The Night Curse (Book one)

“Mia, he’s gone! Harlow has escaped.”

Clemmy rushes into my room at lightning speed, and I bolt upright in bed at the sound of his name.

“What do you mean?”

Before Clemmy answers me, mother and father enter my room. “We’ve had visitors,” mother declares with caution in her voice.

My father takes a seat at the edge of my bed. “What have you been up to?”

I glance over at my mother who now takes Clemmy’s hand in hers.

Clemmy gawps worriedly at our parents, her eyes pained. “I had to tell them.”

“How much did you share?” I say, my tone low and pointed.

“She told us enough,” father intercepts. His palm reaches for mine. I meet his warm fingers. “Hyacinth would be proud to have such a courageous granddaughter.”

Never in my wildest dreams did I think that my parents would understand my struggles and support my desires.

“It is really important that you tell us what you know, Mia. So that we can help.”

I peer up at Clemmy and I could have sworn that she briefly shook her head as mother spoke. Despite our parents’ kindness, she remains woeful, her gaze strained.

I lean forward. “Who were the visitors?”

“Do you know where he is, darling?” My father’s thumb rubs the back of my hand with increasing pressure.

“I didn’t even know that he escaped! How do you? What aren’t you telling me?”

Suspicion blooms in my stomach, and I abruptly let go of my father’s hand.

My father stares at his fingers, his shoulders round with defeat. “If you tell us, they will let you live.”

“Who will let me live?” I blare out, no longer able to keep my emotions under control. But my parents don’t meet my eyes, don’t respond to my pleas. “Who?” I shout and my mother visibly stiffens.

“The Dreamwalker hunters,” Clemmy barks. “They were here this morning looking for Harlow. They know that we are hiding you, Mia. They want Harlow instead of you.”

Dream experimentation and lies do not compare with the betrayal that my family is inflicting.

“You’re asking me to allow Harlow to be killed. The man who accepts me for what I am. The man that I love!” The words flow out of me as if coming from another entity—someone stronger than I, fiercer.

My mother joins my father on my bed and holds my cheek. “We do this because we love you.”

“I said that I would always keep you safe,” my father says calmly. “This is the only way.”

Rage builds in my chest and shatters free. “Get out!”

My mother drops her hand. My family exchange looks of shock and horror that contort their features and break their poise.

“Get out!” I repeat.

Slowly, they retreat and don’t glance back as they make their exit. Clemmy remains, and in their absence edges towards me, almost fearful of getting too close.

Long beats of silence follow the click of the door.

“Do you really not know where he is?” Clemmy asks.

“No,” I snap, and then I remember that it was Clemmy who tried to warn me of our parents’ true motives.

“Do you know how he escaped?” she pries. “I’m not like mother and father. I don’t want Harlow to get hurt.”

She’s all I have. The keeper of my secrets. I speak in a hushed tone, careful not to let my parents overhear. “Harlow’s powers work, I saw that for myself. The plan was for him to infiltrate a guard’s dream and get him to set him free.”

“So it worked.” She beams, and I watch as it fades away. “If he comes here, he will be killed. There are Dreamwalker hunters all over the Harling Estate.”

“We have to get to him first. Is there any way out?”

“Out to where?”

“Anywhere! I’m a sitting duck here, Clemmy, and I won’t let Harlow be lured into a trap. I won’t be the bait that sends him to his grave.”

Clemmy is quiet, contemplative. “This witch that you met, do you think that she could help us find him?”

The Crone knew my name, knew of Harlow’s prophecy, knew the ways of this world. “Yes.” I insist, the reply more a wish than an answer.

“Then I will join you.”

“Clemmy, no, it is too danger—”

“Harlow isn’t the only one who needs to be saved, Mia. We are in this together.”

I can’t argue with her. Not when she speaks such sanity amidst such chaos. Not when I’m secretly falling apart with worry and the thought of my sister being by my side fills me with such welcomed comfort.

I force a smile. “It will be our first adventure together.”

Let it not be our last.

Clemmy and I wait for nightfall.

With the mask secured to my face, my purple rings are covered, but I’m under no illusions that people will still suspect me. What other reason would a woman have to hide her eyes? It’s the same reason why Dreamwalkers don’t remove their own markers, for only those guilty and desperate enough would do so. Their hollow sockets an even bolder reminder of what they are.

I’m taken back to the night when we ventured to the cottage in search of Mr Fletcher. So much has changed since then. The stakes are far higher, and the rewards far greater.

“I won’t freeze this time,” Clemmy mutters as if reading my thoughts. “Follow me.”

We use the back staircase, normally used by servants, to reach the backdoor on the ground floor. Clemmy pulls out the master key from a concealed pocket in her cape and pushes against the heavy wood. The seal releases and we carefully peer into the outside world from the tiny gap between the door and the frame.

“Clear,” she breathes and opens the door wide enough for our bodies to slide out.

I instantly turn to the sky and marvel at the moon on the cusp of fullness.

The Mother moon—a sign of fertility, stability, and fulfilment. The one before the inevitable end.

I quell the tremble in my bones and follow my sister as she crosses the garden and hides behind a rose bush. “Ready?”

“Ready.”

Clemmy and I launch into a frenzied run across the lawn until we reach the stables. Once we have the horse, there will be no stopping us.

Together, we unhook the stable door and prise open the gates.

“Hello, Amelia.”

My body becomes rigid at the words and the man speaking them. Before, his eyes were full of loathing and disdain. “Austin,” I stutter.

A man emerges from the back of the stables, reigns in his hand.

“You’re Harlow’s father,” I say, more for Clemmy than anything.

“The name’s Frederick. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Amelia.” He stretches out his hand, and I shake it with a degree of hesitation. “We just wish the circumstances were different.”

Austin leans against the horse’s pen. His mouth pulls downwards, matching the sombre mood of the moment. “Well I’d wish for lots of things to be different, but here we are.”

Clemmy coughs.

“Oh, this is my sister, Clementine.”

Austin regards her face cautiously. “She isn’t like you.”

“Thank the heavens,” Clemmy replies before taking a deep bow.

A grin tugs at my mouth. Clemmy sees and bursts into laughter.

“Keep it down,” Frederick hushes. “Men are roaming all over this estate. You’re lucky that we found you before they did.”

I walk over to Austin. “I thought you said that you were Dreamwalker hunters. The last time I saw you, you threatened me. Why the change of heart?”

A sigh exhales from Austin’s nose. “I’ve been enlightened shall we say.” His brows arch unconvincingly.

“My son knows of Harlow’s true identity. He’s coming to terms with it.”

Austin kicks a stone by his foot and whispers something under his breath.

“Give him time.”

“Time is not something on our side,” Clemmy interjects. “Nor your son’s”

“Indeed. That is why we need your help, Lady Amelia.” Frederick’s voice croaks as he holds back tears. “The Dreamwalker hunters, I can’t let them kill my son.”

Clemmy emerges from the pen with her horse. “Do you have the means to travel?”