Love is Strange Chapter 19, a tiger's curse series fanfic

Please enjoy! All rights to Colleen Houck of course.

ANIK

I watched as Emma became restless in her sleep and begin to wake. She fumbled around with her eyes closed, as if confused with her surroundings. Her eyes blinked open, and her gaze fell onto the old monk who was seated at the table, picking leaves of some rare plant that smelt strangely of cinnamon. Emma glanced at me, unsure and embarrassed to have fallen asleep on the shaman's bed.

'Hallo young lady,' Phet said with a toothy grin, beckoning Emma to come over. 'You sleep long time. Very tired.'

'Ah, yes,' Emma mumbled, still unsure what was really going on. 'I am very sorry to barge into your home like this, but-'

'Yes, yes, tigers explain everything,' the monk interrupted impatiently. 'What is your name?'

'Emma.' The shaman nodded.

'You call me Phet.'

I watched as Emma studied Phet carefully. He was a small, wrinkly man with a small patch of grey, wiry grey hair onto of his otherwise bald head. He wore a rough, coarse wrap around his torso and sandals. A shawl was thrown carelessly over one shoulder. His appearance exactly matched the one Kelsey had given us and I wondered how old the shaman really was.

Phet was silent and Emma glanced between Edison and I, unsure of what to say. Finally, she broke the silence.

'So Phet,' Emma began, shifting in her seat. 'Ren, Anik's father, told us that you understand the nature of the curse and would be able to help us.' Phet rose from his seat and started to bustle around the kitchen. Emma continued. 'We know that Ren, Kishan and Kelsey broke the curse eighteen years ago, but Kelsey thought that we should, um, see you before….' Emma seemed to be scrambling for words. She cleared her throat. 'Before attempting to seek Durga's help and starting the quest by ourselves.'

'Phet knew that tigers were coming,' Phet replied, but not answering the question. 'But was not expecting you.' He pointed directly at Emma, who just looked even more confused. Edison, who had been still and silent the whole time, raised his head.

'Durga's chosen one will accompany tigers on quest,' Phet continued. 'But how do you know that you are the someone special?'

Phet crossed his arms and looked sternly at Emma who was completely baffled and speechless.

'I – I don't, I guess,' she replied, a shocked expression on her face. I frowned and felt my stomach shift with apprehension. I walked over to her and nudged her limp hand with my nose.

'Yes we do,' Edison said firmly from behind me and we all turned to look at him. He had turned into his human form without anyone noticing, and his green eyes were sparkling with anger. 'We know Emma is the special person because she is the one we all trust. She is the one who knows of the curse and is willing to risk her life to save ours. She is the one who cares about us the most and has not stopped to think twice about the consequences or the danger she is in.' He glared at each of us in turn and I suddenly felt a wave of respect for him. 'If that isn't special enough for you, I don't know what is.'

There was silence. Emma stared at Edison, stunned. I nodded my head, and turned to look at Phet. Phet just stared at Edison and suddenly laughed uproariously as if he had just made a fantastic joke. We all glared at him. Phet slapped the table in his laughter and I growled.

'Yes, yes!' The crazy monk exclaimed. 'Very good. I believe you now.' He reached over and took one of Emma's hands on both of his own.

'I am sorry for doubting you, Ehm-ma. You have won both the hearts of your tigers and there is no doubting you are Durga's favoured one.' Emma visibly sighed in relief, and gave Edison a grateful smile. Still chuckling to himself, Phet moved back to the kitchen, gathering some herbs.

'Phet go pray now. You stay here. Eat. Phet be back at sunset.' And with that the mad monk left the hut, leaving the three of us alone.

EMMA

I hadn't even considered the possibility that I wasn't actually the chosen one. Phet's statement has been a slap in the face. And Edison's reply wasn't really solid proof. It seemed good enough for Phet, but what if I wasn't the chosen one? What if I was the wrong girl, and was trampling on the true course of destiny? What if it wasn't meant to be me?

Of course I expressed none of these fears. Instead, sick of granola bars, I helped myself to the stew that was boiling on the fire.

Anik and Edison had wandered outside to guard the hut. As if anything was going to attack us. But they probably liked the feeling that they were the 'protectors,' doing their duty to keep the girl safe, because 'that's what men do.' I rolled my eyes and ate the stew, which was surprisingly good. It tasted of mint leaves and parsley, with another herbal essence I couldn't identify. I gazed around at the variety of plants growing on the windowsill. He is so weird, I thought to myself, thinking of Phet's strange habits. Imagine living in isolation for your whole life. You would get lonely. Then I shrugged. At least he has his plants for company.

After my meal I walked outside and sat between Edison and Anik, who were lying in the sun next to each other. I absently stroked their fur, tracing Edison's prominent black stripes. Anik turned and placed his head in my lap and I smiled. Right then it struck how bizarre this situation was. A month ago I was a regular seventeen year old, sitting next to my best friend in biology class. Doing homework, watching Toy Story with my little sister and sleeping in on weekends. Now I was on the other side of the word, in the middle of a jungle with two tigers at my side trying to break a curse. How did I get into this mess? I wondered to myself, sighing. Oh yeah, I volunteered.