Page 16 of Curses & Keys (Curses & Gods #1)

PHAEDRA

M y shoulder is almost healed by the time I land in North Carolina nine hours later.

I slip into the car and make my way to the farm.

Numb from last night’s events, I grab a shower then sit and swing on the porch with my head on my knees, thinking about Letz and everything he told me, letting the peace of the house and the sounds of the night soothe me.

A light breeze drifts across my heated skin.

For three thousand years, I’ve been alone, doing this job for the gods.

Sometimes I’ve felt like a ghost. Here but not here.

Time sliding by like sand in an hourglass.

No permanent relationships. It’s lonely, but the alternative, serving Hades in the Underworld, was a much worse option.

The only thing keeping me sane is a tether to the real world and the humans in it, living their best lives.

It reminds me I was once human like them.

What I am now is what my own actions made me.

This existence is my doing. I chose this path because I believe it will eventually lead me to my sister.

I try to remember that on the hard days like today.

I look down. The large key, still in its velvet bag, lies on the table beside me. I’ve yet to study it. The second smaller key, the one Letz gave me right before he died, lies next to the bag.

I don’t know what to do with everything he told me. His dying words were full of pride and caution. He made me promise to visit his group’s headquarters, see for myself the work they’ve done. Help them continue it.

But his most urgent words were rushed and hard to hear, warning me not to trust the council. They were divided and no longer interested in serving the people.

The last two words he uttered were an apology.

I drop my head back and sigh. Letz and I worked together for two months, establishing a camaraderie and professional respect for each other, but I realize now our secrets prevented us from really knowing each other.

And as I learned last night, he was a truly remarkable supernatural.

Most supernaturals don’t think the way he does.

They couldn’t care less if humans were hurt by magic or if the council took over this world.

I gave him my word to visit, but honestly, I’m reluctant to open that door.

While I haven’t spoken to the gods in at least two hundred years, they’re quick to reveal themselves if I veer off their chosen path.

Technically, a visit won’t break the rules, but if more supernaturals find out about me and share that info with the council, it would be the end of my usefulness, and I refuse to let that happen. I’ve got too much at stake.

Maybe I should wait. Let things cool down.

Immortality gives me an abundance of time, and Letz’ group is full of supernaturals who have been doing this for years.

I doubt his death will make them stop, especially since they now have the necessary funds.

Still, a tinge of guilt hits me, knowing he wanted me to visit sooner rather than later.

The sun rises on the horizon, and the sky lightens.

Dawn. My eyes drift to the table beside me.

The damn key is calling to me. Snatching up the bag, I pull it open and tip it over, letting it fall into my palm.

The second the cold metal touches my skin, a white light encompasses my vision, and the key begins to burn like fire.

I try to drop it but can’t. It’s welded to my hand.

Images appear in my head, scenes from my past fly by in a whirl as if they’re reminding me of who I am and the path I chose.

Pain and sorrow flow through me as I watch the scenes unfold.

Before my emotions can bury me, new images appear.

Unfamiliar objects shining brightly. Blue panels with gold scenes etched on their surface.

I tilt my head but can’t quite see the details except for one.

Gods standing in a circle. The panels fade.

A lock appears, then this key. Everything goes dark, and the key stops glowing, but the burning sensation remains, and when I scan my left palm, I see Hephaestus’ symbol branded into my skin.

A deep-seated fear rises at the sight of it.

I hold the key up to the light to get a closer look.

The reason it doesn’t register as magical is because the gods don’t use magic.

They have powers from a source I don’t even understand.

This key with Hephaestus’ symbol—an anvil and hammer—is real…

and now it’s branded into my palm. He obviously created this for me, but why?

Is it another punishment? What are the gods up to? Am I not doing enough?

Before I lose the details, I jump up and run inside to grab a pen and paper.

I sketch out the panels and the way they connect.

It’s definitely a box. He must want me to find it.

But why and where? Letz said the key was found at Hephaestus’ temple in Greece.

Are the other pieces buried there too? What will happen when the box is assembled?

Sharp pain pricks my palm, and I peer down at the brand just in time to see the symbol fade into my skin. I wait for it to reappear, but nothing happens. Was it temporary?

My alarm goes off, startling me, and I tap the phone. I’ve got an early morning meeting with Dr. Berne to discuss an expedition to Egypt. While there, I can use the campus network to do a search for this key and the panels.

Hurrying to dress, I drop both keys off at the vault, then drive to work. I rush into my office to pick up my notes on possible Egyptian digs that could lead to pieces for the university.

A knock on the door startles me, and I look up to find Hawthorne standing in the doorway. “Hey, sorry I missed you the other day. Do you have time to meet about our project later?” While his smile stretches across his face, there isn’t an ounce of amusement or kindness in his blank eyes.

Surely he isn’t upset because I had to cancel. “I’m sorry I couldn’t meet, but something came up. Yes, today works for me. How about one o’clock? In the library.”

He nods. “I’ll see you there.” Without another word, he’s gone.

I frown. Maybe he really is upset with me. The only supernatural I spend time with these days is Cara, and that’s mostly at the gym. She’s pretty easy to read, though. Her shifter nature is closer to human than she cares to admit.

With a sigh, I head to my meeting. Sticking to the Egyptian theme, I show Dr. Berne a map of all the historical sites found and the ones yet to be found.

We have a lively debate about whether the land under the sea holds the treasures archaeologists are seeking and whether it would be beneficial for me to join their expedition.

Reluctant to commit to one project, I promise to get back to her after I’ve done more research.

My stomach growls as the meeting ends, and I head to a bakery in town to grab a sausage and egg bagel, a special treat, and a coffee. The true nectar of the gods. Scrolling through my phone while I eat, an alert pops up, telling me the council is giving a press conference in ten minutes.

I rush through the rest of my breakfast, then head back to the university. Not wanting to use my computer, I slip into the library. A few clicks later, and I’m on the council’s site. Protected by a magical password, only supernaturals can access it.

Jamison’s father stands at a podium. “Dr. Letz Samuels was a respected member of our community, a friend to this council, and a powerful mage. We all mourn his passing.” He looks at the other councilmembers, who nod back at him. “I, personally, mourn the loss of a great man and trusted friend.”

I roll my eyes at his statement.

“Unfortunately, we have to inform you of the circumstances surrounding his death. We debated whether to bring you this news, but we believe transparency is necessary to ensure your safety. Letz was working with council security to uncover a theft from the museum. There was a skirmish two nights ago, and he was killed by humans. This was not a random attack. They purposely targeted him,” he reveals, outrage in his voice.

Are they covering up Letz’ theft because he was a high-ranking mage? Or do they not care?

“Letz isn’t their first victim, either. They attacked one of our security men at the museum earlier this month and killed a young demon named Sia when she surprised them during a burglary.” He pauses to let the crowd express their outrage.

Sia. I hadn’t realized they’d also killed her.

An image of the studious young demon flashes in my mind.

Dark hair, small build, she wouldn’t have hurt a fly.

Killing her proves this group will go to any lengths, but for what?

The key? Could they possibly suspect it’s real?

De Vere starts talking, and I shift my focus back to him.

Holding up a regal hand, he reins in the chaos erupting around him.

“This new group is resourceful, connected, and powerful. They have the means to detect magic and, apparently, strike against it. We’re doing everything possible to find out who they are and eliminate the threat they pose to us and our way of life. ”

While I don’t like the man, I can appreciate his tactics. With their ability to detect and nullify magic, these humans present a huge threat to supernaturals. Exposure is the least of it. Elimination is likely their end goal.

The crowd roars in his favor. In the background, I see two councilmembers clapping, but the other three are stoic.

A divided council. Probably the only thing unifying them is the pact they made with the gods.

Eliminating the human group will prevent the world from finding out supernaturals exist and keep magic contained.

It’s a harsh reality, but in order to live together, here in this world, we all had to make pacts with the gods.