Page 3 of A Curse On Black Lake
Everything goes dark.
Cassandra Jameson
Nine Months Later
“Cassie, you have to push. He’s ready,” Lily calls.
I sob into the ceiling as my son pushes his way into the world. I wish Jasper were here.
“Almost there,” Lily says.
She’s my only friend, the only one that would help me. My parents disowned me when I saw the love of my life die. They called me a whore, amongst other names. But I don’t care.
“One more, one more,” Lily encourages.
I groan, pushing as hard as I can, and Lily catches him. A second later, I hear a strong cry. Letting a breath loose, I lean back into the pillows and lay there while she handles everything around me.
She gets him cleaned up and rests him on my chest. He looks up at me, his fists clenching and releasing as if he’s looking for his father too.
A sob bursts from my lips, and it’s like my heart is breaking over and over again. I stare at my son with blurry vision. His father would be proud. “Your father loves you so much, Jasper.”
“Is that what you want to name him?” Lily asks.
“For Jasper,” I rasp.
“I think he would be very proud of both of you,” she says.
Pain of unceasing grief rolls through me as I stare at my son, and it is like thorns in tender flesh seeking blood ever so lovingly. This is not his fault. He does not deserve to suffer because of me. I hate myself for begging God to take me so I can be with my Jasper. Lily will care for our boy; he would be safewith her. But I know what is right, and I must do what he asked of me.
“Did you … did you really mean what you said? When … Jasper died?” Lily asks.
“You mean when he was killed,” I say deadpan. That is the reality. Theykilledthe love of my life in cold blood, with no remorse for leaving his child without a father.
“Yes,” she whispers.
“This land and its people will see nothing but struggle and strife. Death and blood. They will rue the day they killed him, Lily, and their families will pay the price.”
Lily Greer
Cassandra stands on the hill with her babe strapped to her breast and a horse saddled with all she can carry. She looks like vengeance and determination as the wind blows her dark hair. I clasp the envelope she handed me, sealed with a wax stamp, to hold for safekeeping until, or if, she ever returns.
She left as soon as she was physically able, despite my pleads for her to take her time and heal.
Cassandra simply told me there was no amount of time or cure that would heal her.
I asked her where she was going, and she said, “Where Jasper had wanted them to start over.” I wanted to go with her. She’s alone. And I told her as much, but she said,“No, Lily, you muststay because you are the only light in this town. If they ever understand what they have done, you will be the only one to end it. You must remain the light.”
She may have invited the darkness in, out of pain, grief, and retribution. But they opened the door when they killed Jasper for loving a woman above his status. Love does not care about station, or money, or the opinions of others. I learned that because of Cassandra and Jasper. So, I will remain in Black Lake, as she asked.
I believe she cursed this land. Many don’t. But the moment she said the words, it was like a cloud descended upon us. I felt it, heavy and foreboding, as if the darkness excitedly stuck its claws into this town, never to let it go.
There is power in words, and there is power in the blood of the innocent.
Chapter one
Eliana
Black Lake, Texas
