Grandpa Thinker read the letter. Young Luca had sent it to him about a curse plaguing a young child. That was distressing. Grandpa Thinker went to his granny, and they spoke about the situation.

“Granny, there is a boy named Nick who is plagued by a curse most vile. His situation is dire. We must be swift.” Said grandpa Thinker, and he handed her the letter.

“If it is a curse, it could spread. There are so many children at the grotto, Albert. Those poor souls won’t see it coming. Let us teleport there, right away.” Said grandma Thinker.

They put on their boots and took their curse breaking tools, and then they were off. When they arrived at the grotto, Theanore rushed to them and hugged grandma Thinker’s legs.

“Granny, I am a mommy now. And I have a brother!” Said Theanore, and both the spirits of Yule sputtered.

“You mean you adopted two of the children from the grotto?” Asked grandma Thinker.

“No, I planted Mary in the soil and Archibald liked me so much he became my brother.” Said Theanore. The elderly couple breathed a sigh of relief.

“You worried us, girl. We would like to meet your new family members, truly, but we are here because of a cursed boy. One Nick.” Said grandpa Thinker.

Theanore took his hand, and she led him to where Nick was still sleeping on a blanket next to the teleport.

“He has been sleeping for three hours now.” Said Luca, who was laying next to the boy. “And I think there is something here with him.”

“Hm?” Said grandpa Thinker. He took out his special curse seeing glasses and looked at the boy. He had green fumes around him and a skeletal hand on his shoulder.

“By Christ, a mother’s curse.” Said grandpa Thinker. Everyone looked at him. No one knew what either Christ or a mother’s curse was. So, he explained the curse part.

“A mother’s curse is when the child’s own mother curses him. It is a dangerous curse that results in a slow death. This boy is sick of something. He needs to be examined by a doctor.” Said grandpa Thinker.

“Oh, no. How could she?” Asked Theanore. To have one’s own mother curse you were something she couldn’t imagine Esmer doing to her. Or something that she would ever do to Mary.

“Dreadful, yes.” Said grandma Thinker. “But, sometimes the curse starts off as a blessing. But if the mother grows bitter, it becomes a curse. Where is the boy’s mother?”

“Not with him. He is an orphan, granny.” Said Theanore.

“She is dead.” Said Claudia, who had, up until now, listened to the conversation silently. “She had swelling sickness. When she dropped him off, so did he. But his case was not as far gone as hers, and he was saved while she died in pain.”

“Were they citizens of the forest of plenty?” Asked grandpa Thinker. He uncovered the ears of the boy. They were pointed.

“They were. He was just a baby when she gave him to us.” Said Claudia. Grandpa Thinker suddenly paled.

“Then we don’t have much time before the boy dies. If normally harmless pranks have turned to finding sleeping pills, then the curse is entering its final stage. I can still break it, but I would need seawater collected with a sea horn.” Said grandpa Thinker, looking at Theanore.

“The sea horn won’t get damaged, will it? I don’t want Mari to die.” She said worried. Grandpa Thinker petted her hair.

“Ask him first if he wants to help. The sea horn has to be collected from a willing merfolk. Otherwise, the curse will become worse.” Said grandpa Thinker gently.

Theanore rushed to Crassus’ house but didn’t find Marinus inside. She then went through the tunnel beneath the bed and inside the grotto. She found Marinus in the pool, holding up Cassius above the water.

“Hi, Thea. I am teaching Cassius how to swim. Can you imagine not knowing how to swim?” Laughed Marinus. Cassius threw some water in his face and Marinus let go of him, which made Cassius flail loudly.

“I am sorry. I am sorry. Pull me up, argh.” Screamed, Cassius and Marinus fished him up again as Cassius began coughing out water. Marinus looked smug as the prince clutched at his arms for dear life.

“Mari, that wasn’t very nice!” Scolded him Theanore, finger raised as Marinus smiled, not sorry in the slightest.

“Do you need anything, Thea?” Asked Marinus.

“Yes, Niki needs your sea horn to have his curse broken. It is horrible, Mari. His mother cursed him!” Said Theanore and Marinus looked thoughtful.

“Who will break the curse?” Asked Marinus. He was not going to let just anyone handle his sea horn. If even a crack appeared on it, he was going to die.

“Grandpa and grandma Thinker. Say you will help, Mari. Niki doesn’t deserve to suffer.” Said Theanore, tearing up at the thought of young Nick dying because of such a vile curse.

“Fine, they can use it. But you have to watch the process and make sure the horn doesn’t get scratched or anything. Because if it does, I’ll die, Thea.” Said Marinus. He trusted that Theanore would be careful with his horn, and he trusted that grandpa Thinker knew how fragile the horn was, too.

“Ok, Mari. Thanks. And please don’t drown Cassy. And Cassy, kick your feet, don’t just try to float.” Said Theanore, and she ran towards her apple sapling to get the horn.

Back at the pool, Cassius began to kick his feet, only to kick Marinus in the knee. He paled and looked at the merman.

“I am sorry, please don’t drop me.” Begged Cassius. Marinus let go of one of Cassius arms to rub his knee. He was in his human form, so Cassius could copy his swimming technique, but the prince wasn’t learning.

“Hey, Cassius?” Said Marinus as he took hold of the boy’s arm again.

“Yes, Marinus?” Asked Cassius.

“You are not that bad. If my sea horn breaks, take care of Thea, will you?” Said Marinus. He wanted to live, but he didn’t want to live with the guilt of denying someone his help.

“You are not so bad, yourself. But it won’t come to you dying today or in a long time. I trust in grandpa Thinker.” Said Cassius as he began to kick his feet again, this time more carefully. Marinus wished he could trust so easily, too, but he was afraid. Still, his life might be on the line, but Nick’s was surely threatened.