Chapter 3

3

I looked at Mara. There wasn't a single spark of spiritual energy in her body.

"Is that so? I can't wait to see that," I said.

"But a word of warning. You have ten days. After that, the shadows come for everyone."

I turned to leave, but Mara called out to me.

"Why don't we make a bet?"

I looked back, genuinely surprised by her audacity.

"I don't bet with amateurs."

Mara stepped in front of me, her head held high like a preening peacock.

"Are you scared? If I break the Sterling curse in ten days, you leave this town forever."

"You'll admit to everyone that I'm the true Seer and you're the fraud."

Silas looked at her with such adoration it made me want to gag.

It was like watching a bad soap opera.

"Fine. If you can actually produce a living child in ten days, you win," I said.

I didn't look back as I hurried away, terrified Silas might try to grab me again.

When I got home, the snakes were gone. The house was a wreck.

As I cleaned up, I found a small green emerald tucked in a corner.

It was the counterpart to the talisman the Sterlings had stolen.

I held it up to the light and noticed a tiny engraving on the back.

'Blackwood.'

My heart skipped a beat. Grandfather had meant this for the Blackwoods, but the Sterlings had stolen the credit.

I had saved the wrong family in my first life.

I whispered a prayer of thanks to the spirits for this second chance.

The next morning, I went straight to the Blackwood estate.

Mrs. Blackwood ushered me in. The curse had been brutal to them.

Almost everyone was dead. Only Alaric Blackwood remained, and he was fading fast.

He was a hollow shell of a man, barely breathing in his bed.

I didn't waste time. I took the emerald, mixed a drop of my blood with some charred herbs, and forced him to swallow it.

An hour later, I slumped onto their velvet sofa, exhausted.

"The curse is lifted. He'll wake up by tomorrow."

Mrs. Blackwood fell to her knees, sobbing as she thanked me.

"Anything you want, Miss Elara. The Blackwood family is yours to command."

"I'd walk through fire for you!"

I helped her up, telling her it wasn't necessary.

As I left the estate, I ran into Silas and Mara again. They were there to deliver an invitation.

I rolled my eyes. These two were like a bad rash.

"Following me now, Elara?" Silas barked.

"Are you so desperate because I'm marrying Mara? You can't handle that your little plan failed?"

Mrs. Blackwood heard the shouting and stepped outside.

Mara's eyes sharpened when she saw the old woman.

"I thought you had more dignity, Elara. Now you're hitting on a vegetable?"

"Alaric Blackwood is a dead man walking. What are you going to do, marry a corpse for his money?"

Mrs. Blackwood's face turned bright red with fury.

"I would gladly give every cent I own to Miss Elara!" she snapped.

Mara's face contorted. "Don't let her fool you, ma'am. She's a fake!"

Mrs. Blackwood didn't miss a beat. "And who are you? Some stray dog barking at my gate?"

Silas stepped forward to protect Mara and handed over a gold-trimmed envelope.

"I've known Alaric for years. I wouldn't lie to you. Elara is a liar."

I grabbed Mrs. Blackwood's arm to keep her from arguing and looked at Silas.

The black fog was now leaking from his eyes.

"Silas, haven't you noticed how much bad luck you've had lately?"

"You have one day left."

"Tomorrow, the Sterlings pay the bill."