Page 15 of A Curse So Vile

Brenna looked over up at the woman and found that now her back was turned to her. The scent of fear replaced desire.

It was a shame how some women denied their passion. She had little doubt how the night would go for the redhead.

Her patron would get drunk and grope her in front of the gathered crowd. Perhaps he’d even reveal her breasts for his companions to gaze upon, and she’d be humiliated, but unable to stop him.

He’d take her upstairs, throw her on the bed, and do what little he could to her before passing out on top, crushing her. She’d wiggle out from underneath him, unable to get his stench off.

Before he left, he’d leave a copper or two, insisting she was overcharging him. There’d be little she could do about it.

“Are you even listening?” Cole grabbed her arm, and for a moment, Brenna considered punching him square in the jaw.

“I’m hungry,” she snapped.

Cole bared his teeth. “My sister is dying!”

Brenna took two more bites of her stew, then pushed the bowl away.

Cole was right. She had made a promise to him. One which she intended on making every effort of honoring.

Now was not the time to get lost in ridiculous fantasies of shapely redheads in dresses a size too small. There was a dying girl in the cart outside and her own curse to contend with. Once those problems were put to rest, she could fuck the whole of the Dusklands if she so wanted.

She glanced over her shoulder at the redhead one last time before leaving. Sure enough, the oaf she was with was groping her backside, pulling her dress up her rear.

“Stupid girl,”she muttered as she walked to the cart, though she wasn’t sure if she was talking about the redhead or herself.

The horse was already bridled and eager to stretch its legs. Fiona lay deep in slumber.

She was doing better and would perhaps last longer than Brenna had originally thought. If they rode through the night and into the next day, they could reach the Den in time.

But in the back of her mind, Brenna knew that was folly. There was no chance the girl would make it, and the choice she would have to make would inevitably lead to dire consequences.

* * *

BRENNA

They rode for hours in silence until white fog gave way to gray haze. It was never safe to be caught outside at night in the Dusklands, though Brenna was more adept at handling the beasts of the land than most.

Cole’s worry fed Brenna’s paranoia, driving her to push the steed faster and harder than what was wise, and if she wasn’t careful, they’d be down another horse.

And that would surely cost Fiona her life.

Shadows moved throughout the forest, and shrieks rose just beyond the tree line.

They were being watched. If time had been on their side, she would have allowed for them to stay the night in one of the smaller towns they’d passed, but death was banging on Fiona’s door, and no good would come from caution.

She pulled on the reins, bidding the already galloping horse to go faster. Cole gripped his ax, what little good it would do him. She knew he was a strong and skilled man, but Dusklander beasts had little to fear from an ax. They often hunted in packs and didn’t fear death as much as a natural creature would. Their teeth and claws were made to pierce thick leather armor, and they possessed intelligence greater than those of any other territory.

Why didn’t I bring Icaries with me?She curses to herself as she scanned up the road, hoping for signs of the next town.

A strangled scream sounded from the woods.

“There’s someone—” Cole started, but Brenna cut him off with, “No, there’s not. It’s just a Dusklander beast trying to lure us into the woods.”

She handed the reins to Cole and reached for her quiver, taking out the appropriate arrow to get the job done.

She drew the bow back and aimed at a shadow.

Come on now. You’ve done this a thousand times before,she told herself.