The Birth of a Curse

"She has the same aura as him!" – the old man said, his voice filled with anger and probably fear.

"So what?"calmly replied a twenty-something years old female. "It's not like she is him. She's herself and that's what counts." Then she added "Besides, she has similar aura. Not the same."

"But…"

"It's settled already! She's either gonna be the end of him or he's gonna be the end of her. I don't see what could be the possible reasons for your concern."

"Damned old fool" she thought herself. "Silly and scared as hell… Heh. How boring. Convenient but boring. Whatever. My daughter will be safe. That's all that matters now…"

Three years after that conversation a little girl asked her mother:
"Mommy… why are they so afraid of us?"
"Cause you're a lot better than their kids. Don't worry about it."

"But… I've got no one to play with…"

The little girl wasn't the crying type, yet she looked sad.

"So you want somebody your own age, is that correct, Luci?"

"Yes Mom! Please!"

"Someone your age that would grow with you, right?"

The nod that followed was clear enough response.

"I'll try to find you someone like that, but… You might be afraid then!"

"You know I'm the bravest kid ever!"

"Afraid so…"

So Luci's mom had to go away for some time. It was the first time for her to be alone with her grandfather.

"I'll be away for a month or so" Jade said to George.

"And you'll leave me with her?"

"I think she's quite able to take care of you if you were to decide to get rid of her. Be careful because if anything happens to her… if she doesn't kill you, I will!"

"How are you going to travel?"
"I'll Oversoul, of course!" the woman looked offended by the question and the old man sat silent for a minute or so. Then he said:

"She might be like him, but she's still my grandkid. I'll take care of her… Just be careful, Jade!"

She looked at him with some irritation, but her eyes got softer for a bit. "Damned old fool… but I can trust family…" Then her spirit – a small cat with two tails, materialized; it started spinning the two tails like a helicopter and then both the cat and the woman flew away.

George looked aged with at least five years after his departure with his daughter.

"I'm too old for this…"

A few days passed uneventfully in the small cottage, or at least so it seemed for the average human being. For the trained eye of a Shaman the short period of time was filled with sense and doings. But there were no other shamans in the little isolated town. The kid was being trained, easily but steadily and what seemed to be just a game was in fact important teaching process. The kid wasn't aware of it – actually she didn't really understand how different from most of the humans she and her family were. It was easier but dangerous to keep such an important truth away from the impressionable kid.

And days were going by. Luci was getting better and better without even realizing how important it was. All she wanted was to know why her granddad was so nervous and why her mom isn't coming yet. After a week or so she hid herself under the bed and, although she wasn't that type, started sobbing as quiet as she could. It was the first time she was so lonely and sad. Nothing could make her feel better – not even the fire trick George had taught her (and she really DID love fire!)

When she was about to start feeling even worse (if possible at all!) she heard the voice of her mother straight into her head "That's not what I'd do if I were you. Get out of that bed and think of the best friend you'd want to have. Imagine everything – even the conversation you'd have! And if that doesn't help you feel better, I'll come home sooner without a friend for you. But if you could stop your sadness that way in a few more weeks I'll be back with the best friend you could ever have! So, what shall it be?"

Even though her mother's voice was warm and not angry or reproachful, the kid felt a little ashamed. After all, it'd be foolish to just have her mom away from home for nothing. "I promise I'll be strong, mom! Just… don't be too long!"

… In another two weeks her mother came back home. She seemed to have lost weight and she seemed very, very tired. Yet her eyes were triumph and a pleased smile was shining on her face. But even though the kid was looking at her impatiently, no friend had shown, nor had been discussed.

Two days passed quietly like this and the kid's fragile patience was broken into a million pieces. She wanted to ask. She had to ask! But something was stopping her – what if there really was no friend for her? Ever? Then what? Yet she had to know – regardless how painful the truth could turn out to be. At dinner Luci asked, barely controlling herself. A mixture of excitement and disappointment –many dreams, many fears combined with hope, fighting a lost battle with the lot weaker "rational thought" of the very young Shaman.

"Mommy… what happened…" and she just couldn't go on in a sentence.

"I was getting worried that you didn't care so much! Let me show you. But eat your dinner first" Jade replied and a sign of relief penetrated through the deep of her soul into the surface of her mortal coil. She seemed extremely pleased with her daughter and so was the case.

After Luci's longest half an hour her mom took her downstairs to the crypts of their home. It was the first time she saw them. The long corridors were ghostly lighted by cressets and the labyrinth of the underground was exciting and somehow familiar to the girl.

"I've been here before!" she whispered.

"Yes, yes you have…" Jade thought. "What will happen now? It's the first time in my life that I'm insecure and scared! My poor dear child! Why did it have to be you! But it's too late to go back after all of this!"

"If you have been here" she said out loud, forcing herself to sound vivid "then you could take me to the place your friend is hiding."

And really, in a half hour or so, the little girl took her mother to a locked door. The woman smiled and opened it with just a look. Inside there was a small ('bout 70cm) red fire dragon ghost, which looked at Luci with recognition. And then the girl looked at the creature. Her face wasn't scared or even surprised. She made a small fire out of her palm and said happily:
"Greetings, Ritchie-kun!"

"Greetings, Lucifer-sama! Haven't seen you in a thousand years or so… You probably don't remember too well, but soon you'll know… Thank you for releasing me, Jade-sama! I promise I'll disappoint none of you this time!"