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“Et tu, Drew?” I asked, my tone a little more hateful than intended. “You only found out about all of this last week.” Up until a few weeks ago, I’d kept the curse secret, telling only Claire about it. But between my involvement with Collin and the marks on my body and door, Drew had grown suspicious. Now that hell had literally broken loose, I’d spilled all the details.
“You’re running out of time. If you don’t do it, I’ll help Claire find him and drag him to you.”
Gritting my teeth, I looked out the side window, intent on ignoring them for the rest of the car ride. I knew for a fact that they meant it…and I also knew I couldn’t let that happen. But what could I possibly find out in the next twenty-four hours?
I tossed and turned that night, worrying about how to pay for my car repair bills—but also worrying about my mark. Even if I found Ahone’s symbol, I was smart enough to know that getting the tattoo wouldn’t just mean putting a mark of protection on my skin. I would be committing my soul for eternity. I needed more reassurance. One way or the other.
When I went to bed, my dreams were filled with animals begging for my help, but the spirits left me alone. They didn’t even show up at my front door. Seeing Mishiginebig must have been message enough.
The next morning, Myra pushed open the back door of the bed and breakfast as I walked up. “Good morning, Ellie,” she said with a worried smile.
“Were you waiting for me?”
She shrugged. “I just wanted to say good morning.” Myra had always been a terrible liar.
“What’s wrong?”
“Is it a crime to want to see you?”
“Something’s up, Myra. What is it?”
“There’s been…an incident.”
My breath caught as I spanned the rest of the distance between us. “What kind of incident?”
She put a gentle hand on my arm. “Don’t worry. Everyone is fine, but Tom is here…”
“Tom Helmsworth? Why?”
She looked worried again. “Tom thinks some kind of wild animal is on the loose.”
I looked around her to see if he was in the great room. “Tell me what happened, Myra.”
“Something attacked the neighbor’s dog.”
“Chip?” My chest tightened, and I knew what had happened before she said anything else. It stood to reason the spirits would taunt me this way. I pushed past her and through the dining room, ignoring the startled looks of the guests who were eating breakfast. “Where is he?”
Myra followed me. “Outside, on the west side of the house.” She grabbed my arm as I reached the front door. “You don’t want to go out there, Ellie.”
“Yes, I do.”
When I reached the side yard, Tom had his back to me. He was standing next to his partner, and their bodies were blocking my view of the dog. Hearing my approach, Tom swiveled around at the waist. “Ellie, this is a mess. Go back inside.”
Ignoring him, I made myself stand next to him. The gods and spirits wanted me to see this. That’s why the badger creature had chosen this dog and left him next to my house.
I took one glance and had my worst fear confirmed. His abdomen had been ripped open.
Spinning around to face the street, I sucked in huge gulps of air.
“Ellie, why don’t you go sit on the porch,” Tom said. “I’ll join you in a second.”
This time I didn’t argue. I sat in one of the rocking chairs, staring at the giant oak tree in the front yard. When I was younger, I had spent one whole summer climbing that tree whenever I could. My mother would yell at me to be careful, but Daddy would tell her to let me be a kid and have fun. But they hadn’t been fighting, not really. They never fought…not unless they were discussing the curse, anyway.
That goddamned curse had ruined everything in my life.
Several minutes later, Tom sat down in the rocking chair next to me. “Tell me what I’m not seeing, Ellie.”
I turned my gaze to his police car parked by the curb. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
