Chapter 1

My apartment was small. It wasn't much but I was fine with it. My boyfriend of four years was living with me, and we were enjoying out time. I hadn't talked to my parents since I moved out. My job paid little, but that was fine. Its funny how much can change because of one, very strange birthday wish made on my 16th birthday. Oh the joys.

Being a Loner meant I didn't have many friends. Okay, I didn't have any. So when my parents threw a sweet sixteen, it was just the three of us. And to be very honest, I liked it that way. We had money, we were living comfortably, so I wasn't too worried about what I wanted. I asked for one thing, and that would be a trip to the beach when it was summer. And since my parents could not exactly wrap that up nicely in a bow, it was a quiet little event. I bent down and blew out my candles, excited for the next chapter in my life. It was going to be amazing.

Dad handed me a book and smiled as he sat down. "As you know, it is our duty as Grimms to keep the stories alive in people's hearts." he said. "I want you to have the family book." I looked at the old dusty cover and frowned for a moment. This was a big thing in my family. Holding the book close, I hugged him tightly, happy to have such a special gift. "Thank you father, I will keep it safe and promise to keep our legacy ali-"

knockknockknock

The rapid knocking on the front door had me pause. I looked back and frowned. It continued until my father got up and strode over to the door. The frail old man at the door smiled maliciously at my father, and I stood, unable to pull away from the conversation that followed.

"Meestah Grimm." the old man said. "I finally found yer little hiding spot."

"We weren't exactly hiding mister...."

"No no no. You weres hiding. You see, I have been following you since your great great GREAT great granpappy stole my book in Magic Town." He glanced over to me, causing my skin to prickle. "Ah-ha! MY BOOK!" He lunged into the door, but my father shoved him back outside and slammed the door.

I moved closer to the window and listened, not able to hear anything more over my father's angered threats. As he turned away, I watched as the old man pulled out an old knarled wand and point it at...me. "Seeing as you refuse to give me the book, a lesson shall be taught."

In the moonlit shadows of a fateful night,

A family cursed, their destiny in flight.

Each member bound to a fairy tale's rhyme,

Living their lives in a story's paradigm.

From Cinderella's woes to a dragon's lair,

Their existence shaped by a sorcerer's snare.

No escape from the enchanted script,

A life entangled, tightly gripped.

To break the curse, the key lies concealed,

In the name of the one who the curse revealed.

A quest through tales and folklore spun,

To unveil the conjurer, their task begun.

In whispered secrets and the silence of night,

They seek the name that will end their plight.

For only in the revelation of the caster's name,

Shall the family be free from the fairy tale's claim.

I felt searing hot pain in my head as the words echoed through the glass. I fell to my knees crying as the words echoed through my head. I could hear my mother's scream as darkness overcame me. When I came to, my parents were arguing, and I felt my body revolt against any movement. It was a few days before I could get out of bed, my parents said I had caught a bad flu and got sick. They never said anything more about the old man. When asked they only the mailman came by to wish me a happy birthday when he dropped off the mail.

It wasn't until after my near death experience at the beach that I realized what had happened. I began listing the facts of what happened.

1)  The events of my birthday were either forgotten or deliberately hidden by my parents.

2) The curse kept me silent about the details, I could not share it with anyone outside my family.

3) My life, and possibly any children I have, are now pulled into a distorted fairy tale, where reality and fantasy would blur.

4) A cold reality haunted me. If I returned home, I risked activating the curse, and the consequences would harm me in one way or another.

So, as soon as I was able to, I moved to Tomarang. I have been here for two years with Marcos since. I found a nice job Conservationalist so I get to work with others to make the world a better place. While the pay hasnt been fantastic, it does at least pay the bills. My landlords, Vanesha and Zhafira, are friendly and are pretty quiet.

Oh, and I cannot forget about Marcos. I met him four years ago. I was out swimming with my family, my parents arguing about something, per usual. And I had gone out a little too far. I remember my ankles getting caught in some seaweed and it pulled me under. I don't remember much other than when I woke up, he had carried me to the lifeguard station.

So that brings us to now-adays. Marcos and I have been going steady for four years. He is a bit of a schmoozer, but I am happy with him. We share the tiny rental together, though he has his room and I have mine. He works as an influencer on Simstagram. While it's not raking in money, it is better than nothing. He has his own following with about a thousand followers. His goal is to become an internet superstar.

His favorite show is Sims Got Talent and he watches it religiously. It's not exactly my cup of tea, but I do enjoy spending time with him. He loves to comment on outfits, how fun some of them look to be. I do watch for fun sometimes. Alexander is my favorite. The silent but gentle type. His talent seemed to be guitar. When I watch him, I am instantly pulled back to the sunny beach, relaxing under the palms. He never speaks, but you can feel his desire and love for the sea. Marcos loved watching Ava, a talented seamstress who's outfits changed almost by magic.

To be honest, I am excited. Marcos has been dropping hints of engagement, and I am supposed to get a promotion soon. Little did I know, moving here would uproot everything I believed in, and knew. Who knows, Tamarang is full of mysteries I am excited to unearth.