The Water Curse

Part 7 - My Mind Won't Shut Up

The morning came slowly, the already rainy sky keeping it dark outside. I didn't really feel like getting out of bed, so I just laid there, mulling things over, trying to clear things up. The dream I had last night - now that was weird. I was still processing what Oakley and Malilah had told me about the curse when Twelve piped up. 

They did it for us, you know, she said. 

Did what?

Link our minds like this. See, I can't actually talk. It's part of the Spell. But, since I was the last one, my sisters decided that they would give me a gift - and that was to link my mind to yours, so when the time was right we could use that connection communicate and break the curse. 

What made you think this time was right? 

You met Callin. And you already know that-

Yeah, yeah. I've heard. SPEAK TO THE DAY and all that nonsense. 

Yes. I took that opportunity to fully reveal my presence to you. The Spell did not prevent that.  

 Right, the Spell. What is that, by the way?

I cannot tell you. We have broken enough rules by telling you our past. Twelve was silent. I miss my sisters. I have not seen them in such a long time. 

They miss you too, I assured her. And besides, weren't you there in the first dream? 

No. That was just a clue. I cannot be there. But when my sisters said to not come in the water, or talk to them, that was directed at me and not you. Twelve seemed really sad, so I left her alone and went back to thinking about the Spell. It was so sad to think about the previous sisters and how they had to endure such a horrible thing. Their mother killed by the very same lady their father cast a spell with? I didn't know the details yet, but I knew it was probably horrible.

I heard a knock on my door, and my mother peeked in. "Ariel?" 

I lifted my head from the pillow. "Hmm?"

"There's a good movie playing at the theater. Do you want to go and see it with me?" 

"Sure," I said. "Where's Dad?" 

"I don't know," my mother snapped. "And I don't care." 

"Okay, okay," I said, sliding out of bed. "Give me twenty minutes and I'll be ready." 

Two tank tops and a thin one-shoulder tee later, I was downstairs eating cereal and thinking about how Callin was a jerk and I didn't want to talk to him when my mother came into the room, ready to go. 

"Ready?" She asked. I took one last bite of my cereal and stuck it in the sink. I grabbed my bag and coat and followed my mother to the only car we had. I was a bit surprised that Dad hadn't taken it, so that meant he was somewhere close. I shut the door as my mother started the car, the silence thick and uncomfortable around us. 

"So, what did you do yesterday?" 

"I, um, went to breakfast at the Kertin's," I said. "And then, er, I went to Alex Marcs house to work on a project." Great. I was uncomfortable to the point where I was hesitating. My mom, though, stiffened at Alex's name.

"Alex Marcs? Part of the gang that bullies you?"

"Not anymore," I told her. "He said that he hated those guys. He actually asked me out on a date. Tuesday night," I said. 

"What?" My mother asked. "A date?" A grin slowly started creeping across her face. 

"No, Mom-" I started, but she had already launched into a full-scale celebration in honor of my first date. I sighed, slumping down in my seat.