Chapter 24 Jinxed
ARLENE
“What did you just say?" I gasped out in disbelief.
"I have something to tell you concerning Lady Adriana. It could be of help in finding what she hàs been after all these years,” he said, and my throat knotted.
“What is it? Please, tell me quickly!" I blurted out, unable to hold in the curiosity and shock bubbling in me.
The silence that trailed after my question caused panic to set in.
“Hello?" I snapped in a quivering voice.
"I can't tell you over the phone. I will send an address to you, please, meet me there,” he muttered, and before I could say another word, the line went dead.
A sickening feeling sank in, and I gripped my dress, swaying to the side as my head felt light from the news.
After months of digging secretly in the darkness, I had finally seen a ray of light. I would do whatever it takes to meet the janitor and find out the root of my sister's attack.
A message dropped in, and I quickly dashed for a piece of paper and a pen. I tapped the message and scribbled the address on my screen, then deleted the message to avoid putting the janitor's life in danger.
I knew the address he had sent to me. It was Adriana’s favorite spot after lesson hours. She would always go to the quiet bar and sit after school hours until darkness had almost covered the place.
À wave of nausea hit me as the memories came rushing in.
Her rare smile, the fire and ice in her eyes, that confident gait, and overwhelming aura that never ceased to follow her everywhere she stepped.
I loved the way she always defended me from bullies back in the early years of our high school. I always felt safe whenever I was next to her.
She was my security, my secret therapy, the shield that always took the brunt of my actions. Even though she was harsh and bratty sometimes, she was still better than me and had a better heart than I would ever have.
“Did someone jinx you?"
My head jerked up when a voice snapped across my nauseous thoughts.
I realized that I was crying through the tears on my cheeks and my reddened face. I quickly wiped the tears on my face and folded the paper before turning around to face whoever had intruded into my room.
Disgust gripped me when my eyes fell on Lucas, who was bent down, the paper Adriana had given me in his hand.
“What are you doing here?" I almost growled as I marched forward and snatched the paper from his hand.
He looked up, brows raised and lips slanted to the side, that disgusting gaze fixed on me.
“What are you doing in my room?" I asked calmly after taking a deep breath.
He stood up and pulled one of his hands into his pants pocket.
“Who jinxed you?" He asked again, waving his hand at the paper in my hand.
My brows raised in confusion as I stared down at the large smiling face on the paper.
“Jinx? How is this a jinx?" I snapped in anger.
He chuckled, throwing his head back in amusement.
“You don't know that a smiling face drawn with a red ochre is a jinx? Whatever is written under it always means the opposite, and there's high chances of that person's curse coming to pass if the tears of the person fall on the face three times on its own."
My throat knotted and my heart clenched at his explanation.
I slowly raised the paper with a slackened jaw, finally realizing that I had been holding onto a curse and not a gift.
It finally made sense why there were drops of tears on the paper when I found it inside that box on my dressing table after my mating ceremony.
Adriana didn't wish me well. She jinxed me.
“Be happy," he muttered, and I looked up at Lucas again.
“I guess whoever sent you that cursed your happiness," he laughed and stopped when he realized that it wasn't funny to me.
“It seems to be happening, though…” he paused and took a step closer.
I stepped back, glaring at him in hatred.
“Tell me, honey, who did you hurt?" He asked, and my heart skipped.
He chuckled and tilted his head to the side, suspicion filling his eyes.
“Is this about your marriage to my brother? I used to hear rumors of his relationship with your sister. What is her name again?"
I growled loudly in anger, unable to hold it in any longer.
Lucas jumped back, eyes wide as saucers.
“Why don't you focus on your marriage and stay away from me!” I growled in anger.
” Whoa! Calm down sister-in-law, I meant no harm…”
“Then what the hell are you doing in my room at this time?" I snapped, cutting him off.
"Believe me, I only came because I was worried that you were not in the group photo," he defended himself.
My shoulders slumped and my throat knotted again. Tears were beginning to gather in my eyes, not just because I was reminded that I was just an outcast in the Pack, but I was jinxed by my sister.
I knew I deserved it, but it hurts like crazy to find out that way.
Lucas sighed and rubbed his neck, then muttered an insincere apology for his intrusion and began to shuffle to the door.
He paused on his steps and craned his neck back, grinning sinisterly as he looked at me.
“I haven't seen you flare up this way, sister-in-law. Does the mention of your dead sister trigger you this much?" He muttered, and my belly knotted.
Rage burned through me, and I felt like smacking his jaw to pieces, but I knew deep within me I was too weak and scared to attempt that.
“Be happy," he mocked and trudged out of the room.
I shuddered and dropped to the ground, brushing my hair back while finally letting the tears drop.
My eyes traveled to the paper, and my heart broke again. I was jinxed, and I never knew.
And now that she was gone, there was no way to escape the words. It would hunt me for the rest of my life.
“I should have said no, I should have said no to Miles even though he was my fated mate," I whispered to myself, clutching the hem of my dress.
I was so foolish. I thought I was doing the right thing, but it ended up being the worst mistake of my life.
I wanted to crush the paper and burn it to save myself, but I didn't. Instead, I dropped it back into the box and covered it up.
I got up and hid the box away again before trudging into the bathroom. If this was what Adriana wanted for me, then so be it.