The next day, with only one day left to break Chaiyn’s curse, Naomi and I went down to the clearing. When we entered, I wasn’t sure who was more nervous, me or Chaiyn. The Seer was pacing back and forth, not tinkering with anything, but not unproductive either. With a start, I realized that he was faded now, not just an arm, but all of him. Elena was sitting on top of one of the lower bookshelves, looking at a sheet of yellowed paper. She kept stealing glances at her brother, and that made me wonder what she was reading and if he’d allowed her to read it. Neither of the Darkedge siblings seemed to notice us, but eventually Chaiyn looked over. “I’d thought you weren’t coming.” I shrugged. “Sorry. We had to catch up on homework and stuff.” “But that’s not important,” Naomi chimed in. “Chaiyn, are you close?” He sighed in exasperation, but I knew it wasn’t directed at Naomi. “It should have worked. We’ve counter-acted all the spells, but it still won’t let me go back.” “I’m just saying, we haven’t /really/ done the mental spell,” Elena said quietly. Chaiyn glared at her, and she returned it with an innocent gaze. “What? I’m just trying to help.” “What mental spell?” Naomi asked. Chaiyn didn’t answer, but Elena said, “It’s part of the spell set on the cursed ring. Probably contains a spell that does something like altering thoughts and/or memories, or lowering self-confidence.” Naomi nodded. “Can I see it? The ring, I mean.” Chaiyn tossed her something. She caught it, just as confused as I was, until Chaiyn said, “That’s a copy of the ring that I made so I could look at it better. Has all the same spells and such.” Naomi nodded and averted her attention from the conversation to the ring. I looked at Elena, asking with my eyes if it was okay if I asked her what she was reading. She gave a slight nod, so I asked, “What are you looking at?” “Chaiyn’s letter. I figured it might hold information,” she said. Was it just me, or was she not telling the whole truth? “I don’t see why it would help since you’ve already read it a million times,” Chaiyn muttered. “You don’t get to tell me what to do. You’ve all but given up on the ring, I’m trying to undo the mental spell and get you back home.” Chaiyn sighed. There was a span of thoughtful but tense silence, then Naomi tossed the duplicate of the cursed ring back to Chaiyn. “Elena’s right, the mental spell is connected to the letter somehow.” “Do you know how?” Chaiyn asked, for the first time showing a little bit of hope in his eyes. Before Naomi could answer, the dinner bell rang. I’d forgotten we’d gotten out here later than usual. “I think, but I can’t tell you right now. I’ll tell you tomorrow if your sister doesn’t figure it out first,” Naomi promised, then the two of us ran back to the school.
Notes/Credits: If you're reading this, you probably know I wrote The Wolf Boy. Well, here's the sequel: The Monster's Curse. This is Chapter 27. Previous Chapter(s): Chapter 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/652476202/ Chapter 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/652950608/ Chapter 3: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/655177024/ Chapter 4: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/655177565/ Chapter 5: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/655621072/ Chapter 6: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/656955201/ Chapter 7: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/657580423/ Chapter 8: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/657583863/ Chapter 9: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/657586191/ Chapter 10: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/657668860/ Chapter 11: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/658404211/ Chapter 12: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/659115920/ Chapter 13: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/659116659/ Chapter 14: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/659117186/ Chapter 15: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/659420154/ Chapter 16: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/661425573/ Chapter 17: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/661428771/ Chapter 18: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/661974554/ Chapter 19: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/662108449/ Chpt 20 Pt 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/663144219/ Chpt 20 Pt 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/663156194/ Chapter 21: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/663760516/ Chpt 22 Pt 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/674644356/ Chpt 22 Pt 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/674648505/ Chpt 22 Pt 3: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/674658226/ Chpt 23 Pt 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/683757147/ Chpt 23 Pt 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/683765009/ Chpt 24 Pt 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/685766546/ Chpt 24 Pt 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/686198230/ Chapter 25: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/700792854/ Chpt 26 Pt 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/700796432/ Chpt 26 Pt 2: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/700878172/ Credits: Me, for being the author Shannon Messenger, JK Rowling, Eoin Colfer, and many other authors for inspo @aqua_di_angelo, @AL600AWESOME, @Lanze_cupcake_face11, and @Yayabinks for inspo and supporting the story! QOTC: Which power do you think is the most OP?
