Garnet or Garnets Curse

doctor tells me the babies will not survive. I have hired a kind woman to administer care for the infants until the end.
    You must not try to find me darling, for our union is unclean and unblessed. If I were to stay and more children were brought in this world, I would only bring more suffering to you and your good name.
    I leave you with a good-bye filled with love and hope that you find happiness. I ask that you not fret for me, for I know in my heart that what I do is best. God be with you and may he give you the peace of understanding to forgive me.
    Your loving wife, Nellena

    “They lived!” I found myself saying aloud.
    Ox is Nell ’ s brother. Their mother deserted them. I was stunned and sat down at the piano stool and cried. I knew what it felt like not having the protection of a father or the loving arms of a mother.
    At least I had Auntie. Nell and Ox had nothing but the cruel world pointing a finger at their differences. I felt the pain of their mother and the burden of their father fall upon my shoulders. I vowed to keep this knowledge to myself and to be a little kinder to Nell and Ox.
    Carefully, I returned the letter and thumbed through the photo album. It was the wedding album of Captain Julius Labranch and his beautiful bride Nellena. In the little silver box was a pair of wedding bands. If the Captain was dead, I wondered if Nellena was still living in some faraway land.
    I went into the kitchen, ate my portion of the stew and set the pot aside for Arlene and Nell. The hour grew late and they did not come home. The house was frightening in the daytime, but alone at night it became a nightmare.
    It was a dark night, with not a star in the sky and the moon was overcast. Looking out the window all I could see was thick darkness. I was beside myself with fear. Around 11 o ’ clock I knew it was hopeless; the ferry certainly did not run that late. I was doomed to be here all night by myself.
    By midnight, I began to think I could hear voices, or was it only the wind? I looked out the back door once with a fleeting thought to go find Ox. After hours of pacing the floor, I barred the outside doors with a chair. I got a butcher knife from the kitchen, gathered up the kitten and took up hiding in the library. With the knife and the lamp on, I felt I might have a fair chance against an intruder.
    I laid down on the sofa, covered up with the wool throw and closed my eyes. They quickly flew open, as the thought crossed my mind. What if the intruder was already in the house? What if Aurochs ’ son has found me? In a panic, I tried to remember all the book had said about the curse.
    As the story went, the first of the Dragos had killed seven wild oxen, but later discovered they were the seven sons of Aurochs. Was it just a coincidence that Nell had called her brother Ox? Was it possible that he was Aurochs ’ son and Nell was Aurochs herself? Had this all been an evil plot to bring me here, right to their very door—first, to torture me out of my mind, then at last go in for the final kill?
    It all began to fall into place. I was certain this would be my last night on earth. I did not care so much about dying. I had no one or nothing to live for. It was just the way it might happen that was terrifying.
    I rocked back and forth crying and waiting. Suddenly, I thought I heard Auntie ’ s voice. “ Put on the gold and garnet necklace. It will protect you. ”
    It was the only thing I had of value. I had hidden it upstairs in my bag. Foolish me, Father had given me that necklace to protect me against Aurochs. It was better to risk it being stolen than deal with the curse of Aurochs.
    There was no choice but to venture out of the library, down the hall, up the stairs and to my room. With the lamp in my hand, I opened the door. The moment I stepped out in the hall I was petrified by a loud noise that shook the house.
    The cat ran up the stairs and again I heard the noise. It was thunder. Taking a deep breath, I made my way upstairs, located the necklace and latched it around my neck.
    Once back inside the library I was feeling a little less vulnerable. By then it was breaking dawn and the faint light of day was filling the room. I laid down and went to sleep.
    The sun was shining when I awoke to the sound of someone trying to open the front door. I jumped to my feet and looked out the window. It was Nell and she was alone.
    I removed the chair and she came charging in. Her eyes flashed in my direction and I