Page 7 of The Cursed Chalice
Tears roll down my cheeks as I am still trying to catch my breath.
“Oh, my God. Is she okay?”
“She’s crying.”
“Should we call Elias back?”
Michelle stands and says, “Everyone go downstairs and give us twenty minutes.”
The makeup artist comes in and begins fixing my makeup. Drying my tears, Luigi takes five minutes to get me back on track.
“I will be here all night. Let me give you girls space.” He packs his stuff and exits the room, leaving Michelle and me alone.
Michelle stands in front of me, holding my bouquet and a card.
“I love you. But I didn’t know Elias was like this,” Michelle mutters.
I don’t speak because exactly what do I say? How do I tell her Elias is abusive? Or that I saw him kill someone over a pallet of cocaine in cold blood.
“My card has $10,000 on it. If you take this, you can run. Let this blow over.”
I shake my head. “I have my own money.”
Michelle stares at me in pity. “Think, if you leave now, someone can track your card.”
She was right. I move to grab the card but pull back. “I can’t use your money.”
“Don’t be trapped with a man that doesn’t love you. Run.” Michelle holds the card out to me.
I swallow. “What about Gram’s bills? Elias pays for that.”
“Let your uncle and aunty take care of that.”
I go for the bouquet, and I see the disappointment on my cousin’s face.
“Hold my card until the end of the ceremony,” Michelle says. She reaches forward and stuffs the card in my bra.
I take the flowers and hold them to my chest.
“You can always change your mind,” Michelle says.
ARIC
It looked like it was about to rain. This whole day has drained my very soul. I take no delight as I walk onto the wharf. I hate the smell of the sea, but I love how the sea reacts when I am near. The waves become agitated. It serves as a sign that my uncle would love to kill me, but he can’t because of the curse and, well, the surrounding people.
My walking leads me to a large chained fence. I stand by the gate, patiently waiting for the guard to open it. Normally, I would be here at night, with a paid guard ready to open the gate. I would be here to check my shipment of weapons. But that is not the case today.
“Sir? How can I help?”
“My name is Aric Kallistratos,” I reply.
The guard scratches his bulbous stomach as he takes a clipboard and begins looking through the list.
“There is no Kalli—whatever your name is here.” he looks around and then back at me. “But for a price…”
“Kill him now.”
I choose to ignore the person who has been taunting me for centuries.
