Devils Roses 01 - Cursed

was unable to see beyond a few feet in front of me. The fire had long gone out and was cold even. I assumed I must have had one of those huge sleeps again. My hair was soaked from the mist in the fog and my fleece hung soaked on my shoulders. I curled my legs into me and waited for death to come and claim me.
    After a very long time, I decided I was finished with the transition phase of my life. I needed to either be an undead, or to die, or to just be what I was at that moment. I stood stretching my legs and arms.
    I started the long trek back to the trail. It had been more than three days, no doubt. I was ready to start my life all over again. I clearly wasn’t a threat to my family, as long as I didn’t touch any of them. We had gone years without touching, and it wasn't like I would have a boyfriend or any friends when I got there. I got to the sandy beach but stopped walking. A grey figure sat on the sand looking down. I could tell immediately, it was Aleks. He looked bad, weak and exhausted, which I knew was impossible.
    I walked toward him, but he never lifted his face.
    “ I forgive you for leaving me with Dorian,” I spoke quietly. I was defeated and tired of being alone.
    He looked up. “Don’t forgive me. Never forget what I have taken from you,” his voice scratched with despair. I didn’t recognize it at all.
    I walked to him, getting lost in the beauty and feelings he made me feel. I stood between his legs and fought the urge to hug him and cuddle into him, just as I always did when I saw him. The memory of the look on Shane’s face stopped me.
    He raised his face and met my gaze. “I love you so much, Aimee. It hurts so much to be away from you. I should leave you, but I can’t bring myself to do it.”
    I dropped to my knees, accepting that my fate was to be with him, and even through it all, a part of me loved him still.
    I leaned into him. “Stay with me through this Aleks. I need you as much as you need me.”
    I knew we were both alone in the world and I had spent more than enough time alone. Okay, it had only been a few days, but it was enough to drive me to insanity. It wasn’t a cruel fate resigning myself to being with him, but it felt dirty. I was scared Shane was lurking around the woods watching me, seeing me snuggle into Aleks, even though it was him I loved.
    “ I need answers, Aleks.”
    He hugged me, burrowing his face into my neck.
    He smelled me, ignoring my statement. “I feel so much better when you’re with me.”
    I couldn’t help but agree, but I felt worried touching his skin. I kept my hands to cloth and tried not to think about what had happened with Shane.
    “ Dorian told me something about your dad; he said he had something to do with my mom's death.”
    His voice sounded hollow. “He did?”
    “ Yeah, I know you're sick right now, but I need you to tell me what that means.”
    He smiled. “I’m fine, Aimee, you can’t hurt me unless you leave me again.”
    I smiled and cuddled into him, at least someone wanted to be with me.
    He shook his head. “No more running away.” His voice still sounded hollow.
    I slapped his chest. “The time where you get to dick me around and not share any secrets with me has past. I need and deserve at least, the truth.”
    He nodded, exhaling harshly. “I know that, but I don’t know how to tell you. This is serious. You know how you always say 'garden-variety this' and 'garden-variety that?' My curse was not one of those garden-variety ones; my dad angered a man whose powers still are unmatched to this day. No matter what I say, please try to remember I love you,” he whispered into my ear.
    I nodded and waited for some serious answers to be laid out on the table.
    He looked like he was trying to gather strength before he started to speak. I didn’t know what to say. I sat there in silence, waiting.
    Finally he spoke, “My dad is immortal too. When I was young, he did something horrible. He raped and murdered a woman. I found him drunk with a woman dead beside him. I cleaned up the mess for him and hid the body. I thought it wasn’t his fault. I thought he had been so drunk, it must have been an accident.”
    A small tear left his eye, making its slow trek across his face. “Many times that year, people came looking for the woman. She was the medicine man's daughter. He was devastated that she had run away like that. They had apparently fought over whom she would marry. He used his magic, eventually, to try to