Tessa studied her; she could see the fear still lingering in her beautiful violet eyes. The child she had found so long ago, has grown into a beautiful strong woman, with her fiery red hair, smart mouth, and sassy attitude. The fear that scared her to the bone years ago started to creep back in. With a trembling hand she laid hers on Temperance’s. Taking in a slow deep breath to calm herself and push back her own fear, she looked at Temperance, “Tell me about the dream and I will see if I can help.”

“It was in a dark, cold, damp place. I think I was underground, but I cannot be sure. The walls had water dripping down in spots and it had this old musty dirt smell. I could barely see three feet in front of me, so I had to run my hand on the wall so I could have some sense of grounding. It seemed like I was walking around these dark halls forever. Out of the darkness I heard a blood curdling scream, I do not know what made me run towards it, but I could not stop myself. I just took off in the direction of the scream. By the time I got to where the scream came from, I stopped dead in my tracks. There in front of me was a double image of myself; except one had sun kissed blonde hair and these beautiful ocean blue eyes, and the other had raven black hair and piercing emerald green eyes. They were being chased by this man, or at least I think it was a man.” Temperance shivered, rubbing her arms trying to get the chill out. She looked up at Tessa and said softly, “It was really creepy.”

“What do you mean you think it was a man?”

“Well, he was tall and had coal black hair. He was holding this staff with a skull that had glowing red eyes. Then he crouched and the muscles under his skin churned and rippled. Sounds of cracking and breaking bones filled the silence. His skin turned into black fur, his hands and feet turned into these massive paws and his nails grew into claws, turning into this huge black panther and his eyes glowed blood red. The black-haired woman yelled ‘run’. When they turned to run, he pounced on the blonde-haired woman’s back sinking his teeth into her shoulder causing her to scream. She looked over to me and just before he ripped her throat out, she cried ‘Find us, Temperance!’ Then that is when I woke up screaming.”

Taking a deep breath and trying to still her racing heart she laid her hand on Temp’s and said, “Oh, Temp, it was just a dream. Sweetheart, why don’t I make you a cup of herbal tea. You can drink it while you settle down so you can get some more sleep.”

Feeling frustrated she jumped to her feet and walked over to the window looking out into the darkness and watched the lightning dance across the sky. After taking a few moments to try and shake the fear off that still lingered from the dream, she looked back at the woman who raised her for the last twenty-two years. Tessa was a lot of things to Temperance, mother, best friend, her safe haven. Letting go of the frustration, “No, Tessa you don’t understand this was the worst one yet, it just didn’t scare me this time, I was terrified, the kind that you feel in your soul. Have you ever felt that before?” As she watched Tessa, she noticed she was not as calm as she seemed. Her hands were laced together causing the skin on her knuckles to turn white. “Tessa what’s wrong, look at me?”

Tessa looked up at Temperance and her heart broke. Her strong beautiful girl looked so small and weak. “Oh, sweetheart, come here, you look as if you could shatter.” She held out her hand and waited for Temperance to take it. Temperance laid her hand in Tessa’s. She pulled Temperance down onto the bed and wrapped her arms around her, she let out a long sigh, “Yes, my baby I have. When you were three a man came up to me and told me that you and your sisters were in mortal danger. I told him that he must be mistaken that you did not have any sisters. He proceeded to tell me the date, time, and year that I found you. The look he gave me terrified me, because I knew then he was telling me the truth.”

With wide eyes, Temperance looked at Tessa, “I have sisters?”

“Yes, you do.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked quietly. “Where are they, what are their names, why don’t you have them as well?” Temperance closed her eyes trying not to lose it again, rubbing a fist over her heart trying to ease the sting of betrayal she felt.

“I never told you, because I didn’t know the answers to the questions you would ask. If they would have been there with you, I would have taken them when I took you.”

Temperance’s face fell, “Oh, do you know how to find them?”

“No, I’m sorry, I don’t.”

Wrapping her arms around herself, she tried to knock back the emptiness growing inside of her. “I guess I am just destined to never know where I came from or who my family was. Thanks, Tessa, you have always looked out for me. Do you think the girls in my dream are my sisters?”

“I have no idea, they could be,” Tessa smiled, “Plus, I think your dream also comes from within you. I know you still struggle, because you want to know where you came from.”

Temperance let out a long breath and laid her head on Tessa’s shoulder. “You know this is my home,” she said with a sad smile.

“I know sweetheart, have I ever told you how I found you?”

“Yes, Tessa, you have. You were out picking apples when you found me, brought me home and raised me with love and values.”

“Yes, Temp, that is true, but I think it’s time I tell you the whole truth.”

About Author Leigh Titler…

Leigh Titler began writing Aadya’s Curse, years ago as a creative writing assignment in college. In doing so, she found she could travel to a world of her own making and take her closest friends with her. In addition to her love of writing, Ms. Titler loves to read, and all things Italian. When not in her writing cave, she can be found fishing with family, playing video games, painting and scrapbooking.