Page 15 of The Cursed Chalice

“Can you show me where Keke’s is?”

“Sure. I’m Allison, by the way. Walk with me.”

I pick up the side of my dress and walk alongside Allison. “I’m Soraya.”

ARIC

“She is dead.” That’s what the doctor said. I hate the aroma of death. You would think that being the God of War, the smell of death would comfort me. Some people’s death does. But thischild…not Zara. Seeing her little body on the morgue’s table…I want to kill Cerano and his men all over again.

I close my fist, feeling the buzz of power swirling inside it. I look at Hecate, who is standing to the side of the young girl’s bed.

“I hope they go to the depths of Tartarus.” Hecate touches the child’s black curly hair.

I open my fist, and two gold coins sit on my palm. “Do me a favor. Get this to Charon. I want her to have easy passage to the Elysian Fields.”

“As for the other girls, with the help of the police, their parents were contacted. But Nisa, she has no parents.”

“I am sorry she doesn’t have parents. What orphanage are you sending her to?”

“I’m still looking.”

I nod. “Tell me what your choice is, and I will be patron to the orphanage until she is eighteen.”

Hecate nods, taking the coins from me. She looks at the deceased child once more and disappears.

“I am sorry, little one. May the Elysian Fields grant you peace and happiness.”

I feel a measure of guilt. Maybe if I were more diligent, this wouldn’t have happened. I drag my hand down my face.

My phone ringing breaks my thoughts. I reach into my pocket and pull it out.

A number from Seattle shows up on my screen.

“This is Kallistratos.”

A sultry chuckle comes over the phone. “Aric, baby, it’s Cherry. I’m in the area, and I wanted to know…”

I know what she wants. A free dinner and a night she will never forget. Cherry is an exotic dancer turned entrepreneur. She owns four of the best strip joints here in Bakersfield. Was Iin the mood for company tonight? No, but having a body to fuck my aggression out on….

“Hey, darling. Want to meet me at my apartment in the city?”

It didn’t take long for me to make arrangements. Maybe the best way to ease my guilt is to fuck.

“That’s going to be $89.50,” the small Indian man behind the plexiglass says.

I slide the debit card toward him. “Can I pay for three nights?”

“You sure you want to stay here for three nights?” he asks. That should be a sign for me not to get the room.

“Um, two?”

He shrugs and tallies the total. I swipe my card.

The man pushes the keys toward me. “I gave you room 201 in the front. Lock your door, okay?”

I take the key from him and nod.

“There is no internet. The hot water is noisy. And, well, we have some roaches. But they don’t come out often.”