Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 58321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
That was a long time ago.
I only see one person as I head down to the main floor, and they duck into a side hallway before I can identify them. It’s always like this. People scurry out of my way as if even a brush with my shadow is enough to transfer my family curse to them. There was never actually a real curse in play. Just a series of shitty decisions with fatal consequences. Not that they know or care about that.
In the kitchen, I find an unfamiliar person making biscuits. “Who are you?” He seems to know his way around the space, but I don’t remember hiring anyone. “Where is the cook? Where is . . .” I trail off, realizing I don’t remember the name of the most recent cook. They were good at their job and made really excellent bread, but I had only hired them a few weeks ago. Gods, what is their name?
“Jay quit.” The man finishes cutting the biscuits and places them on a metal tray. “Before they left, they hired me as their replacement.”
I stare at him for several beats. “You have to know that’s not the usual sequence of events.” Though I don’t know if there is a normal sequence of events these days. I’ve been hemorrhaging staff for years, barely able to retain enough people on the payroll to keep this place running. Jay isn’t the first cook to disappear without a word, but they are the first to hire a replacement before they did.
“It’s a job.” He shrugs. “I’m aware of the rumors around you and this place, but Jay said this job comes with pay, room, and board. And that the pay was good.”
My father had a firm belief that everything was up for negotiation, and he seemed to enjoy haggling with the staff about their wages. I don’t have the luxury. I study this man. He’s on the lean side, a good head and shoulders shorter than me, and his skin has more of a blue tinge to it than purple. Nothing about his appearance tells me anything useful.
“What did Jay tell you the wages are?”
He rattles off a number that has me gritting my teeth. It’s nearly double what I actually paid Jay. At this point, though, the new cook has me over a barrel whether he knows it or not. I drag my hand over my face. My father will be rolling in the grave over what I say next, but I wouldn’t be in this position if it weren’t for his poor choices, so fuck him. “If you stay past the first month, I’ll double them.”
He raises his brows and shifts his wings restlessly. “The initial wages are already borderline robbery.”
“True, but that won’t stop you from taking them, or taking the raise after a month.” If he stays that long.
He runs his hand through his short black hair. “I’m not as superstitious as the rest of our people. If the pay is good and no one fucks with me, I’m more than happy to stay in the kitchen and collect my income.”
“That’s very enlightened of you.”
He shrugs again. “No, not really. Anyone with a little bit of brainpower would realize that if there is a curse, it only affects you and your family. You’re not looking to marry a lowly cook, so I should be in no danger.”
I don’t know if I should be depressed or relieved, but at this point, I’m out of options. “I’ll need dinner prepared for me and my . . .” I’m not sure what to call Grace. She’s a guest, but a guest who stays for seven years is practically a resident. I barely know the woman, so calling her my partner or anything more intimate doesn’t make sense or feel right. “Lady,” I finally finish awkwardly.
“I already started. Dinner will be served in an hour.” He turns back to the oven, then glances over his shoulder at me. “My name is Silas by the way.”
I nod and leave the kitchen as quickly as possible. It seems like every time I turn around, something else is going wrong. I’m flying through a storm, getting buffeted back and forth by unexpected winds, certain to be struck by lightning at any moment. There’s only one way to fix this, and I don’t know if I’m up to the task.
If not for the fact that my absence would plunge my territory into a civil war, I would’ve stepped down as territory leader years ago. I’m the last of my family. That means that without me in the picture, any belief about a curse should dwindle away to nothing. Someone else could step into this position easily enough . . . if not for the politics involved. My family has ruled our territory for as far back as anyone can remember. While we have married the other noble families into our ranks, there’s always been someone from our line to inherit the title.