Winter

The gate was right in front of us but we had 24 hours left and this meant we had time to rest and get warm. “Winter can I speak to you?” Catherine was not really asking so I got up from my warm place by the fire and followed her into the woods. We were at a safe distance from the gate, as it made me suffocate the last time I went near it.

“What’s wrong?” I expected the worst but she smiled reassuring “There is nothing wrong but I do need your help with this spell, to separate James and Lady Blackwood.”

“Okay, what do I have to do?”

“You have to chant with me the moment you are unlinked from each other and it has to be within a few seconds because the moment James notices what we’re doing, he will try to stop us.”

“Understandable, I would probably do the same.” She nodded with a sad smile, she came closer and put her hand s on my stomach and that’s when I knew but it was confirmed when she looked me in the eyes. “You’re pregnant.”

“I know.”

“Are you sure you want this?” I nodded and I meant it but I couldn’t help but feel sad because if the curse backfired than I wouldn’t even know who the father was and that was crushing me.

“You have to tell him, you owe him that at least.”

“I know but where to start.”

“I don’t know sweet girl but bring it gently.” She caressed my cheek and walked away, leaving me with my thoughts. “Winter?” I turned to Niall’s voice and smiled at him but he knew there was something wrong. “What happened?”

“Nothing much but Niall I do have to tell you something.” He took my hands and looked me in the eyes. “What do you need to tell me love.” I took in a deep breath before telling him because this was going to be the hardest thing ever. “I’m pregnant.”

His face lighted up and the smile he was giving me, broke my heart. “That’s amazing!” he kissed me and pulled me into a hug and for a few seconds I stayed there in his arms.
I took a step back and that made him pull up one of his eye brows and he was a bit stunned that I pulled back. “That’s not all.”

“Winter please just tell me what’s wrong.”

“Catherine and I have a spell to separate James and Lady Blackwood forever.”

“That’s a good thing right?”

“It is but the spell can backfire, which means that it will fall back on us.” I let it sink in for a few seconds. “What does that mean Winter?” I heard the panic in his voice because he did put the puzzle pieces together.

“It means that if we get hit, we won’t remember each other. We will remember this adventure but it’s like you went alone.” The shock and the hurt on his face told a million things and I couldn’t keep the tears back and as I reached out to him, he actually pulled back.

“When were you planning on telling me this? You weren’t right, you would have gone through with this spell without telling me, would you?”

“I would, yes.” He staggered back even more with so much hurt over his face that I actually did feel ashamed of this. I should have told him this from the start and now I’d done the most horrible thing ever. I had broken his heart and there was no turning back. “Why?” Niall whispered and I aimed my eyes at the ground as I could no longer look at his hurt.

“Because they aren’t meant to be together.”

THAT’S BULLSHIT AND YOU KNOW IT WINTER!” I flinched slightly when he shouted at me but I did not look up, until he put his hand under my chin and forced me to look at him and never had I expected to see so much hurt and anger in his blue eyes.

You’re only doing this out of revenge and you know it.” He said icily and I just couldn’t lie to him not when he forced me to look at him.

“Tell me the truth Winter.”

“Yes, it’s out of revenge.” I mumbled, not feeling proud of myself at all, I only felt disgusted with myself for doing this to him.

“So is this spell binding, will we never be able to remember?” I shook my head. “No there is a change we will remember each other but we have to see each other for that to happen.”
“Well that shouldn’t be that hard right?” Again I shook my head and it was also the moment that I couldn’t fight the tears any longer. “We won’t be in the same space when we return. I will be back in America and you will be back in England.”

“How is that even possible?”

“I’m not entirely sure but we won’t see each other and with you being famous, I don’t think we will ever bump into each other.”

“But what about the baby?” I shrugged not exactly knowing how to answer that question because I will return back home pregnant but that’s all I know.

“The baby will still be there but I just won’t remember how I got pregnant.”

“So it has to grow up without a father?” I saw the anger return and I quickly stepped out of his arms before he could do something that would hurt us even more. “HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME, I THOUGHT YOU LOVED ME!” He sounded desperate and I couldn’t stand any longer and I just let myself fall on my knees. “I’m so, so sorry.” I whispered as my voice had left me, the only thing I heard were his footsteps walking away from me.

Notes