CHAPTER FOUR

The sun was about to set, Xavier moved quickly so they could get to the stream before dark. She stirred in his arms and moved in closer, the weather was getting chilly. The stream sparkled in the light of the setting sun. Xavier placed her gently on the ground and covered her. The water looked inviting, but he couldn’t leave her alone. He started searching for fire wood nearby.

Vanessa rushed to her feet and hurried to the bush nearby and vomited, she felt her hair move as Xavier held it for her, as she turned to say thank you bile rushed up her throat and she quickly turned away and kept vomiting fruit and blood. Her stomach was soon empty, Xavier stretched out a can of water to her and left.

Vanessa watched his feet as they moved away, she lifted the can to her mouth, moved the water about in her mouth and spat it out. She did this twice and poured some of the water in her palm and washed her face. She crawled her way back to where she was lying down and rested her back against a tree and shut her eyes. She heard Xavier’s footsteps as he shuffled around. The sun set and the moon took its place in the sky.

Xavier arranged the wood he had gotten and lit a fire to keep her warm, he kept some extra wood nearby, Vanessa opened her eyes. Her body was too weak she had lost a lot of fluid. Xavier lay down on the ground placing his hands at the back of his head and shut his eyes. What Vanessa had said about poisoning herself kept running through his mind and the name she had called him. 

“How are you feeling?” he asked 

“Like I just ate poison and vomited blood”

“Next time before you eat anything ask if it’s edible.”

“Of course”

She looked at Xavier and glanced away, she ended up looking at him again. It didn’t make sense to her why someone why someone with his power would keep it locked away.

“What do you want to say?” Xavier asked her

“Since we’re going to be in each other’s company for a while I think we should get to know each other.”

“I know what you want to ask already.”

“And what is that?” He rolled to his side to look at her.

“Why I don’t use my curse?”

“Why do you call it a curse?”

“Isn’t that what it is, we’re cursed no matter how you try to spin it. So calling my capabilities or your capabilities powers doesn’t disguise what it actually is.”

“I know you want to ask me why I poisoned myself.” She responds instead

“I don’t use my curse because I let my guard down, letting my emotions take control and I hurt someone important to me.”

“I poisoned myself because I was tired of living and Drew.”

“Who is Drew?”

“Who did you hurt?”

“I was 8, and my mom was scolding me for throwing something at my brother, and it was his fault. And I was so angry she was defending him when he was the one who was wrong and I let loose. I didn’t kill her.”

“Drew was one of the few people my father allowed me to interact with, he was the son of the head guard. He raped me.”

Xavier opened his mouth to say something to her.

“Don’t apologise, it has happened and I’ve gotten over it.” He nodded then stood up

“Am going to and hunt for something we can eat. I’ll be back soon.”

Vanessa lay down and stared at the starry sky, it was calming. Her eyes felt heavy and she closed them.

She stood in her bedroom at home, it looked like a normal day. She noticed someone on her bed and moved towards it, the closer she got recognition filled her eyes.

“Mother”

The woman on her bed smiled at her and gestured for her to sit down beside her.

“Vanessa, it’s good to see you again.” 

“What are you doing in my dream?”

“I came to check up on you, your father sends his love by the way. So what are you doing in the forest?”

“You’re the witch here, I thought you knew everything.”

“Well for me to have asked I apparently do not know everything.” Her mother retorted icily eying her

“What do you want mother?”

“Can’t I just pay my only daughter a visit?”

“You aren’t supposed to be able to pay me a visit because you’re dead.”

“I see you told the handsome prince about Andrew.” Her mother smiled slyly

 “I don’t see what the big deal is here.”

“You’ve never told anyone about him, not even your father and if not for my powers I wouldn’t have known.”

“You weren’t supposed to find out because you’re supposed to be dead. And I didn’t tell father cause he would’ve overreacted.”

“There’s no possible over reaction to you getting raped.” Vanessa shrugged 

“Is that all you had to say?”

“You like the handsome prince.” Her mother asked changing the topic

“I just met him barely 48 hours ago, I think it’s too early to make such assumptions.”

“You look a little flustered whenever I mention the handsome prince.”

“I look flustered because I’ve been vomiting blood and stop calling him that you know his name.” her mother only smiled at her. She turned and touched Vanessa’s cheek

“Well Vanessa, I have to take my leave. I see Lord Fletcher is here and he’s patiently waiting for you to wake up.”

“Lord Flet-”

Her mother disappeared from and she was suddenly awake, she tried to move her hands but realised they were bound together. She raised her eyes and saw the bastard looking at her and smiling.