The Time Curse

By Deborah Bainbridge

“If anyone objects to this man and woman being joined in marriage, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.” The pastor’s gaze landed on the groom, whose yellow ruffled tuxedo shirt peeked from beneath his emerald jacket. His hand shot in the air.

Spark Spaulding lowered his arm and caressed his fiancée’s cheek. “I don’t think I can do this. Of course, I don’t blame you, darling.”

Selene flinched as if she’d been slapped in the face. Clutching her white satin gown, she took a step back. “Blame me? You’re embarrassing me.” Her chin gestured toward their guests.

Spark brushed aside the wavy curl dangling against his forehead. “I just feel… trapped.”

“Marrying me makes you feel trapped? I’ve sacrificed everything for you.” Tears welled up in Selene’s eyes. “You and your precious freedom. I even suppressed my magic as a time-wielder. Do you know how difficult that has been for me? Did you even love me?”

His brow crinkled.

A tear escaped. “I was willing to give up my throne, and you would leave me at the altar? You will pay for your selfishness!” Selene’s voice thundered and the ground beneath them trembled.

The Lunari king stood. “No! This magic will demand a terrible price!”

Selene ignored her father. She snatched the gold wedding band intended for her husband and pressed it to her lips. She muttered into it, then slammed it against Spark’s palm. Raising her arms, she allowed her green cloak to spill to the floor. The church shook. Stained-glass windows shattered, forcing guests to duck and flee.

Spark shielded his face. “Selene, what are you doing?”

Her eyes glazed milky white. “Spark Spaulding, time can bless, or it can destroy. I hereby curse you to wander without control—all that you gain will soon be lost. Henceforth, every year on February thirteenth, when the clock strikes noon, you will jump forward one year to a place unknown. Fight the curse, and you will die.”

Spark’s watch read 11:59 a.m. “Selene, please. I didn’t mean it, darling. Can’t we pretend this never happened?” He hesitantly flashed his winning smile, then doubled over as nausea churned his stomach. A forceful tug escalated, and Selene crumbled to the floor as Spark whirled through space and time.

***

As promised, Spark jumped every year. In forty years, he jumped twenty times.

He reached for the Posidonia plant but the closer he got, the further it seemed. His lungs burned, and he squeezed his eyes shut. He had seconds left to make a choice: die alone in the bitter ocean depths, or spend what little time remained with the woman he loved.

Kicking with stiff, icy legs, Spark turned back and left behind the only remedy that could save Crystal. Rays of sunlight streamed through the water as he surfaced. Tears blurred his vision, like he was still underwater.

Wrapping in furs, Spark returned to Crystal’s bedside and stoked the fire. He retrieved the silver wedding band from his pocket and sat beside her. “You’ve wasted half your life on me and my curse,” he whispered to himself, “waiting for me to come find you with every time jump. And every time, you were right here, waiting for me. I wish with all my heart I could marry you.”

He watched Crystal sleep as images from the day they met flooded his mind. His body lying on the ice: bloodied, shivering, and on the brink of death. Spark pressed his hand against his abdomen where the jagged ice had slashed his flesh. “I would have died that day, you know. If you hadn’t found me. Your healing saved me and your kindness taught me a better way to live. If only I—”

Crystal shivered and Spark placed a fresh cloth on her forehead. He shifted a strand of hair from Crystal’s face and she opened her eyes. “There’s those icy blue eyes I fell in love with.” He took her hand. “What can I do for you?”

“You’ve already risked your life to save me. There is nothing more you can do.” She smiled a warm smile. “But I can save you.”

“You already have.”

“No. From the guilt you bear. Whatever our future holds, you need to apologize to Selene. You must do this for me. I need to know you’ll be okay.”

He hung his head. “Selene was right about me. I was so self-absorbed, there was no room for anyone else.”

Crystal lifted his chin. “I don’t know the man you were then. But, the man before me risked his life to save mine. Remember that time can change a man.”

Spark hugged Crystal in a tight embrace, never wanting to let go.

***

On the morning of February thirteenth, Spark entered the Lunari graveyard. He placed the gold wedding band on Selene’s tombstone. “The curse exacted more from you than it did from me.”

He sat on the moss-covered ground. “I’m sorry for how I treated you. Crystal says time can change a man, so maybe there’s hope for me.” He bowed his head. “I would give up my life to save her… if only I had the time.”

The ground shook beneath him, knocking the gold wedding band from the tombstone. Picking it up, he noticed a faint inscription he had never seen before. “There is no greater love than sacrifice.”

His watch read 11:59 a.m. He buried the ring at the base of the tombstone and closed his eyes. The noon alarm rang, but there was no swirling in the pit of his stomach, no forceful tug. 12:01 p.m.

Spark lowered his head and sighed. “Thank you, Selene,” he whispered. “I understand now. Love is not self-seeking.” He jumped to his feet. “Time is of the essence.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Deborah Bainbridge is a Christian, wife, and mother who enjoys running, traveling the world, writing short stories, and cookies. Her genres of choice include mystery and speculative fiction. Throughout her life, she has been inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, J.K. Rowling, and Suzanne Collins. She is thankful to her friends and family for their encouragement and to her husband, Shawn, for his unwavering support and for running with her as she imagined The Time Curse.

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