Chapter 26

Anna woke to find Christian seated on her bed, his hands reaching for her again.

“What are you doing?” she asked, fear tightening her voice to little more than a whisper.

Without uttering a word, Christian pulled her blankets away and took her by the shoulders.

Feeling his paws and nails on her skin, Anna began screaming in panic, scared that he was going to hurt her again. She knew that in her weakened state there was nothing she could do to stop him.

“It’s going to be alright,” he purred, pulling her into his furry embrace.

“NO!” Anna wailed as he enveloped her in his arms.

She continued screaming as Christian forced the magic out of himself into her, feeling its power seeking out her injuries and healing them.

Agnes made it to Anna’s room in time to see the glow of magic dimming as Christian released the girl, and staggered away from her bed.

“You’re going to be okay now,” Christian panted, patting the air between himself and Anna before stumbling past Agnes, out of her room.

Agnes was torn between following Christian and consoling Anna, but in the end she chose the girl.

Anna sat on her bed, her knees drawn up to her chin as her body shook in abject fear.

“Hush now,” Agnes cooed as she poured laudanum into a glass for her. “Drink this, you’ll feel much better?”

As if she were a child again, Anna clung to Agnes accepting the bitter drink a sip at a time.

“Please don’t let him hurt me again,” Anna begged, her grip slackening as the drug took effect.

“I won’t,” Agnes assured her, seeing Anna’s eyelids growing heavy. “I will never let him hurt you again.”

Believing the older woman’s promise, Anna let the laudanum take hold and surrendered to its pull on her. A dreamless sleep engulfed her, blocking out the pain and turmoil of the outside world.

Agnes stayed with her the rest of the night, watching as Christians gift of magic healed every scratch and bruise that had been like a map of pain on Anna’s flesh.

In the morning both women were awakened by Melissa bringing in a tray laden with food.

Sliding out of Anna’s embrace, Agnes stood and smoothed out her crumpled dress.

“How do you feel?” she asked, turning back to the bed.

“A little better,” Anna admitted, stretching sleepily.

It took a few moments for her to realize that for the first time in days she was able to move without pain. Looking down at her hands and arms Anna was shocked to see that her wounds were healed, no discoloration showing where they had been.

Pulling the sheets and blankets aside, she saw that her entire body was whole once more.

“What happened?” she asked Agnes, looking up at the older woman in surprise.

“Christian,” Agnes replied, drawing the chair away from her dressing table to sit by the bedside.

“I don’t understand,” the younger woman said, confusion replacing the shock.

“Your wounds were not healing,” Agnes explained, leaning forwards. “When Christian learned of it he found a way to use his magic to heal you.”

Anna looked perplexed as she tried to remember everything that had happened. Shaking her head, she looked back up at Agnes.

“He was here last night,” Anna said.

It was not a question, just a statement of fact as she remembered him embracing her and the soft blue light that seemed to have surrounded them both.

“Yes,” Agnes agreed.

Anna then remembered Christian stumbling away, seeming weak and unsteady.

“Is he well?” she couldn’t help ask, despite her fear and anger at him.

“I don’t know,” Agnes admitted sadly. “I stayed with you during the night.”

Anna thought things over for a moment and finally reached out to take Agnes’ hand.

“You should go and make sure he’s okay,” she said, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“Yes,” Agnes agreed, nodding her head.

“Melissa,” she continued, looking at the maid who’d been standing silently to the side while they talked. “I want you to stay with Anna for the rest of the morning. I will see that the rest of your chores are handled by someone else.”

“Yes ma’am,” Melissa replied with a courtesy.

Rising, Agnes kissed Anna on top of her head before leaving her to seek out Christian.

She found him sitting in his room staring blankly at a roaring fire, his body limp with exhaustion.

“Is she whole again?” he asked, before Agnes could say anything.

“Yes, sir,” she replied, moving to stand in front of him. “When she woke this morning all of her wounds healed.”

“Good,” he replied, sitting back into the cushioned chair. “Send her home.”

“My lord?” Agnes asked, surprised at the statement.

“Send her home,” he clarified. “I can’t keep her here anymore.”

“But Christian,” the older woman breathed, “what about the curse?”

“I don’t care anymore,” he replied, his gaze never wavering from the flames.

“You can’t send them away,” she begged, falling to her knees. “What about us? We will fade away and you will be left alone.”

“I don’t care anymore,” he replied, turning red rimmed eyes, “I deserve to be alone. I am a monster.”

“You’re not a monster,” Agnes encouraged.

“Yes,” he sighed, “I am. I was a monster long before I kidnapped Alamina, long before this curse, I have been a monster since I was born.

“Seeing Anna last night,” he continued, “the fear on her damaged face, the damage I caused, it made everything clear. I don’t deserve her.”

“Oh Christian,” Agnes sobbed.

“Don’t pity me,” Christian said, his gaze returning to the flames. “When Anna is gone, I will use my magic to try and break the barrier that keeps everyone here. I will also try to bring everyone back from nothingness. If I can do that, I want you all to take whatever is valuable and leave this place. Find your own happiness away from this cursed place.”

“We can’t leave you,” Agnes sighed, reaching for his paw.

“Yes, you can,” he replied, accepting the gesture with a gentle squeeze. “You have all given up so much of your lives to me already. It’s time for you to leave and live your own lives.”

“Oh Christian,” she sobbed, placing his paw against her tear slick cheek.

“It’s alright,” he said, a sad, smile on his lips. “I finally understand why this happened to me and I’m ready to accept it.

“For the first time in two hundred years,” he continued, “I am at peace.”