Malediction

31 - The Meeting

Staring back at the woman that had cursed my friend and his family, her eyes swiftly brushed me over, quickly averting when I noticed Danny rush to my side, his hand reaching for mine, slightly pulling me behind him.

A smile wickedly lifted on her features, her teeth equally as perfect as the rest of her while she took in the man beside me.

"Isn't it bizarre how one can look so similar, yet so unalike to a relative?"
It was a question she didn't seek the answer to.

"You have his eyes, Danny" She informed him as though we didn't already know

"But the real question here is, do you have the same personality? Because if you do, you've agreed to meet with the wrong person" She began to slowly move around us, circling like a hawk on the lookout for fresh meat

"What happened between you and my grandfather, it has nothing to do with me, nor my brother, my uncle, my mother.." Danny trailed off, the back of his hand still lightly leaned against mine "Punishing me, punishing my family because of what William has done, it's wrong, it's barbaric"

Evalia seemed to be studying his face, her eyes narrow as she scrutinised his every inch

"You're more handsome than he was, a lot braver too when faced with confrontation" She was being arrogant and avoiding the true reason for the meeting "What happened to your hand? Get into a fight did we?" She attentively observed as her eyes flickered to mine

"I'm betting you had something to do with that" Her smile lifted, crooked "Tell me dear" She began, her body now beside mine, her face moving close to my cheek, her breath in my ear

"How deep in are you? Has he surrendered to you yet, or is he restraining himself?" Her words struck my very core, my skin gaining goosebumps. This was a game to her, and suddenly, I found my courage.

"What happened in 1925?" I began, keeping my face forward "The reports said that you had died, that you had been murdered, how is that possible?"

Instantly I could feel that she had been caught off guard, stepping back from me

"Smart as well as beautiful" She clicked her tongue "What a dangerous combination"

"So what did you do, make a deal with the devil himself?" I pushed

She stood in front of me, eyes unwavering over my face "I guess you could say that"

Mentally I shook my body free from her grip, my entire fearlessness reappearing "Did he impose on you this spiteful personality or was that natural, a trait passed down through the family?" I spat, aiming to fight back, stand tall and let her know of my seriousness

Her lips curled upwards once again, her pupils larger than an average persons should be

"A bit of both" She shrugged "But it was William who really brought that side of me out, the question is, was it naturally inside of you, or has Danny's presence brought that out in you too?"

It was a good question, one that I couldn't honestly answer.

"I don't take well to people that punish others with a lifetime curse for something they had nothing to do with" I replied, avoiding the answer

Back to back, Danny and mine hands remained lightly touching, and I was well aware of it when it became more forceful, a warning nudge.
He was not defending himself, he was too quiet, what did he expect me to do? I was the one fighting for his freedom, the opportunity directly in front of him, why was he not doing the same?

Evalia's gaze turned back to Danny, her expression soft "Let's just say I was able to lift the curse, would you tell her? Would you tell her how you really feel about her or would you take advantage of the ability to 'hit and quit' as many women as you wanted to? And boy, don't lie to me, I can smell it a mile away"