Cursed Trees Novels & Stories

She had carved a new sigil into the stone floor, larger than the last one, woven with strands of her own hair, drops of the missing students’ blood, and something darker,shards of obsidian that sparkled with void-light. And in the center of the sigil was a sapling.Twisted and thorned. Its leaves were black as night, its roots sunk deep into the academy’s heartstone. “The Hollow Tree,” Elian whispered, horror in his voice. “She’s not opening the door… she’s growing a new one.” Morwen turned, eyes gleaming. “Too late, little Key. The roots are already in the stone. The King doesn’t need a door when he can become the world.”

By the time they broke through the tree line, the town was burning in full. Fire ran through the streets. People scattered in every direction mothers dragging children, men wielding broken tools as weapons. And in the chaos moved the rogues, wild and twisted wolves whose minds had long since rotted. Alaric was off his horse before it stopped. His boots struck the ground hard. The curse in his blood stirred, coiling deep beneath his skin. His claws slid out, dark and sharp as obsidian. The air around him shifted, thickening with power. He didn’t wait quickly He moved cutting down as many as he could quickly and swiftly.

My voice cracked on the words because I was certain that he did love me. Confusion marred her perfect features. “Is he sick?” Because truly, that would be the only other problem. “He's cursed.” I blurted out. “Cursed?” She sounded disbelieving. “Yes, cursed.” I spent the next few minutes explaining Brian's curse, his age, the death of his prior mates, and the future event of my possible death.

Shadows flicker red beneath my door now, dancing like cruel spirits. “Run!” The word echoes in my skull. The door bursts inward in a spray of sparks and splintered wood. Flames roar behind a towering silhouette. A man steps through the fire. I cannot see his face — only the outline of him carved in burning light. And his eyes. They glow. Not with reflection. With power. The world fractures into red and gold. Heat devours everything. The scream tears from my throat— I wake choking on smoke that isn’t there. My room is dark. Quiet. Whole.

After that he hauled me downstairs, started the truck, and headed for the palace. He drove and warned me coldly. “You'd better have learned your manners in that prison these past years. When you see Vivian later, no more bullying her.” It felt like someone took a hammer to my chest. Yes. I'd learned my manners. Soon we reached the edge of the Flame Forest. That forest is cursed. They say centuries ago a spell went wrong, and the whole forest has burned ever since, the fire never dying, never spreading. I made a sudden decision.

“You’re a fucking werewolf. Not a frog.” For the first time, Karissa laughed. A real laugh. She shook her head, clearly deciding to let the past go. Thank goodness. I didn’t have the energy for drama. I shifted the conversation. “We could smell wolfsbane in the air about a mile out.” Her expression turned serious immediately. She nodded. “It comes and goes. Sometimes it’s so strong I feel like I can’t think straight. Other times it’s barely there.” She glanced up at the sky. “It’s like the sky cursed us.”

Moonlight poured down like silver rain. She slowly lifted her head and caught her own breath. It was the magnificent, huge tree in the middle of the city she had seen when she first entered the kingdom. The tree trunk stood firmly but the branches were all barren. No leaves. No flowers. The Everlasting Tree She remembered what Bina had told her about the tree. It was the tree that sustained the lives of all werewolves… but also the one that cursed their existence. Maya still couldn’t understand how one tree could have that much power. But standing in front of it, she felt the immaculate pressure of greatness… of an ancient powerful being… It made the hairs behind her neck stood.