Testing Bonds
POV: Alexandra
The last thing I remembered before fainting was my uncle trying to choke me. I had no fear in that moment for some reason, I was just really sad that he would turn on me. I had it in my head that he was cured of the curse that had been placed in his mind. He was acting as a loving fiancé to Vanessa so I wanted to console her for her sadness of thinking she had lost him to death only to find him alive. She lost so much time that she could have been married happily and even had kids of her own. Was he manipulating the situation to get close to me? I wasn’t sure but I had to be on my guard from here on out. I found myself looking up at Derek as he placed me on my bed, “Are you okay Lex?” I nodded, “Just in shock. Did I faint?” He squeezed my hand, “Looks like for a short time you did.” I sat up, “Aunt Ness, is she okay?” He nodded, “I don’t think she’s quite grasped what happened yet though. Last I saw her, she was sitting on the floor of the foyer hyperventilating. I’ve asked Dana to summon a doctor to look at your neck and check to see if Ms. Tannen is okay.” I shook my head, “I’m fine. He didn’t get to squeeze to hard before you saved me. Thank you for that.” He smiled at me, “I know it’s my job, Lex, but we’re friends I would have done it regardless.” I reached up and hugged him, “You don’t know how happy I am that we are friends too, Derek. Just maybe keep your options open.” He looked at me confused, “What do you mean by that?” An image of Jess flashed in my mind, I know she hasn’t come out and told me that she liked him but it only took an observant person to know that she was crushing hard.
I got off the bed and started to walk towards my door as Derek shouted after me, “Where are you going?” I turned to look at him, “I’m going to check on Aunt Ness. She’s in worse shape than me I suspect.” I made my way down the stairs where I saw three older women surrounding Vanessa on the floor. I had expected two of the women to be there but I was surprised to see Whisperia. She saw me and rose from her crouching position, “Little darling, I came because I felt that my magic was being tampered with.” I was confused, “Tampered with? Who would do that?” She sighed, “You did, little darling.” Vanessa looked up at me and glared. I had never seen her look at me and I was further confused, “I did no such thing.” Whisperia giggled, “Not intentionally. There’s a reason I asked you to leave him for a few days. Your ability isn’t just connected to romantic love, your ability has power to affect familial relationships.” I shook my head and showed her the bracelet on my wrist, “It is suppressed at the moment. There’s nothing I could have possibly done to affect my uncle.” She took my hand in hers, “Be that as it may, some bonds are stronger than any magic or suppression tools. Your mere presence in the room has affected my magic." Vanessa rose to her feet and crossed over to Derek, “I request that we transfer him to the Citadel. If he must be watched, I would prefer he be in a place where his recovery isn’t threatened by certain forces.” Derek shook his head, “I’m sorry but the General said that Alexandra was in charge of where he goes. Only she can make that determination.” Vanessa crossed her arms and glared at him, “Given the circumstances and who he is, can he not give me that authority? I am his fiancé.” He looked over at me, “I will ask but I believe he will still leave that to Alexandra since she is his family. You well know that family make the decisions for medical and personal care of their family members. Since Talon has a curse on him, this would count as medical or personal care.”
He looked back at me, “Alexandra, I will be back. I am going to speak to the General about the new development.” I nodded at him, “I understand, please be careful riding. Where is Jess?” He looked towards the door that led to the basement, “She went to feed him.” Whisperia grabbed my arm, “Little darling, I need to speak with you alone.” I nodded at her and led her to the study then closed the door. We both sat down, her in the settee and me in the Duke’s chair, “What is it that you wanted to talk about?” She sighed, “You need to find a way to induce Vanessa into a coma.” I bolted upright out of my chair, “What?!” She patted my arm, “She was affected by the curse magic. I can see it poisoning her heart. This magic is strong and it has made it’s way inside her when she was most vulnerable. I was worried it affected you too but I can see your goddess protected you.” I placed a hand on my heart then sat down calmly. I closed my eyes and took two calming breaths, “Do you have any ideas on how to do that?” She nodded once, “Dorothea will have to help out. I need you to convince her to do so though. She’s personally invested so she may not want to help. You will have to convince her to cast her curse seeing eye spell on Vanessa to see that I am telling the truth.” I leaned and patted her hands, “I don’t think it will be hard for me to convince her. If I can’t do it, Derek will be able to. She can’t resist a muscular man with a handsome face."
We got up and joined the other women in the foyer. Vanessa came up to me immediately, "You’ve doomed your uncle to a cruel fate. How could you? You should give up your familial decision making to me. You don’t deserve to be a Batiste or an Esperanza if you can't even handle the care of your uncle.” Zeb walked up to Vanessa and started to tug on Vanessa, “You don’t mean that dear.” She shook Zeb off of her and got further into my face, “I mean every word. She’s just a spoiled, sheltered brat that everyone thinks is so perfect but she’s not. She’s ignorant and selfish.” Tears were welling up in my eyes, I heard Whisperia’s voice in my head, “It’s the curse. Don’t let it get to you or you will fall into despair. It’s a nasty side effect of this particular curse. Resist the urge to be hurt.” I closed my eyes and told myself that this was not Vanessa or how she truly feels. I opened them to see her still in my face, “I don’t have time to sit here and listen to you attempting to insult me.” I pushed past her and grabbed Dorothea and drug her along with me up the stairs. The other two women were pulling Vanessa into the study. Dorothea was giggling behind me as I pulled her along. We walked into my room and I closed the door behind us. I swiftly walked over to my bed and plopped down as Dorothea took a seat in the chair that was still sitting by my bed. She looked at me amused, “I am willing to bet that whatever you discussed with Wisp is why you decided that you needed my company.”
I cradled my head in my hands, “You know, Dorothea, I only wanted to be able to go to school and have a normal college experience. I wasn’t planning on dealing with cursed uncles. You’re right though, Whisperia suspects that the curse made its way into Vanessa’s heart. She wants you to help us put her into a coma.” She blinked a few times at me before she spoke, “I understand that you’re hurt by her words but she’s just upset that you messed with the curse being lifted. I know it isn’t your fault but you need to cut her some slack.” I plopped back in my bed, “She thought you’d resist helping. Listen, just cast your curse seeing eye on her. If she isn’t cursed, I will just have accept that she’s being spiteful. If she is, then we’ll know for sure. It wouldn’t hurt to check, would it?” She regarded me for a few minutes, “I suppose you’re not wrong. I will do so but I want something in return.” I sat up, “What’s that?” She looked me in the eye, “I want to cast this spell on you too.” I opened my arms, “Fine, if that will convince you to take a look at her too.” She nodded, “Okay, look at me in the eyes and don’t look anywhere else.” I fell into a trance and heard a snap at the end of it. I smiled at her, “See? I have nothing.” She shook her head, “You don’t have the curse that grips your uncle and potentially Vanessa, no. You are cursed, however, and it is just as strong if not stronger than the one on your uncle.”
