Page 88 of Sinful Curses
Focusingher attention on the sun setting behind what she could now tell were distant buildings, Sahira decided not to think about Orin anymore tonight. They had something else to face now.
It was warmer here, and the layers she’d piled on in the mountains now caused her to sweat, but she didn’t stop to remove any. She’d far prefer to wait until they knew what lay ahead.
Tall grass brushed her waist and fingertips while they walked. The plant’s sweet scent filled her nostrils as it swayed in the breeze drifting across the land. The whispered rustle of the tall blades, while their feathered ends brushed each other, reminded her of waves coasting onto the shore.
Longing pierced her heart as she recalled the peaceful sense of being connected toallliving things while standing at the sea’s edge. Sheneverwanted to sit on a sandy beach again but yearned for those waves while the seagulls cawed and the sun glinted off the water.
But that was another place and another time, one she hoped to return to. With a sigh, she focused on the buildings again.
She was still too far away to get a good look at the structures, but she already knew what they were—the same seven structures that formed Belda’s town, the brownies’ town, and the last one they traveled through.
The sun had nearly set when they arrived at the edge of town and her suspicions were confirmed. Unlike the other places they’d encountered, more tall grass choked the roadway and surrounded the buildings here.
The structures were all located in the same places as the ones in the other towns. Except for the whisper of the wind and the rustle of grass, no noise could be heard, and like all the other places, no wild animals stirred.
Maybe there would be some rodents or something else in the buildings, but the sky remained free of birds, and the small trees didn’t house any creatures. She doubted that would change once they got a chance to explore.
As they climbed to the pub’s porch, their feet thudded on the steps. The door creaked when Elsa opened it to reveal a completely barren room. There wasn’t even a bar in this place.
Sahira frowned as she took in their sparse surroundings. Instead of chandeliers, only a single bulb dangled from the ceiling.
It lit up when Elsa flicked the switch to reveal the thin coat of dust on the floor and walls. The place wasn’t filthy, but it could use a cleaning. However, it was far better than sleeping on the ground, out in the open, with Hecate only knew what hunting them.
A single pair of booted prints also tracked their way around the building. The burnt immortal had been here too, but she didn’t see any other signs of life.
They stopped in the middle of the floor, and she and Orin lowered Zeth to the ground. The demon sat with his head bent and his hands on his knees.
Sahira rested her hand on his shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, just tired.”
Sahira had managed to get most of the poison out of his system but wished she had some dandelions or milk thistle to make a detox tea for him. She’d never seen either of those things in this realm.
“I can take a look around town and see if there’s any herbs we can use for a detoxifying tea,” she told him.
Orin’s eyes narrowed on her; he looked ready to protest, but before he could, Zeth spoke.
“There won’t be anything like that here.” Zeth waved a hand at the empty pub. “There’s grass, but I doubt we’ll find much more.”
“We don’t know that.”
“We don’t know what we’ll find here, but the sun has set, the spiders might still be hunting us, and there could be many things out there looking to destroy us. Don’t risk going out there for me. After some rest, I’ll feel great again tomorrow.”
Sahira debated this as he lifted his head to look at her. He still looked a little greener than normal, but his skin tone was far better, and more life shone in his yellow eyes than a few hours ago.
Hewasdoing better, but if that changed, she would go out to see what this town had to offer… if anything.
“It’s time to lock this place down,” Orin said.
Sahira squeezed Zeth’s shoulder before releasing it. She paused to try to open a portal, which again proved useless, before striding to the stairs.
If her hourglass theory was correct, then this should be the last town, and getting out of the Cursed Realm should loom on the horizon, but she wasn’t surprised when the portal didn’t open. She wasn’t even disappointed; she justexistedin this place now.
She glanced toward the alcove and the symbol but wasn’t in the mood to see what was etched into the wall. There was plenty of time to deal with it later.
Her feet were silent on the steps as she ascended to the second floor while Elsa and Orin shuttered the windows and doors downstairs. She went through all the rooms above, closing the shutters and securing them in place with the metal bars.
All the bedrooms here were as barren as the pub below, even her room, which she entered last. Her gaze fell on the trap door hidden perfectly in the center of the floor.
