Page 63 of Sinful Curses
It couldn’t be anything else.Thatwas the only thing that made sense, but nothing in this realm ever made sense, so she could be completely freaking wrong.
Lowering her head, Sahira rubbed her temples as she battled a scream of frustration. Sheloathedthis place.
Taking a deep breath, she focused on the symbol again as she pondered its existence and changes. If the shaded area was sand creeping through an hourglass, what happened when time ran out? Andwheredid it run out? In the next town? Another realm?Where?
Orin’s scent alerted her that he’d arrived before he spoke. “So, what doyouthink happens when the sand gets to the bottom?”
She recalled him saying they’d get out of here before, but it didn’t sound like he still felt the same way. “I don’t know. You think it’s an hourglass too?”
“What else could it be?”
“I have no idea.”
“Why put the arrows in, only to take them out?”
“Maybe to show the different stages before the sand reaches the bottom.”
“Which should mean we only have one more town to find before… who knows what. And X usually marks the spot.”
“I don’t think it means we’ve reached the end.”
“Neither do I. There’s still another arrow to go.”
And then what?She had no idea, but they had to continue.
She glanced at Orin over her shoulder and almost laughed at his disheveled hair standing on end. Before entering the Barren Lands, he was always immaculately groomed, but now thick stubble lined his slightly pointed chin and high cheekbones.
Pip sat on his shoulder, her burnt tail in the air behind her and her brown hair sticking out around her face like a lion’s mane. Her black nose twitched as her brown eyes examined the symbol.
“If it is an hourglass, then all of this, this realm,everything, has something to do with time,” Sahira said.
“What immortals can fuck with time that way?” Orin asked.
“The Dagadon.”
But there was one problem with that…
“The Dagadon aren’t real,” Pip said.
“And humans didn’t think immortals were real either until the Lord burst into their realm and tore it apart,” Sahira said. “I know of no other immortal, real or otherwise, who could manipulate time enough to keep immortals from opening portals and vampires from transporting. There’s a reason why myths exist, and the Dagadon are an immortal myth.”
“Or maybe they’re not.” Zeth stepped into the doorway and yawned while he stretched his arms over his head. “I can’t think of any better explanation for all of this than them. They were rumored to manipulate time and loved to play games.”
“They were also known as cruel beings who enjoyed tormenting their prey,” Sahira said.
“Andwe’rethat prey?” Pip squeaked.
“Seems that way,” Zeth replied. “Ifthey exist.”
“We should explore the town,” Orin said. “I doubt there’s any answers here, but we have to know.”
“I’m going to shower first,” Zeth said.
CHAPTERFIFTY-FIVE
“It looks like our barbecued,immortal friend was here,” Orin said as he ran a hand through his still damp hair. He’d been the last one to get a shower, but it had been worth the wait as he finally got to shave that awful hair growing on his face.
The footsteps of someone else crossing the dusty floor of the library were as clear as day, and none of them had entered this building until now. Orin studied the booted tracks as they made their way over to the desk and back out again.
