Author Note: This chapter is based on a real event I experienced. I lost someone I loved and I refused to let my pain go until someone convinced and helped me through the grieving process. It was hard and it still hurts me like hell, but it's much better than years before. Unlike many of the previous chapters update, I've already written many drafts before Chapter 45, so some new chapters will be released quickly than others.

I wake up and find myself back in me and Jim's bedroom. I feel his arms around me. I woke up too early. I close my eyes, waiting for a few minutes, but I can't seem to fall back asleep. To not wake Jim up, I slowly move out of his grasp. I get off the bed, wrap myself in a dressing gown and quietly walk toward the door. I slowly open it and turn back to look at my boyfriend. He looks so peaceful and undisturbed by the soft blue glow of the window. I turn around and walk out the door, slowly and quietly closing it behind me. I walk about the castle halls, hoping to ease and clear my head. After wandering for awhile, I see Veronica staring out the vast window. I quietly walk closer to her and see her look sad in her reflection from the moonlight. What could she be staring at? What could she be sad about? "Veronica."

She turns around and smiles. "Hello, Claire! What are you doing up? It's not even the early morning."

I shrug my shoulders. "I couldn't sleep."

Then Veronica's face changed into sadness. "I can sense you're grieving."

I tense up. "Yes," I admit. "My grandmother died in my arms over a week ago, but it's hard to allow myself to grieve because of our situation, and I don't want to show it in front of my friends."

"Claire, you should allow yourself to mourn over the loss of your grandmother. It's alright, too, especially in this situation. You're safe here." Veronica replies.

I bite my lip and shake my head. "No! I'm afraid I won't be able to stop if I do. I love my Abuela so much; she was like a second mother to me. I will throw myself into anything that will allow me not to relive the pain, seeing the life drain out of her. I want to forget it." I say, feeling like I'm going to cry.

Veronica looks at me with empathy yet worry. "Claire, that's not healthy. You have so many friends who love and care about you, and they won't blame you for grieving for a woman you cared so much for."

I sigh and look down, feeling sad. She's right.

"Come over here, my dear; look at the gems outside with me; that might help your sleeplessness."

I find it strange, but I agree. I walk over and stand next to her. I look out the window and become enchanted by what I see. At night, the gemstones and diamonds in the caves glow brighter than the stars I see in the sky at home. "Wow! It's so beautiful; I've never seen anything like this. Geologists and astrologists are lucky if they ever see something like this, let alone every night."

"Yes! It is." Veronica answers clearly and sighs. She sounds and looks so sad. The beauty of the colors and silences calm my every worry. Veronica must be lucky to live here, but why is she all alone? "This helped give me peace of mind whenever I was sleepless. I see this every night before I go to sleep." She adds. She lifts her hand and touches the clear glass near her face, sighing. "I wish I could leave this place." She mumbles.

"Why can't you? There's nothing stopping you." I ask, looking up at her.

Veronica doesn't answer and walks over where the doors of the balcony, and as she puts her hand on the handle, a yellow spark snaps back, making her groan in pain.

"What was that?" I ask with concern, stepping to Veronica's side.

"This castle might be beautiful, but it has been my prison for 850 years." Veronica sighs, rubbing her hand.

Worry and shock hit me. "How? Why?"

"When I first woke up here after I died with my family around me, I was enchanted by the castle's beauty, but I was so alone. Aunt Elaine told me I would see her in the afterlife, maybe even my birth mother, before she died. So, I tried to walk out to find them, but as I was about to walk out the door, I hit was seen like a wall I couldn't see. I couldn't leave the castle no matter how hard I tried. I was sad and searched for answers, and I soon discovered I was cursed." She explains, looking down at the door handle.

"My Abuela told me there is a curse on our family. Could it have something to do with your inability to leave?" I ask with slight curiosity.

"I'm not sure; all I know is it started with me. The curse is when every firstborn in our family dies; they will never be able to see their family or each other. Our souls become lost and alone. When I died, my soul became trapped in this castle. Even if I could leave, I would never be able to see my family, my husband, my children, and Aunt Elaine." She replies sadly. "But it helped keep me safe from everything that tried to enter the castle."

Fear and pain hit my heart. Now I know what Abeula was trying to tell me, but how couldn't she have known what happened? "How could someone do something like this to our family." I wonder in sadness.

"I don't know. I tried to find something in the castle to break the curse, but after 830 years of trying, I couldn't find anything. I almost gave up until you were born, finally giving me a sense of hope to break this curse and find my birth mother."

"Wait? Why would you say I gave you hope?" I ask in confusion, and she turns to me.

"Because you are a part of me. When you were born, a piece of my soul was ripped out of me and placed into you the moment you were born. It was painful and made me pass out, but I heard a baby crying when I woke up. A projection appeared before me, and I saw you in your mother's arms with your father next to her. You are my reincarnated self. That's how I felt, hope, seeing you grow up." She explains seriously.

I step back, my eyes wide, and I have many questions. How? What? Why? Veronica does look like my mom, who looks like me, and she is my direct ancestor, but how is this possible? "You are me?" I ask softly.

"Yes! We might be different, but we share a connection that no one in our family has."

I have more questions but nod my head. "What more do you know?"

Veronica shakes her head. "Tomorrow. You must rest."

I shake my head, trembling and hugging myself. "No! I don't want to have any more nightmares. They come to me every night." I reply in slight fear.

"Claire, I understand your fear, but you will only worsen it if you don't sleep. Your boyfriend and friends will worry if you don't care for yourself." Veronica says softly, but I still shake my head. Veronica gets down to my level and places her finger on my forehead, and I feel a mild but cold sting. "This spell will ward off any bad dream. We'll talk soon tomorrow, but now you must rest." Veronica interrupts me, and I nod dumbly, my eyelids becoming heavy.

Veronica leads me to my bedroom, wishes me good night, and gives me a ghost kiss on my forehead. I take off my dressing gown and get into bed. I ensure I don't wake up Jim, who still sleeps peacefully. I lay beside him and felt the spell's effect on my forehead. I roll to my other side and feel my body relax, but I tense up as I feel Jim's arm wrap around my waist. As he touches me, he grips me tightly. Did he know I was gone? How? I'll probably ask him about it tomorrow. I close my eyes and drift off into a dreamless sleep. Thank you, Veronica.

Author Note: This chapter might be short, but this night is impactful for Claire, spending time with her 45 great-grandmother. I forgot to say this last chapter, but please review!