Cursed

Chapter Eleven

"We'll talk soon about what happened with your dad," she assures me. I almost outwardly groan. I had been dodging her "talk," ever since we got back to Salem, and that was a week ago.

"Just not today right?" My only goal was to prolong it one day at a time. I knew eventually my mom would drop it and move out. Honestly, I was over it. I said what I said to Chad and I meant it. I have had a whole week t process it. I cried, yelled, cried some more, and realized that nothing really changed. Except, that I had finally set boundaries with Chad.

"Right, because we have company coming over." She turned to leave again. "Have you seen Dara? I can't find her anywhere." She appeared genuinely concerned. I, on the other hand, couldn't care less.

"I haven't," I replied quickly. I wanted to put a few curls in my hair.

"Weird, it's like she just disappeared." My mom laughed and then actually left. I sucked in air. What if that was Dara's main power? What if she could turn herself invisible? That would suck so much. I really needed to start getting visions again. Before I could freak out any more, the doorbell rang. My heart skidded, but my mind held composure. I smoothed my dress one more time, then went downstairs. I was wearing heels, which felt foreign in this cold.

My hair felt ultra flat, but I was out of time. Thankfully, it was Addie.

"Ads! Er, Addie, uh sorry." I stammer ridiculously at her in my foyer. She gives me an awkward smile. Silvia, grunts and walks past me.

"Hey, uh are you okay?" She asked, touching my forearm. She's wearing an all-black skater dress with black chunky heels that go up to her knees. She's perfectly glamorous and goth. Her hair is an in a long straight black wig, elegant with her all-black ensemble.

"Yeah, just wishing for the day that people stop asking me that. I'm sorry, I'm just really freaked." I survey the foyer: it's just us. "My mom said something that really freaked me out." She nodded, realizing it was Witch related.

"Should we go upstairs?" I nodded and we both head upstairs.

"Silvia, I'm going to help Corn upstairs, okay?" Addie calls from the base of the stairs. Silvia, who is already heading towards the kitchen where Gran is, shooes Addie away.

"I don't need no damn babysitter. Plus, I bet I been to the Solart's house a lot more than you, child." She waves her hands at Addie. "Evanora, you got some whiskey?" Then, she disappeared into the kitchen. Addie and I shared a look, then entered my room.

Once in the safe haven of my room, I finally divulge what had frazzled me so badly.

"It's weird, she said 'it's like she disappeared' and it got me thinking: what if that's Dara's main power?" I let it sink in, watching her face. She goes through various emotions before settling on scared. "If Dara can turn herself invisible, we're completely fu--

"Here I was told the ladies were up here," Erik entered the room the way he entered every room: full of sarcasm and confidence. It dripped off of him, like water rolling off your skin. I did a double take, he was dressed differently. Instead of his usual leather jacket and jeans, he wore a black long sleeve button up and black slacks with dress shoes. He wasn't wearing combat boots! This had to be the first time since knowing him that he wasn't wearing those boots.

"I wondered when you were gonna get here," Addie smirked at him. They hugged briefly. He turned towards me, his lopsided smirk still stuck on his face. Without hesitation, I moved to hug him too. He was tense, but he hugged me back. Even though his shirt and my dress, I could feel his muscles ripple. Did everyone in Salem have a six pack?

"Happy New Years Eve." his breath was hot against my ear. I fumbled with my words, but what was new?

"H-happy New Years Eve." I was such a wreck. This was Erik -- just Erik. Why was I acting so weird? It had to be because he was so dressed up. I hated to admit it, but he looked really good.