Chapter 70 The Tarnished Ring

Chapter 70 The Tarnished Ring
On Friday night, Shayne’s bed suddenly felt too big. She had stayed up late watching movies with Brian and Kevin hoping sleep would come. After she finally forced herself to bed she tossed and turned for most of the night without Jeffrey’s arms to hold her. After hours of not being able to sleep, she finally slipped from the bed deciding it was just way too lonely without him.

At the last minute, Jeffrey’s boss, Old Man Harris, had asked Jeffrey to accompany him to a Builder’s Expo in Indianapolis for the weekend. He had been reluctant to leave her, but Shayne had insisted he attend. She wanted him to know that she supported his career choices and had finally accepted he wouldn’t be headed to LSU. Even knowing she was doing the right thing didn’t stop her from missing him.

Shayne slipped into a tee-shirt and shorts before she crept down the hall quietly, hoping not to wake up any other the guys. She tiptoed down the stairs quietly and made it to the kitchen before Kevin’s voice caused her to almost jump out of her skin.

“Can’t sleep either?” He asked with a sleepy yawn. He was shirtless again and his blue eyes looked tired.

Shayne shook her head. “It’s the weirdest thing, I’ve sleep by myself for years and now all the sudden the bed is too big.”

“If you are still tired, I can lay on the new couch with you. I promised Jeffrey I would look after you.” Kevin offered as he pointed his thumb towards the living room.

Shayne smiled, she wasn’t completely opposed to the idea. “Maybe later, I think Bean is hungry.” She rubbed the tiniest bump on her tummy.

She went to the refrigerator and pulled out a bowl of grapes which she deposited on the counter. She began to pick them off the prewashed vine and pop them into her mouth. Kevin walked over and grabbed a handful of the loose ones from the bottom of the bowl.

Shayne was reaching for another grape when her vision began to darken and she got the familiar sensation of the beginning of one of her premonitions. She grasped wildly for the counter as the vignette started and the world around her fell away.

Shayne was clearly crying. She was wearing a solid black dress and holding a crinkled newspaper clipping in her hand. It was an obituary for Jeffrey dated for July fifteenth. According to the article he has been tragically killed in an unpreventable accident.”
Shayne heard herself scream as she felt her legs give way from beneath her. Kevin’s arm were around her quickly as he lowered her to the floor. She began to sob uncontrollably as she wrapped her arms around her knees.

Brian appeared in the kitchen doorway with huge eyes. His hair was sticking up wildly and Shayne realized he had likely fallen asleep on the couch watching more movies after she went to bed. “What happened?” He asked as he carefully approached.

“She had another vision, but whatever she saw was bad.” Kevin told him. He rubbed Shayne’s shoulders comfortingly. “I’ve never seen her like this.”

“What did you see?” Brian asked as he reached out and brushed hair from her face.

Shayne knew she was ghost white and could feel herself shaking all over. She was crying so hard it was hard to speak. She rocked back and forth while taking deep breaths and closing her eyes over and over again.

“He’s going to die,” Shayne finally sobbed. “I killed him, I actually killed him.”

Brian sat down into the floor and pulled Shayne into his lap. “You aren’t making any sense. I need you to calm down and tell us everything.”

Shayne shook from head to toe. She tried to get control of herself but she could here glass shattering all over the house. Things were flying wildly around the room and thunder was booming overhead.

Kevin put his hand under her chin, “Shayne!” He barked. “You are going to tear the house down and kill us all. You have got to calm down!” His voice was stern and it gave Shayne pause.

Her breathing began to calm and flying utensils returned to their racks. The house finally calmed but the storm continued to rage outside its walls. She took another deep breath and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she told Brian and Kevin everything.

She explained that it was believed that her family was under a curse and about how future Jeffrey has found a story in a sorcerer’s diary that explained how she cast a curse on them. She told them about her weird family tree and about trying to remove the curse. Finally, she explained about both of the visions.

When she was finished the three of them sat on the floor in the wrenching silence. Shayne was the first to speak. “Was I wrong in not sharing the part about the visions with Jeffrey earlier?” She asked the room.

Brian shook his head. “No, we shouldn’t tell him. What good would it do to put a doom clock over his head. I think it’s better that the three of us focus on finding out how to prevent this.”

“I think maybe the sorceress was trying to tell you that this is preventable. I say we start combing through those journals you mentioned until we find an answer.” Kevin said as he got up out of the floor.

He reached down and helped Shayne and Brian up one by one. “I say we establish the kitchen table as home base. Brian why don’t you collect all the journals from the attic and all the other hiding holes you can think of. While you gather materials, I’ll help Shayne wash her face and we find us some snacks.”

“I think that’s a good plan. I might know where Shayne’s grandma may have hidden what we need.” Brian said cryptically as
he dashed up the stairs.