Blood Curse (Branded Trilogy Book 2) (25 page)

Pril leaned against the trunk of a tall pine. Tsura’s head lay on her lap while she napped, and Pril relished in the tranquility of how much her life had changed in the past two days. They’d remained at Vadoma’s cabin, Galius was insistent on staying through until the cooler seasons passed. She disagreed and wanted to start fresh some place else. She needed to venture to the other world where Tsura would be safe.

Galius was adamant in his argument that no more hunted the girl. He was sure all of the evildoers had been killed, and with the blood curse removed the threat was now gone, but she knew better. Magda would not forget. She’d seek vengeance on them for what the curse had done to her husband and child. Sorina posed a different threat, one that Pril feared could have grave consequences. The woman she once called a friend was gifted in the way of the earth. She could create almost anything, and Pril had wondered if she could count the spells, too.

Unease drenched her soul, leaving the hairs on her arms tall. She heard the sinister cries of those seeking justice, and she could not deny the truth any longer. They must leave this place.

Galius placed another log onto the fire and flipped the catfish sizzling on a rock next to the flames. She wasn’t fond of the bottom feeders, but she hadn’t eaten since morning, and she was famished.

“The fish is almost done, Sister,” Galius said. Amusement lifted his voice, and his eyes twinkled.

“Do not tease me so.” She frowned. “I am practically wasting away as I wait for you to finish cooking our fare.”

He laughed, picked up a rock, placed the cooked fish on top of it and handed it to her. She used her fingers to pick the skin from the catfish and placed the meat into her mouth.

“Brother, I cannot help but worry that Sorina and Magda will hunt Tsura. They will rally the Peddlers and come for us.”

He took a bite of his fish and shook his head.

“You must see the danger which they hold.”

“I see nothing. They are but women, with no magick or skill with a weapon.”

“They do have a weapon. Revenge.”

“They are weak. I am not threatened.”

“Why are you so insistent to stay here? I do not desire to sleep within the cabin where my sister lived before her death. Nor do I care to sleep outside on the grounds.” She stared at him, her eyes pleading. “I wish to leave here and never come back.”

“You speak like a child. Your wants and needs? I ask you to cease your whining, and leave me in peace.”

She was stunned at his reply. Galius had never spoken to her in such a manner, and she rubbed her neck to ease the ache there. She glanced down at Tsura, snoring softly, and blinked through the tears. She would not cry. Her fish forgotten, she pushed the rock to the side and sat in silence.

Galius finished his food and tossed the bones into the fire. The flames grew as they licked the fish bones, and she watched them until they resumed their normal height. She waited for his apology, but it never came. He stood and went inside the cabin.

She prayed that soon their life would go back to the way it was before they’d left Jamestown. The worry and tension drained from her muscles, and all would be well once more.

An intense pain twisted in her stomach, and she leaned forward, squishing Tsura between her chest and lap. Galius exited the cabin and came toward her. Without a word he took the girl from Pril’s lap and laid her close to the cabin, placing a blanket over her.

“Brother, I do not feel well.”

He gazed down at her as another spasm sliced through her insides, and she screamed from the intensity of the pain. Her lungs burned as she tried to inhale. What was wrong with her?

She reached her hand toward him, but he turned from her and walked away. Her vision blurred, and she blinked to focus. He leaned over the fire to add another log, the sun bright on his back. His white linen shirt worn and faded showed the skin underneath. Three red scars glowed—three creating a pyramid that lay in the middle of his back.

NO. It cannot be.

She blinked unable to accept what she saw—what Tsura told her
.
The pendant heated, burning the flesh on her chest, and she swatted it away. What did it mean? Was the talisman telling her Galius was the one? She looked at him again. Three scars from the arrows she’d pulled from his back shouted at her to be seen.
“The man who bears the pyramid has killed many.”
Tsura’s words echoed in her mind, and she could not see past what was in front of her.

“How could you?”

“Devil’s porridge,” he said from across the fire.

She recognized the name immediately, a small bush that grew around Jamestown and was known for its vicious effects. He’d poisoned her. Galius, the brother she’d admired, counted on and loved unconditionally had fed her poison. If he’d given her enough of the porridge she would die from it
.

Her stomach convulsed, and she leaned to the left vomiting onto the grass. She wiped the sweat perspiring on her brow and left her arm to drape over her forehead. She gagged. Her stomach heaved, but she refused to give in. She needed to know the answers.

“Why?” she cried.

Galius came toward her and knelt down so she could see him.

“Because of her.”

Pril’s hands and legs convulsed, and she purged again this time all over herself. She tried to move her head to search for Tsura, to see her, but her limbs would not cooperate.

“What do you want with her?” The words were slow as she began to lose all ability to move her lips.

“Her magick.”

“You have no need for it.”

“Ah, but I do, Sister. With the pendant I can use Tsura to aide me in all that I want and need. I will never be without again.”

“But she is…a child.”

“I mean not to kill her as I did Alexandra, but she will be a slave to me.”

Pril gasped. He killed their niece? Her heart wept for the girl, and how she must’ve trusted her uncle to bring her home, not knowing he’d end her life.

He sat down beside her.

“I needed Milosh to lose his sense, and he did. He took Tsura which allowed me to end his life also.”

She vomited again, the remnants of her fish ending up in her hair and on the side of her face. How could this be? Galius was her rock, the one who kept the family together, and all of this time he’d been plotting to take her daughter. He’d killed his own brother and niece!

“Soon, Sister, you too will expire.”

She spat onto his leg.

“You will die for what you’ve done…” She tried to place a spell, but she could not take a breath, and she just wheezed.

“You cannot do it. The effects of the plant have taken over your body. You are defenseless against me.”

She shivered, her teeth chattered, her throat swelled. She retched down the front of her blouse. Unable to fight back, her body useless, her mind fogging, she searched for her daughter. She spotted her sleeping frame, and before it was too late, before she inhaled her last breath, she whispered, “I love you.”

One tear slid from the corner of her eye as her body stilled.

Kade clenched every muscle in his body. He’d been riding for the better part of the day. His mood was sour, his backside ached, and when he found the boy he’d be lucky if Kade didn’t throttle him. Red Wolf had ran off just as he pulled the anchor to set sail this morning.

They’d been in Jamestown two days, and after a much-needed meal and clean clothes, he and Red Wolf went about rounding up his crew. The seventeen men hadn’t gone far, most in the brothels on the wharf, the others in whorehouses further inland or still on the ship. He instructed the men to scrub and clean the entire boat, while he ordered others to load the vessel with goods to take across the sea. He pushed them hard, forced them to work into the wee hours all with one path in mind…get as far away from the memories as possible.

Now he was stuck backtracking across familiar land while the kid played a game he was not fond of. He knew without a doubt the boy had gone to see Pril and, damn it, he was not happy about it.

He entered the forest around the gypsy cabin where he’d left Pril and her daughter two days before. He pulled Goliath to a stop and climbed down to survey the ground. Red Wolf’s prints had disappeared. The lad had made it quite clear where he was going, often pushing his heels into the dirt so Kade wouldn’t miss them, but now they were gone. He searched the trees around him.

The birds were quiet, and the only sound was the occasional rustle of leaves. His gut tightened, and he reached for his dagger. Instinct told him something was off. He left Goliath and took light steps toward the cabin that stood past the trees.

An owl hooted from above. He paused mid-step and looked up. Red Wolf sat high up in an oak tree. The boy placed his finger to his lips before he silently jumped from branch to branch, cascading down the tree until he was at the bottom.

Kade waited until the boy stood in front of him before he said, “What in hell—”

“Shush, Strong One. He will hear you.”

He peered around the lad but saw only bushes.

“Who?”

“The man who looks as an ox.”

“Galius?” He shrugged. “He is Pril’s brother.”

The boy shook his head.

“No, he is evil.”

“Nonsense.” He grabbed Red Wolf’s arm and tugged him toward Goliath. “We are leaving.”

“This Galius, he…he…”

Kade turned toward him and was met with round eyes filled with terror. Red Wolf moved his lips to tell him something, but no sound came from them. Whatever he was trying to say tore the child a part. Kade knelt in front of him, took both his arms within his hands and faced him.

“Nothing can hurt you. Speak what you need to.”

Tears formed to soak the black lashes surrounding the lad’s eyes, and Kade watched defenseless as they fell down his cheeks. He pulled him into his embrace and listened while Red Wolf released two heart-wrenching sobs that shook Kade to the core.

“I cannot say it, Strong One. I do not wish it to be true.” The boy broke down. His body trembled as more tears fell from his eyes.

“You must tell it for me to help you, Red Wolf.”

The boy pulled himself from Kade’s embrace and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. He inhaled a deep breath, and when he looked at him, Kade knew it would be something awful.

“The gypsy lady, she…she is dead.”

“Pril? You must be mistaken.” He didn’t believe the boy. It was impossible. Galius would protect her. He wouldn’t let anything happen to his sister or her child.

“Yes, it is Pril.”

He shook the lad.

“No. No, it cannot be.” He moved past Red Wolf and went deeper into the trees. He’d see for himself. The cabin stood in the clearing beyond the tall elm and pine trees. He refused to believe she was gone. Surely the lad was wrong. Pril was safe. She was smiling and content beyond the trees. She had to be.

Red Wolf grabbed his arm.

“You cannot go, or he will kill you, too.”

“Galius is not a threat.”

“Please,” Red Wolf begged, and the truth of what the lad was saying sunk in.

He inhaled the air around him and held it within his lungs until they burned. He needed to clear his head. The lad was right, if danger lurked near the cabin, it was best if they came up with a plan. But first he needed to make sure Pril was alive.

He nodded and placed his finger to his lips to quiet the child. He crept toward the clearing and crouched down to hide behind a thick of Alder Buckthorn. He spotted Galius first. The large man seemed well-rested. His hair was wet and combed, and he’d donned clean clothes. There were no smudges under his eyes from lack of sleep. Kade could see no sign of a killer within the man.

He spotted Tsura sleeping beside the cabin, a brown blanket covering her.

Galius disappeared behind the cabin and within minutes emerged carrying a shovel across his right shoulder. He walked into the trees across from where Kade, and the boy sat watching.

The area had been cleaned, and he figured Galius had buried the other men and tidied the camp. He spotted Pril. She lay next to the fire. Her long red hair stretched out behind her. He couldn’t see her face and stepped into the clearing when Red Wolf pulled him back.

He glared at him, but when the boy pointed behind him, he turned to see Galius coming through the bushes. The gypsy went to his sister and gave her a kick with the front of his shoe.

Kade winced.

Pril did not move.

Dread stole the color from his cheeks causing his vision to go in and out of focus. His jaw worked, and sweat formed on his brow. She could not be gone. He willed Pril to thrust a leg out, move an arm—flex a bloody finger, anything to indicate she lived.

She was still.

He waited. His lungs stilled as his mind scolded her to wake, to show him she lived, but she did not move. He shook his head, unwilling to believe it.

He needed to rescue her. He had to act and fast.

“Red Wolf, aim your arrow for the man’s chest.”

The boy nodded as he readied his bow. He pulled the arrow back with strong arms and steady hands while he waited for Kade to give him the signal.

Galius leaned over Pril and slapped her face. The sound echoed throughout the forest, and Kade felt the punishment to his core.

She did not flinch.

Kade’s fists opened and closed at his side. When Galius stood, he nodded to Red Wolf to release the arrow. The dart flew through the air and penetrated the skin beneath Galius’ collarbone.

“Again,” he said to Red Wolf.

The boy released another arrow to puncture Galius’ stomach. The gypsy fell onto his knees, and Kade ran from the bushes, dagger held high. He slammed into the bigger man knocking him backward. The arrows snapped, and the jagged ends poked into his skin. He did not care. He would kill Galius. Kade swiped his blade across the man’s chest.

Galius snarled and replied with a strong punch to the side of Kade’s head. The earth spun, and he drove the knife into his opponent’s side. The brute was not giving up. His large meaty fists pummeled Kade’s ribs without respite. Each blow robbed him of his breath and any strength he needed to win this fight.

Blood seeped from Galius’ shirt and onto Kade’s. He pulled the knife from the gypsy’s side and aimed it for his heart. Galius was too quick and drove his fist into Kade’s chin. His teeth snapped together with such force that one broke, and he spat it out onto the ground.

He was running out of steam and needed to end the fight. He thought of Pril and what she’d been through these last weeks to now be betrayed by her brother. He slammed the blade into Galius’ chest. The knife penetrated his heart, killing him in seconds.

Kade rolled from Galius and lay with his back to the ground. He panted, his cheek swelled, and his muscles ached. Ragged and sore he stared up at the sky. Blood ran from his nose down the side of his face and into the dirt beneath him. He had no energy to wipe it. He heard Red Wolf’s steps as he ran from the forest toward him.

“You live?” he asked.

Kade wiped his face and sat up. “I do.”

Red Wolf went to Pril and fell onto his knees beside her. He laid his head to her chest and wept.

His eyes watered, and his throat ached. The bruises Galius had given him were nothing compared to the hurt and desolation that now cried within his heart. He went to them. The need to hold Pril in his arms consumed him, and he shuddered. He pulled her lifeless body onto his lap. Her crimson hair, long and flowing, framed the pale face marred with cuts and bruises from the battles she’d won.

“Ah, Gypsy.”

Vomit permeated her hair and clothes, a sign she’d been poisoned.

Emotions stirred in his gut. Agony, sorrow and the hunger—the need of wanting her with him spilled from his soul, and he hung his head. He pitched forward as the pain of losing Pril spliced across his back. He should’ve never left her. He should’ve taken her to the other world. Everything within him ached, and he clutched her to him. The misery and regret sat heavy upon his soul as he acknowledged his love for her. He was to blame. He was the reason she lie dead in his arms. Had he not deserted her she’d still be alive.

He moaned.

She was gone. He couldn’t continue to console himself with visions of her happy and content without him. She lived no more. The need to scream overtook his whole body, and he trembled from the grief.

Why had he been so stubborn? What had he gained from his arrogance—from his pride? He was a wretch, a vagabond and a derelict. He deserved nothing, and yet he yearned for her—thirsted for her. His heart beat for Pril, his soul belonged to her. He sucked in a sob, and his tears fell onto her ashen face. Without her, he had nothing.

He placed his lips to hers and wept