Page 22 of The Cursed Chalice

“Get rid of the bodies.”

“When did I get demoted to janitorial services?” Phobos mutters, rubbing a hand over his short gold hair.

I sigh. “It’s not a demotion; it’s trust. I know you wouldn’t tell the rest.”

He pulls a cigarette from his jacket and places it between his lips. “Why is that?”

“Because I found the chalice, and I need a moment before everyone knows.”

“May I see it?”

“No.”

He strikes a match and cups his hand to light his cigarette.

We hear a groan, and both Phobos and I turn to see the boy with green eyes crawling toward the stairs.

“Deal with him for me.”

Phobos nods and stoops down next to the boy.

“Help me, please,” he begs.

“Shhh, shh. My name is Phobos; I am your friend.” Phobos moves the hair out of the boy’s face.

“Help…me, please,” the boy pleads, stretching out his hand.

“No.” Phobos pushes his hand down, then presses his finger to the boy’s forehead. “Now…let’s see what will make you scream.”

“Wait. Wait.” I turn away. The scream behind me is bone-deep.

I walk back into the room, closing the door behind me.

“I don’t want to kill her.”

“True, but I have to free Talia.”

Aric sighs.“Let’s go home.”

I take one last look at her, trying to commit everything to memory. I close my eyes and leave her behind.

Sleep has evaded me. I don’t know how long I have been sitting in this chair. But the heat of the chalice pressed against my forehead reminds me that Talia is alive.

I reach over to the open bottle of wine on the table and pour it into the chalice.

With my eyes closed, I bring the chalice to my lips. With each sip, I remember her laugh. Her scent of honey and myrrh sits at the end of the chalice. But…

“I can’t remember her face, Aric,” I confess out loud. With a trembling hand, I press my fingers to my scar, hoping that the pain will give me a vision of her. Hoping the pain will show me a flash of her eyes, the curve of her smile. Something…anything. I am met with silence. No warmth, no memory, just my shame and guilt.

A ragged moan escapes my lips. How can I forget the face of my true love?

“Give it time, Ares,”Aric replies.

I shake my head at my shadow. “No, I have failed her yet again.” Failed her. I gulp down the last bit of wine.

“Ares, free me.”

I drop the chalice onto the floor and stand away from it.