Page 17 of The Tanglewood Witches (The Three Sisters 1)
“The drachma is a sand dollar again,” she said.
The dark figure swung its scythe in their direction, slicing through the foliage behind them.
“He can’t leave the boat, but I’m not sure how far he can throw that scythe. Come on. The path leads that way.”
He pointed toward a house at the center of the island, and they gladly hurried away from Charon.
“What is this place?”
“I’m sure our next deadly trial. Hopefully one that will end in us finding the grimoire.”
They reached the stone manor, and she allowed him to take her hand and lead her inside like a child. With a grand stone entrance and a suspiciously open door, the house welcomed them, bursting of the scent of baking bread. A fire blazed in the grate.
Alena eyed a chair near the hearth. “Can we rest? Just for a moment? I’m so tired.” She rubbed her temples.
“Not here. It’s too exposed.”
He led her up a flight of stairs to a hall of rooms. Each, upon inspection, was empty.
“We’re alone here,” Orpheus said, standing in the doorway of the last room. White curtains blew in from the open window, and a plush white bed waited at the center. On the bureau rested a pitcher and a bowl of fresh fruit.
“Someone has been here. The fruit is fresh.” Alena yawned.
“It could be a trap.” Orpheus rubbed his face as if he too struggled to keep his eyes open.
Alena reached into her satchel for the enchanted stone she used to test for curses and poisons. Crossing to the side table, she dunked it in the pitcher of water. It did not change color.
“This water is pure. We can drink it.” She poured a glass and drank it down, slaking her thirst, then dug into the bowl of fruit, holding the stone against a shiny red apple. “This is safe to eat.”
Orpheus breathed a sigh of relief and closed and locked the door behind him. “We’ll rest here, take shifts. Just for a little while.”
He joined her at the bowl, drinking his fill and then taking a bite of the apple. Alena chose a cluster of grapes from the dish and popped one into her mouth. She poured a small amount of water into the basin and washed her face and hands. Her basket had grown heavy on her shoulder. She removed it and moaned at the relief. She rolled her neck.
“Lie down. I’ll keep watch.”
Resisting the draw of the white bed was futile. She crawled under the covers and laid her head on the pillow. Orpheus shifted uneasily, his eyelids heavy with sleep.
She held out her hand. “Come. Lie beside me. Just a short sleep, and then we will continue on. We’re safe here.” She wasn’t sure how she knew they were safe, only that she felt it to her bones.
Orpheus inhaled deeply. “We can’t trust the gods.”
Alena could barely comprehend what he was saying. Her eyelids were heavy, and the light in the room rippled as she edged toward sleep.
Whatever strength or resolve he’d had abandoned him quickly enough. He approached her outstretched hand and slipped into bed beside her.
