Hi everyone,
Sorry about the delay, been kinda busy with RL. Anyway, I've decided to change the title of this fic to:
Casanova's Curse. I had wanted that titled from the beginning but wsn't sure, and Kiss of Death was only a working title.
Ok, here's 2 brand spanking new chapters for you to enjoy!
Part 4
The next morning, Max came once more to bring Liz food and to change the bandage on her leg. Though the vision of him still scared her spitless, she was taken in by his gentleness when he cleaned her wound and applied a new bandage around her leg. He had also brought her a fresh change of clothes.
Max watched Liz pick up the dress and eyed it.
"Um, sorry, I know it's kinda old, but it was all I could fine on short notice." Max said sheepishly scratching behind his ear.
Liz held the dress in front of her and looked at it in wonder. It was the most exquisitely beautiful dress she'd ever seen. It looked to belong in a different era, another lifetime. The dress was white, floaty and long with a wisp of gauzy fabric on either side of the of the dress falling below the waist, a gold lining down on either side of the inner hem. The bodice part also had a gold patterned lining down the front making a V shape that connected to a gold lining horizontal at the waist. The sleeves were mid-length with a baggy end. It reminded Liz of the outfits from the Japanese anime she'd seen on TV.
Liz looked up at Max, who was now looking at the floor shuffling nervously from foot to foot.
"It's beautiful. Thank you."
He looked up surprised. "Y...you like it?"
Liz smiled. "Yes, I love it. Hey, who needs modern clothing when I can dress up as a fairy tale right?" Liz said with a laugh. "And besides, I doubt it'd be very comfortable wearing jeans over my injured leg."
Max loved hearing her laugh, it made his heart feel light and tingly, and seeing a smile grace her face rather than fear, made him happy and awed as he took iin her beauty.
"Um, I'd better get washed and changed."
"Ok, um, would you like a tour of the place afterwards?" Max asked uncertainly.
"Uh, sure, I guess. It beats staying in here all day."
Max extended a hand out in offer to help her over to the wash basin. He looked at her, praying that she would accept his hand, give him a little of her trust.
Liz looked t the beast then at his outstretched hand, unsure of whether to accept or not.
"I won't hurt you, I promise."
Liz flashed back to his gentleness when he was cleaning her wound; the tenderness of his touch, the slowness of his movements so as not to hurt her. She looked back up at his face, into his brown dim brown eyes that seemed to display so much emotions; emotions she felt in waves. He felt familiar somehow, but they'd never met before..... had they? No. It was impossible.
Slowly, Liz placed her smaller perfect hand into his much larger and deformed one.
After Liz called out that she'd finished changing, Max re-entered the room. The sight before him stopped him in his tracks. In the white and gold dress. her hair flowing down to her waist like a waterfall of chocolate, Liz looked like an angel, or a high priestess.
"Does it look ok?" Liz asked self-consciously.
"B...beautiful." Max managed to stammer out. God, stop gwarking already! Max cleared his throat. "Um, I thought this might make your getting around a bit easier." He pushed a wheelchair over to Liz.
"Where did you get a wheelchair from?"
"Um, I found it."
"Where?"
"The store room."
"Oh. Um, thanks."
Max helped Liz into the chair, then began their tour.
"And here we have our extensive library. If you like reading, I'm sure you'll find something to enjoy."
Liz's mouth formed a round O and her eyes wide with wonder as she gazed at the room. She felt like Alice in Wonderland; this place was so strange! maybe she did somehow fall down a rabbit hole. So far, she had noticed more about the place than when she had first arrived. She supposed one would when they weren't running for their life. The moderness continued to mingle with the ancient gothicness, which was very bizarre for the eye to behold.
To get downstairs, there had been a lift by the stairs that she'd never noticed before. Once on ground level, the beast had talked about the place, and she had simply gazed on with wonder.
And now in the library room full of books that extended to every corner of the massive room and up 3 levels, Liz's fascination with the place climbed to new heights.
"Oh my god! this is like a bookworms heaven!"
Max chuckled at her analogy. "You like to read?"
Liz turned to face him, her eyes twinkling. "I love read! I love books; books can take you anywhere your imagination can think of. Though right now, I feel as though I'm in a story myself. Literally." She added quietly.
"Feel free to use the library as much as you wish."
"Really?" Liz asked excitedly.
"Yes." Max loved the happiness on her face, he could look at her all day if he could and never tire of it. "Uh, shall we continue our tour? you can always return here later on."
"Ok."
The next room they entered was a living-room.
Liz sat there and gazed at the sight before her in fear and amusement.
Two beastly monsters, similar to that of the beast standing behind her, were sitting on the floor in front of the TV competing in a game of.....Mario Karts!
"Grr.... I can't believe you did that! I was right by the finish line! You're so evil for hitting me with that red shell."
"Hey, its one for all and all for one. I won fair and square."
"Humph-hmm." Max cleared his throat.
His brothers turned and quickly stood up, embarrassed.
"Guys, this is Liz Parker. I'm giving her a tour of the place."
"Hey Liz." "Hi Liz." They said is gruff unison.
"Uh, hi." Liz said cautiously.
Max cleared his throat again.
"Oh, uh, listen, we're sorry if we scared you the other day, we didn't mean to."
Liz slowly nodded her head, never taking her eyes off them.
"Liz?"
She turned to look at the beast, who now stood beside her.
"Meet my brothers. They're kind of maronic at times, but please excuse them."
"Hey!" They protested together.
"Hi, I'm Ky....Ky...." Kyle tried to finish his name but something stopped the words leaving his mouth. Kyle looked at Michael.
."I'm Mmmm......" Michael looked back at Kyle and shrugged. Guess the spell was still holding strong. They could say each others names in front of each other, just not in front of anyone else. Bummer.
"Hi Ky. And your name is Mmm?" Liz turned to Michael with a confused look.
"Uh, no, uh, just call me...." Michael thought for a moment. "Kal" he figured it could be short for Michael. "Would you like to join us?" Michael gestured to the game.
Liz looked at the beast then back at his brothers. Though it was starting to get a little easier being around one beast, being around 3 put her fear back to square one. But if she was to stay here for a while, then she might as well try to get used to them. Maybe she could learn something about her current situation, plus she was suppose to solve some mystery.
"Uh, sure, I guess."
"GREAT!" They all chorused together.
Liz jumped in surprise at their enthusiasm.
"Sorry, uh, it's always good when we have all 4 players." Kyle covered.
Max wheeled Liz in front of the TV, and settled down himself. He and his brothers shared a look and a grin. In truth, they were all glad that Liz had agreed. maybe she can see that it wasn't so bad staying here, and it was important she felt relaxed and comfortable.
Michael reset the game, and they all began to play.
Part 5
3 weeks had passed since Max had brought Liz to the mansion. 3 weeks they had tried to make Liz's stay as comfortable as possible. Hoping that once she was settled, she would be able to figure out how to break their curse. They were already past mid-month, and time was running desperately short.
They all felt the tension. Their hope was slipping away like sand through an hourglass.
One day, like all the previous evenings, Liz spent her time alone in the library. It was her favourite place in the entire house. Her leg was more or less healed, and she no longer needed the wheelchair - much to Liz's delight, as she could now climb the stairs to explore the other levels of the library.
Climbing up the carpet centred staircase, she wandered among the stacks browsing through all the different books.
Walking up to the third level, the science section caught her eye. She was about to walk over, when she felt a breeze blow behind her. She shivered and rubbed her arms. How odd. All the windows were closed; so where did the wind come from?
'It's an old house Liz, probably a draft from a crack or something. Stop being so paranoid.' But why shouldn't she? after all strange things have been happening for the past 3 weeks.
Liz was about to turn back around when she heard a thud. She quickly spun back around, her eyes searching the place.
"Hello?"
Silence.
"Beast? is that you? Kal? Ky? are you's in here? if this is some joke, its not funny!"
More silence.
Liz decided to investigate. They were probably hiding. She wandered among the stacks, but she appeared to be completely alone.
Liz was about to return to the main area, when she felt the cold breeze on her again. The air seemed to shift to something electric that tingled her skin. She felt the pull of energy on her. Liz wandered to the next isle.
There on the floor, lay a brown weathered leather bound book decorated with different coloured crystal stones.
The book beckoned to her.
Slowly, Liz walked over and picked it up. Examining the book, Liz found it was indeed very old. The leather was cracked and slightly torn. No author was displayed, only the gold imprinted title of
"Casanova's Curse."
Sitting down on the floor, Liz turned to the first page and began to read.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Long ago, a baby boy was born. Born with beauty and grace all others like him would envy. But beauty is skin deep.
Time passes and the little baby grew. A tall, dark and handsome man be has blossomed to be. But arrogance was his undoing.
A weakness for women, so many he claimed. He believed he was the ultimate male specimen, a gift for women who were lucky enough to enjoy him at least once if not more. No need for love, no need for ties, he continued his conquests.
Women came, women went, for all but one. A woman, a sorceress, spurned by his love so deep she seeked revenge by placing a curse on him, a curse on him to never fall in love and find true happiness. The curse extended to his male line in future generations to come, if they followed in his footsteps, then they too shall suffer. And within every generation, the curse shall become stronger.
However, the sorceress wasn't a cruel woman by nature, she was simply hurt deeply by his arrogance and selfishness.
In the curse, she placed a leniency. If one girl, the right girl, who can see past the mask and into the true soul within and give her heart to him, the curse shall be undone.
However, a secret still lies within...
"LIZ?!"
Liz looked up from the book startled.
"Liz? You in here?"
It was the beast.
Quickly, Liz placed the book back on the shelf. for some reason, she didn't want anyone to know about the book just yet. She'd read it again tomorrow.
"I'm here." Liz quickly came down the stairs. "I was just browsing through the stacks."
"Find anything interesting?"
"You could say that."
Max waited, but Liz said no more.
"It's getting late."
"What time is it?"
"10 o'clock."
10 o'clock?! Last time she checked it had only been 8.30pm. Where did her time go? talk about time flying!
"I'll go up to bed now."
The beast walked her up to her room and bid her goodnight.
Liz couldn't sleep that night. Her mind kept going back to the book she found. It was so full of mystery, and she loved mysteries. She had to know the rest of the tale. What had happened to the arrogant man?
Slipping out of bed, she quietly exited her room and tiptoed downstairs.
Entering the library, she shut the door with a quiet click, then walked towards the different levels of the library. Halfway across the large room, the fireplace blazed to life. Liz stared at it blankly then gazed up at the third floor. A breeze blew past her like a whisper of breath.
Slowly, she climbed up the steps.
Taking the leather bound book, Liz came back down to the ground floor and curled up in a comfy chair before the warm fire.
Opening the next chapter of the book, she began to read.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A girl so beautiful, so virginal pure; he set his sights on her, but for once, his heart spoke for him, his love he felt for her. His charms were dazzling, yet she refused him. He sent her flowers and gifts showering her with his love, but she scorned at his love for her and laughed at his plight.
"Foolish man, why would I want you? what's so special about you? you've been with half if not all of the women in Italy! haven't you had enough?"
"Yes, I've had enough. I've finally found my soul-mate, someone whom I can love. I never thought it would be possible for me, it its true, I've fallen in love with you, from the very first moment I laid eyes on you."
"You don't deserve my love, or my respect for that matter. You are a heartbreaker, you destroy women's hearts for your own selfish pleasure and amusement."
"Please, I love you!" His desperate plea had fallen on death ears.
"How does it feel Casanova? to have the tables turned against you? To have love thrown back in your face?"
Casanova could see he had done wrong in his past, he could see his own selfishness and arrogance. Her words had stabbed him deep in his heart.
Casanova had married someone else, but he wasn't the same man as before. he had given his heart to one woman, and that woman alone shall keep it forever.
Rumour had circulated that he had died of a broken heart, some say of illness. No one knows.
Casanova took the truth with him to his grave.
TBC! Ooh, don't you just love a good mystery? I'm gonna try and make this story kinda gothic and fairytale-ish, you know, like those Snow White movies. One of then had kristin kreuk in it, and another one was titled Snow white: A tale of terror. It starred Monica keena (oh, and David conrad who played Agent peirce was also in it....with really baaaad hair! LMAO!!!
)
And also the story of Casanova. Me and my mates were discussing that not long ago, and I thought it'd fit in nicely with tehs tory.
I'm glad that people are still supporting this story even though updates are kinda lagging.
it feels kinda lonley. Let me know if you are interested