The Curse of Blackwood Estate

Chapter 5: An Uneasy Alliance

Ethan’s POV:

A sharp c***k jolted me awake. Heart racing, I sat up, scanning the dark room. Only the relentless ticking of the clock and my own pulse filled the silence. I dragged a hand down my face, the lingering tension from the nightmare still coiling in my stomach.

I grabbed my phone, squinting at the screen. Three emails from property managers. Structural Damage Report. Another unexplained incident. Complaints of strange sounds, flooding floorboards—tenants threatening to break their leases. My pulse quickened as I read a contractor’s warning: “Unsafe conditions.”

A bitter taste rose in my throat. Everything I’d built was crumbling—and it all started after that face-off with Lily. Curses and magic didn’t make sense, but if she had answers, I’d get them. I didn’t care how desperate it looked.

The first light of dawn was breaking when I spotted her in Nana’s garden, her fingers brushing the delicate petals of a rose. She moved with a gentleness that looked so foreign, so… genuine. For a brief moment, I hesitated, watching her lips move in a soft murmur to each bloom. She seemed so at peace that I almost forgot why I’d come.

I cleared my throat, breaking the spell. Her head turned, and those calm green eyes met mine, laced with a quiet that somehow put me on edge. “Can I help you with something?” Her tone was composed, unreadable.

My irritation flared. “Yeah, you could say that.” My voice came out sharper than I intended. “I need to know if you hexed me.”

A flicker of something unreadable crossed her face, but she kept her expression steady. “Hex you?” Her voice was low, dismissive. “Why would I waste my energy?”

She started past me, heading for the cottage. I reached out, my fingers closing around her wrist without thinking. She stumbled, catching herself against my chest. For a moment, she froze, her hand braced against me, our faces only inches apart.

The sounds of the morning faded, leaving only the warmth of her pressed close, her hair brushing my cheek. I felt my own pulse quicken. Her gaze dropped to my mouth, and I leaned in closer, but the spell broke as quickly as it formed. Anger flared, pushing away the pull. I released her, stepping back sharply.

“Don’t waste my time, Lily. Did you do it or not?”

Lily’s POV:

I felt his eyes on me before he spoke, his gaze heavy with suspicion. Ignoring him, I let my fingers glide over the roses, feeling their softness ground me. But I finally looked up. “Can I help you with something?”

The tension in his stance told me he wasn’t here for a chat. “Yeah, you could say that.” His tone was demanding. “I need to know if you hexed me.”

The accusation sliced through me, but I kept my voice steady. “Hex you? I’m not sure that you’re worth the effort.” I turned to go, hoping he’d drop it, but his hand caught my wrist, pulling me toward him. I stumbled, landing against his chest.

Everything stopped. His eyes, so close, were intense, almost vulnerable. My pulse thrummed as his gaze softened, the warmth catching me off guard. But the moment shattered as his expression hardened. He dropped my wrist, the coldness returning to his voice. “So, are you going to deny it?”

“Believe what you want, Ethan,” I replied coolly, pulling my hand away. “I don’t owe you an explanation.” I walked inside, hoping he didn’t notice the tremor in my hands.

Back in my room, I sank onto my bed, my heart still racing. I could feel the press of his gaze, his grip on my wrist. But guilt gnawed at me. I’d tried to lift the hex after Nana’s warning, but the page with the reversal spell was gone—ripped out. I went straight to Grandma, her face turning grave as I told her.

“You left yourself open to forces darker than you realize, Lily,” she said softly. “Anger is powerful, and curses cast in anger can take on lives of their own.”

I felt the weight of my mistake settle heavily in my chest. “What should I do?”

She squeezed my hand. “You need to go to each site. Only by feeling the curse’s effects can you reverse it.”

I bit my lip. Ethan wouldn’t want to see me again, but I had no other choice.

Ethan’s POV:

Pacing my room, I felt my anger surge. The Council of Realtors had summoned me, investigating these incidents as potential self-sabotage. And now tenants are threatening to sue or revolt. My business was under attack, and the desperation to find a solution gnawed at me.

A soft knock brought me back to the moment. Lily entered, looking oddly contrite. For a moment, my anger faltered. She took a steadying breath. “I wanted to apologize, Ethan,” she said quietly. “For what I did.”

The admission hit harder than I expected. “So, you admit it.” My voice was sharp, demanding. “Tell me, witch, what did you do?”

She didn’t flinch. “I can’t undo it from here. I need to be at each site to reverse the effects.”

A bitter laugh escaped me. “You expect me to believe this? Or is this a free pass to Edinburgh?”

Ignoring the jab, she held my gaze. “It’s the only way.”

I fought the urge to soften. “Do you think I’ll forgive you just like that?”

She swallowed, her face falling. Without another word, she turned and left, her shoulders tense. My voice followed her down the hall. “I don’t want to see you near my property again!”

Lily’s POV:

That night, a loud knock jolted me from a fitful sleep. I opened the door to find Ethan, looking pale, dark shadows under his eyes.

“Pack your bags,” he said gruffly. “We’re going to Edinburgh.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “Now?”

He nodded. “I’ve made arrangements to hire caregivers for both my Nana and your grandmother. They’ll be fine without you.” His voice turned cold. “This is strictly professional. You follow my rules.”

I nodded, keeping my face blank, swallowing down the tension his words stirred.