Chapter Eleven

Brielle;

I couldn’t take it anymore. The nightmares were tearing me apart, and the flashbacks during the day left me constantly on edge. That night was the first time that my nightmares had featured Zane.

Zane tried his best to be there for me, although I hadn’t told him anything save for the fact that I had nightmares, but I needed something more. Someone who understood my fear.

That was why in spite of our complicated relationship, I found myself running to Lucien. Somehow, I felt he might understand better.

I found Lucien in his study, buried in his work as usual. His eyes met mine, and I saw that he looked concerned for a split second.

“Brielle, how may I help you?” He asked, standing up.

I hesitated, feeling a bit stupid.

“I need your help, Lucien. I’ve been having nightmares, and they’re getting worse. I don’t know what to do.”

His expression softened a bit.

“Of course, I’ll help you. Tell me everything.”

I told him about the nightmares, the hallucinations, and the panic attacks. He listened carefully, not interrupting once. When I finished, he nodded thoughtfully.

“We need to see someone about this. This is not a physical issue.” Lucien said. “There’s a voodoo priestess deep in the woods. She might have the answers we need.”

I was surprised.

“A voodoo priestess? Why her?”

“She has knowledge of the supernatural that might explain your nightmares. But we must keep this secret, for now, at least.”

I agreed immediacy, and without wasting any time, we went into the forest. The journey was silent, but not as long as I expected it to be. the forest grew denser, the path narrower, and finally, we got to a small cabin hidden among the trees.

An elderly woman opened the door, her eyes sharp.

“Lucien, what brings you here?” She asked, her eyes shifting to me. “And who is this?”

“This is Brielle.” Lucien said. “She’s experiencing severe nightmares and waking terrors. We need your help.”

The priestess nodded, stepping aside to let us in. The cabin was filled with strange artefacts, and the air heavy with the scent of herbs and incense. She motioned for me to sit, her eyes never leaving mine.

“Tell me about these nightmares.” She said to me.

I took a deep breath and explained everything once more. She listened with a serious expression, then closed her eyes and began to chant softly. The air around us seemed to thicken, and I felt a strange pull inside me.

After a few minutes, she opened her eyes and looked at me with pity.

“You did indeed die during your jump from the cliff.”

My heart skipped a beat.

“What do you mean? I’m here, alive.”

She nodded.

“You are indeed, but not by your own power, no. Your soul was brought back by a powerful princess who seeks revenge for your death. This is why you’re tormented.”

I glanced at Lucien, who looked equally stunned.

“Who is this princess? Why does she want revenge?”

The priestess’s eyes darkened.

“She was wronged in life and in death. Her motives are complex, and it is rooted in ancient magic and deep seated anger. Your nightmares are the basic manifestations of her wrath.”

“The basic?” I felt a chill run down my spine. “Can it be broken?”

The priestess sighed.

“It’s possible, but it will be difficult. The curse is powerful and deeply entwined with your soul.”

Lucien stepped forward. “What do we need to do?”

She turned to him, her expression grave.

“You must find the source of her anger and confront it. Only then can the curse be lifted.”

Fear gripped me.

“What if we can’t find it? What if I’m stuck with these nightmares forever? And why is she so angry at me?”

The priestess looked at me, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and pity.

“You must have faith, and use your common sense, Brielle. The path will be dangerous.”

“I’ll have to do whatever it takes.”

“Yes, you have no other choice.” The woman said and then got up.

“What is going on?” I asked Lucien. “I’m so confused.”

“I should be asking you that question. How did you manage to summon the anger of a dead princess? I knew that you were annoying, but I must have underestimated your ability to irk people.” Lucien said. There was no playful smile or usual chuckle at the end after he had said all that, so he was not joking around.

I sighed, looking away.

“I just hope this isn’t a life and death thing. I didn’t escape death just to meet it here. Or rather, come back to life to die again.” I sighed, looking around.

“Do you think we should wait here, or leave? It looks like she had left us alone.” I said to Lucien, who shook his head.

“Patience has obviously never been one of your strong suits. She didn’t tell us that she was done or ask us to leave, so we have to wait.” Lucien replied gruffly, and I looked away, not knowing what to reply to that.

“You know that you don’t have to be mean to me, right? You were the one who…”

“Aren’t you tired of thinking that I’m being mean to you when this is just how I am? Yes, I did reject you, but I didn’t make you my enemy. Get out of your own head and stop making up stories in your head.” Lucien said, and didn’t say anything else after that.

As we sat in silence, I thought over his words. Indeed, why was I thinking about him being mean to me or not? Sure, he was helping me, but even if he wasn’t going to put on a smile, I knew for sure that that was not my problem in anyway.

“Does anyone want tea? I have some brewing, and I thought we may have it before we start.” The older woman came out.