Blessed Curse | Chapter 3.4

[Jade]

"Do you, Cassidy Pfeiffer, take me, Jerad Bunch, as your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do. Do you, Jerad Bunch, take me, Cassidy Pfeiffer, as your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do."




Earlier that week...

"Cassidy, are you sure you can't stay? I'm turning eighteen. Please?" Lexus's eyes grow as large and round as dinner plates. I look away from the deep brown pools of sadness and instead turn towards the door.

"My carpool is here. I am sorry, Lexus. I will be able to see you after work, alright?"

"No--I mean, yeah. Yeah, you will. Bye, Cassidy," Lexus says, nearly shoving me out the door. I can sense her laughter from the other side of the door.

Shaking my head, I get into the car with my silent colleague, and we start the drive towards the Police Department. I've worked my butt off for a promotion, yet I still haven't gotten one. Morgan Harms, my partner, even agrees that I should be a Traffic Cop by now.

I work through lunch--they don't have any plasma orange juices here anyways--but by 2:30, Hank Goddard still hasn't approached me. My mood quickly declines as 3:00 approaches and I still haven't been called into his office. I thought today was the day.

Almost as if he's heard my thoughts, I hear Hank's voice. "Cassidy, can I see you in my office for a sec?"

I walk in, nervous energy beginning to run through my veins. Not for the first time, I wonder how he's my boss. The beach bum in front of me doesn't do his work half the time, but I'm not a schmoozer like many of my co-workers. Mom told me that only works in Business, not Law Enforcement. She would know, being the Chairman of the Board for the Sunset Valley Government.

"Can you stay late today? I need to get home for a... personal engagement," Hank says, flashing me a quick smile. His papers have already been piled messily on his desk, and his bag is zipped closed.

"Of course. Six pm?" I inquire.

He nods. "Thanks. By the way, I'm promoting you to Traffic Cop. Watcher knows you've worked hard for it." He winks at me and leaves.

I make sure that he's gone, and then squeal like a small child. Finally! I've been promoted!

The next three hours seem to breeze by. When I arrive home, I walk onto the front porch and stop immediately, hearing Mom's and Jerad's voices floating out through the open window.

"Of course, Jerad. I would love to..." Her voice fades out, and I wonder what they're talking about.



When I walk inside, Jerad stops talking immediately and gives me a warm smile. "Hey, Cassidy." Mom has mysteriously disappeared into the kitchen.

"Hello, Jerad." He greets me with a peck on the cheek, and I smile back at him tiredly.

"I'd like to ask you out on a date," he says, producing a bouquet of red roses from behind his back.

"These are beautiful," I exclaim softly, feeling the soft petals with my fingers. "I will be right down. I need to put these in water so that they do not wilt."

When I walk downstairs next, Jerad's changed into a black tux. I feel under dressed in my outfit, but I let him lead me outside into the pouring rain.

He drives me to the movie theater and pays for two tickets to one of the movies. I can't tell which one it is, but once we get into the theater, the title is revealed: I'm Dying, Let's Dance, a romantic comedy.

Though the movie is extremely cliche, I still have a good time. As the sun sets, he puts a blindfold around my eyes and drives us across town (I know that because it took almost fifteen minutes, and Sunset Valley isn't that big).

When he un-blindfolds me, I gasp at the view that awaits me.

"Old Pier Beach," I murmur, walking down into the warm sand. I turn to thank him, and see something I never thought I'd see in my entire life.



"Will you marry me, Cassidy Pfeiffer?"

I stand in shock for a moment, finally choking out, "Yes! I will marry you! Yes!"

He slips the engagement ring onto my finger, and I embrace him tightly, hoping I'll never have to let go.



Back to the present...

"So, Cassidy Pfeiffer, what do you say we celebrate our marriage?" Jerad asks, lifting his eyebrows suggestively.

I laugh. "Of course, Jerad Pfeiffer."



The day after our wedding, Lexus moves out with Michael Bachelor. Before she leaves, she tells me privately that she plans to become a Gold Digger. I don't approve of her wish, but it's her life, after all. I just hope that whoever she marries treats her right.

Lexus Pfeiffer | Young Adult | Gained Frugal

A few months after we've been married, I sit the family down for an important talk.

"Agnes has been dead for a few years now. I believe that it is time that we honor her memory in a different way. We cannot live in her house forever. It is still rightfully hers, though the land it is on is ours. I... I think we should rebuild the house from scratch." My announcement is met with stunned silence.

"If that's what you think we should do," Mom says, the first to speak. "But if we decide to do that, we should still keep Agnes's grave somewhere."

"We will," I say, my throat constricted with emotion. "We will."

The next month is filled with calls to contractors and builders. The last call I make before the house is torn down is to Samantha.

I explain everything to her: our wedding, Lexus's birthday, our plans to demolish the house and rebuild... by the time I'm finished, my throat is hoarse.

"I understand," she says quickly, and hangs up. A few seconds later, I get a text.

sry. too much info over phone. didn't want to cry. ttyl, k? -samantha

For the next six months, we live in a hotel near the center of the town. I refrain from driving over to our plot of land to see how the house is coming along--we all do. All of us want to see what the new house looks like, and it's hard to wait.

Finally, I get the call saying our house is ready.

When we reach our new home, we all simultaneously gasp in excitement.

Front View

Rear View

First Floor

Second Floor

As we get settled in, I subconsciously rub my tummy, aware of the announcement I'll need to make once everyone's settled in.

Finally, I can't stand it anymore. "Mom, Dad, Jerad... could you all come down to the kitchen?"

Once they've all been seated, I blurt out my news. "I'm pregnant!"






A/N: This is hands-down the best house I've ever built. I'm so proud of myself! lol. Also, the second generation is coming to a close. 2.10 will be the last second-gen chapter.

[RaiaDraconis]

Wow, that is a gorgeous house.

[dinodymo]

Amazing! Update soon.

[Jade]

C H A P T E R  2 . 1 0

The pregnancy passes by quickly, and soon, my due date has come and gone. Jerad tells me not to worry, but I do. What if something's wrong with my baby?

On a snowy Tuesday morning, I awaken to my stomach cramping more than usual. Jerad, Mom, and Dad had all left for work, and I'm home alone. Just as I begin to freak out, Mom's words of warning float back to me: You must have a home birth. If your child is born with the curse, the nurses might hurt you or it. You can't take that chance.



I push through the painful birth and soon, Spencer Pfeiffer is born at 7:57am.



He has my blonde hair, but Jerad's dark eyes, and it's clear that he favors both sides of the family in facial appearance.

A few days later, Dad turns 65. Mom demonstrates her love for him by kissing him passionately in front of Jerad, Spencer, and I. I cover Spencer's eyes and rush him off to the nursery.



Dad's birthday happens to be Mom's two-year anniversary with Doo Peas Corporate Towers. Her employees threw her a surprise party when she arrived to work, as she relayed to me later.

"Cassidy, guess what?" she asks, and without waiting for me to respond, says, "I was promoted to Power Broker today!"

I stare at her in shock for a moment, before giving her a hug. Power Broker is the top level of the city government in Sunset Valley. It's an honor to be chosen to rise to such a high level.



Sometimes, I think it's odd that Mom and I look the same age, even though she's easily more than twenty years older than me. It's all worth it when I think of the life we'll have together when we're all old and "grey." Vampires never age, which is a blessing and a curse, just like vampirism itself.

"Honey, you should practice your Charisma," Mom says suddenly.

"Why?" I ask her curiously.

"When you've been in Sunset Valley for as long as me, you realize that you need to make friends with the locals. The more friends you have, the less chance you have of our secret slipping out," Mom explains.

"Alright," I say reluctantly.

Practicing talking to myself in the mirror is awkward at first, but I begin to warm up to the idea after a few days.



It's one of those mornings when I'm home alone, talking to myself in the mirror, when I smell something odd wafting in from downstairs. Fighting away my suspicions, I run down to the living room and see Spencer sitting happily on his potty chair. But in the fireplace only a yard or so away from him is the fireplace... and a small fire has ignited on the carpet.

I'm scared stiff for a moment, and then I jump into action. Ripping the fire extinguisher off the wall with inhuman force, I extinguish the fire, heart pounding.



When the last few flames have finally died away, I run over to Spencer and sweep him up into my arms, feeling light-headed. He gurgles cheerfully and wraps him arms around my neck as I hold him tightly. I will never let you get hurt, I promise.

I put Spencer in his crib upstairs, wipe up the ashes from the carpet, and immediately set to work on upgrading the fireplace to Fireproof--and turning off the "Auto-Light" feature. When Spencer crawls into the room, I don't want the fire on at all.



A year or so after the fiery incident, Jerad comes home with a puppy in his arms.

"What is this?" I demand of him as he walks in.

"Ivan," he replies proudly.

"Why have you brought him into our house? There is no room for a dog," I tell him sternly.

"How about the empty room upstairs that we never use? Just put a dog bed, some food, a bowl, and a toy box in there and we'll have a pet room."



I think about his words for a moment. They make sense, but I will never admit that to him. After a few seconds, I sigh. "Alright. If he pees in the house or chews the furniture, he is leaving."

"Thanks, Cassidy," Jerad says, looking relieved. "He's a Siberian Husky mix, and barely a month old. The shelter told me he was Non-Destructive. I'm sure it'll be fine."

He gives me a peck on the cheek.

Later that night, I'm sitting by the fire when I feel nausea suddenly rising up in my throat. I run to the bathroom and throw up my dinner.

A few months, I confirm my suspicions: I'm pregnant with our second child.



Luckily, Mom and Dad love Spencer, and have been the ones teaching him his basic skills like walking and talking.




When I break the news to my family, Dad nearly leaps out of his armchair with excitement at another grandchild. He had wanted five children with Mom, but she didn't want to risk passing the curse onto any other child. Though she would never admit it, I know that Lexus was a mistake, and that she's eternally grateful that Lexus wasn't born a vampire.

Mom looks happy, but again, it's tainted with an air of worry.

Jerad is overjoyed, and even wishes for twins! All I want is a girl. I feel as if our family will be perfect once we have a girl and a boy.

My pregnancy is smooth and goes by quickly, without a hitch. Other than the time by the fire, I have practically no morning sickness, and now that I've been through one birth, I know how it'll feel, and I'm ready for it.

Three days before my due date, Samantha calls.

"Hello? Samantha, what is wrong?" I ask immediately.

"I'm pregnant!" she squeals. "With Elliot O'Connell's baby. We've been dating for a while now, and he's amazing. I want you to come to my baby shower tonight--only family will be there... well, if you don't count Anastasia... and it'll be so much better if you come!" She waits on tenterhooks for my response. I pause to take the information in.

"I suppose... I am pregnant as well," I admit to her.

She pauses for a moment too, and I regret telling her. "That's... that's great, Cassidy," she says, her voice strange over the phone.

"I will be there tonight," I promise her. "I will be there around six."

"Thanks, Cassidy."

She would've figured it out anyways, I tell myself, trying to push away the guilt.


A/N: Actually, there'll be one more chapter. I thought Cassidy was going to have a vampboo, but she didn't, so the next chapter will be a sort of "finale" to the generation. Believe me, a lot of big events in the next chapter.

[Jade]

C H A P T E R  2 . 1 1

On my way to Samantha's house, I feel my heart pounding beneath my maternity shirt. Did Elliot O'Connell die? Has Samantha decided to move out of Sunset Valley?

What I don't expect when I arrive is what greets me: Uncle Casey, Uncle Jacob, Aunt Tori, Aunt Mercedes, my cousin Cindy, Lexus, and finally, Samantha.

"What is happening?" I ask her quietly as I arrive. Everyone's eyes are directed towards me.

"I'm having a baby shower!" she squeals.

I look at her in astonishment. "You are pregnant again?" I manage to choke out.

"Yeah! Well, a joint--or triple--one actually. Cindy's pregnant too! She married Joe Sekemoto... remember Lexus's friend from elementary school... Lance? His brother. And you're pregnant like me! When's your due date?"

"It is in three days," I tell her.

"Oh my Watcher! Mine's in two weeks."

"You have waited that long to tell me?" I whisper-shout, shocked.

"I thought you'd be mad... I mean, my boyfriend is, like, a hundred years old..." Samantha mutters, but her eyes are filled with love.

"Oh," I say lamely.

"Do you want to feel the baby bump?" she asks me eagerly. "Please?"

Though her stomach doesn't protrude as much as mine, I can still feel the baby's little kicks under her skin. A smile involuntarily comes to my face as she rubs her hand over my own stomach.




"I am sorry," I say suddenly. "I am sorry for everything."

"I'm sorry too," she says quietly, and we both decide to put our pasts behind us and become true sisters once again.



"Let's go talk to Cindy," Samantha says after a moment, and I oblige. The last time I saw Cindy was when she was only sixteen years old. It's been quite a while.

"Hey, Samantha! Hi, Cassidy," Cindy says, leaning against the porch and watching the party events unfold.

"Hi, Cindy! Cassidy is pregnant too! It's like we're Sister Moms." Cindy and I look at each other, but neither of us remind Samantha that we haven't all been impregnanted by the same man.

Actually, Samantha and I are, I think. Morris is now my step-son... and nephew.

"Hey, you guys can sleep over here tonight if you want," Samantha suggests, walking into the house. Cindy and I follow.

"No, it's fine. I really should be getting home soon anyways," Cindy says apologetically.

"Thank you for the offer, Samantha," I start, but she looks at me with round eyes and I can't help but say "yes."

"It'll be so much fun!" she yelps.

Throughout the night, I meet almost all of my immediate extended family. Uncle Casey is my favorite by far. He's Cindy's father, and though he doesn't get out much, or like talking to people, there's something about him that seems deeper, somehow.

I also see Morris again. He's grown older over the past few years, and seems to be taking after both his mother and father.



Once the clock strikes midnight, Samantha begins ushering our family out of her home. Once everyone's left, she sighs in relief.

"I forgot how hard it was to throw a party," she admits to me, walking upstairs quietly.

"Why are you quiet?" I ask her. "Nobody is home."

"Anastasia is," she mutters in disgust. "She refused to leave, because this is technically her house, but..."

"You do not need to explain," I tell her, feeling suddenly dead on my feet. I drag myself up to the guest room and fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

The next morning, I wake up earlier than usual and stare the ceiling for a good hour. For some reason, I don't want to get out of bed, which isn't like me.

I finally get up and look for Samantha. Once I find her, she smiles. "You can stay for breakfast if you want. Elliot and I don't live together, so I'm basically all alone here."

I close my mouth, swallowing my words: I should go home. Jerad will be wondering where I have been all this time.

"Alright."

The cooking is awful, but I choke it down to spare her feelings. By the end, it's almost ten o'clock. When I get up, I feel a sharp cramp in my stomach. I double over with the pain.

"Cassidy?" I hear Samantha say, as if from a great distance away.

I hold my stomach... I'm going into labor... now.



"Cassidy!" Samantha shrieks. "Oh my Watcher... should I take you to the hospital? No, I should call Jerad... but he's at work, right? I don't know any doctors! Cassidy!"

"I'll... be fine..." I choke out. "I've... had a... home birth... all alone... before..."

At 11:29am on a snowy Sunday morning, Mallory Pfeiffer is born, amidst Samantha's panicked shrieks. Honestly, she was more freaked out than I was.



She has Jerad's hair color, but the unique lavender eyes that have been passed down through my family since my grandmother Trish. I think she's beautiful.

But all good things must come to an end.

-

It is all my fault.



If I had not disappeared like I did...



If she had not gone looking for me...



I will never forgive myself.



I love you, Mom.

-

Cindy bore a daughter named Robyn; Samantha, a son named Dequan. Shortly after Mom's death, Samantha's boyfriend died, then Jerad's parents, and then Lexus's fiancé, all in quick succession.

A few years later, our life starts to look up again. Spencer turns six, and we enroll him at Fort Starch Military School. At first, I hate the idea, but I begin to realize the benefits of it during my next pregnancy.



Jerad and I have already agreed that she will be our last child. We decided to go in for an ultrasound to find out the gender--we're having another girl.

Ivan turns three right before Mallory's sixth birthday. Jerad instantly instigates a bout of tug-of-war with the fully grown Ivan. I have to admit, he is lovable.



After Mallory turns six, we enroll her at Fort Starch as well. She seems eager to join her brother, and get away from her younger sister before she's born.

Mallory Pfeiffer | Child | Gained Genius

"I don't want to wake up a ton during the night when my sister comes," she explains kindly. "Sorry, Mom."

The next few months pass by quicker now that my children are all at boarding school.

My last birth is harder than the first two. The pain seems to be ripping through my body, but I refuse to go to the hospital when Jerad prompts me to. The darkness seems to overtake my vision, but the last thing I see before I pass out is Janessa's sweet face smiling up at me.

Janessa Pfeiffer | Third Heiress

A/N: Thus closing the second generation! Thank you to everyone who reads this. It really means a lot to me to see a new comment, or to know that people are viewing my story. Also, I'm sorry if this seems rushed. I really wanted to close it before I started rambling.

[RaiaDraconis]

So much heartbreak. But at least the children are a silver lining to that cloud.

[Jade]

So much heartbreak. But at least the children are a silver lining to that cloud.

Yeah. Aubrey's death came as a surprise to me. I saw that she had the "Too Much Sun" moodlet one day, but I thought that it would just go away. Then the thirst started going down ten times faster than it usually does, and by the time I had clicked on her, it was like "2 h, 1 h, 0 h" and she crumbled into dust and died. o.o

I was really hoping that her third child would be a vampire. I don't like having more children than that unless they're family-oriented.

[Jade]

C H A P T E R  3 . 1

My only thing I remember of my birthday last summer was seeing my extended family surround me in a never-ending bubble of suffocation.



Everybody was there. Mom, Dad, Uncle Domingo, Aunt Lexus, Aunt Samantha, cousin Morris, and, of course, me. The only ones missing were my other three aunts and uncles, and Mallory and Spencer, who are currently enrolled at Fort Starch Military School.

Mom offered to let me go there, too, but I politely refused.

"Sorry, Mom. I'd rather stay here in Sunset Valley than go to a high-end, rigorous military boarding school. You know that I'd never make it in," I explain to her.

She looks at me, bewildered at my honesty.

My name is Janessa Pfeiffer. I'm the third heiress of the Pfeiffer family, born with the "curse."

Janessa Pfeiffer | Child | Never Nude, Artistic, Friendly

Mom asks me later why I've decided to wear gloves with each one of my ensembles. The answer she's expecting--"I don't want to end up like Grandma."--never comes. Instead, I tell her my truthful explanation.

"I don't know. They just seem... right."

To be perfectly honest, I don't particularly like my parents. Frankly, they work too much and never give me any attention. I have an uncanny way of knowing how people feel: obviously, they wish I would go off to boarding school so that they could romance each other and focus on their work without rampant children around.



Mom and Dad both work as Patrol Officers at the Police Department. Unfortunately, Mom used to be Dad's boss, but now he's hers, because her maternity leave added up a lot. However, Mom's pretty sure she'll get to the top level of the Special Agent branch, being immortal. Not that she told me that.

Mom's also a patronizer. I don't know if she realizes it, but every time I do something even remotely wrong, she takes me upstairs to tell me off.

"Now, Janessa, you know that it is wrong to put shower dye in the water. Please apologize."



"I don't see what's wrong with it. It washes right out," I tell her plainly, but she shakes her head and leaves the room. She's disappointed with the one child she's raised, I think to myself.

My first day of school was "disastrous," as Mom put it later.

"Janessa, it is time for you to board the bus. It is eight," Mom calls.

"I don't want to go to school," I say, walking upstairs to go to my room.

"Janessa..." Mom says. Alarm bells seem to go off in the room.

"Well, I don't," I say, shrugging and changing paths to go to the easel.

"You need to."

She takes me by the shoulders and steers me down the stairs, down the hall, down the path, and into the school bus. Snickers arise from the back, but I carry my lavender bag onto the bus with dignity and poise.

I sit next to a black-haired boy, stepping over him to take the window seat.

"Hey!" he exclaims.

"Yes?"

"What was that?"

"I stepped over your legs to sit by the window. Is that a problem?" I ask calmly.

"Um, yeah! Who are you, anyways? You don't look familiar."

"Janessa Pfeiffer." I hoist my bag onto my lap and pull out Jordan, my pink Wugglesworth Snuggles Bear that I got for my sixth birthday. Jordan and I have been a happy couple for years.

"You still play with stuffed animals?" he snorts. "Hey, everybody! This Pfeiffer girl still plays with stuffed animals!"

Laughter arises from the back, but I shake my head. This is why I prefer my imagination to actual socialization.

It's true. While other kids my age would prefer to romp around outside and play tag with their BFFLADAEIBFEs, I would rather play with Jordan. We have wonderful tea parties together.



Having submarine adventures are also fun.



Oh, and don't forget those joyrides and presiding over royal courts! Once, I used one of the chairs at the chess table to call upon my subjects. Mom wasn't very happy.

"Janessa! Please get down from there right now. I need to practice my Logic to get a promotion," she shrieks.

I jump down with a sigh. She never lets me have any fun.

When events like this occur--which is often--I usually walk upstairs to paint.



The easel used to be Dad's, but he never uses it anymore now that he's throws himself into his job 24/7. Painting brings me peace. Whenever I start to feel stressed out about school, I paint. When my parents yell at me for disturbing the quiet of the house, I paint. When I'm bored, I paint. When Jordan and I have an argument, I paint.

Painting is fun.

There's another option, when I get tired of painting; playing with Ivan.



Ivan and I just understand each other. I'm not a Dog Person, like Dad, but Ivan and I have a deep spiritual connection that he shares with no one else. I'm not quite sure why he likes bugs, though. I think they're disgusting. When Ivan got fleas, I stayed away from him for two weeks straight to be sure that they wouldn't flock over to me.

One day in class, Ms. Ford flips her long black hair and sashays over to my desk.

"Janessa, I see that you haven't filled out your after school activities form yet. Is there any problem that I can help out with?" It's amazing how she keeps her pearly white teeth showing even when her blabbering mouth is closed.

"No. I don't really want to join an after school club," I tell her, returning to my work.

"We offer lots of clubs," she begins. "How about ballet?"

"I want to join scouting," I finally say, looking up at her. "But it's boys only, which is extremely sexist and biased."

"It's not--"

"It is, though," I say, smiling a little. I don't mean to be rude ninety percent of the time, just honest... but now is one of those ten percents.

She looks at me, her smile fading.

Ten days later, I go to my first scouting lesson after school.

I don't let anyone push me away from what I want to do.




A/N: Yay! Third generation! I quite like Janessa, to be honest.

[Jade]

C H A P T E R  3 . 2

Ivan, I love you, but please shut that insolent squeaky bone up or I'll hide it somewhere where you'll never find it.



Sorry about that. Anyways...

Near the end of the school year, Ms. Ford tells us about the field trip they take every year. When Mom was younger, they went to the Mausoleum, for some reason. They even gave the kids posters... which is weird.

This year, we're going to Landgraab Industries Science Facility.

"Mom, can you sign this permission slip?" I ask, holding the pencil out to her.

"What is it for?" she parries, sipping her plasma orange juice. I wish she would stop drinking it for a little while. Recently, she's been in the bathroom throwing up every two hours or so. The smell of the blood makes me a little nauseous as well, but I can tolerate a few sips of it every so often.

"Our field trip."

"Where are you going?"

"Landgraab Industries Science Facility," I sigh. Every time I ask Mom a question, she follows it up with about five more. If she doesn't sign this form, I will. Maybe. I don't feel like getting in trouble for forgery.

Eventually, she signs, and then disappears into the bathroom down the hall. I hurry upstairs so as not to smell the... interesting scent that wafts out the door.

When the day comes for the field trip, the class is in a state of high energy. I hang out in the back of the classroom, drawing pictures in the sketchbook that I always bring to class. As always, Jordan is sitting on a chair next to me, commenting on my use of shading.

"It's fine," I tell him, shaking my head. "I only show my sketches to you, anyways."

"Who're you talking to?" Jeremy asks, peering over my shoulder. I casually move my arm over the drawing.

"Jordan," I tell him. Jeremy was the boy who sat next to me on the bus on my first day of school. He should know who Jordan is.

"Um... you still have that stuffed animal? You're almost in middle school," he tells me, as if I don't already know.

"Your point being?" I ask politely, standing up and stuffing my sketchbook into my bag. "It's time to go anyways. I'll talk to you later."

He stares at me as I saunter out onto the bus, alone.

The bus ride isn't too long, but it's extremely loud. No one sits next to me--which I'm totally fine with--but the noise seems to press on my eardrums.

When we arrive, I'm one of the first off the bus. However, the mob of people that follow me push me into the hedge surrounding the Science Facility, and I yelp as the branches nearly scratch my arms.



Quickly, I find that I can't move. I'm trapped. It takes an effort to pull myself out of the hedge--I suspect that they've put thorns in there, the way my face feels. Thankfully, my gloves, tights, long dress, and boots have protected me in every other way. See? There is a reason for them!

When I join the rest of the group inside, Aunt Samantha pulls me into the small group she's chaperoning.

"Now, we're going to go see the Faradays! They're so cool," she assures us. "Come on!"

She's definitely more excited than some of the rest of us are: namely, me.

The Faradays are small, furry creatures that basically just roll around and bump into each other. I reach my gloved hand through the cage to touch one of them, but a security guard slaps my hand away.

"Why can't I touch them?" I ask innocently, trying again.

"Janessa! Stop!" Aunt Samantha exclaims, gently pulling my hand away as if I'm a toddler.

"No, really. Why not?"

"It's dangerous. They probably have poison-spiked teeth," she tells me wisely.

"No, they don't." I point to the plaque under the cage. In small print , it clearly says, 'Not Harmful.'

"Well, it's the rules." I can tell that she's flustered, so I don't try again... when people are watching. They're unsurprisingly soft!

After the field trip ends, I decide to skip scouting lessons. I can always go to them another day. Instead, I bike to the grocery store. Mom told me to start thinking about places I could work for a part-time job when I'm in high school.



Actually, she didn't, but it seems like something she'd say. She can't be too mad at me, right?

Wrong. When I get home--full of knowledge and with a pamphlet on the benefits of working at EverFresh Delights Supermarket--she envelopes me in a tight hug. Anger and relief radiate off of her in waves.



"I have been looking everywhere for you, young lady! Where have you been?" she exclaims, after I pull away from the hug. I'm not one for Public Displays of Affection.

"The supermarket," I tell her, beginning to walk to the kitchen, homework in hand.

She takes the homework from me. I look at her in disbelief.

"You need to learn how to respect your parents! You cannot just leave school--skipping out on your after school activity that I am paying for--and not tell anyone! You must call me to let me know where you are at all times! You are lucky I am not grounding you."

"... Okay," I say, taking my homework back and sitting at the table under the window.

I hear her take a deep breath while I speed through my homework.



-

"Mom, can I go to Robyn Sekemoto's birthday party sleepover?" I ask.

Not surprisingly, Robyn invited me. I mean, she is one of the more "popular" girls of Sunrise Middle, and yes, she doesn't exactly like me, but her mom is Cindy Sekemoto--my good friend and cousin--and second cousins have to stay together.

"I thought that you were not one for sleepovers," she tells me, her voice rising a few octaves. I look at her, confused, at her sudden concern.

"Robyn's my second cousin, and I think it'll be... fun." To be perfectly honest, I'm only going because I want to go to the Fall Festival without Mom and Dad over my shoulder the entire time.

"I suppose, seeing as Cindy will probably be there..." Mom trails off. "Anyways, Janessa, I have been meaning to tell you something."

"Yes?" I resign myself for the worst.

But that doesn't prepare me for her next words.

"I am pregnant again." She smiles thinly.



"What?!"


A/N: I knew Woohooer would give me an unexpected pregnancy sometime or another. ._.

[Jade]

I haven't abandoned this story! I've been extremely busy since February with added homework and decreasing free-time. I have returned! Chapter 3.3 is currently in the works; all I need are two or three more screen-shots. It should be up tomorrow evening. Thank you for waiting!

[RaiaDraconis]

Completely understandable! Life has a funny way of getting in the way sometimes. Glad to see that there's something new in the works!

Sent from my C6916 using Tapatalk

[Jade]

C H A P T E R  3 . 3

"Is she breathing?"

"I think so."

"Why did I not listen to Aubrey? I should have. This would not have happened. She was a mistake."



"Don't say that, honey. She's not a mistake."

"It is a miracle that she is even alive."

"She is a miracle, isn't she."

Labored breathing distracts me from their conversation. I will myself to open my eyes, to let myself see Cassidy and Jerad. They're right in front of me, so why can't I acknowledge their presence? My eyelids feel like bricks, my limbs super-glued to the stiff surface below me.

Quiet sobs fill the room. I try to open my eyes again, but they won't budge. Angrily, I try to sit up, and feel only a solid wall in front of me.

"Do you think she even remembers what caused this predicament?" I hear Cassidy mutter.

My mind flashes back, my thoughts floating around freely. Of course I remember what happened. My thoughts are oddly detached, and I see myself as if through another's body.

Janessa stands awkwardly in the corner as her peers file into the living room. She's biting her lip, unaware of the glances she's receiving from the other kids. They don't know any better, she tells herself, but she plays with her lavender gloves all the same.

The always-energetic Robyn flies over to her, her namesake visible in her flighty arms and slim, agile figure. She places a hand on Janessa's shoulder, but Janessa shies away from the contact. Robyn smooths over the moment by smiling brightly at her.

"You still came, even though it's pouring out there," she comments. Janessa nods. Why would something like rain stop me from coming? she wonders, but knows better than to question the oddities that the other kids say sometimes. She's learned enough.



The party goes smoothly enough. Janessa keeps to herself, but when she's invited to an event, she doesn't decline. Robyn seems to be having fun, and that's all that matters to her. Cindy even invites her into the kitchen to have a cup of tea, but she declines. Janessa decides to sit with her instead.

"How's the party going?" Cindy asks, after taking a long sip.

How would I know? "It's going well," Janessa offers, pushing her cup away. She's not in the mood for tea anymore. I'm not in the mood for this party. I might as well go home. She stands up from her chair, but Cindy's quizzical and slightly hurt expression stops her.

"Where are you going so quickly?" she teases, patting the chair. "Sit down for a spell, Essa."

"Please don't call me that," Janessa says automatically. Don't shorten my name without my permission. Is Cindy even your real name? She knows that she's been on-edge the entire day, but she can't bring herself to stop her insults.



That night, Robyn wakes Janessa up from one of the greatest dreams she's ever had. Spencer and Mallory had both come back from boarding school, although Mallory had dropped out. She couldn't handle the rigorous coursework anymore. Janessa was overjoyed. She remembered that her parents hadn't been present in the dream. That's fine with me. In her perfect world, she would be raised by Cindy. I wouldn't want Robyn to be my sister, though.

After a short conversation, Robyn falls silent, deep in thought. Janessa asks her what's wrong, but she remains silent for a few more minutes. Finally, she says, "I'm just wondering if we can trust each other, is all."

Janessa assures her that they can, indeed, trust each other, intrigued by what she might have to say. Robyn's next words surprise her so much that she answers without thinking.

"Who do you like in our grade?"

"Jeremy Ansari, why?" Janessa feels her face flushing red, but she stands her ground with a defiant expression.



"I'm just wondering, silly. I promise that I won't tell anyone." Something in Robyn's eyes glints with malice, but Janessa doesn't notice, lost in her own doubts. Was telling Robyn such a great idea? She wouldn't break a promise... would she?

Back at home, Steven Pfeiffer is born. The next day, once Janessa's arrived home again, she meets the bouncing bundle of joy and instantly dislikes him. He takes up space in my room, he's loud, and I don't want him. She keeps her thoughts to herself, but everything boils under the surface: her doubts, her anger, her irritation... soon, she'll pop.



Fast forward to her fifteenth birthday, two months later, and she's standing in front of the birthday cake, ready to blow out her candles. Her family surrounds her, counting down from three. Why three? Why not seven, to represent the number of letters in my name? she muses.

That is her last thought before she hits the ground, images of flames burned into her subconsciousness. Then, pain envelops her. Burning pain. Not on the outside, but on the inside, dangerously close to her heart. Once she pinpoints the exact source, she falls into a dead faint, already lying on the cool kitchen floor.



I shudder as I see myself laying there. I do look dead. It is a miracle that I'm still with my parents and siblings. But, why? What caused me to pass out? What caused the pain? Because from my vision, the fire hadn't touched me until I was already out like a light.

I finally gather enough strength to whisper, "Why?"

And Cassidy gathers enough strength to whisper back, "Because of the curse."

Everything swirls about in my mind, the pieces of the puzzle slowly falling into place. When I was little, Cassidy warned me of this. She told me, before I could fully form a sentence with my tiny mouth.

"Janessa, look at me. This is very important. When you are older, you run the risk of the curse killing you from inside. This is how Grandma Aubrey died. She went into the sunlight, and the curse killed her. It can kill you, too. It is dangerous  to have it inside of your body. Even the slightest contact can slowly spread inside your veins, turning them to ash. You will know if this happens. If it does... I do not know if you will survive. You need strong willpower to survive something as fatal as that."

Thankfully, willpower is something I was blessed with.




A/N: Finally, the long-awaited Chapter 3.3! The main reason why this wasn't posted earlier is because I played through to Janessa's teen birthday, and then my game crashed. Not cool. Some of this chapter was inspired by what I had played before, but I had to go through half of her childhood again and get these screen-shots. Hopefully it's enjoyable!

[Nutella]

I'm moving this to the Stories Graveyard due to inactivity.  Jade, you can revive this story by contacting a moderator.

[Nutella]

Reviving this story as per author's request.  Welcome back, Jade.

[Magpie2012]

Just read through this now. Really enjoying it... Can't wait to read more!