Chapter 19: Why Me?

Crystal

I actually fell on my behind, looking up at her as though she had just grown a second head.

“Love, what happened?” Captain Bayou rushed to my side, bending on his knees, looking concerned. I slowly turned to stare at him with wide eyes.

“She... She said I’m your wife.” I pointed at Belle. Captain Bayou’s eyes narrowed, but then they turned dark when he glanced at Belle.

“Damn it, Belle, there was some reason Max nor I didn’t tell her,” he growled.

“She would eventually figure it out,” she shook her head as though it was common sense..

I moved my hands, only to have sparks fly out of my hands.

“What the?” My hands were shaking as I looked at them.

“What’s going on with me?” My voice became thick, as Capt. Bayou turns to look back at me.

Max came up and looked down at us.

“You have his powers until the curse is broken. You can’t leave his side Crystal.”

“Oh God, why?”

“Trust me, love, this has nothing to do with God, it wasn’t his will, but his.” Captain Bayou glanced down, indicating God’s enemy. I gulped, lowering my hands.

“I’m so confused.”

“I know,” he agrees.

“Why me? Couldn’t you get some other woman to be your witch? How in the world did you manage to do this?” I asked, Captain Bayou frowned, looking down at me.

“Can you both leave?” he asked the others. Max and Belle looked at each other and nodded.

Without a word both left. I looked up at Captain Bayou.

“Am I really your... wife?” my voice trembled.

“Aye, you are, but it’s different. To really be my wife, you need God blessing. In this we err...” He looks confused.

“Please explain it so I can understand this, is this why you said if I could handle it? When we first met? When were you planning on telling me this? Never?” I asked him. He nodded at me.

“I wish never, it’s hard to bring it up in a conversation because I didn’t get your permission and I knew you will react like this,” he admits.

“I had rather you told me earlier, not let your father limited his explanation to me and leave me half blank to it. This is my life we are talking about!” I scolded, as I fist my hand trying to control myself.

He sat down and lifted his leg up, sighing.

“It wasn’t me. It was my curse that chose you. I just followed its rules. Um, when I picked you up that day, that’s when I started to transfer my powers to you. It’s weird, I don’t understand it very well as well. All I know, we are bonded, you will be the holder of my powers because, those powers were never meant for me, it was meant for the woman I chose, so I turned you into a witch. I mean.” he seems to get confused himself.

“Wait, why do you even have powers in the first place? I get the whole killing thing, but powers, explain.” I asked, letting his words sink in.

“When the king cursed me, he added one extra curse on me, he gave me those powers, I don’t know why, though.” His eyes turn sad.

“He just gave it to you with no explanation?” Captain Bayou shook his head at me.

“Ne, he told me to find a witch to give my powers to hold. Since there were no witches around or if so I haven’t met one, I had to look for one. I looked for years until last week when I met you. I just knew you were it. Don’t get me, wrong love, it wasn’t’ because love at first sight it was because I felt it in my blood.” he explained. Then he went silent for a second before he continued.

My cheeks reddened, and I looked down at my hands.

“That’s why you were talking nonsense earlier. I’m stuck with these, if I’m your witch, then what does it make you to me?” Captain Bayou went silent for a brief second before he talked.

“I’m your husband, of course, and your guardian.”

“Huh? Guardian? Shouldn’t I be your guardian?”

“No, another twist if you must know since now we are bonded, if you die, I die, so I need to protect you. Many will go after you, now that you have my powers. If they kill you, I die with you. Also, your life span is tied to mine.” Horror passed over my body.

“I have one year to live?” I gasped out, my body already shaking.

“Aye love.” Shame and sadness passed over his silver eyes, as his bangs shadowed his eyes.

I stood there not moving, trying to let everything sink in. I had one more year of life, I was technically his wife/witch, and he was my husband/guardian. I was so lost with this.

“Love? Are you okay?”

“No, I am not.” I felt tears already forming. Then anger spurred in me, I looked up at him.

“Why me? I never asked for the king to take me, I never ask for you or to be your witch. What’s so damn special about me? I give nothing!” I moved my hands and shrugged his shoulder. Captain Bayou becomes hurt by my cold words.

“Why did you do this to me? There’re so many other women in this world, why me, why me?” I started to cry, afraid, I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to see my parents, that I would die within a year.

“I’m sorry love, I didn’t mean to, it’s just you called out to me. My curse chose you, it burned in my blood when my eyes first lay sight on you, even though your face was covered. I’m sorry,” he said sincerely. I grasped his shirt.

How did I call out for him? Why would I make his blood boil?

“I don’t want to die,” I tiredly whisper to him.

“Me neither,” he whispered back, his tone filled with desperation at the same time, his eyes filled with sadness. I stopped my struggling, and then it dawned on me. Is this how he lived every day, knowing that he was going to die soon? Knowing that he didn’t have a future? Did he live with this fear all his life? I mean, yes, people die all the time, but we don’t know when is our last breath, but knowing almost the day of your death is a whole different story.

Oh God, he lived his whole life like this, and I’m just getting a piece of it.

Without thinking, I moved my arms and wrapped them around his neck, holding him tight.

Captain Bayou went still on my sudden move, and blinks rapidly raising his arms up.

“Love?”

“It’s scary,” I told him. His eyes lowers in sadness, hesitating on hugging me back.

“I know,” he agrees.

“If this is going to play out, then let it play out. I’m sorry, I’m sorry that you have to live like this, this isn’t fair for you or for me. That king is so evil.” I hiccuped. Tears streamed down my cheeks. Captain Bayou didn’t move nor did he wrap his arms around me, he just stood there, letting me cry.