Marisol's breath began to grow heavier again, each one more shaky than the last, and Cedric pulled her closer, small shushing noises leaving his lips.
"Hey, hey, princess," he whispered, holding her gaze as wide eyes stared back at him, her panic evident in them. "I said breathe for me. We're fine. Don't panic."
Marisol breathed out a shaky exhale as she pointed at the door. "How..... didn't you see that?!"
"Yeah, I did." He chuckled.
"You were going to walk out and I just..."
"You're amazing." he cut in, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Every day, you surprise me more and more."
And like a switch had been flipped in his head, Cedric paused abruptly. His brows furrowed as he realizes that something was different. Something had changed within him.
He blinked, eyes narrowing in concentration as he tried to place what it was.
What he felt was a strange sense of calm, a feeling he hadn't experienced in what felt like an eternity. His senses were on high alert as he tried to pinpoint the source of this newfound peace within him.
Then, like a bolt of lightning, it hit him. For the first time in as long as he could remember, his wolf was silent. The raging beast that had tormented him for so long was nowhere to be found. Instead, there was a sense of tranquility, of harmony, that he had longed for but never dared to hope for.
But that wasn't all. Cedric's fragmented memories, the ones that had eluded him for so long, seemed to be returning to him in bits and pieces. Faces, places, and events that had been lost to him were now resurfacing, filling in the gaps in his fractured mind.
"Marisol, something's different," he blurted.
Marisol searched his face for an answer, her eyes wide with curiosity. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Cedric struggled to find the right words to describe the sensation coursing through him. "It's my wolf," he tried, his voice filled with wonder. "It's... quiet. In my head, it's like.... like it's taking a nap or something. For the first time in forever, it feels calm, like... like normal."
Marisol's eyes widened in surprise, her mind reeling with the implications of Cedric's words. "Does that mean...?" she began, her voice trailing off as she dared to hope for the impossible.
Cedric nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "I think it does," he replied, his voice tinged with disbelief. "I think the curse is broken."
Marisol's heart soared at the realization, her mind racing with possibilities. "But how?" she asked, her voice filled with wonder.
Cedric's smile widened as he took her hand and began to lead her outside. "I have an idea," he said, his voice tinged with excitement. "Follow me."
Marisol followed Cedric, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to make sense of what was happening. "Where are we going?" she asked, her voice trembling with anticipation.
Cedric glanced back at her, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "To the nearest border," he answered, his voice filled with determination. "Trust me."
Marisol nodded, her heart racing as they approached the border. "Now what?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Cedric smiled, now taking both of her hands in his as he faced her. "Marisol, I want you to think of something you want," he instructed, the excitement never leaving his voice.
Marisol furrowed her brow in confusion, but Cedric gave her a decisive nod, Marisol following as she closed her eyes and let out a heavy breath, focusing all her energy on her deepest desires. "I'm hungry," she said after a moment, her voice filled with longing.
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the air, and before their eyes, a table laden with delicious-looking food appeared before them. Marisol gasped in awe, her eyes wide with wonder.
Cedric burst into laughter, his eyes shining with delight. "Looks like it worked," he announced, looking almost crazed with elation.
Marisol laughed too, her heart soaring with joy. "I can't believe it," she exclaimed, her voice filled with wonder.
Cedric tightened his hold on her hand in his, his heart overflowing with gratitude as he gazed into her eyes. There were so many things he wished he could say to her right now, but he settled for a "Thank you, Marisol," his voice filled with emotion. "You.... You've broken the curse. You've set me free, Marisol."
Marisol felt her eyes well up with tears as she realized the magnitude of what they had accomplished. "I can't believe it," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "The prophecy.'
Cedric smiled, wrapping his arms around her.
"That's not all. I think there's something in it for you too."
"Really?" Marisol gasped, her eyes shining with curiosity.
Holding her close, Cedric led her towards the invisible barrier that had kept her trapped here for so long. As they approached, Marisol gave him a skeptical look, steps dragging as he did not look like he would be stopping anytime soon.
"Uhm, I don't think that's a good idea....." She mumbled, eyes closing as she braced herself for impact. However, that didn't happen. They'd glided through the barrier like a knife through butter.
"What?" She cried in disbelief.
Cedric watched in amusement as she proceeded to walk back and forth through the now-disabled barrier several times with glee. She squealed loudly in excitement as she leaped into his arms. Cedric held her up with ease as she wiggled around in his arms, beyond elated.
"I cannot believe this! I'm free!"