POV Narrator:
A few more years went by and Madeleine was graduating from Luna Nova and having a perfect career in the World Broom Racing Championship becoming the 2001 season champion after winning the Scuderia Carlucci seat and beating 1999 champion Melanie Van Der Strauss, who was one of the fastest riders on the grid, Chariot was standing out a bit more, she showed that a Bekkerts broom is capable of giving great results and this was well demonstrated in how she was a constant scorer, This opened the eyes of the Scuderia Carlucci that wanted to get the racer for them as well, putting together for 2002 a duo that would be one of the fastest riders on the grid, seeing all the potential that Chariot Du Nord had, as she constantly finished in sixth position for best, which was already an impressive result for a broom from Scuderia Carlucci. Croix was still in the British Broom Racing Tour, but she was already showing promise, winning the championship of that year dominating most of the races and so guaranteeing a contract for 2002 in Lavoiette team that was with a project of developing a broom capable of winning championships, then by the tempting proposal Meridies decides to enter, without many enormous pretensions of winning titles without stopping as Maddie and Chariot, which were already in the most prestigious team of the Grid, in search of hunting more titles, mainly Du Nord that wanted to show service. In the same year Laura conquers the triple crown of the broom races, achieving an achievement that was unique for the history of all the witches' sports competitions, this placed her as one of the most great runners in the world by showing that she was a champion in many categories, Besides winning the 1000 miles of Salt Lake City, she also won the Super Broom Light Championship, but she didn't stop there, she would run the next year and was already optimistic because she knew that Harriet and Freya had a promise to keep and it was on finding a cure for the evil that would come to affect Bernadette.
At the Cavendish family home, Daryl had put her plan to poison Bernadette into action, and so far nothing had happened, she just kept on living normally, feeling nothing for the first year, at most she had a little low immunity and got the flu very easily, Bernadette only said she had the flu or something mild, it wasn't even easy to notice that she was actually poisoned by a biological weapon in the hands of Daryl, who was slowly attacking her older sister and leaving her more and more debilitated. As for Diana, things started to show, the little 3 year old girl began to witness a sudden change in how she was treated by her family, her older sisters despised her, they didn't want to play with her at all, her aunt did the same and on top of that she didn't even get to give them a scolding, she made a point of allowing her daughters to continue with that behavior, thinking it was the right thing to do, so much so that they were both rewarded for their bad behavior. At the end of the year it was when things started to get worse, Bernadette started to feel a little weaker, without understanding anything, she had no idea what ended up leaving her like that, when she went to the hospitals and even examined herself the results didn't show anything, she was being undetectable, this left her a little confused, after all she knew she was getting bad.
Monday, November 25, 2001, Cavendish family mansion, Weddinburgh, Scotland.
Bernadette felt some pains in her body, she felt a little weak, as if she was in poor health, even if in the diagnoses given by doctors the result was negative, she tried to examine herself and also had no sign that she was different from a healthy person, that was the perfect plan for Daryl, After all, nobody even suspected that it was because of her that her older sister ended up like that, that it was an attempt to murder her so that everything would look like an accident, but Rosemary and Laura had some idea of what it could be and soon they were getting to know about Cavendish's health condition. That day was another normal day as usual in the Cavendish family home, the oldest was coming home frustrated from work, even starting to be called crazy and hypochondriac for saying that she was feeling sick "without really being", it was everything that Daryl most wanted to happen. They would only believe that she was really sick when she had died, but it would be too late.
POV Bernadette:
What the hell, I've had this thing for a long time, I don't know what it is, but I'm sure I'm sick, I'm feeling weak, like there's something holding me back... I get sick easily... Have I been cursed again by my sister? What a curse... I don't know, she wouldn't be stupid enough to risk doing that, because she would know that I could kick her out of the house if I found out the truth... So what do I have? I am not HIV positive because I have only had sex with one person in my life and it is precisely someone who is not, since that would also make Diana HIV positive... So what could have happened to me? I was walking down the hospital corridor heading home, everyone was looking around me, I could imagine what they were talking about... "Doctor Cavendish is going crazy", "Doctor Cavendish is a hypochondriac", "How can a doctor pretend to be sick just to miss work", comments like these destroyed me even more, but there was one that made me extremely angry when I was about to leave "Maybe it's the lack of a husband that made her like this, as far as I know she is a single mother? Poor thing, she must be suffering a lot taking care of her daughter alone, that's what makes you trust a man, marry him and then he abandons you, don't be so hard on her, let's try to fix it"... I just kept going straight ahead and didn't even bother to listen until they called my name.
- Hey Bernadette! Doctor Cavendish! Come here! - Some nurses said... The same ones who said it was a lack of a husband and I quickly walk towards them holding myself back with anger...
- What is it? - I say, already a bit dry.
- Stop being so serious, Doctor Cavendish, we were just talking about you, you are such a hard working single mother, you spend years taking care of your daughter alone... And we noticed that you've been feeling a bit under the weather, maybe it's your psychological wreckage... What do you think about going out a little, meeting some guys, have fun, you know, instead of always being in her usual monotony, who knows, this way the doctor can get the real love, a handsome upper class, they love doctors ... - One of them who's name was Mary had said that and I immediately answered her very clearly trying to be as polite as possible.
- I don't want to thank you very much, I don't like men, I thought I had already made it clear that I don't like them? And I'm not going out there to fill myself with more worries, I already have an important appointment to make today, if you don't mind I have to go back home, I have a daughter to take care of and things to do - I say turning around and leaving, a little more and I swear I would end up saying more things... I am a lesbian, who insisted that I liked men.
- Your sister came here and told me that she would love a meeting with the son of the owner of the hospital... Arthur... That guy is handsome, are you sure you're going to turn that down? It might even cost you your job... - I kept walking just ignoring it, if they fire me because of this I'll go to another hospital, I can't stand to work in this one anymore... Daryl! You bastard, it had to be you, you even want to promote lesbian erasure on me... And on top of that, bad as I am...
A while later...
I got home... I can't believe this, when I think it was bad enough, it gets even worse, now another man here at home playing with my daughter and playing nice, just to try to have me, There is patience to bear it... Another man around here, seriously that Daryl still insists on this, I soon put my things in place and sit on the couch tired and exhausted, the same man gets up and kisses my hand to show a gesture of education, until Anna appears and I look at her as someone fed up, I could not take it all anymore and she goes to Diana.
- Come with me Miss Diana, we're going to play a lot, let the adults talk alone - Anna said until Diana, as obedient as ever, went toward her to play and I watched her, while that man stared at me.
- You are more beautiful than your sister had told me, a lady of your beauty is a rarity in this country, as beautiful as your sister, in fact more beautiful than she, pleasure my name is Henry Blight, I am heir to the Blight Corporation, I never thought I would meet a beautiful witch like you Bernadette... Bernadette, such a wonderful and poetic name, I never thought I would see a name that sounds French on a beautiful Scottish lady like you... You have a beautiful daughter, don't worry about her, I will be the best stepfather in the world with your girl, I will be more present than her father ever was... But stop talking about this and get to the point, I've taken a great interest in the beautiful lady who stands here in front of me, you are like a work of art, if Leonardo Da Vinci were present here and now he would make the Mona Lisa based on your beautiful face - Ew! Not only is he an idiotic man for sending that one about Laura being forced to abandon Diana, but on top of that he is all poetic and disgusting... I swear this is the least worst of them all, but it's already making me angry, I quickly stared at him with total indifference.
- Too bad, my sister always makes sure to forget to mention that I'm a Lesbian, I'm sorry Henry Blight, but I don't like men, you seem like a nice guy and all, I just don't like it... Simple... I'm trying to be as understanding as possible because I know you must have wasted your time coming here.
- You say that because you have never tried any man, I might be the first, I think that's why your sister called me here, after all I am going to be your lesbian cure, don't feel bad, I just want to do what is best for you, after all how can you be a lesbian and have a daughter? - I slapped the guy in the face when he said that, I lost my patience... Honestly, that's the biggest load of crap I've had to listen to today, damn it! He was even a little surprised.
- Get out of my house now! - I say angrily, I had lost patience already, the day was already shitty and with this asshole it only got worse... All I wanted to do was just live in peace... Too boring, this nutcase.
- If you continue like this you will have no choice but to marry some rich old man and I'm sure you won't like that at all, after all a man like that doesn't know how to treat a woman like a beautiful and manly young man like me, especially since you are a single mother, I'm sure the chances only go down - he said and continued with his little speech and soon got out of my way, "fuck you... I'm already getting the urge to punch my sister until she begs to stay here.
Bankrupt... This is what I want Daryl to think, in fact I have left a reserve just for Diana, in case something happens to me... I leave it to Anna to count the family accounts until Diana turns 18 and keep telling everyone that we have difficulties, but in reality we are far from that, Laura has been all these years filling this reserve, when the right day comes I will pass it on to my daughter... In case I don't survive this disease that has come upon me, then I will leave it to Diana to find out only when she turns 18? I want Daryl to think we are in financial trouble just so she will be more in control, she will always try to take the worst measures and every slip she may try to commit I can charge her with... There is no point in playing dirty with me if I also have my Daryl Cavendish tactics... We are further from bankruptcy than it appears to be... Speak of the devil... Look who showed up.
- One more Bernadette, honestly girl, I am trying to give you a chance to save this family and you won't take it, I got you rid of that woman and so far you don't thank me, instead you keep turning down the best men in the UK, you have no idea how hard it is to get any of them to put on a date and you keep turning them down, honestly Bern... I don't know why I still try... Everything I do is for my sister's sake - she said with her usual false falsetto, which made me really angry.
- Yes, I will keep refusing, stop with this falsehood, because I know you only promote this all by erasing my lesbian side to the family, you just don't want this to come to influence your side of the family, because you know how daughters raised with the fertility stone are much more powerful than a daughter raised by traditional means, you know that the lesbian side of this family was strong, you know how we got to the point of leaving this whole family on top, you don't want to put ideologies that will let anyone empower themselves, because then you would remain in power and control of everything, but know that all this will still bring you a problem later on, you promote an erasure to my side and then play the conservative... You will only repeat the same thing that happened with mom... - I tell her that when she heard the last one, she felt a little bit sorry, I don't know why? She was responsible for her mother's death and she still feels as if she is important to her... She never cared about her mother, she just wanted my job, that's all.
- Oh fuck you Bernadette, I really hope you die and leave me alone, I can't stand your presence here anymore - she said nervously, turning her face away and leaving.
Nobody told her to come around here and try to offend me, I'm doing very well trying to defend myself from all the offenses that are directed at me, especially since she thinks she's so full of herself that she's coming around, but you know what? I'm still going to give her a wonderful comeback... I really hope that Laura gets the cure soon, there are only three years left until she has the cure in hand and there will be no way that Daryl will try anything against us, after all I will not measure efforts so that I put my sister in justice, I can't wait for her to pay for everything she did for us, or at least learn the lesson, that she understands that the world doesn't revolve only around her? This damned... She only wants to cause harm to us, only wants to destroy our family, all for a selfish desire. We were so well and happy here and then she comes along and ruins our whole moment... I just really wanted to live next to my wife all happy and joyful, without these worries of being a Cavendish... I thought that living with my mother would at least make Daryl realize that he was living in an unacceptable way, but she just gladly accepted being in that situation.
POV Daryl:
As always she makes a point to remember the incident with Clarie, that cursed girl, I really wanted her to die, but not that day, everything but the day of the ritual, at least with Clarie as leader, I would have the chance to be the leader... Then I went walking through the corridors of the house until I arrived at the girls room, I decided to have a word with them, since they were doing a great job, so I enter the room and soon I see that both were playing, I use a spell to inhibit the sounds and so I sit near them that smiled when they saw me, but I want to talk seriously with both of them, because the conversation would be more about the future of the family and soon Merrill was the first to open her mouth without me even saying anything, I think she already has an idea that I want to talk.
- What do you want with us mom, another plan that we are going to mistreat our cousin? She's already afraid enough of us - she said.
- Not so much, I mean that things are going to change in a few years, it is very likely that your aunt will get worse and worse, I am suspecting that maybe she will die in a while if she is not able to treat it... So I want you to know that after she is gone, I want you to stay by my side, I want you to intimidate Diana even more and so we will live our best years, since she will not be old enough to lead the family and out of consideration I become the leader - I tell them that they just shrug, but soon Merrill answers me.
- Mom... It's really worth it all... It was so much more fun when Aunt Laura was around, things seemed nice, everything was more friendly... Now it seems like everybody wants to kill us... I wonder if you're not exaggerating when you think that aunts are evil, Aunt Laura was very nice to us... Is it really worth it to be the leader of the family? The days around here are no longer fun, all we do is enjoy making fun of Diana's face and she doesn't seem to like it at all. She is just a kid younger than us, why do we have to treat her like crap? Why all this mom? I just want to be able to have fun, I just want to be able to live again in the wonderful place that was when Aunt Laura was here... Since she left this place has turned into a pit of sadness, Aunt Bern is all sad, Aunt Laura must be sad too, nobody is happy about this, not even you, who seem to be more and more obsessed with wanting the power of the family? - I slapped the girl so that she wouldn't go on, and she started to cry, well deserved, because I didn't want to hear any more of that nonsense, so much so that Maryl soon gave her a hand to get up and then held her by the collar of her blouse.
- Stop being weak, Merrill! Don't you see that those two were just fooling us! I don't know how you can feel empathy for them that were just using us! I just want this to be over soon! When Mom becomes leader we'll have fun! It takes a major ordeal to show that we deserve to be in that position so that we can have as much fun as we want? And I don't know about you, but seeing Diana crying is the most fun thing in the world, she is always running to her aunt, begging her to do something is very funny, or when I make her fall without wanting to, the most fun thing here is to see Diana crying, she is a crying baby and that is wonderful to see - said my other daughter giving me the greatest pride so much that I give her a little cuddle.
- You see Merrill, be more like your sister and less like your aunt and cousin... Oh and forget that the other aunt exists, just be nice to some suitor of your aunt, we have to push some prince charming to her, so the memory of the other mother will never be present in Diana's head - I tell them that only agree with the head.
This Merrill even after years is still a weakling, she is already 9 years old and still the same weakling as always, she is still attached to Laura and Bernadette, which is horrible, I have to erase more of her memories with her aunts, I think she still has a remnant part of the good times she lived with that curse, I really hope she gets fucked... She will never find the cure for the curse and when her wife dies she will never know that Bernadette died, I will make it a point to impersonate Bernadette in all these years, it's not too hard... I just need to change the color of my eyes and let my hair down... Well at least another plan is also working and that is to make everyone think that she is crazy, that she is getting sick out of nowhere, just the way I wanted the curse to be put on Bern, impossible to be noticed, impossible to be traced, she will just end up in a coffin without knowing what hit her. I am the most genius witch in the whole world! Hahahaha! I should be promoted! Especially since I also made sure to leave everyone in a complicated financial situation, soon I will have the appeal to sell everything, Diana will have no way to question, since it's either sell things or go bankrupt, these girls are very dumb, they fell like idiots in my plan.
POV Bernadette:
I walk through the corridors to my room and from there I notice that my cell phone started ringing, so I pick it up and answer "Freckles", she must be wanting to know something important, so I answer to talk to my love, after all I missed her a lot ... I hope that her journey has a great progress... I just don't know if I will be alive until the cure comes... Oh dear... Things are not really for my side anyway, I have to deal with this disease.
[Me: How are things going love?]
["Freckles": Go ahead, but I really wish I didn't have to get to that point, you know? I didn't want to have to answer like this... One more year and I will win the double treble crown and I will be heading for the quadruple crown in 2003 and 2004, we are optimistic about this, it is not the most difficult thing in the world to win these races... But what about you, love? How are you feeling?]
[Me: I don't know if you'll believe me... But I'm afflicted with a disease... Undetectable... You understand love... It's like my body is dying, but I'm not diagnosed with anything, I get sick very easily, it's like I have HIV, but I don't, my blood doesn't have the virus... Love, what is happening to me? Is it because of the curse? Does it also kill us? Are you feeling it too?]
POV Laura:
It's the poison that Daryl released, I already imagined that she would end up putting it in one way or another, so I have to think of some way to cure her soon, I'm going to Harriet and Freya and they will pass me that perfect cure thing, I'm sure, I just need to talk a little more beforehand to have a greater ownership, but I think that since I already have the triple crown the chances of having the cure are greater.
[Me: Love, it's not the curse, it's something worse, I think you are suffering from another sudden illness, but I will make sure to try to find a cure, Harriet and Freya can help me with this, after all they have already assured me that I can get the cure for the curse and why not for your sudden illness, there must be a super potion that makes you well again].
["Fluffy Cabbage": If it works in taking away the curse it will be even better, but prioritize the curse of the metal balls more, since even if I die... It will be useful for Diana... Please love... You don't have to cure me of this sudden evil... I think it must be just my psychology].
[Me: I'm sure it's not your psychology love, the curse can wait, it's no use finding the cure with you dead, it would mean nothing to find the cure and find myself with you gone from this world, I would never accept such a thing, so I will make it a point to find this cure at all costs, of both things].
["Fluffy Cabbage": Love thank you so much, you are very thoughtful about all this, but there is no need to try so hard for me... Still I thank you... Do you think it could be her? Do you think it could be another one of her works?]
[Me: I have strong suspicions love, but let's talk about something else, I will soon find the cure and you will be well again, you will be able to run around with our little Diana... I am sure].
Many minutes later...
[Me: Baby I have to hang up now, but it was a great conversation, I love you Bern... Another time and another day we'll talk, I promise that I'll resolve the issue of curing your curse, it will pass so quickly that no one will think you're crazy, no one will think what they're thinking now and you'll be able to continue your life].
['Fluffy Cabbage': Okay my love, it's very nice to talk to you, I love you very much, my wonderful fluffy girl, don't go overboard, you don't need all this to make me feel good, you'll see it's just something in my head].
She hung up the phone, after all that conversation I had an idea that she really was afflicted by that poison Daryl released, the effects are the same as Harriet and Freya said from their tests, but how wonderful, besides that the cure is a confirmation, which only gets better for my side, I can't wait to get out of here tomorrow and get the cure for my fluffy cabbage... After that call I take off the sound inhibiting spell since I had heard Chelsea calling me, so I head downstairs and soon arrive in the kitchen. Holly was all fluffy and eating the porridge that was given to her by Chelsea and already I started to get the mashed potatoes and all that meat.
- Hmmmm! The food is delicious, sis! - I tell her while my mouth was full of food.
- I know how much you love my food... But tell me something? Why don't you get out a little my little sister? Try to get yourself a girlfriend, you know... I always see you so serious? - She said until she ended up getting a little down and stopped talking and I answered her with all relaxation.
- I am happy the way I am, of course it is not the best thing in the world to be in Bernadette's arms... After all... She is gone... But I am accepting to stay in this situation, for me it is just less worse and it is not so bad to stay here, I have a wonderful sister and a wonderful niece.
- Oh good my sister, the days around here have improved a lot with you, I really like seeing you... I don't know if I could handle losing the parents alone without you here... Not that I wanted you to lose your wife and daughter, but I really love you Laura - she said all sweet and cuddly... At least my sister is someone likeable, that I can say I'm very privileged to have.
- Thank you my sister, I love you too Chelsea, I really do, I'm proud of the wonderful sister I have - I tell her and she smiles back.
- About sisters, tell me something... What about Bernadette's asshole sister? You mean the Cavendish family will suffer at her hands? I've always wondered that, sis... I don't want to intrude, since I know how you had all this worry.
- Unfortunately... I think the Cavendish family will have a dark period, just like we had in the late 16th century until Isabel McLaren, but soon someone is born who will bring a change and revolution to the Cavendish family, you can be sure.
POV Narrator:
As usual Bernadette was always having to put up with suitor after suitor, all because Daryl still had the idea of lesbian erasure over his sister, by purely not letting Diana know about some trace of the fertility stone so she wouldn't end up with the same things that happened in the past. Bernadette was also labeled as crazy and with that Laura soon learned what it was all about as there was a whole investigation Rose did around Daryl's second curse in an attempt to cause a slow, gradual and yes signs unnoticed death upon her sister.
See you, bad date witches...
