Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 137871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 689(@200wpm)___ 551(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 689(@200wpm)___ 551(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
“Maybe. But we should keep moving. I’m exhausted, and I need to rest, or I’ll be useless.”
Adriel broke her stare with the distant chasm. “Yes, we should find a place to rest. Near the falls would be best, I think.”
They drove a while longer, weaving in and out of the narrow, steep streets until they found a brick home that looked sturdy and well-maintained despite being several centuries old.
Juniper pulled over at the foot of the pebbled driveway. “I see lights on. Someone’s in there.”
Adriel scanned the house from the dormers to the cellar floor. “One person. An older female. She’s mortal.”
Juniper looked at her with an impressed expression. “You can tell her age?”
“I can feel her pain. She’s arthritic. She’s also partially deaf in one ear. She wears a device but only when she’s watching her shows.”
“Damn. That’s pretty impressive. Anything else?”
“There’s a cat in the yard, but that could be a stray.”
She laughed and shut off the car. “Cool. Witches dig cats. You ready to do this?”
Adriel had never done anything like this before, so she hesitated. “I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
“Then don’t fuck it up.” She left the vehicle and Adriel scanned the house one more time to be sure the woman was alone.
“Don’t fuck it up,” she repeated, then followed Juniper toward the old home.
Pots of withered tomato plants lined the back steps, showing a lack of water—again, proof that the woman lived alone. The chipped iron railing showed an absence of maintenance. Despite the house appearing well-kept at first glance, the scent of dust, cat dander, and time tickled her nose the closer they came to the back door.
Juniper pressed the button on a small electrical box.
“What is that?”
“Doorbell.” She looked up at the windows. “Do you hear anything?”
Placing a hand on the bricks, Adriel closed her eyes. The scent of talc and rose tickled her nose as a soft shuffle approached.
“She walks with a cane. We must be patient.”
The door opened, and a small woman appeared. “Hello.” Her deep-set eyes appeared almost crystal against the translucent creases of her pale skin. “May I help you?”
Juniper stepped back, nudging Adriel forward. “You’re up.”
Adriel easily entered the woman’s mind. “Hello, ma’am. I’m Adriel, and this is Juniper,” she greeted with a kind smile. “May we come inside?”
The woman cocked her head. “Do I know you?”
“Well, no, but we were wondering if we might—”
“What are you doing?” Juniper snapped. “Don’t explain yourself. Just make it happen.”
“Don’t pressure me,” Adriel snapped back, overwhelmed by the trusting innocence that radiated from the woman. “This feels wrong.”
The woman stepped back. “Are you solicitors?”
“No, ma’am. We’re not selling anything. We’re looking for a place to stay.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, but this isn’t a hotel.”
Juniper caught Adriel’s arm and hissed, “Do you want to die, Adriel? Did you forget why we came here? He’s coming for you. I’m exhausted, and I can’t hold this spell much longer. We have no money. If we want to rest, this is our only option, so set aside your moral hang-ups and do your thing.”
She looked up at the brick walls, certain they couldn’t save her from Cerberus. What if she was just putting one more person in danger?
Glancing back at the little old woman, she dropped her gaze. “I can’t.”
“What? Why the hell not?” Juniper’s words trembled with desperation. “You have to. We came all this way. I helped you get this far. You can’t just give up.”
“I’m not giving up. I’ve been defeated. He’ll find me. There’s nothing I can do to stop that. But that doesn’t mean I have to involve or endanger others.”
“I’m already involved.”
“I told you that was a bad idea, but you at least made the choice for yourself.” She looked back at the confused woman. “She isn’t choosing this.”
“Please.” Juniper grabbed her hands, her eyes pleading.
Heat rushed up Adriel’s arms like a bolt of electricity. It had been so long since anyone touched her the contact startled her, but then a wave of protectiveness washed over her as Juniper’s desperation overwhelmed her with empathy. It could only be magick. She didn’t typically have such a strong response to others.
“I have nowhere else to go, Adriel. My home is a pile of ash. My aunts are dead. We made a deal. Don’t make me regret trusting you. Please do this. I swear, nothing will happen to her. We can help her.” She looked back at the little old lady. “Wouldn’t you like that? We can sit with you and keep you company.”
“Oh, I do enjoy having visitors.”
“See,” Juniper argued. “We’d be doing her a favor.”
Adriel looked regretfully at the sweet woman and sighed. “Invite us in, please.”
Any reluctance drifted away as she stepped back and opened the door. “Please, come in.”
“See, that wasn’t so bad.” Juniper passed the woman and immediately started inspecting the dated kitchen's interior. “Yikes. Look at this place.”