Page 43 of Heart of the Cursed
She took a deep breath and exhaled before turning to him. “Fine. You really want to know?” When he nodded, she added. “Okay, I’ll tell you.”
Selene was silent as she tried to figure out the best way to start, but nothing was coming to her. Her mind had gone completely blank.
“It’s the only way I’ll be able to help you,” he reminded her.
Selene sighed again. “Okay, I’m looking for a spell.”
“What does this spell do, exactly?” he asked when she didn’t continue.
Well, she was down the rabbit hole, she might as well tell him the rest.
“I don’t know,” she confessed. “But from what I’ve managed to find out, it’s some kind of spell that will send all the supernatural creatures back to where they came from.” Selene paused for a moment. “Including you.”
She waited for him to lose his temper and turn on her. To argue and try to stop her. But instead, he just nodded his head and asked, “Where do you think the spell is located?”
Selene was momentarily stunned. She hadn’t expected that reply, at all.
“I don’t know,” she said nervously. “That’s why I was using the locating spell that you heard.”
“I don’t think the locating spell works.”
“No shit, Sherlock.”
Selene rolled her eyes. She didn’t need him to point it out. She knew the spell wasn’t working.
Arun frowned. “Why do you keep calling me Sherlock? My name is Arun.”
“It’s just a saying.” When he looked at her questioningly, she added, “I read it in a book once and found it amusing.”
“I see,” he said. “Anyway, back to the locating spell. Do you have it on you?”
It was her turn to frown. “Yes, why?”
“Can I see it?” he asked. “I might be able to see where you’re going wrong.”
This was it. This was the first test. If he was really on her side, he would take a look at the spell and tell her where she was going wrong. But if he had been lying to her all along, he would take the spell and destroy it, and she wouldn’t stand a chance of stopping him.
“I won’t destroy it,” he said, reading her mind. “I gave you my word I would help you, and I never go back on my word.”
“Just know, I have the spell memorized,” she lied. “So even if you do destroy it, you won’t stop me.”
“I’m not trying to stop you,” he said. “I just want to help you.”
Selene still wasn’t sure if she believed him, but there was only one way to know if he was telling the truth. She handed over the small piece of paper containing the locating spell.
“Thank you,” Arun said as he took the paper from her and unfolded it.
Her stomach churned as she watched him reading over the spell. She was on edge as she waited to see what he would do next.
She couldn’t afford to lose the spell, but she hadn’t lied about not stopping. Even if it was destroyed, she would find a way to continue her search. If it meant going back to searching the entire planet? She would do it. She would do anything, including giving her own life, to save the Human race.
After what felt like an eternity, Arun looked up from the paper with a frown on his face.
“What is it?” she asked nervously.
“It seems to be…”
Selene wanted to throttle him when he didn’t finish the sentence. The suspense was killing her.
