Assassin of Curses: (The Coren Hart Chronicles Book 3) Jessie Eaker (best reads txt) 📖

it was deadly quiet—as if sound didn’t exist in this realm. My eyes widened in surprise. This was a place I had been in before.

It was the place curses lived.

Standing before me was a stick figure, arms and legs nothing more than simple lines. Its head was much larger than a human’s and perfectly round—a flat circle instead of a sphere. Inside the circular head was the image of a pedestal, so detailed I could make out all its intricate parts. And if I looked really closely, I could almost make out tiny gears moving along its boundary.

The being seemed to be waiting for me. “I hoped to never see you, Thief of Curses,” it said, which was surprising since it had no mouth. “If you are here, then something is wrong.”

“I’ve been told we need to move the Forever Nexus Shadow. And for that, I need the Griffin’s Key.”

The being nodded. “Then take it. I’m tired of watching it anyway.”

He turned away. “Wait!” I yelled. “Abhulengulus is broken. Can you tell me how I can fix him?”

The being turned back. It gestured off to one side. “You mean them? I was wondering what their problem was.”

I looked where he indicated and saw another stick figure standing a short distance away. Inside its perfectly round head was a stylized eye which I instantly recognized.

Abe!

He was beating on what seemed to be an invisible wall. But what utterly shocked me was the person beside him.

It was Zofie.

She too was beating on the wall and seemed to be shouting, but I couldn’t understand her.

I ran to the wall and joined them in beating on it. But the barrier did not yield.

“They’re trapped,” I said. “How do I release them? Would the key work?”

The being shrugged. “I have not seen the like of this before. All I can say is that the key opens many things. To say more would go against my making. When the ancient weapons were sealed away, HE decided to separate the knowledge from the item. So while I have the key, I cannot tell you how to use it. I would give you the information if I could.” He gave a deep chuckle. “HE really was a bastard.”

“Please!” I begged, resting my hands on the barrier and gazing at Zofie longingly. She was so close.

He turned and waved me away. “Begone. My watch is done.”

I suddenly found myself back at the pedestal. I blinked and looked around, pulling my hand away and rubbing my wrist. It felt numb.

Docila was standing directly beside me. “Are you all right? You were standing there for so long, I was afraid you weren’t coming back.”

I shook my head, trying to clear the jumbled thoughts. Zofie had been in the world of curses. But why there? I glanced down at the sealing charm around my wrist. How had this charm done that? I would have to talk with Spraggel.

“I was talking with the curse on this pedestal,” I said distractedly. “He said I could have the key.”

She drew back. “You can talk to curses?”

I smiled. “I can steal them too?”

She shook her head. “So you really are the Thief of Curses, just like the ballad said.”

There was that stupid song again.

I then reached out and wrapped my fingers around the silver bar. It was frigid to the touch, and when I lifted it out of its cradle, felt much heavier than it looked.

I glanced around, half expecting something to jump out, but nothing did. That was a pleasant change.

We left the way we had come in, with the light going out behind us and returning the ancient chambers back to darkness. It was almost anti-climactic as we climbed out of the hole and walked back to the farm. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that it could not be this easy.

We stopped at the edge of the woods and searched for any sign of Lilith or Wort. But there was none. I took Docila’s hand and started forward, but paused. The charm on my wrist suddenly grew uncomfortably warm. If last time was any indication, then something was up. I scanned the area again but saw nothing amiss.

Not seeing anyone, we made our way to the barn but found it empty. Where was everyone? My heart sank. Something must have happened. Fumiko wouldn’t have moved them without a good reason.

“I’m going to go check the house,” I said to Docila. “Wait here. If I don’t come for you, go back to the ruins and wait for help.” I pulled out the Griffin’s Key and handed it to her. “Hold on to this for me just in case.”

Her brow furrowed in worry, but she took it and nodded.

I moved to the back of the house and found the door barred. Since we had left it open, it meant someone had at least been inside. I couldn’t argue with that. It seemed prudent to lock the doors.

I moved to the front of the house and cautiously opened the front door, peering inside. Suddenly, the door was flung open and my eyes went wide.

Lilith sat on the bench beside the kitchen table.

And little Floria was sitting on her lap.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Goats and

Cats

“Hello, Coren.” Lilith gave me a wicked smile. She was braiding Floria’s hair. The little girl was perched stiffly on Lilith’s lap, and while unharmed, didn’t appear too happy.

Spraggel sat nearby on a stool, calmly taking in the situation. I noticed his hands were tied in front of him. Having run out of places to sit, my mother stood horrified by the hearth. Her wide eyes were fixed on her youngest daughter.

Cabrina sat huddled in the far corner. She was unbound, but her nose was bleeding,