Page 4 of The Curse

“Sorry about that, Mr. Bailey,” the younger man said. “I swear that the key was there. I dropped it off myself earlier today. Shit, you’re soaked. I’m really, really sorry.”

Pretty gray eyes that appeared incredibly nervous and ashamed, looked up at me from behind bangs that were too long and dyed a cool lavender shade over his natural blond. The kid couldn’t be older than eighteen. His next statement made me feel like an old man instead of twenty-four years old.

“Are you gonna tell my mom?” He grinned when he said it, like there was something hilariously funny about him getting into trouble with his mommy.

My head started splitting—as if there was a tiny man standing on top of my head with a pickax, swinging for all he was worth. My clothes were soaked and plastered against my skin. I was freezing. Still hungry. Yet those big Bambi eyes got to me.

“Nah, it was just a mix-up. No big deal. Thanks for getting here so quickly,” I answered. He was sweet enough and easy on the eyes, but now I wanted him to go away. First, I was going to order a large pizza with everything on it. Then, I needed to get in a hot shower, start a fire, and snuggle up in a thick, furry blanket. Once all those things were in progress, I could start worrying about the fact that it would be around midnight which meant I probably had one day less left to walk this earth.

Another not-so-funny joke.

I paused for a second, wondering if I was beginning tobelievethat I was going to die on my twenty-fifth birthday? Did I secretly think something was going to happen in the next weeks that might lead to making me want to commit suicide? Or was this whole situation just getting to me?

“Cool, man. I appreciate it. For what it’s worth, I really did drop the key off. You might want to mention to my mom that you’d like the locks changed.” He shrugged. “Not that Marblehead sees much crime, but you can’t ever be too careful.” He jammed his hands into his baggy jeans and said, “I overheard that you were going to work at Goodheart’s Museum in Salem. Cool. But be careful. There’s a bunch of freaky shit that goes on over there. Watch your back.” He grinned and then added, “By the way, they frown on magic from different covens in Salem, so you might want to tuck thatenergyback in a bit. Trust me on this, you don’t want Morgan Goodheart as an enemy.”

I had no freaking idea what he was talking about, but since I just wanted him gone so I could take a shower, I nodded and smiled.

He pulled his hands out of pockets and offered me a handshake. “The name’s Alastair. If you get bored and need somebody fun to show you around town, hunt me up. I’ve lived here my entire life, so there’s not a thing or place I don’t know.” After we shook hands, he tucked his longish hair behind his ear. “How old are you, anyway? You seem awfully young for somebody with a master’s degree. I was expecting somebody a little older when my mom told me to drop the key off for the new tenant.”

Huh. Odd how the news about me had traveled so fast. I’d only told the lady who hired me at the museum about my educational background. And yeah, I may have fudged a little on the Master’s degree thing, implying I already had it, instead of just being a candidate for it. I hadn’t expected the news to go viral.

Why wouldn’t he leave? He had to see the puddle of water I was standing in because my clothes had dripped a river’s worth of water. “I’m twenty-four,” I said, answering his question. I started walking toward the door, hoping he would take the hint and pull a disappearing act. Thankfully, he followed behind me.

“Twenty-four? You look younger.”

“Thanks. I think. Well, it was nice meeting you.” I opened the door and hoped he took the hint. He did.

“See ya later, Nicholas. Don’t forget what I said about watching your back and tucking your energy away in Salem,” he warned as he moved toward the threshold.

I just nodded again and looked down at myself. Where exactly was my “energy” sticking out? What the fuck did he mean by energy? I wasn’t sending out any energetic vibes. If anything, I was begging that he pull a disappearing act. I laughed, feeling uncomfortable. “Don’t tell me you believe in all the witchcraft hype?”

“Witchcraft hype?” he asked with raised eyebrows. “I wouldn’t go around making comments like that or you won’t be very popular in Salem or Marblehead. Don’t deny the power and beauty of witchcraft.”

I saw that it had miraculously stopped storming since I got inside my rental unit and I stood in the doorway as he went to his car, looking up at the sky.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I answered dryly as he started down my walkway.

“Call me if you get bored!” His voice echoed against the cobblestone streets of Marblehead.

I frowned as I watched him disappear into the darkness. I glanced up at the sky and wondered if the moon and stars would whisper to me here. Were they still trying to give me a name? Was it the name of my true love? I came out from under the porch and gazed up at the sky, trying to get a glimpse of the moon. As I did, a lightning bolt ripped through the clouds, lighting up the porch and scaring the shit out of me with a huge clap of thunder. I was beginning to be convinced that someone was very aware a Bailey had come back to Marblehead.

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