Page 11 of The Cursed Chalice

I stand with my arms folded, and my sword hangs in the air. The point is high enough for Cerano’s mouth.

I take pleasure in watching him fight for his life. His scream bounces off the walls of the loft.

The point is near his lips. “Sir, please, I will do anything.”

My arms drop to my side. “Anything?”

He nods, his eyes glassy with fear. “Yes.”

I smile. “Then die.” I form a fist and pull my hand forward, impaling his mouth with the sword.

I stop him at the hilt. In a quick motion, I raise my hands, enjoying the sound of his screams, and the sword tears through his body. I drop my hands. His body collapses over the sword again. The two halves lay on the group of men. I take the sword and wipe it on my black slacks.

“Release me, Ares.”

“No, I like it out here,” I reply. The sword balances between my open palms. Slowly, I close them, and the sword disappears.

“Arti and Cate are coming over for dinner. Apollo may come too.”

I groan, “Artemis and Apollo. No, thank you. Last time they came, it turned into a lecture about morality. You win.”

I close my eyes and sigh, allowing the exchange. I feel the tension in my body leave.

The tension drains from my body. A bitter, salty taste coats my tongue. “Shit, did you have to make a mess?”

My shadow shrugs. “I should have made more.”

My phone rings. It’s Hecate. “Yeah?”

“I think we have a bigger problem here.”

SORAYA

I changed my mind. It all began when I walked down the stairs only to see the back of my uncle’s dark bald head. I was about to call him when my aunty came into view. She looks regal in her blue and gold dress; her brown skin glows in the evening’s light. Her hair is silk-pressed straight in defiance. I don’t know how she managed a silk press in this humidity.

“Once he marries her, we get 1.5 million,” my aunty says.

My uncle grunts. “Once Soraya is dead, the trust from Mom and her parents comes to me.”

My aunt’s voice is cold and businesslike. “We will inherit all. And two million dollars from her husband.”

My uncle laughs, blocking his mouth with his hand. “I have no idea why Elias wants her dead. But I am grateful.”

If I die? I’m worth more to them dead than alive. Someone always wants something from me. They want to use me to the point of death. I back away slowly. Where do I go? I smile as a staff member passes me.

How do I get out of an estate in the middle of Bakersfield’s countryside?

Okay. Okay. I can do this. I can breathe. My heart is beating against my ribs, and my hands are trembling so bad, petals are falling from the bouquet.

I walk slowly away from the courtyard. I know the wedding planner will be looking for me. Hopefully, Michelle holds themback. I hide behind some columns, inching my way out to the parking lot. I walk into the valet booth. I see one young man flirting with a cute waiter. I open the case with the keys, and I grab as much as I can. Tucking the bank card between my breasts, I leave the flowers under the booth’s table.

I grab my chest and run to the parked cars. My heart is pounding, and sweat is running down my back. I can’t turn back now.

I press the different fobs, but none of them work.

“Excuse me, ma’am?”

No, no, no… A fob connects with a Nissan Altima. Who is driving this? Don’t care.