Page 20 of Sins of Autumn

“We’re taking this one,” my sister announced the second we stepped into a room with two full-sized beds. The walls were painted a calming shade of beige, and the bedding was different shades of brown. The air carried a faint chill that didn’t match the warmth of the decor. A large window overlooked the backyard, where tall trees shed their golden leaves in the breeze.

The earthy scent of damp bark and crisp leaves drifted in through a slightly cracked window.

Moose sniffed the air and let out a low, approving rumble.

“Fine by me,” I murmured, setting my bag on the bed closest to where the breeze was coming from.

Cherish moved to the dresser, her brows knitting together as she picked up an oddly shaped cross. “What religion is this?” she asked, tilting it in the light.

I stepped closer, my curiosity piqued. My fingers brushed the cool, tarnished surface. The intricate design felt almost sharp, like it had been crafted more for ritual than decoration. When Cherish flipped it over, my unease deepened. The back was covered in strange, looping symbols that looked like something out of a horror movie, and at the base, the letters "N.N." were engraved with precision.

“Um… not a good one?” I joked, forcing a small laugh that fell flat in the quiet room. I took it from her and set it back down, my fingertips tingling as if I’d touched something I shouldn’t have.

Cherish snorted softly, but there was an edge to her voice. “Yeah, let’s hope we’re not summoning anything in our sleep.”

I started to turn away when something caught my attention across the room. Mounted on the far wall above a small desk was a mask, its black surface glossy and smooth, the hollow eyes staring blankly into the room. It looked like it belonged in some forgotten cult. A chill ran down my spine, settling in my stomach like a lead weight.

“Well, that’s not fucking creepy at all,” I muttered, nodding toward it.

Cherish followed my gaze and let out an exasperated groan. “Oh, hell no.” She moved past me, climbing onto the desk chair with purpose.

“We’re not sleeping with this thing watching us. Nope.” With a yank, she pulled the mask off the wall.

I watched amusedly as my sister marched toward the closet, snatching the cross on her way. She shoved both inside with a dramatic flourish, slamming the door shut. “There. Problem solved.”

“Maybe you should have thrown them out the window.”

“If not for damage fees, I would. You think there’s crosses in the other rooms like this?” she asked.

“If there are, and I would be surprised if there wasn’t since this isn’t the maser, let’s just hope it’s the only weird shit we find.”

“Yeah.” She nodded. “I’d take that over a human sacrifice book that requires virgins and newborns.”

“Uh…right,” I drawled with a laugh.

We left the room and headed back downstairs to join the others.

I found myself in the kitchen with Cherish, my first drink already in hand, and trying not to let my mind wander to the place it was straining to go. She leaned against the counter beside me, sipping her own margarita.

“You okay?”

“Yeah,” I lied, glancing at the welcome card again so I didn’t have to meet her eye.

She reached out, squeezing my hand lightly. “We’re going to have a good weekend, K? No dicks, no drama, just drinks and...happy dances.”

“Happy dances?” I parroted, catching on to what she was trying to do. “You really butchered that. And I’m not sure Liza’s stowaways would fully agree with the itinerary.”

“Oh, just finish that so I can get you another. If you’re drunk, they can’t matter.”

I smiled and raised my drink in agreement.

CHAPTER EIGHT

The last rays of sunlight were bleeding into twilight. Music played softly from the living room television, mingling with the sounds of cooking, laughter, and the occasional clink of glasses. The aroma of Naija’s infamous mac and cheese drifted through the air as it bubbled in the oven.

I was on salad duty, diligently slicing cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes into a bowl. My fleece hoodie had long been abandoned, leaving me in an oversized sweater and leggings, my sleeves pushed up to my elbows as I worked.

“Don’t forget the dressing,” Daniella teased as she walked by, snagging a cucumber slice from the cutting board. “And no cheap bottled crap. We have options.”

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