AllFreeNovel
Share Us
How could I make him believe me? “I can prove it to you.”
His eyebrows lowered over his eyes. “You can prove that the gods were locked up in Popogusso, and you’re a Curse Keeper?”
I lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. “I don’t know about that, but I can introduce you to a god or spirit.”
“How?”
“Spend the night here and you’ll see a deity before morning.”
A strange expression spread across his face. “Is that some kind of euphemism? Has this all been a ploy to get me into bed?”
I stood up, shuddering. “What?Good God, no!”
His eyes widened. “Are you suggesting that the thought of sleeping with me is repugnant?”
Putting my hand on my hip, I shook my head in disbelief. “Which is it, David? Do you want me towantto sleep with you or not?”
“Neither!”
“That doesn’t make sense!”
“I know.” He slumped into the chair, covering his eyes with his hand. It seemed like all the fight had bled out of him.
I wasn’t being fair. My father had raised me with the story of the curse, and I still hadn’t believed it until the reappearance of the colony. Wouldn’t I think less of Dr. David Preston if he took my words at face value without a hint of cynicism?
I sat back down on the sofa, closer to him. “Look, I don’t blame you for being dubious. I didn’t believe it myself at first. But almost every night at around three or four in the morning, I get a visit from some type of spirit or god. Sleep on my sofa tonight and you can see it for yourself.”
His hand dropped, and he lowered his gaze to mine. “You’re kidding, right?”
“I wish I was.”
A war of emotions played across his face before resignation set in. “Okay.” He stood and stared down at me with equal parts fear and irritation. “But first, I’m going to the inn to get a few things for the night.” He headed to the door and stopped to examine the markings when he opened it.
I glanced past him and saw that the sun had set. The henna tattoo was still working, albeit barely. The spirits wouldn’t attack me while we were waiting for Okeus to spring his special surprise, but what if they saw David as a threat? What if they tried to kill him? “I think I’d better go with you.”
He grimaced. “Uh…that’s not necessary.”
He probably wanted to get as far away from me as possible. I was sure he wouldn’t be pleased by the explanation if I told him I was coming along to offer what little protection I could. “I have to go back anyway to get my laundry.”
“Okay…”
Both of us remained silent as we walked to the bed and breakfast. When we met at the side entrance five minutes later, he seemed distant, slinging his bag over his shoulder and opening the door so I could get through with my laundry basket on my hip. He followed me to my car and opened the back door as I put the basket in the back. He stared out the window on the short drive to my parking lot, doing his best to ignore me.
But when we got to my front porch, I shrieked and dropped my basket, some of my clothes flying out of it and onto the landing.
A mauled cat lay at my front door, its guts spilling out of its body. Blood was smeared all over the floor and splattered on my door.
My heart racing, I stepped backward and bumped into David’s chest. His hands grabbed my arms to steady me, his fingers digging deeper than necessary as he too caught sight of the giant badger’s calling card.
Turning away, I swallowed my rising bile.
David kept his hands on my arms. “What did that?” he asked.
“You and I both know.” I forced myself to glance back at it. The animal didn’t look familiar, not that I was a cat person. I supposed the badger hadn’t had much time to find its next victim. But this also meant it knew something about my comings and goings.
It was watching me.
Chapter13
