Chapter Nine-Kenna

As soon as he left I let out a groan of frustration. This curse was causing me to lose my mind for sure. It was obvious that it was getting to him too but in what way? Was he experiencing the same visions? Were they real? I had no idea and it seemed I wouldn't be getting any direct answers from him.

Delilah was still in the room just off the lounge, now shouting at whoever was on the other line. She came out for a short while five minutes ago but sighed

and said that she was going to make another call that would hopefully lead us to the witch.

She ventured into the kitchen and said that food would be ready soon. She asked me to take it out of the oven when the bell went off. I agreed, even though I had no clue what a bell or an oven was. She didn't stick around to explain either, so I decided to make my way into the kitchen and find out for myself; how hard could it be to find something that's holding food? Surely that would be the oven she was referring to?

I gently supported my weight with my arms, steadying myself before standing up slowly. I was surprised when my legs didn't buckle beneath me as I stood upright. Whatever it was that the witch did to get us to the apartment, I never want to do it again. It was hands down the most terrifying experience I'd ever had. If it weren't for Jed I don't know what would have happened, where I would have ended up.

Testing my balance, I walked a few steps forward until I reached a cute little breakfast nook beside a wall full of paintings. I stopped and took a moment to admire their beauty. Art wasn't something we saw much of unless we were being marched through hallways of the Treetops on our way to trial.

The one that stood out to me the most was the one placed right in the
middle. There was a steep, grassy downhill in front of a large thatched hut that gave way to soft, white beach sand no more than twenty steps from the tiled patio. It looked so familiar and I found myself staring at it, trying to remember where I'd seen this place or picture before.

It was frustrating, like having a name on the tip of your tongue but not quite being able to remember it. Suddenly there was a loud, high pitched sound that gave me such a fright I stumbled and nearly knocked over the pretty blue vase filled with orchids. I just managed to catch it before it fell to the ground.

Upon entering the kitchen, I ran my fingers along the smooth, white marble countertops, taking my time as I inspected all the strange appliances it held.

The cupboard doors were made out of richly coloured dark wood, the unique style was complete with shiny, jet black floor tiles. An odd combination but beautiful nonetheless.

I noticed that there was a light on in one of the larger odd devices. The amazing smell reminded me just how long it had been since I'd eaten something.

As I ate my last meal I would have never expected that my next would be something like this. I had no idea what it was but if it tasted the way it smelled I was all in.

I leaned down to get a closer look, inching my face closer to the glass which seemed to be heated without a fire anywhere in site. I was so captivated that I didn't notice Delilah carefully creeping up behind me.

"Boo!" She shouted loudly as two fingers poked sharply into my sides, sending me scrambling back before I finally lost my footing and fell flat on my arse.

Delilah burst out laughing, bending over as she clutched her stomach, "You're too easy!" She said in between breaths.

It took me a while to gain control as I placed my hand over my heart, waiting for it to stop its erratic beating. It was just a joke, she wasn't going to hurt you, just calm down. I kept repeating this to myself over and over until I eventually calmed down and was able to get to my feet.

I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of knowing she'd frightened me to the extent that she did, so I just gave her a scowl and turned to go back into the living room.

"Oh come on," she said playfully as she sat next to me on the couch, "don't be such a bad sport. I'm sorry, okay?"

I didn't reply, instead I just looked at her from the corner of my eye as I drew my knees up to my chin.

She shuffled a bit closer and gently nudged me with her shoulder, "Look, why don't you go have a shower and change out of those hobo clothes, and I'll get the pizza?"

I felt a little confused as I turned to her and asked, "What's a hobo?"

Her eyebrows shot up and she waved her hand in the air, "Nevermind. You smell terrible and look like you need to eat every hour, on the hour, for a year. Hashtag new diet plan!" She winked at me before grabbing the rucksack and emptying it out on the table.

She murmured to herself as she pulled out liquid body wash, some more of that conditioner stuff which she insisted I use as well as the shampoo and the clothes they offered me earlier.

Delilah was very odd. Her mood swings were typical for someone of her form and level; she was no doubt extremely powerful, but looking past that one bad trait it seemed she could actually be really nice. I turned and gave her a small smile before standing and gathering everything into my arms.

"There's another island, you know. One filled with people who've escaped the Sanctuary," she blurted out as I turned away, "Actually, I shouldn't really be telling you this right now. It's not the time nor place. Forget I mentioned it."

I didn't know what to say as she stood up and walked back into the kitchen without looking back. There was a place where people like me have gathered to live? But how? How did they escape? Could she find them? Perhaps once this was all over they would take me there, to people who understood what it was to survive such a life. They could teach me how to live a new, normal life on the outside.

The thoughts of such a place plagued my mind from the time I stepped away from the living room to the time I stepped back out again, refreshed and dressed in a pair of comfortable pants and a shirt that was a little too tight but not tight enough that I'd swap it for my old rags; It felt too good to be in something so soft and clean.

I worked my hair into its usual braid, twisting it up into a bun on top of my head and tucking it into itself so it wouldn't easily unravel; one of the perks of long hair.

When I walked into the living room Delilah was seated at the same spot on the couch, in front of her on the table were two plates, each holding four pieces of food. I didn't hesitate to sit down and shove almost an entire piece of pizza into my mouth, closing my eyes and savouring the taste for a long time before swallowing.

"This is the best thing I've ever tasted!" Reaching for more, I turned to her and smiled, "Thank you. Now please, tell me more about this place you mentioned earlier? After all of this is over, could you take me there?" I asked, fully aware of how desperate I sounded, but the fact that there were other people just like me made me eager to get this curse lifted, destroy the son-of-a-bitch that killed my sister and start over; forget everything and everyone linked to that island.

She smiled and shook her head slightly, "Of course I'll take you there, the head of the Island already knows all about you. She's very eager to welcome you into their community but I told her it all depends on how this little trip of ours goes. You see, Jed doesn't know about this place, and with good reason too; he'd kill every one of those poor, innocent hexbloods if he found out they'd escaped and gathered in one place. It would be too easy for him, just one messy bloodbath for sure.

He's an animal, you know. His form is not one to be played with and this curse that binds you two is a joke," she spat, "one that will be over soon. Until then we cannot let him know about this place, do you understand? He'll kill you, me and everyone there. Keep this between us and when this is all over, I'll take you there. Nobody from your past will ever find you, I give you my word."

Suddenly she stood up quickly and began rushing to the kitchen, looking at me over her shoulder she frantically said, "Pretend to be doing something! Don't let on that we've been speaking."

I opened and closed my mouth a few times as I heard his footsteps getting closer. Unsure of what else to do, I frowned down at the plate in front of me, concentrating on every detail as if it were the most interesting thing I'd ever seen.

I continued to do this as the door opened and Jed stepped in. Heat began creeping up into my cheeks as I felt his eyes on me. I couldn't help myself, I tried to sneak a look at him from the corner of my eye. He must have seen me because he quickly looked away and pretended not to notice me, as usual.

Delilah came rushing into the living room with a steaming mug in hand. She was quite a lot taller than me so when she stood in front of him I was completely hidden from view and free to turn to them without fear of being noticed. They were speaking softly when he reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder.

That's when I felt the curse at work. I'd never been jealous; never had someone that brought that out in me, but it's the only word that fit the way I felt in that moment.

I could feel myself losing control and I fought to stay seated, I had to try my best not to rip that pretty blonde hair from her scalp and leave her laying in a bloody heap on the floor.

Snap out of it! I told myself, it's not real, the way you feel is an illusion. Take back control, take back- All of my thoughts and attempts to control the way I felt went out the window the moment she stepped closer to him. I hissed and ran, only knowing that I needed to get her away from him. Mine! Was all that was running through my mind as I crashed into them.

Delilah squealed in surprise as we hit the floor and began rolling, I used the fall to gain momentum and swung her into the opposite wall, causing one hell of a scene as pieces of hard brick flew all over the place, shattering picture frames on the wall and leaving dust everywhere.

She began chanting and I knew I didn't have much time, I needed to overpower her before the dust settled and she was able to target me. I walked up to her and clamped my fingers tightly around her neck, squeezing hard, enjoying the way she gasped for air and clawed at my hands as I pushed her to the ground, climbed on top of her and bared my fangs.

I'd only ever taken blood from the vein of a living person once and I was locked up for months because of it. Nobody was going to punish me now. I thought gleefully.

As I moved down to end her, something changed. I no longer felt the urge to kill her. The anger and jealousy I felt disappeared in an instant, revealing just how savage I'd become in those moments. I'd almost killed another person because of a man I didn't know and didn't even like.

The one person that was willing to help me now lay scowling on the floor beneath me, glaring at me like I was the devil herself. Perhaps that's what the curse was turning me into; a viscous she-devil that couldn't be helped.

I looked down at my shaking hands and couldn't stop the tears from filling my eyes. I looked up to see Delilah hold her hands up, preparing to attack and I refused to fight back. Whatever she did to me I knew was deserved and if she killed me well maybe that would be better. Hopefully it would kill the Jag as well and the world would be rid of two terrible creatures.

I lowered my head and waited but was surprised when a large frame blocked her from me. My eyes widened as I looked up at Jed's back as he stood between Delilah and I.

She leaned over his shoulder and looked down at me, "You're lucky he was here this time, next time you won't be so lucky." She moved out of view and I waited, holding my breath until her footsteps grew softer and the door to the apartment slammed shut, shattering every single lightbulb in the house and leaving me alone in the dark with Jed.