The Curse of Love

By: Joker is Poker with a J

Chapter 14

Of Bad News and The Villain

Summary: The year was 1504 and I was just a traveling artist, making my way in the world, trying to become famous. But, female painters weren't respected, even during the new age. The Renaissance. And my luck, not being good nor bad, led me to stumble on a grave disaster.

Note: Hey! I have a writer's block for Dangerous Game so I'm gonna go ahead and update this one! Enjoy!

One lifetime is hard enough to live. How could someone possibly stay sane living an estimated five lifetimes?

I don't know how I stayed sane all these years. I didn't even know if I was still sane. I certainly felt crazy, running through Manhattan with the man I love's sister. And the man in question would sure be furious once he found out I had run out on him. Not to mention being on a wild goose chase for an old gypsy.

Maybe I had lost my mind.

Well, I didn't have time to search for it at the moment, I thought grimly, as Miela and I made it to Central Park where the Carnival had been held.

It was quite a site, seeing the Ferris wheel being dismantled. Watching as the tents were packed up and the people going around cleaning up kettle corn and cotton candy from the ground. But they all worked fast and laughed and joked all the while.

Weaving through the workers, Mi and I made a beeline for the exact spot I remembered the Gypsy tent was. But as I got closer, I slowed down.

The tent was gone. All that remained was a light brown patch on the ground. I felt my heart fall into my stomach, and I turned around in dismay. "Let's go back." I told Mi, feeling the tears threatening to fall.

I had thought maybe, maybe she'd still be here. She was the only person who could see, could tell me that I was no longer immortal.

"You ok?" Mi asked me as we made our way back.

I smiled at the girl feeling a sisterly bond between us. "Yeah. Yeah I'll be fine."

"Aurelie?" A voice called out, and my heart jumped as I recognized it. Turning around, I felt the tears fall with relief.

"I thought you left!" I said, running towards the Gypsy.

She was staring at me, and then shook her head, "Aurelie. I thought you would be gone by now. But, what is this?" She squinted at me a moment, and then her eyes widened, "Child! You've..." She glanced at Miela, and then back, "You are you again."

I smiled at the way she had said it, and I felt light as a feather, "I am?"

She nodded, smiling, "You are in love." Her smile was as big as my own.

"Yes!" I said, and gave her a hug, "Thank you."

The Gypsy looked surprised, but hugged me back, "I know you kept running, but I also knew that sooner or later he would stop you." She took my hand in hers and kissed it. When I took my hand back and looked down, I saw the symbol identical to hers on mine. The heart with the three waves.

"So you'll never forget. Past, Present, Future. And Love." She smiled one last time and turned away. And was then lost in the crowd of workers.

Miela looked at me, "Was that who you were looking for?"

I turned to her, smiling from ear to ear, "Yes." I felt as if I could float on air as I stared down at my palm. I was back. Of course I wasn't the same. I never would be. But that was ok.

"Lee! Mi!!" A voice yelled out, and we both turned.

Racetrack came running over, gasping for air and looking a little worse for wear, "Spot... Brooklyn!"

Miela and I exchanged a look, "Wait, Race, speak clearly."

He shook his head, and then said quickly, "We'se was at Medda's and a Brooklyn newsie came stumblin' in. He's was cryin' and bleedin'! Something about these guys coming in and takin' ovah the Brooklyn LH!"

"Shit!" Mi swore, and we were both off in an instant.

It seemed to take forever to get to Brooklyn, and even longer to get to the Lodging House. When we did arrive there, it stopped us both in our tracks.

The front windows were smashed, there was one light on and the place was a total mess. The front door hung wide open, and some of the chairs were broken. The main table, too, was split in half.

Miela held back a sob, and slowly I went forward up the stairs. Cards were scattered around, a few glasses broken. I turned to look at Mi and I raised an eyebrow, "If tonight was your party, why were there newsies here?"

The brown-eyed girl shrugged, "Some of the boys are too young to go out to Medda's so a few older guys stay with them."

I bit my lip, and then felt tears rise as I saw it. Spot's cane lay at the bottom of a set of stairs. A few spots of blood were around it on the floor. Walking over to it, I knelt down and reached out my hand cautiously.

As my hand closed around the shaft of the cane, a tear fell down to land on the gold tip.

"Awe, how sweet. Spot's goil is cryin' for him." A cruel voice said overhead.

I straightened instantly and stepped back to look up at the boy. My knuckles turned white as I grasped the cane of Brooklyn in my hand.

A growl rose to my throat as I recognized the boy, but it was Mi's heart-broken cry that spoke his name, "Villain!!"

Villain St. James turned to her, his golden brown eyes softening for a split second before he turned cold, "That's me name. Glad you could stop by me humble abode." He leered down at us as his arms spread wide to encompass the entire LH.

A/N: Well, I know its short but I actually like this chapter! So I hope you all did too! Please Review!!

Truly,

Joker is Poker with a J