Dedicated to W. C. Redfield

The warm Sicilian sun greeted Ruby as she disembarked from the sixteen-hour plane ride from LAX, California to Catania International Airport in Sicily, Italy. As the golden rays shone down upon the rustic buildings and cobblestone streets, Ruby could smell the aroma of fresh basil, ripe tomatoes, and the unmistakable hint of the Mediterranean Sea. Locals went about their business while casting curious glances at the rather tall but precarious looking young, elegant woman with long, flowing, strawberry blonde hair whom they noticed was a foreigner who had just arrived.

With the address from the letter in hand, Ruby started her trek to the village mentioned therein. It was said to be nestled between the rolling hills, surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, away from the usual tourist path. She hired a local guide, a middle-aged man named Lorenzo, who claimed to have heard stories about the Shaman from his own grandfather.

Lorenzo, with his deep-set darkened eyes and tanned skin, spoke with a charismatic voice of legends passed down through generations of mystic ceremonies, powerful amulets, and the elusive Shaman who had the power to change the fate of individuals. As they approached the village, Ruby could feel a palpable energy in the air, as if the land itself held the memories and secrets of the Shaman for whom she was searching after finding the mysterious treasure of the letters left behind.

Upon entering the village, Ruby was met with wary eyes. The descendants of a Shaman were a tight-knit community, protective of their heritage and uncertain of outsiders. Yet, as Ruby showed them the letters and the pictures from the old book, there was a flicker of recognition in the elder’s change of their demeanor.  Their faces changed with a sudden antipodal poise while whispering among themselves, contemplating whether to share their closely guarded truths with this young woman whose lineage connected her to them.

Late one evening, by the soft glow of candlelight, the village elder, a woman named Isabella, decided to share the story of a Shaman with Ruby. The tale was one of love, betrayal, and an unbreakable Curse. Isabella spoke of an ancient ritual, a possibility to break the Curse, but it came with its own risks.

“The Curse has been a burden and a blessing, my dear. It has taught us resilience and unity, for we have faced adversity together as a distant family and emerged stronger each time. But it’s also a reminder of the fragile balance between fate and free will.”

As the tale unfolded, Ruby couldn’t help but feel a sense of belonging to a story larger than herself. She realized that “Cursed by the Nines,” though a shadow that loomed over their family, was also a thread that bound them together through time. With newfound understanding and a deep appreciation for her family’s resilience, Ruby vowed to face whatever challenges lay ahead, armed with the strength of generations past and the knowledge of their unique heritage.

Ruby, undeterred and driven by her family’s legacy, prepared herself for the challenges ahead. She was about to plunge into a world where ancient traditions met the modern world, all in a bid to set her family free from the chains of the past. Ruby knew she must endure this adventure and pursue this quest after Grandma May’s confession to Ruby about the “Cursed by the Nines” just before her passing just a few days ago.  

Isabella looked Ruby up and down with an uncanny stare and exclaimed, “you are with child, my dear.  Are you aware?  This would be the fifth generation, “Cursed by the Nines”  Are you prepared for what this journey could entail?”

Ruby was utterly astonished by Isabella’s words and was not aware of the baby with whom she was carrying. Naively, Ruby trusts her to assist in breaking the Curse imposed, named “Cursed by the Nines.” upon many generations of her family. With this newfound information, there was nothing that could deter Ruby from breaking this Curse to protect her baby, the fifth generation to inherit this Curse. As Ruby delved deeper into the ancient family lore and the dark history that surrounded “Cursed by the Nines.,” she felt a sense of determination like never before. Isabella’s revelation had sparked a glimmer of hope in her heart, a hope that had long been extinguished by the weight of her family’s cursed legacy.

With each passing day, Ruby’s conviction grew stronger. She knew that this would not be an easy journey, for the Curse had plagued her family for decades, but she was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. Isabella had provided a crucial piece of the puzzle, a hint of the path to breaking the Curse, and Ruby was determined to follow it to the end.

Late nights were spent pouring over ancient tomes and consulting with experts in the field of magic and curses. Ruby’s non-ordinary life had transformed into a quest to free her family from the malevolent grip of “Cursed by the Nines.” She could feel the presence of her unborn child, a beacon of hope and the future, driving her forward.

As Ruby delved deeper into her family’s history, she uncovered long-buried secrets and hidden knowledge that had been passed down through the generations. The more she learned, the more she understood the complexity of the Curse and the formidable power it held. But Ruby was undeterred; she was armed with determination, knowledge, and the unwavering trust in Isabella’s guidance.

In the face of adversity and the unknown, Ruby was ready to rewrite her family’s destiny and ensure that her child would be the last to bear the burden placed upon her family, which was “Cursed by the Nines.”