The Curse of the Axe

Aunt Audley

I stayed up all night thinking about that awful dream. What in goodness sake just happened? It was similar to the last time but completely full of horror. I thought it was Papa, it looked like him and sounded just like him until I handed him the axe. That's when things started to get dark. But the first dream wasn't like this one at all! Why was this ? Was the first dream really Papa? And was it the last time I got to see him? That's why he told me he loved me? Because it was the last time? I wanted to know more.

That morning I told my mother about the dream I had in the carriage. Mama wept happy tears knowing that Papa visited me in my dreams.
Wiping away the tears she told me "Darling i'm so happy that your father visits you, but there is one thing about your dream that has me confused"
Mama paused for a moment "That's not how your father and I met, and I never gave him an axe for a wedding gift. I barley had any money then to purchase anything. The only gifts I ever gave to your father was of my own making with thread and needle"
I then proceeded to tell my Mama about the nightmare. Her reaction of course was as expected
"Conny!! Why on earth are you having such terrible terrible dreams? And what is of this axe?"

At that moment the servant lady came into the room.
"Mrs. Musk there is someone here to see you."
"Me? Someone here to see me? Who ever could it be ?
Me and Mama walked down the hallway and down the stairs to see who this could be. Who in heavens sake knows Mama? Mama has no family near at all nor does Mr. Musk. We get to the door and there standing is this lady with black hair, and a blue gown.
"Good Morning, Mrs. Musk, I am your late husband's elder sister, Ms. Audley, but please call me Elenor"
Papa has a sister? I was shocked that he had family at all other than us. He never talked about them. I took a quick glance at Mama and she was confused just as I was.
"Mrs... uumm, Elenor , why is it that in all my years, I never once heard of you nor any family of his?"
Mrs. Audley glanced at me and stared very seriously, completely ignoring Mama before replying
"Mrs Hatchaway, have you been having night terrors?" My eyes widened in disbelief. How does she know? More importantly, what does she know? "Well no but my daughter Constance here has. Wait, how did you know?"
Who was this lady? And how is it that she had arrived at this exact time?

Mama invited Elenor in and we all sat on the sofa to hear more on what she came here to tell us
"Let me try to say this as gently as possible, but you two, well in this case, your daughter here, is cursed"