Page 55 of Curses & Keys
“Can you give an example of changing the curse?” she asks with a tiny frown.
Nolan Westgate’s collection pops into my mind. “Are you familiar with the painting of Dorian Gray?” When she nods, I continue. “I changed the curse. The painting will no longer be able to call forth the demon who created it. Instead, it will trap the individual in the painting for two weeks. Once released, the painting will go dormant again.”
Excited chatter races across the room.
“Ingenious,” Rupert murmurs from beside me. “Next question.”
A shifter stands in the third row, gold eyes flashing. “We have a few pieces that we’re stuck on. Why are some curses so difficult to unravel?”
I think about it for a minute. “Curses are made of magic, which can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. The typeof magic used to create the curse is important, as well as the level of power and experience of the user.”
An older man stands in the back row. “Is it true that the curses do not affect you?”
“Yes,” I reply without further elaboration. The room goes silent. “Next question.”
A grey-haired lady slowly stands. “Why do you do this?”
“To protect humans,” I tell them, wanting them to understand the truth. This isn’t about them. “Supernaturals create these objects, and humans have no defense against them. Although a great deal of my effort protects supernaturals too.”
Disapproving murmurs and low tones echo across the chamber.
“Any more questions?”
Hands raise, and I call on a young man.
“Are you single?” he asks with a grin. Several people chuckle.
I open my mouth to answer, but Gatlin’s gruff voice beats me to the punch. “No personal questions.” I flash him a grateful smile.
Not wanting to leave them without expressing my gratitude, I turn in a circle to look at all of them. “For thousands of years, I’ve walked this earth, making it a safer place. This is my sole purpose and reason for existing. Not once did I question the supernaturals who created the cursed objects. Nor have I ever wished them any ill will. I simply did the job I was given.”
The chamber is silent. “Honestly, I never thought anyone would notice. This entire time I’ve thought myself invisible to the rest of the world. When Letz told me about your society, I was shocked, but for the first time, I felt seen. I felt like the work I’ve done is important. That I matter in the grand scheme of this world.”
“I didn’t know you existed, but the fact that one supernatural would care enough to join me in this endeavor blows my mind.Sixty of you… There are no words to express my gratitude for the work you do here,” I admit with a shake of my head.
“And if you’ll let me, I’d like to help you with some of the more difficult cases,” I offer with a tentative smile. “Between us, we’ll make the world safer for both humans and supernaturals. Thank you.” I see the approval appear on their expressive faces, and I can’t help but beam in return.
The room relaxes, and the questions continue for the next hour. What was the most difficult piece? Which race creates more of the objects? Can I remove a curse from a plant? That one was intriguing to me as I’ve never tried it. On and on they ask until I’ve covered most of their questions.
After they finish, Rupert raises his hand and the doors slide open, letting all the people out. Once they’re gone, he turns to me. “Well done. Let us give you a tour and show you some of our more difficult pieces.”
Jamison flicks a hand toward Gatlin, who again takes the lead.
Rupert leads us into another bright hallway.
“Are we above ground?” I ask, motioning to the walls.
He smiles but says nothing. I guess they don’t want to share all of their secrets either. I search for clues, but there’s nothing to indicate location.
We enter a room full of objects that reminds me of my vaults at home. Except they are much neater. Instead of piles of trinkets, they have carefully labeled bins.
Several individuals stand behind a table with a few pieces in front of them. Familiar magic wafts from the items. Tangy and sharp, the curses embedded in them are complex and intricate. I point to the most complex one.
“Sometimes a curse is layered.” I tap the brooch in front of me. “This one was specifically designed to trap someone in their worst nightmare. That takes a tremendous amount of magic tocreate. Different spells layered on top of each other to sleep, to dream, to change the dreams into nightmares, to find their worst one. So you have to attack each spell one at a time.”
I show them how to identify and separate the spells, then I remove the curse from the brooch. Moving on to the next piece, I have them practice while I help. As I’m bent over, a strand of hair falls into my line of sight. A hand appears. In a blur, it’s gone. Startled, I look up to find Mathias’ obsidian gaze staring at the man in front of me.
“Keep your hands to yourself,” he orders before releasing him and tucking my hair behind my ear. He moves back to Jamison’s side, but his eyes never leave the man in front of me.
