Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54388 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54388 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 218(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
The little man made a sorrowful face.
“Then after the seventh time you see, the curse will bring its death to thee.”
“But I’ve seen it six times already!” Serenai felt a lump of panic in her throat. “So that means the next time it’s going to kill me! It’s going to stop my heart—like it stopped my mother’s heart!”
“No, baby—that’s not going to happen.” Brax shook his head. “Because I’m going to break the curse.”
“What? But you’ll be giving up a piece of your past!” Serenai protested. “And we don’t even how many memories you’ll lose!”
“I don’t care.” He looked grim. “I’m older than you so I have more memories—I can afford to lose a few. Why should I care if I lose some of the memories from the past ten years? I’ve just been fighting in the Blood Circuit—I don’t need to remember all that pain and violence. In fact, there’s a lot I’d like to forget.”
“But what if…what if you forget me? What if you forget us?” Serenai could hardly get the words out. The thought of the big half-Kindred not knowing her was almost too awful to consider. But it was a possibility and she knew she couldn’t discount it.
“We have to hope that doesn’t happen,” Brax said. “But there’s really no choice—we have to break this curse to keep you safe.” His voice softened and he cupped her cheek. “Look at me baby—didn’t I swear I’d do anything in my power to keep you from being harmed?”
“Yes, but—” Serenai began.
“But nothing,” he growled softly. “I’m going to do this and afterwards we’re heading out to the Kindred Mother Ship to make a life together. Okay?”
“Well…” Serenai didn’t know what to say. She didn’t want to let him do this for her…but he was right about the fact that he was older and had more memories. If he lost a day or a year of his memories of fighting in the Blood Circuit, would it really be so bad?
But what if the memories he loses are the ones we made together? whispered a little voice in her head. What if—
“If the curse you wish to break, there is an oath that you must take,” Jacobim’s high, piping voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Tell it to me—I’ll take it,” Brax said.
“The oath is here—nothing to fear. Break the seal—the answer reveal!”
Jacobim waved his hand over the parchment and suddenly letters began to appear on the back of it, on the other side of the prophecy.
“Let me see, please.” Brax held out his hand and the little man handed him the parchment. Brax turned it over and began to read aloud.
“I’ve seen it now,
Those burning eyes
I’ve heard its secrets
Felt its lies.
And now I wish
The curse to break
I give permission
My past to take.
I sacrifice my yesterday
To break the curse
And save today.
To stem the tide
Of woe and strife
I give my name
To save my life.”
As he spoke the last word aloud, the shadowy apparition appeared before them, its red eyes blazing. It gave a sudden, hissing shriek so loud that Serenai clapped her hands over her ears and winced in pain.
Then, as they all watched, it seemed to explode. A huge puff of black smoke and shadow expanded to fill the room and for a moment everything went dark. But then it dissipated almost at once and there was nothing left but a faint burning smell in the air.
Serenai looked around cautiously.
“Is…is that it? The curse is broken?”
“It’s broken and gone—your life will be long!” Jacobim declared. He seemed very pleased by the result because he was grinning widely.
“That’s wonderful!” Serenai clasped her hands to her heart. But then she looked at Brax. “Are you all right?” she asked the half-Kindred. His pearly gray skin had gone pale and he looked unsteady on his feet. “What happened? What did you forget?”
“I…I don’t…” he began.
But then his eyes rolled up in his head and he collapsed on the floor in front of her.
29
SERENAI
Luckily Jacobim’s receiving hall was carpeted in a thick, plush rug which kept the big half-Kindred from getting a head injury. But he still went down like a sack of bricks. Serenai tried to get to him but there was no way to do it in time. And even if she could have, he probably would have just crushed her on his way down. He was just too much bigger than her to catch, she thought in dismay as she knelt beside him.
“Brax?” she called, patting his cheek. “Brax, are you all right? Please, talk to me!”
At last his pale eyes fluttered open and focused on her face. Serenai felt a rush of relief…but it was short lived. Because when he looked at her, she could see no recognition in his gaze—none at all.
“Brax?” she asked again. “Are…are you all right?”
He frowned up at her as he reached to rub his head.