A Curse of Shadows - Page 93

“But you did and we’re going to get through this,” I promise him as I pull back. “And if there’s a way to bring Mom back, we’re going to find it, okay? And I know I haven’t been around for you these last couple of days, but once all this is sorted, I’m going to be in your life so much, you’ll be sick of me.”

“Oh, sweet girl. That could never happen.”

We hug again and I don’t want to let him go, but the need to know if my sister’s and my bodies are still here is too big to ignore.

When I turn back around, Asher has only moved about ten feet ahead and has his back to us. Even though I know he can still hear us, I appreciate him attempting to give us a bit of privacy.

“Over here,” Estee calls out.

This time, it’s me who holds on to Asher. The thought of seeing my corpse suddenly doesn’t sound so appealing. Yet there’s no chance of backing out now.

We come around another stack of crates and in the far recesses of the basement, there we are. Me and Estee, lying side by side as if we’re sleeping, our bodies perfectly preserved. I’m wearing the same blue dress I had on when Asher returned home on my final day and Estee has on a black skirt and white blouse. Neither of us even have a speck of dust on us, as if the dark magic from the daggers sticking out of our chests has repelled everything around us.

“That’s fucking creepy,” Estee mutters.

“Agreed,” I say and I don’t step any closer until Asher does. When he bends to pull the blade out, I stop him. “What does breaking the curse entail once that dagger comes out? This is dark magic, right? It can’t be that simple, not if we’ve been kept half alive this whole time.”

Estee kneels next to her former self, inspecting her face. “Elyn just said to remove the dagger. I didn’t ask any questions after that.”

“I can go back and find her,” Dad says, his gaze averted.

“No,” Asher chimes in. “Look at Isobella’s hands, even her face. They’re ashy. She was never that pale before.”

As much as I don’t want to, I step closer to my body. There’s no warmth coming from me, yet I can still feel Estee’s. “What’s different between us?”

“You died two days ago,” Asher says. “I think when Elyn stopped your hearts that a part of the curse was already broken. I have no idea what that would mean if you died again, but I don’t think you’re linked to these bodies any longer, not after seeing how yours is only recently deteriorating.”

“I think you’re right,” Estee says, placing a hand over her body’s chest. “I’m still warm, but if we want to be sure, we can wait to see what happens to me in another day.”

For someone who was so insistent on getting down here, I’m surprised to hear her provide that option. At least until she adds, “Might be fun to stand guard over myself and see what happens.”

She is insufferable sometimes. Still, I wouldn’t change a single thing about her.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Dad says, still staying behind me. “We either need to take the daggers out and trust the elder wolf knows what she’s talking about, or we need to move the bodies to a safer place.”

“We pull the daggers out.” Asher’s gaze is still locked on my corpse. “Elyn hasn’t been wrong yet and I’m not going to chance losing Isla to Earth again, where it might take years to find her again without the use of magic there. It took three centuries for the two of you to find each other again. I can’t…”

I place my hand on his shoulder and turn him toward me. “No matter what happens, I’ll always find you again. Don’t give up hope.”

“Never,” he murmurs, fear and love passing between the two of us.

“Oh, hell.” Estee groans. “Let me do the honors. If I don’t die, then we’ll know Isla is safe.”

When she says it like that, I no longer agree with taking the risk. I move to stop her, but she’s grinning at me, hand already wrapped around the hilt. “You deserve happiness, little sister.”

“No!” I shout at the same time as Grayson, but it’s too late.

She pulls the dagger out of her dead body’s chest, then sucks in a breath. I watch in horror as she stiffens, drops the dagger, and falls to the ground, next to her corpse.

“Estee,” I cry with a gasp. “No, no, no. This can’t be happening.”

I shove past Asher, going to my sister, my best friend. I roll her over, inspecting her body. When I don’t sense a heartbeat, I start shaking her shoulders. “Damn it, Estee. Why couldn’t you have been patient?”

Holding her to my chest, I weep over both her bodies. I equally hate and love her right now. I can’t believe she did this for me, yet I shouldn’t have been surprised.

Dad and Asher kneel next to us, each placing a hand on her, both shaking with grief that threatens to choke me.

Suddenly, I can’t sit here anymore. I have to stand, I need space and air and…vengeance.