Page 30 of The Curse of Indy Moore
My stomach dropped. Hadn’t I asked the universe to cease the sick-inducing sensations? Apparently, the universe did not care for me.
“There may even be emotional responses,” he said, just as Slate lunged at me.
I shrieked, but Slate passed over, then circled to his perch. The moment I caught Mr. Hawthorne’s stare, I snarled, “You had the crow do that on purpose. I thought you said no experiments.”
“That wasn’t an experiment,” he denied. “Just a little poke to see if Slate could entice anything. I would rather find out now if emotions can trigger a change; otherwise, it may not be safe to take you to the capital.”
The capital. I forgot my irritation in the face of wonder.
Eldari, the capital of Sidore, the Port of Opulence. Everyone had heard of it, although we wouldn’t all have the privilege of seeing it. Eldari presided to the south along the ocean, far from the border of Arestat. I never thought I would lay eyes on it, couldn’t dare imagine what the streets were like, and soon, I wouldn’t have to. I’d get a glimpse of another world that had always been out of reach. I could see the ocean, something I had only heard about.
For the first time since this ordeal began, I felt a hint of excitement. At least there would be an unfamiliar experience I would appreciate, knowing I would never get it again. Once this ended, I would return to Westshire and live my life out on the farm, helping my family. There would be no time for such frivolous traveling.
“Be warned: you will be the talk of the spire. A girl cursed by Mother Wolf with her mind intact? That will be a sight to see,” he said irritably.
I disliked the thought of artificers finding me fascinating as much as I disliked the treatment from Mr. Hawthorne. I was an experiment, the chance at a new discovery, and I wouldn’t be there if I didn’t have merit. He would have left me for the wolves, literally.
“On to our final task for the day,” Mr. Hawthorne declared.
“I thought we were done.”
“I haven’t asked the most important question.” He leaned against the desk, his expression colder than ever. “What was the deal?”
I saw Carline, her eyes gold and bright, teeth sharp as death, then her voice whispered against my ear.“I can give them everything.”
My hands formed fists in my lap, knuckles turning bone white. I should have expected this to be difficult, that even if I was nothing more than an experiment, I still couldn’t bring myself to admit to such personal feelings to a complete stranger.
“You promised to be honest,” he said.
I squirmed. “Can’t we save this for tomorrow?”
“It will be as hard tomorrow as it is today. Is it not better to get this done and over with?” He sounded disappointed, even a tad annoyed. He made me think of Baxter.
He said we would start over when I returned, if I returned, yet my chest still ached. We ended once, and we would probably end again in the same way all the others had. That annoyance, that disappointment, I tasted that disdain, felt it coming from Mr. Hawthorne’s pointed stare.
Every part of me became overwhelmed by regret: regret that I hadn’t tried harder in my relationships, regret in not being capable, and most of all, regretting that I couldn’t do better for my family.
“No.” My pulse hastened.
“There is no need for such dramatics. We are colleagues now. This is work. Don’t make this more difficult for the both of us.”
“I am not a book you may study or a paper you may write, Mr. Hawthorne. You cannot toss me away or tear me up when you dislike me, and I can stand my ground should you try.” I stood, struggling to breathe, finding the room too small and his presence too unsettling. “I will share the deal tomorrow.”
“Miss Moore,” he called as I slammed the door shut.
9
Where Indy Understands Very Little
Thebestwaytotraverse Ivory House was to search in the opposite direction of where one may expect their destination to be. The corners turned sharp, stairs led to dead ends, and windows opened into closets. I sought solace far from Mr. Hawthorne’s intrusions, albeit necessary ones. Becoming the enigma, the curiosity for him to pick apart, left a vile taste in my mouth.
Another hall led to a dead end, where I settled against the wall and slipped to the floor. My ears twitched, a strange thought and an even stranger feeling. My fingers played with the fur, feeling their warmth and the pain when I pinched them. The ears didn’t feel like my own, a type of parasite leeched to my skull.
My life had been one bad turn after the other, and I was left wondering if this was fruitless. Carline offered a life better than what I had, better than I could ever give. Why should I fight that? What would be so wrong about agreeing if it meant, maybe, I’d have somewhere to belong, even if it was at a demon’s side…
“Be still, beast!” The patter of Miss Beamy’s paws closed in.
Slate flew by carrying a torn mouse toy in his beak. If crows could smirk, he certainly was. Miss Beamy attempted to chase, but the poor girl wheezed, then settled on her haunches to cough at the end of the hall. Her nap had apparently ended.
