The Thousand Year Curse (The Curse Books) (30 page)

After thirty seconds, I still don't see Ari at all. Then all of a sudden a blur pasts me. I hear his deep laugh and know I have to push harder.

I do what he says, putting myself into turbo gear. It feels like a nitro burst under my feet as they start moving without me trying. My legs go without me doing anything at all. I almost feel like I'm flying. I start to giggle because I'm so happy.
 

Ari is still really far ahead of me but I want to catch him. I need to catch him, just so I can wipe that cocky smile off his face. I try but all too soon the gates are right next to me. I stop on the dot and see Ari leaning against the gate, his foot propped against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest.
 

"You beat me." I mutter, pouting in defeat.

"Barely. You're getting your powers! That was amazing." He cheers, rushing to my side. He picks me up and twirls me around in a circle. He kisses my head and then puts me back down, smiling like he's proud of me.

"It was?" I question him.

"Yes!" He exclaims, his eyes alight with glee.
 

"Cool!" I say and we start moving again through the gates.
 

I look around and behind the gates is a paradise. The grass is greener than I have ever seen on earth—in pictures, in movies, anywhere. Nothing on earth can compare. The sun shines bright, lighting up the baby blue sky. There are houses and roads and families out there conversing and interacting with each other.
 

"What is this place?" I ask Ari.

"This is Elysian Fields. Where the good people go." He explains, wistfully.
 

"I love it." I say, meaning every word. I dream of coming here when I die, if my soul is ever freed. I let out a sigh. I'll always be stuck reincarnating. I'll never have a chance at a happy ever after.
 

We walk in silence, hand in hand staring into Elysian Fields. I try to imagine my soul floating around in there with Ari. Us living out our afterlives together in happiness. Of course my life can't be filled with that sort of bliss.
 

"Let's hurry." I say dragging Ari down the path. I can't stand looking at the fields anymore, reminding me of what I'll never have.
 

After running away from the gates, we get to river number four. I don't even care what kind of pain it'll bring me. I just want to get this over with. I need to finish this curse, find my mom and go home.

Except this river isn't even a real river. It's freaking lava. The water is deep red and the heat rising up from it creates steam all around us, suffocating me.
 

"What are we going to do?" I ask Ari, praying he has a plan. I already have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. Maybe this is the end of our journey.
 

"This is Phlegethon, the river of fire." He thinks for a second and then starts again. "I'm going to throw you across and then run over it. I can heal, trust me. It'll be okay." He's been through enough pain to last a million lifetimes. The river isn't something you can just jump over and maybe clear it. No, it is at least ten feet across. I won't let him save me again. I won't let him take the punishment.

"There has to be another way." I hope.
 

"There isn't. Let's get this over with." He takes his backpack off and hands it to me. "There's water and cream and bandages in there. Use them after I pass out." He explains like it's no big deal. He knows it'll be painful but he doesn't care.
 

He comes up behind me, twirling me around. He lifts me under my butt and then gives it a playful squeeze. I squeal before scowling at him but secretly I love him all flirty and cute even though he's going to be writhing in pain in mere seconds.
 

He lifts me high, throwing me over the river with strength that never ceases to surprise me. I do the same thing I did on the first river and tuck and roll. I don't hurt myself at all since this river is smaller than the one before and I'm not falling from a freaking cliff.
 

I stand up, looking across the river at Ari. He is smiling at me but I can tell he is nervous by the way his hands clench in fists by his side.
 

"If you make it over the river without falling in, I'll give you the best kiss ever." I bellow over to Ari, cupping my hands around my mouth to get my voice over to him. Between the distance and the sound of running water, I'm not sure if he hears me. A wicked grin spreads across his face signaling that he definitely heard.

He turns walking away from me and then flips around, facing the river. He runs faster than any person I've ever seen before. Once he gets to the very last centimeter left of dirt, he pushes off and jumps. At first I think there's no way in hell he's going to be able to clear that river but then I doubt myself.

He doesn't get high off the ground which is misleading. He just skirts right over looking like he's walking on top of the water.

He lands perfectly over the river and onto the bank. His foot touches the river briefly, sizzling as it burns but it doesn't matter. He did it! He must have been holding out on me because there's no way he could have done that before. He must really want that kiss.

Instead of gloating or being super confident, he just strolls right up to me grabbing onto my hips. He lifts me up in his arms like you see in the movies as I wrap my legs around him. He starts walking us back towards a wall until my back hits it.
 

He doesn't start off slow or easy. He goes right in for the kill. He parts my lips wide and thrusts his tongue deep in my mouth, leaving me gasping for air. He touches every part of my mouth with his. It's not sloppy, just full on passion. I try to go stroke for stroke with him but I'm losing my breath.

I can't keep up with his kisses. They're just too fast and strong and not enough time to breathe in between. I pull away from him before I pass out from lack of oxygen. He doesn't drop me or let me go. He stands there holding me, his eyes a mix of dark evergreen that I love. I peck him on the lips and rest my forehead against his as we stare into each others eyes.
 

"Did you get what you wanted?" I ask him winking, liking the confident side he brings out in me.
 

"I got way more." He whispers, taking my hand and kissing my knuckles. "Thank you."
 

"What did I do?" I question him.
 

"You gave me strength." He states. I just smile up at him. Since that river went over perfectly, we decide to keep going to the final obstacle. I don't want to stop for anything. There is one river left and it's called Styx.
 

Apparently it is the river of hatred. Ari says that there is a ferry that will be able to take us across but it only takes dead people so we might have to swim. Either way he claims it isn't going to be that hard.

I don't believe him for one second.
 

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

meeting charon

We make it to the Styx in record time. I'm not keeping track of how to get here or names. Hopefully, I'll never have to come down here again.
 

The Styx river is very different from the other ones. Firstly, it's huge. Instead of going across our path like the previous ones, it is the path. There are no rocks along the sides, there is only water with no ending.
 

It's very swamp like, the water grey and murky. Plants and trees sprout out everywhere and it smells foul. I can't even begin to imagine the creepy crawling things under the surface. This ferry man better give us a ride.
 

"The ferry operator should be here soon. Let's just wait it out." Ari suggests, leading us towards a wall.
 

"Good call. I'm not swimming in there." He laughs at me but I don't care. I'll make him throw me again before I swim.
 

We wait about five minutes before we get bored standing still. That pop tart didn't hold me over for long so I suggest eating.
 

We plop down on some larger rocks and have our own picnic. I gulp down another gatorade and pop tart as Ari does the same.
 

I am very surprised by Ari as I ruffle through his backpack. He is a very smart packer. He brought the essentials, food, bandages and other first aid supplies. It makes him my number one travel companion, should I come back.
 

Another ten minutes go by and a rumble breaks the silence. We spot a boat in the distance so Ari packs up his backpack fast, putting our garbage and bottles back in the bag. We wait for the boat to reach us. As the boat, if it's even called a boat, comes closer I get more and more nervous. It is one of those boats you would see in the bayou of Louisiana with the huge fan on the back propelling it forward.
 

I stand holding Ari's hand but am positioned behind him protectively. Normally it might bother me but I don't feel like he's restricting me. He doesn't tell me what to do, he lets me choose. I am down here after all.
 

"Charon, old friend." Ari says as if they are old friends. The guy looks at Ari like he has two heads and I start to worry. This guy is so scary, with a huge muscular body. He looks evil but his eyes are kind, in a confusing way.
 

I thought Ari had big muscles but this guy is insane, like a body builder. He's at least double the size of Ari with light skin but similar dark hair. His face is small in comparison to his body, making it like a little pea head. His eyes are what get me though. They are deep brown with flecks of yellow, filled with emotion.
 

"Aristeus, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Charon asks, amused.

"I need a ride to the main gates." Ari cuts right to the chase. I hold my breath for the guys answer. Please say yes, please say yes. I can't swim in there. Please don't make me.
 

"You know I can't do that." He proclaims.
 

"I wouldn't ask if it wasn't urgent." Ari tries to persuade him.

"You put me in a tough place." Charon answers back, a little regretfully.
 

"I brought you something." Ari reaches into his backpack and takes out two golden discs. They don't look like much to me but it clearly intrigues Charon. His eyes practically pop out of his head as he reaches for the discs. When he's too close, Ari pulls them back, not letting Charon touch them.
 

"They're yours for the trip."
 

After a moment of thought Charon answers, "fine, you win. Get on." Ari hands him one disc but holds the other one back. "When we get there, this is yours." Ari states as the man turns his back to start the engine. Ari climbs onto the boat first and then reaches down to help me. He lifts me up by the arms and then pulls me onto his lap.
 

"Tell me how you've been." Charon tells Ari, starting up small talk. We are now cruising across the water with some serious speed. I try watching the landscape around me but I lose track of where I am getting dizzy as air whizzes past my head with great speed.
 

"My luck is turning up." Ari smiles down at me. "Charon, this is Eurydice." Ari introduces us. The man looks back at me with an open mouth, awkwardly tainting our introduction.
 

"Eurydice? It's a pleasure to finally meet you." He states honestly, making me smile.
 

"And you as well." I say, trying to mimic the way he speaks. He sounds very old like we are all prim and proper.
 

"Tell me how you met this time." Charon demands, not leaving us any room for discussion. Ari opens his mouth to talk but Charon points to me, silencing him. I don't even know what to say.
 

"We met at school actually. He forced me to show him around and then he took me out on his bike after he pissed off my boyfriend." I get out a very condensed version. I meant it all as a joke but Charon isn't laughing. Instead his face pinches in in confusion.
 

"Your boyfriend? I'm confused I thought you two…" He trails off.
 

"Charon, that's enough." Ari cuts him off, rubbing my back in small circles.

"I'm with Ari right now, but I met Ollie, or you know him as Orpheus, first. The reason we're here is to get some answers about my past. I want to know it all." I explain to Charon, trying to make him understand without sounding stupid.

"I see." Charon states. He says nothing else the whole ride, leaving the air filled with a heavy tension. He's probably questioning why I am sitting on Ari's lap when I have a boyfriend.
 

This freaking trip feels like it's been weeks. I've been with Ari this whole time and he's taken up my heart and my mind yet I can't get rid of the feeling that Ollie is my soul mate.
 

When we get to the other side of the river swamp, I stand up, stretching on the back of the boat as it slows. My elbow cracks as I move and Ari laughs at me. I jump off the boat with Ari's help but he remains on the boat speaking in whispers with Charon. I can tell that I'm not invited to the conversation so I turn the other way and pretend to be looking around, when really I try eavesdropping.