldn’t sooth people with warmth... could they...?
The lamp moved like it were floating on its own. It was lightly set on the table, barely making any sound.
Sarah stared at the lamp for a moment before looking up to the figure.
She saw it was a boy... a young boy... the one from her dreams...
Did he come to save her?
Studying his figure, Sarah recognized his coal black hair and light grey eyes in an instant.
Malaki.
“Wha—” she gasped, scooting further back without meaning to, “wha— what— what—”
Malaki lightly rubbed her inner wrist with his thumb. “It’s okay. I’m not here to hurt you, Gem. I’m not a demon, alright?”
How did he know she was thinking that...?
“How...?” Sarah spoke in broken sentences, but he seemed to understand. Which was really odd. No one could understand her when she was freaking out like this.
“I heard you screaming from my room. I came to check on you. Are you alright?”
All she did was blink.
Was she that loud when she had nightmares?
“Did you have a bad dream?” Malaki asked. His voice so gentle like she was a terrified child.
After nodding, she glanced around the room again to make sure this wasn’t another nightmare, tricking her into thinking she was safe, and then the moment she thought it, the whole world would shatter. And she would be alone, screaming for help.
“It’s okay,” Malaki assured her. “You’re safe, Gem. Don’t be afraid.”
“What... makes you... say that...?” Sarah stuttered.
He tilted his head like a puppy. “I can see that you are scared, my gem. Are you not?”
She looked down, trying to avoid his hot gaze. This wasn’t how she wanted him to see her. A scared child. Shaking. Panting.
“I...” she sniffled, “I just... struggle with my past....”
“I can see that,” Malaki said with a soft smile. “You were screaming for your mom.”
Sarah looked up, heart freezing in shock. “I... I was?”
Malaki nodded slightly.
“What... what did I say...?”
His smile tilted enough to make her cheeks burn. “Enough for me to know she was not the greatest person that exists.”
Sarah looked down at the bed, noticing that the sheets were in tangles around her.
“Oh, wow, I...” she breathed, “I’m sorry for waking you... Mal....”
“You didn’t,” he assured her. “I wasn’t going to go to bed yet. Not until two, you see.”
“Oh... what is the time...?”
He glanced at his golden watch. “It is almost midnight, Gem.”
Sarah glanced out the window to see the light behind the trees engulfed in darkness. She looked down at her free hand, realizing that there were nail marks in her palm.
“At least you did not break skin, hmm?” Malaki chuckled. Sarah guessed he was looking at where her gaze was aimed. “That would hurt worse.”
She nodded, straight faced.
She felt his fingers circle around her wrist that was captured by his warm hand.
“How long has it been since you have eaten?” Malaki wondered.
Oh, god... was it that easy to tell she didn’t eat that often...?
“I ate yesterday.”
“What did you eat?”
“Umm... an apple...?”
“Anything else?”
She shook her head.
“The day before?”
Sarah shook her head again.
Malaki let out a long sigh. “I could tell by the look of you that you don’t eat.” He glanced up at her face. “You don’t sleep either, Gem. And you look very pale. How long has it been since you have been outside?”
“Umm...” she hesitated, “a couple weeks...?”
He just stared.
That was a lie. The truth was, she hadn’t been out in the sun for centuries, but she wouldn’t tell him that. He would think she were crazy.
As if he sensed her lie, he said, “I am going to let that one go.” He scanned over her arms and neck like a doctor looking for a disease. “How long have you been sick for?”
“Sick?”
“You were sick...” Malaki gazed into her eyes, concerned, “did you not know?”
“Umm....”
“You didn’t know?”
Sarah shook her head.
“Well, my gem, you didn’t have just any sickness, you had ‘mors maledictio.’”
Sarah stared at Malaki for a minute, breathing heavily. Did he just speak... Latin?
“That sickness was named after a curse that was developed by witches,” he continued. “It translates to, ‘The Death Curse.’” Then Malaki studied her thoughtfully for a bit. “But you did not die from it... That is very odd....”
“‘Curse’?” Sarah repeated, feighing disbelief. “Curses don’t exist. No type of magic does.” She hoped she didn’t sound defensive. She could feel sweat dripping down the sides of her face at the lie.
He only smiled an amused smile. “You do not fool me, Gem,” Malaki said. “I knew you were a Gifted One the moment I saw you. What you are, I’m not sure, but you are not human. That I am certain.”
Sarah’s mouth dropped. How did he know?
“Umm...” was all she managed to say.
How do you respond to that? But she didn’t have to.
“Now, would you like to tell me where you got this curse from, Sarah?” Malaki wondered.
A blink. “I... I honestly don’t know....”
He examined her gaze for a minute, as if he were reading her eyes for a lie. But she wasn’t lying, she seriously didn’t know how she got the curse.
Eyes going back to their normal dark grey, he smiled again. “I want you to eat, drink some tea, and get back to bed, alright?”
She nodded.
Malaki stared at her in confusion for a bit.
“Umm... what’s wrong...?” Sarah wondered.
“How long has it been since you had a full meal, went outside, slept, and enjoyed yourself?” Malaki questioned.
She sighed. No point lying now. “Full meal, outside, slept and enjoyed myself?” She pondered for a moment, calculating the years in her mind. “What is the year?”
Malaki stared at her horrifically for a moment. “You don’t know the year?”
“Just... what is it?”
“It is 2007, Gem,” he said, his tone dripping concern.
2007? she almost screamed, but decided against it.
“It’s been... two hundred and nineteen years.” 232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Gga6Gaugu
