Cursed (9 page)

She watched as Missus King grabbed her
husband’s hand and kissed his lips softly. Feeling like an
interloper she moved away from the couple and walked back to her
room.

As she walked through her door, she felt a
whisper cross her cheek, and she sighed in delight.

She meant what she said, and she would not
refute it.

****

Addie decreed her love for him. His heart
felt full and complete, but a pinch came to him within his
breast.

He did not tell Addie the full truth. He had
yet to tell her, that she was the reincarnated spirit of his
long-lost love. Fearing he would lose her, he had pushed himself
into a corner and could not see a way out.

He looked upon her in repose after she lay
back down and decided that he would not tell her now. He could not
lose her, not again. He could not stand to live without her another
two centuries.

It may have been selfish and arrogant, but he
was unwilling to let her go. She was the very breath within his
body, the food to soothe his hungry soul, and the other part of his
broken heart.

He loved her, possibly more fiercely now than
he had before. Being apart from her and living in a joyless state
showed him thus. He was arrogant before and during their courtship,
but now he was humbled. He knew the agony of being without his
soul-mate, and he would not allow it to happen again!

When he saw the pup walk into the home he
knew immediately that there was something wrong with him. It was
something that he could not put his finger upon. The man was too
confident, in addition self-assured that he would win fair Addie’s
heart. Conall would assume to-just kill the man than to let him
anywhere near his wife, for Addie was his wife in all the
conventional ways, but legal.

He would wait for midnight and speak of love
and devotion to her. Beg her to marry him, even though he was yet a
man made of flesh and bone.

Chapter Eleven

Addie sat at the table with all the old women
and sighed in dismay. The third time she tried to cast a spell it
sputtered and dimmed.

“Donna’ worry, gel, ye will cast yer spells
an' in time, 'twill comes tae ye,” Ina stated.

“Thank you for reading my thoughts, Ina.”
Addie sighed.

Everyone remained silent for one moment and
then Nessie chimed in, “Sometimes me find that emotions move me
spells inta workin’, with strong feelin’s an' other powerful
thoughts. When yer moment comes ye will ken, lass. Jest remembers
yer lessons an' ye will be fine.”

Addie did not feel better. After hours of
hard practice, she finally saw a spark and movement and then
nothing. She could succeed at everything else she did and now this.
She could not do this. She doubted her ability.

They had made potions in the beginning of the
evening and were now onto her trouble area, spells. Determined to
succeed she tried again.

She placed her hands on the table and closed
her eyes focusing on the words tumbling from her mouth, the strange
tongues she was speaking. Then she thought of Conall, the man she
loved and was practicing for.

Feeling the wind whirl in her hair, a
surprising jolt ran through the air, and the women exhaled
together. Addie opened her eyes and saw the ark of her power slash
through the air. The colors were brilliant and stunning.

Then out of the colors came a flash of red, a
deep red, that turned the tent warm and pleasant.

“The gel be thinkin’ o’ her lo’e. So ye be in
lo’e with the MacLaren.”

Addie looked at the woman who spoke and knew
she was not asking a question, but making a statement.

“Yes. I love him so much that my heart aches
with it. I barely know him, but I want to bring him into a living
state again by lifting the curse. I want to stay with him, for as
long as I can. I need you to help me lift the curse,” she
pleaded.

“Ye kens him better then ye ken, gel. We will
help ye as much as we can, bu' the curse liftin’ is up tae ye. Ye
'ave instincts born inta ye. ‘Tis in yer blood, lass. Ye needs to
find the McIntosh an' remove his curse by sending him inta the next
realm. Ye will ken him from his talisman fer he will be concealin’
his true form. Ye must find him, reveal his genuine person, an'
then destroy his talisman. Only then will yer Highlander come from
the living dead an' the other spirits be set free.”

Addie wished she could decipher their cryptic
ways. She wanted desperately to save him, and as her spell died
away she felt a renewed sense of vigor to set Conall free. However,
something was still bothering her.

“I never did ask you ladies why you had such
a dire and vested interest in my family's curse. Why is it you have
been here, mixing and concocting for decades?” she asked.

“As we told ye ‘afore yer
great-great-great-great grandmother be a fern an' she was a part o'
our coven. When she passed, she became a part o' the curse, an' we
want tae set her an ‘the rest of yer family free. We made a promise
years ago tae see tae yer family.”

Addie’s heart froze. If her whole family was
cursed into the house as spirits, Conall’s Addie, would be set free
as well. Would Conall want to leave with her, when she went to her
reward? The question brought nausea to her throat and terror to her
chest. She loved him too much to let him go, but could she keep him
with her in misery? She had no ready answers, and it would seem her
time was coming to a close. “Go o' with ye, lass. Yer man will come
durin' the hour o' midnight. An' I must say congratulations, gel,”
said Nessie.

“I did all right this evening. Nothing as
spectacular as you all. I just wish I knew how to find McIntosh,”
she replied, striving for a normal tone.

“Ye will ken, gel. Ye will ken in time. An'
remember tae keep tha’ potion with ye at all times.”

And with that said, she was ushered from the
tent and walked to her parked car. She looked at the back and in
the front seats and under the car to make sure, there was no sign
from Steven. One could never be too careful.

When she was satisfied she started her engine
and made her way back to the manor.

She ran over her thoughts repeatedly and
could not for the life of her figure out why the ladies were
congratulating herxcould r parked carrked car again.ouble area,
spells.e there was ni signs from Steven.lations, gel,ealm. Only
then will yer.

Her life up to this point was a mess, almost
all was a mess. She had met her soul-mate, but that was another
bridge she had to cross.

As her car drove the short distance to the
house, her heart sped up. She was coming closer to the steps of the
home and saw the massive amount of red roses awaiting her.

She knew two things for sure: Conall did not
send for them, because he could not. And two, the only man who had
sent her flowers in the past was scuzzy Steven.

Feeling upset and pissed off, she slammed her
car door shut and looked around. She was no longer scared of
anything. She was angry and pissed off. She was tired of all life’s
hardships.

Both her parents were dead. She had no
siblings. Her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend knocked boots in
front of her, her book was being written on borrowed time, her
editor would not leave her alone. Her great-great-great-grandmother
was a witch and apparently so was she. She was bequeathed an old
scary home by an uncle she had never met. Steven came back. Her
father’s fruit company was in massive trouble, and now the love of
her life was completely dependent upon her to release him, though
he may not want to stay with her, but leave with his original
Addie.

She could never seem to live in total peace
and contentment. It would seem her life was destined to be chaotic
and full of hardship. She had her fair share of money. She had
invested her inheritance well and was doing very ably despite her
problems. However, all the money in the world would not bring her
parents back, it would not write her novel any more quickly, and
lastly, her money would not free, Conall.

She picked up the massive vase and walked
directly to the garbage cans. She lifted the lid and heard the
satisfying shattering crunch of glass and foliage.

Addie was done playing the victim! She wanted
to take action, and she would do that this evening when she sought
her lover out. It was time to place all of her chips on the table
and let him decide if he wanted a lifetime with her or not.

After an uncomfortable meal with the Kings of
smoked haddock mornay and for dessert tipsy cake, Addie was ready
to tear her hair out. She felt uneasy, because the older man and
woman were kissing and canoodling during the entire meal. It would
seem their memory of being young and in love sparked a fire into
their marriage.

She bid the couple good evening and walked to
her room to fading laughter and giggling from Missus King. She
smiled to herself over the couple who clearly still loved each
other, even after years upon years of marriage.

She thought of her Conall. She could see
herself growing older with her man by her side. She could see
children in their father’s image chasing each other around their
home.

She reached her room and locked her door.
Addie checked the window to make sure that was secure as well. One
could never be too careful with a crazy ex-boyfriend nearby, for
she knew he had not gone back to New York. The one and only
personality trait that Addie knew for sure that Steven possessed,
was when he wanted something he went to great lengths to get
it.

Feeling slightly better about her room being
locked, she pulled her sheets back and slipped into bed.

The next moment she heard her alarm start.
Groaning, she picked the device up and saw more multiple texts and
voice mails. Sighing she placed the phone back onto the table and
primped herself for her visit with Conall. She needed all the
confidence she could get.

She then made her way to the attic to speak
with her lover and tell him of her heart's yearnings.

When she opened the door, her Highlander was
just appearing. With h heart skipping a beat, she then shut and
locked the door to keep unwanted guests out.

“Ach, ye gel, came tae me,” he begged.

Just as she ran to him, she stopped one inch
from his awaiting arms.

Swallowing her terror, she stated, “I am to
surmise that you heard me earlier this evening, telling, Steven
that I was in love with you?”

“Aye, I did indeed, me sweetin’. An' ‘twere
the sweetest words I had e’er heard.”

“We have only known each other for a little
over a week. How can this be? I am usually a very level headed
woman, but you make me feel things and think about a future filled
with love and children…”

At that specific point in her statement, he
grabbed her by her arms and swung her into his chest and kissed the
life from her. It was not logic that drove them into each other’s
arms she reasoned. It was destiny and fate. She felt her eye's mist
with unshed tears at the emotion he invoked.

“Lass, ye be the vera air I breathe. Ye be
the sunshine tae me darkness. Ye brings abou’ the best within me
soul. I lo’e ye more than haggis and mash.”

Her eyes began to mist over at his words. She
loved him as well, but there was so much to tell him, and she was
too chicken to spill her guts now. Whether it was right or wrong,
she wanted his love, and she would not say or do anything that
might turn him away from her. She wanted to release him, but at
what cost?

“Marry me, lass?” he asked.

His words swirled into her confused brain,
and she said, “What did you just say?”

“Marry me, angeal? I ken we ha'e many crosses
tae bear, an' we be strangers, bu’ I ken I lo’e ye an' want ye wit'
me. So I ask again, sweetin’, marry me. I can wait fer the rest,
bu’ I canna wait fer yer promise o’ ye hand. I need tae ken yer in
this fer the long distance, lass. Say ye will be me bride, tha’ ye
will enter hand fasting with me? Please, Addie,” he pleaded.

Feeling sick and overwhelmed with intense
love for her Scottish lover, she nodded her head as the tears burst
forth.

“Ye will? Tae me? Ye willna’ regre' this,
angeal.”

With their vows sealed to one another, he
kissed her passionately. Addie’s conscience pricked her heart, but
she refused to listen. This was love and she was going to hold onto
it, for as long as she could, despite the fact, he may turn away
from her in the end for her many omissions.

She kissed her fiancée back as swiftly and as
passionately as he kissed her. She was engaged to be married to a
man centuries old. He was a Highlander, a ghost walking between
life and death, and finally, a man who was once engaged to her
ancestor, whom may still live within the walls of her home.

She knew her life was complicated. She just
never knew how complicated it could get. So determined to let go
and feel, she did exactly that and thrust her tongue within his
mouth and felt satisfied when she heard him groan.

Chapter Twelve

Addie agreed to be his wife! She was in his
arms and vowed to him that she would marry him no matter what. He
felt free and happy. Now if he could keep his secrets within
himself, all would be well. It was just a matter of discretion.

However, when Addie thrust her tongue into
his mouth, all thoughts of discretion went out into the air and
thoughts of sex with his fiancée replaced them. He was hungry and
crazed for her. He wanted to penetrate her innocence and repeatedly
cum within her pussy.

He knew he was a greedy selfish bastard, but
he waited too long for her to come back to him. Curse lifted or
not. He would be her husband. He would see to that. He was
convinced this evening that her ex-beau was a flopper up to no
good. He was not a man worthy of shining Addie’s boots. The man
should have his innards cut out for even thinking of coming here
for her hand. She was now an engaged woman. Under his care, he
would figure out a way to get rid of the younger man.