The Curse Conduit
Chapter 20

As the doctor had predicted, it took Derek longer to recover from this episode. They were all grateful that not all of his dreams included battles.

Uriah had not told them of his dream the same night as Derek’s battle, neither man had dreamt for the past two days as neither one had gone to sleep. They all knew that the inevitable would happen and they would have to sleep. While they were awake they tried to make a plan. It sounded ridiculous but Derek was convinced that they had to save Declan for his own life to be spared. Uriah did not know if that was how it was going to happen, he still needed to talk to Uri and Urian. They had seen Derek’s death, they could tell him how and when. But how did he get back to them. Even when he was dreaming as Uri or Urian he could not get his mind to find the answers he sought. It frustrated him to understand that in his dreams people saw him as the others and he could tap into many of their memories but not this. The one piece that might help his friend and it was kept from him. The more he thought about it the more Uriah realised he needed to be able to talk to them like they had in the gym. He also realised the reason he could not see Derek’s death was the fact that to Uri and Urian it was not a memory.

The four men had been silent for a while, all sitting in separate parts of the lounge to Derek’s room, all in their own thoughts when Uriah stood in utter frustration and shouted. “Where are you Uri? I need answers damn it!”

His actions surprised the others. Derek gave him a tired smile understanding how he felt.

“I don’t think calling to the heavens is going to help there buddy.”

Uriah shoved his hands into his jeans pockets. “I hate not being able to do anything.”

Derek got out of his seat and went to his friend. “But you have done something. Something special. You believed me, even when you did not understand, you believed me. No matter how this turns out I will always remember you did that for me. No one could ask for more or for a better friend.”

Casta and Simian came to join them, patting Uriah on the back to show their support.

Simian smiled at him. “Uriah, this is so strange, so surreal yet you have been so strong through it all. Taken it all in your stride. You have helped me hold on when I thought…” Simian was going to say when he could not hold on but changed his mind. “You have helped me see that even in the darkest moments a true friend is worth so much.” Casta patted his back in agreement.

Uriah tried to smile. Would a true friend keep his feelings for Elizabeth to himself?

Derek was about to say something when they all heard what sounded like distant thunder. Casta was about to comment when the lights in the room flickered and the mirror on the wall shimmered as it had in the gym. They all looked at each other when they heard the voice. Uriah looked at Derek. “You heard that right?”

But it was Simian that spoke. “We all did.”

Again there was a voice. “Uriah.”

This time they all looked at the mirror as Uri appeared, he looked straight at Uriah. “I have called you so many times and you did not hear. Yet now you call me and your voice is like a loud bell in my ears.”

All four men just stood looking at the mirror.

“Uriah can you not hear me?”

“I hear you Uri.”

As Casta spoke Uri’s eyes locked onto him. “We all do.”

Uriah stepped a little closer to the mirror. “How?”

Uri shrugged his shoulders a little. “My friend. I have seen the most strangest of things in my dreams these past years. I kept to myself for fear I was going insane. I have come to accept them. I have yet to understand but I accept.”

“When did your dreams begin?” Uriah was curious as to how he would answer.

Uri smiled. “As yours did my friend. When Declan entered my life.” His eyes fell on Derek.

Everyone looked at Uriah as Uri continued. “Have you not been seeing things, strange things since you met, D e r e k.” Derek’s name did not roll off Uri’s tongue with ease. He bowed a little and looked back at Derek. “I beg your forgiveness good sir but your name is strange to me. Although you are not.”

Derek was a little taken back. “You know me?”

Uri nodded. “That I do sir. As Declan and as yourself. I have seen you. You appeared the day.” Uri stopped. “The day my good friend Declan died. I have dreamt of you.” He looked to Uriah. “And you.”

Uriah stepped a little closer to the mirror. “Uri, how long has Declan been gone?”

Uri’s eyes dropped just a little. “Too long. A good ten years.”

The others gasped as Uriah asked him another question. “Then why do you keep telling us we need to help, need to save him.”

“Because you can go back, you can help us. Stop the curse and stop others from dying.”

“What curse?” this had been the first time Uriah has known anything about a curse.

Derek rubbed the palm of his hand as it began to tingle and Uri looked at him. “You are right my friend. Her love for Declan was so overpowering. She promised to travel eternity to find him. I think she is still. By swearing such an oath she has cursed your blood line. I have seen it and it grieves me.” Uri looked back to Uriah. “I had hoped that Urian may have stopped the curse but it was only in his grief at the loss of his friend D a n n y that he was able to connect. It was too late.”

Derek’s voice was urgent and a little gruff. “But I am not dead!”

Uri gave Derek a painful smile. “I have seen worlds that I know to be so far into my future I cannot believe but I know this is where you are. There have been others; their lives all end the same.”

“What do you mean?” Derek stepped closer to the mirror so he was standing shoulder to shoulder with Uriah.

“I apologise my friends but for me this has been a long journey. I have seen too much death while awake and while asleep. They die each one, as they find their soul mates.”

Her name escaped Derek’s lips before he knew what he had said. “Beth- Elena.”

“Yes my friend. No other is allowed to be at peace if she cannot be with Declan.”

The room was silent as all took in what they had heard.

It was Uriah who spoke first. “If what you say is right I do not understand how we can help. You have seen the future Uri. Help us save Derek.”

Derek shot Uriah a look of surprise and pain and Uri shook his head. “It will not help. Fate has decided. Soon Derek will meet his soul mate and it will start all over again.”

Simian’s voice quivered. “He already has.”

Uri sighed. “Then sadly it has begun. Help me stop this curse and help your friend Uriah.”

With that Uri disappeared and Uriah shouted at the mirror, banging at it so violently that it shattered. “No!”

Simian and Casta pulled him back from the breaking glass but Derek just stood looking at where the mirror had been. He turned to the others as they attended to the cuts in Uriah’s hands. “I won’t see Lizzie anymore.”

The others looked at Derek.

“If we don’t see each other then fate cannot win.” He smiled at his friends. “See easy fixed.” Derek went to his room.

“Somehow I don’t think it is going to be that easy.” Casta was overcome with all they had just been through, sitting dejected and lost.

Simian wrapped a small towel around Uriah’s hand before he went to his own room. He had seen so much yet his mind refused to accept it. He needed some sanity in his life so decided to call his fiancé.

Uriah stood looking at his hand wondering if Derek’s plan would work. If it did, would he have a chance with Elizabeth? Would she understand how he felt about her? Would she feel the same?

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