Page 133 of Cursed Lifeline

“It’s not the inhabitants of the unseen side of Las Vegas that I’m counting on to help break the curse, it’s the spirits that haunt the tunnels that’ll hopefully aid our mission.”

My brother pauses, but doesn’t turn around.

“Most all who live underground sleep during the day and go out at night,” I say, “except for the spirits of the undead who come out to play in their former stomping ground.”

“And you think one of them can connect us with Ember?” Felix asks over his shoulder.

If I know Ember like I believe I do, the witch will be prepared for anything we might plan in the land of the living. The only way to beat her this time might very well be to meet her where the living meet the dead.

“From the Rio to the Linq, there is a section of tunnels that meet in a six-way,” I advise. “Opening up into a large underground room, it serves as the perfect spot to…”

“Have a bloody brawl?” my brother scoffs, finally turning around and meeting my stare. When I don’t answer, he says, “What makes you think yourspiritswill cooperate and arrange for Ember to meet us there?”

I open my mouth to speak when Felix starts to laugh and cuts me off. “You know what, no. This is crazy. An underground fight club in Las Vegas tunnels? Spirits that connect you with witches that should’ve been burned at the stake centuries ago? Do you hear how insane you sound, Viktor? What you're suggesting is more asinine than Ember’s suggestion on how to break the curse.”

“Is it really though?” I counter quickly.

I expect my brother to turn and walk out the door. But instead, he ponders what I’ve said as I rise from my seat and walk towards him.

“I’ll repeat myself, even though I hate fucking doing it,” I hiss. “Do. You. have a better plan?”

His jaw sets in anger.

“Esme isn’t ready for something like that,” he finally says.

“So make her ready.”

“It’s not that easy. With Alfred hurt and out of the picture…”

“Alfred hasn’t been much use in over two hundred years. Though I know he loves his sister, he’s not the man who should be training her.”

“I’ve tried to train her in the past and failed,” my brother sighs. “I promised myself in her next life…”

“You promised yourself exactly every fucking thing you’ve promised her before.” Felix’s stare grows lethal. “Stay away. Keep her close. Stay away. It’s the same damn thing over and over again.”

Walking toward the door, I grab the handle and open it for the coward I call kin. If he’s intent not to listen, he can walk right back out the way he came. It’s like they say, you can lead a vampire to blood, but you can’t make him drink.

Turning his way, I scoff, “Do you know the definition of insanity, brother?” His fists ball furiously at his side. Bitterness fills his eyes. Rage paints a deathly shadow across his face. “It’s doing the same fucking thing over and over again and expecting a different result. You want to fucking win? Have the courage to finally change the fucking game, Felix”

Shaking his head, he looks down at his feet. I know he’s about to say something stupid, like the curse won’t let him. Mother and father are to blame. But mother and father aren’t here, and the truth is the curse is just a crutch he’s carried around far too long. It’s a hindrance that’s only served to delay the outcome he and Esme desperately want.

I too had a crutch once.

A hindrance.

A hang up that stopped me from living the life I wanted.

Now that we’re so close to breakinghiscurse andmyoath, I won’t have my brother make the same mistakes I did once.

“How all occasions do inform against me, and spur my dull revenge,” Felix finally whispers after some time has passed. Glancing up in my direction, tears fill his eyes as he says, “I’m scared. So fucking scared. How pathetic is that? I never had anything to lose before I met Esme. Now, after losing her twice, I can’t get through my next breath without worrying about hers.”

I know how he feels. Though I may never tell him, I understand what he’s going through because I once loved and lost a mortal, too.

Releasing my hold on the door, I walk toward my brother and offer him the only guidance I can. Advice I wish I would've taken myself hundreds of years ago.

“You want to win? You want to stop your fear? You go to Esme, and you love her like your next breath is your last.”

Forty Seven

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