Chapter 99: NINETY NINE

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Slowly, Acantha faced me and her head gave a little shake as she nodded, befuddled.

"I have been played."

Afterward, she fell silent for a moment and stared into space, still looking shocked and confused.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, "Is Ace okay?" I was now alert. Did she perhaps see something about Ace with her sorcery skills?

"There is something you must know," she began, pain evident in her voice. She slowly released my hand and took a deep breath, avoiding my gaze.

My curiosity piqued and my heart drummed against my chest in fear.

"Othniel Black was the Alpha who killed my eldest daughter, Camila. He was Alpha of the Ocean Howls Pack at that time and he was the one I had placed a curse on. I believe Ace is his son."

I retreated, "what?"

"As at that time Ace hadn't been birthed yet, Kyra was still pregnant with him. I had cursed him in her womb without even meeting him," Acantha bitterly lamented.

My jaw dropped, but for some seconds, I was speechless. Acantha was the one who had placed a curse on Ace and put us in this situation.

"H-how can this be?" I mumbled.

She looked bitter and disappointed, "fate has played a cruel trick on me," she resumed lamenting, pounding her chest with her fragile fist as she wailed. Just like me, she couldn't fathom how her curse ended up descending on her own descendant.

"The moon goddess has tricked me. They had brought my dilemma upon my descendant while I served them dutifully for decades," she continuously sobbed in fury.

Seeing how much pain she was going through, I immediately scooted towards her to comfort her.

"It's not your fault, Acantha. You did what every mother would have done, you just didn't know it would backfire. Do not blame yourself, I understand your reasons and it's not your fault," I consoled.

"Still it hurts to know that I am the one responsible for all the torments and pain my granddaughter had and is still going through. I made you suffer for a crime you knew nothing about, all because of my rage," she was ladened with guilt.

"I do not blame you, and I'm sure everything happened for a reason best known to the moon goddess," I put my arm around her, wiping the tears from her cheek.

"The moon goddess made her choice, fate turned things around, and now we have found each other, which is a good thing. I believe that together we can find another way to break this curse."

Acantha nodded, wiping her eyes. "I will do my best to find a solution. I cannot watch you go through any more suffering, and now that I know how much your mate means to you; I will make sure he lives."

My eyes lit up, "You can do that?"

In assurance, she nodded, "I must find a way."

She went back to her wicker chair and once again began reciting incantations. I stood beside her, watching and hoping for a miracle. From time to time, she would pick up her staff, mumble some words into it, and stamp it on the floor.

"You are a special breed, a descendant of the moon goddess; surely she will not keep quiet while you are on the verge of losing your life. She made you the healer for a significant purpose, and until that purpose is achieved, you must live," Acantha spoke in between her incantations.

"The curse shall have no effect on your life."

"Ace, what about Ace?" I quickly queried.

Her lips stopped moving and she lowered the sage, facing me.

Slowly, she shook her head. "I cannot see his future or any revelation concerning him without his presence here."

My brows narrowed as I became worried, "but I have no idea where he is, and we can't waste any more time."

"You're right. The earlier the curse is broken, the better. I already see heavy darkness hanging around you, and since your life is guaranteed, it can only mean that someone important to you is going to lose their life soon."

I started shaking my head, "We can't let that happen; I cannot lose Ace. I would rather die than let him go."

There was no one else who was more important to me than Ace. How could I lose him? He was my will to live!

Acantha began her incantations again, this time a little more violent and louder. I could sense the frustration in her voice as she called upon the moon goddess, seeking a solution.

After what seemed like an hour, she eventually gave up, and when she faced me, I saw hopelessness in her eyes.

"They won't reveal anything to me without Ace being here."

"So, what are we going to do?"

"There is only one way, but it is slow and dangerous. It comes with a lot of challenges and although effective to a large extent, it requires a sacrifice."

"What kind of sacrifice?" I asked. Hopefully, it wasn't a life.

Acantha hesitated and then shook her head, dismissing my question. "It doesn't matter. The issue right now is that I am not sure we can make it there in time to break the curse before another tragedy occurs."

"How long will it take to get there?"

"Five days at most and another day to find the flower of destiny, carry out the task, and neutralize the effect of the curse," Acantha explained.

The flower of destiny. I had read about it once and it was believed to be a myth. It had answers and solutions to all the problems in the world but at the same time, it wasn't very reliable as it required mutual offering.

Most times, it would take more than it gave, hence leaving its victims in a more helpless situation than they came with. Despite the dreadful task of finding the flower, it ended up doing more harm than good.

Now, it was our only way of saving Ace and breaking the curse, and we had no idea what we would have to give in return or if we could find the flower in time. Until now, I didn't know it existed.

"What do you suggest?" I faced Acantha. It was not an option anymore, it was a necessity. I was willing to sacrifice even my life to save Ace.

"We have to do it, there is no other option," Acantha decided. "I would rather face danger than watch you suffer anymore. This whole thing started because of me and I must end it."

I nodded, "I'm willing to do it too. Where do we start from, how do we find this flower?"

"I will prepare a map, it will help us save time and arrive at the garden at a lesser time range. With my powers, I can also locate the spots that are safe and less dangerous," she said and began working on the map.

"And with my ability, I can fight and heal our wounds so we don't have to spend hours nursing them or waiting for them to heal," I added.

She smiled, nodding her head proudly. "While I prepare this, you can take a rest. We need all the strength we can get for the journey ahead. This might be your last rest until our return."

I refused with a shake of my head, "No, we can't risk wasting even a second, I want to help you. I can pack us food and clothes and everything else that we would need for the journey."

At my determination, Acantha's gaze turned pitiful and I knew she was vehemently regretting her past decisions and choices- if it was possible, I was certain she would have wanted to embark on this journey alone but seeing how she made no move to exclude me, I realized I was a vital part of the process to find the flower of destiny and break the curse.

Just like Ace, I was a partaker of it and it was only right that I involved myself in his absence.

I smiled at Acantha reassuringly, she had no idea how much I was already looking forward to this and all the things I was willing to sacrifice to keep Ace alive. I was stronger and more prepared for this than she could have imagined.