Cleo's Curse

by Allie Burton

  “Because you thought I had the Knot.” Obstinacy set on her face, in hardened jaw and narrowed gaze.

  “I fought off those attackers last night, and told you about the powers. About my powers.” Maybe being truthful had been a mistake. Maybe he couldn’t trust her. Maybe she was working with one of the cults.

  “My parents always taught me you don’t get something for nothing.” Her eyes went cold, calculating. She wasn’t the misunderstood person he’d thought. She was an actor.

  “What do you mean?” He didn’t believe the way this conversation was going.

  “You want something from me.” She pointed a slender finger to the middle of her chest, and then flicked it to poke him. “And I want something from you.”

  He took a step back and swallowed, afraid to ask. Heat scorched his skin. He had nothing to offer but his body, and he’d never be used that way again. “What do you want from me?”

  “I want you to use your powers and abilities to get me back into school.”

  His mind blew. His skin went from sweaty to chilled. Her request hadn’t been what he was expecting. Disappointment shivered across his skin. He halted the quiver, angry at himself. “I thought you wanted to go home. To New York.”

  “On my terms.” She tilted back and bit her bottom lip. Her expression wasn’t as fierce or as confident all of a sudden. “If I get expelled, my parents will send me to Switzerland or Siberia.” Her voice caught.

  Her fragileness yanked at his sympathy, and he wanted to reach out and touch her. He was torn between her demands and her insecurity. Another act? Queen Cleopatra played and betrayed some of the greatest warriors in history. Who was the real CC? And why did he want to discover her truth?

  “My powers are useless for that purpose. Sure, I can jump extremely high—”

  “Fly.”

  “And I have super strength and speed and a few other things, but I don’t have influence at Exeter Academy.”

  Her eyes flashed with slyness and intelligence. She’d obviously given this some thought.

  Yeah, the entire night she’d had the Knot and kept it to herself.

  In the space of minutes she’d gone from sexy and confident, to cold, to fragile, and now sly. He couldn’t keep up. His head spun with her changes of demeanor. She made him dizzy.

  Her lips twisted in a lopsided grin, trying to persuade. “Surely someone you know has computer skills. One of the warriors?”

  The image of Piper came to mind. She’d taught herself how to fix and hack computers. One of her powers was an affinity with machines. But the Soul Warriors didn’t get involved in morally ambiguous activities unless necessary to secure a magical relic.

  Was helping CC necessary? Doubts spun in his head, adding to his dizziness. He hated the idea of being used by her. He could force her to give him the Knot of Uset and leave. She’d hate him then.

  The spinning stopped and his thoughts clarified.

  He’d lied to her when they’d met. Tried to make her believe the invisibility power didn’t exist. Did he owe her? No matter his decision, he was going to need time, and a place to hide CC from the other organizations trying to find the Knot of Uset. They’d believe she still had the Knot, putting her in danger. No matter which CC was the act, he couldn’t let her get hurt.

  “I might be able to help.” He refused to make promises until he’d talked to Piper, Olivia and Xander. “Where’s the Knot?”

  She beamed, her face lighting from within. Then, her gaze narrowed. “No Knot until I’m reenrolled at Exeter Academy.”

  “I thought they were kicking you out of the residence hall today?”

  Her smile transformed to an impish smirk and lightened his confusion. “If they can’t find me, they can’t kick me out.”

  Which would mean using the Knot of Uset to stay invisible. Which would only cause more trouble. He needed to complete their deal fast. “I’ll arrange a meeting with someone who might be able to help. We can discuss your requirements and keep you, and the Knot, safe.”

  “One other thing…”

  He tensed. He’d thought the deal done, and now she was adding another condition. “What?”

  Her gaze cast down and then lifted. Anxiety flashed in her eyes, and her lips grew serious. “My aunt is in danger in Egypt. Do you have any connections there that could help?”

  There was the sympathetic CC he liked. The one who, beneath the cold toughness, was loving and warm. This was the CC he wanted to help.

  “I’ll do what I can.” The promise wasn’t quite a lie. The professor might know someone in Egypt who could check into her aunt’s situation.

  “Lead the way.” Her happy tone told him she’d gotten everything she wanted and he’d gotten the bad end of the deal.

  His stomach cramped with pain because he’d been shafted. Manipulated. Used.

  Grumbling to himself, he headed toward the door, while texting Piper the information. They’d meet, talk, and hopefully come to a mutually beneficial agreement. Not a one-sided arrangement where CC got everything.

  “Wait a second.” CC paused and went to dig in her closet. “I need to get the Knot and money.”

  “Money?”

  Locking the door behind them, she didn’t answer. Her body faded from view. Even though he could see her because of her powers, he could also tell when she faded away. Only people with powers or those anointed with an ancient formula could see beyond the invisibility.

  CC slinked by the television lying on the ground, and dropped a pile of bills and a note.

  He knew she was rich, but leaving money on the ground was stupid. “What’re you doing?”

  “Paying for the television I broke.” Pursing her lips in disapproval at herself, she swiveled toward the elevator. She obviously cared about the students in the hall, and taking care of the mess she made and the damage she’d caused.

  His perspective softened.

  Maybe CC wasn’t a cold, dealing, rich queen. Maybe she was made of interesting layers. Layers he wanted to peel away.

  * * *

  Computers weren’t Antony’s forte. He was good with manual labor. That’s why in the computer shop and internet café Piper frequented he felt out of his element. Technology, professional occupations, and management weren’t skills he possessed. His managing of this quest of finding the Knot of Uset proved that. He’d made a mess. He was supposed to grab the Knot from CC and go. Not make deals with his target and fall in…like.

  His heart froze for a beat, and then pounded rapidly. Panic short-circuited his brain, and his insides melted. It couldn’t be anything more than like. CC was fun, brave, and intelligent. She wanted to return to New York and her rich, sophisticated friends. She’d never stay with him for the long term. No woman would.

  Xander and Olivia had forced him to take this assignment, believing he had the knowledge and skills because of his relationship with Queen Cleopatra. It wasn’t as if the queen discussed matters of state with him, or asked for his opinions. She didn’t confide in him about the Knot of Uset, although he had seen her use it and been exposed to its powers in the past.

  Antony spotted Piper and Math in a corner booth at the internet café. Piper had her ever-present laptop, something she’d built from old parts the professor had stored. Once she’d joined the warriors, she’d trained hard, especially learning to control her special power of throwing fireballs. There’d been quite a few smoke alarms in the house while she’d trained the past couple of weeks.

  It was hard for him to get used to the fact that women could be good leaders and partners. That they weren’t out to stab you in the back. That they all didn’t use a man and toss him away similar to last night’s leftovers.

  Like CC was using him now. He had to remember that, and push this melty feeling aside.

  Math sat at Piper’s side, listening intently. Bookish and strong, he resembled and had the smarts of Imhotep, an ancient Egyptian. He and Piper made an odd couple, but it worked for them.

 
; Antony glanced at CC, walking beside him. They would never fit. He was brawny and hulking, while she was delicate and intelligent.

  The electronic buzzing of the computers at the café sounded like gnats in Antony’s ear. He’d used computers and the internet, but he tried to avoid electronics.

  “This way.” Antony led the way to the booth and indicated CC should slide in. He slid next to her, keeping space between them. Until he had time to think about these new feelings, he didn’t want attraction swaying his decision. “This is CC.” He quickly made the introductions.

  “She has the Knot of Uset on her?” Math put emphasis on one word. Even though CC was invisible, Math and Piper could see her. The warriors had been given the gift of sight.

  Antony knew exactly what he was not saying. He brushed away the hint that between the three of them they could steal the Knot from her. There was one problem.

  “CC knows things about the Soul Warriors.” He didn’t want to piss her off, in case she ran to the press or social media with the news. “She wants to make a deal.” And he’d agreed.

  CC leaned forward in the booth, paying attention to every nuance of the exchange. She’d noted the emphasis on Math’s one word, and had resembled a trapped ibis in the booth. Her eyes had gotten wider and more fearful. Her mouth had opened. Her body had tensed. She hadn’t made a move to escape, because she was trusting him to keep his word.

  This bolstered his confidence. He sat up straighter. He’d do what he could to help her get back into school. The aunt was another major problem.

  “Can they see me?” CC leaned closer. “Hear me?”

  “Yes.”

  The other people in the café ignored them, too busy working on their computers and typing their code. Even if CC wasn’t invisible, people here wouldn’t notice.

  “What kind of deal?” Math’s furrowed forehead showed he calculated the possibilities in his head. In less than a minute, he’d have every angle figured out.

  While Antony hadn’t seen her request coming. One of the reasons he should never have been put in charge of this quest. He wasn’t smart enough. “CC wants you to change her school records at Exeter Academy. Is that possible?”

  “Depends on their firewalls, back doors, and other security measures.” Piper pushed a lock of dyed-red hair behind her ear. She glowered at CC. “What’s in it for us?”

  “Us?” CC contemplated the three of them, surprise evident by her raised brows. “Is she one of your Soul Warriors?”

  Was that jealousy in her tone? His spirits lifted. He’d told her there were female warriors. Piper, Aria, and Olivia were beautiful girls, but Antony had never thought of them in that way. They were partners, part of his brotherhood of warriors. And each had a special relationship with another warrior.

  “You told her about us?” Math’s censure cut Antony deeply.

  “I didn’t have a choice. CC knows about the Knot of Uset. She’s experienced the powers.” He waved at her invisible shape.

  “And she’s blackmailing us to help her?” Piper’s disapproving stare was funny. She’d betrayed the warriors in a much worse way, by stealing one of Tut’s trumpets.

  Antony shot her a glare. “You shouldn’t judge CC’s actions.” He couldn’t believe he was defending her when he’d thought the same thing.

  Had thought the same thing. His confidence and belief in her solidified. After adding on the request for her aunt’s safety and leaving money for the broken television, he’d been swayed to a different feeling. An uncomfortable feeling. A feeling he didn’t want to explore.

  “It’s a simple negotiation. Nothing personal.” CC’s voice chilled to ice.

  After hearing one side of CC’s phone conversation, he wondered if this was how her mother talked.

  “What exactly do you need?” Math got to the point.

  “I’d want to delete a couple of absences and change a couple of grades so I don’t get kicked out.” She made it sound simple, easy, not amoral.

  Did she bend rules to suit her? Switch price tags on those designer dresses to pay a lower price? She sent so many conflicting messages. He believed he could see the real girl who’d been hurt by her parents and wore varying façades to cover her pain. But sometimes he wondered.

  “Don’t you think the administrators or your teachers might notice?” Math, the rule-follower, challenged.

  “Doesn’t matter.” Piper waved away Math’s question with an all-knowing tone. “If it’s in the computer records, there’s no proof she missed classes or got bad grades. They’d have no evidence to expel her.”

  “Exactly.” CC shared a glance with Piper. “Especially to the school board.”

  The two girls had bonded over a modern-era solution. Antony and Math were out of their depth, even though Math was super smart. While Antony belonged in the back room of the café, schlepping orders or washing coffee cups.

  Every word they spoke revealed his inferiority. It was time to get the deal done. “What do you think, Piper?”

  “It will take time.” She typed on the laptop starting the process.

  “This is the only way she’ll give us the Knot of Uset?” Math wasn’t convinced.

  “Yes.” Antony would need to talk to Olivia and Xander and the professor about Aunty Neffy.

  “How long?” This was the first time since he’d gone to CC’s room he heard trepidation, and he worried about her.

  “A couple of days, at least.”

  Concern caught at his lungs. He placed his hand on top of CC’s fist on the table. “She’s being kicked out of her residence hall today.”

  “I’ll work as fast as I can.” Piper pulled out a notebook and pen. “I’ll need the following information.”

  The entire time CC and Piper talked, Antony’s spirits sunk lower and lower. He didn’t understand half of what they said. Was it modern technological mumbo-jumbo or was he really stupid?

  After CC gave the information, he followed her out of the internet café. “What’re you going to do? Where will you live?”

  “I’m invisible. I can hide in my room for a bit.” Her bravado seemed forced. The muscles on her face tightened. “They don’t have a waiting list to live at Henderson Hall mid-semester. I’ll be fine.”

  She sounded as if she was trying to reassure herself. Because he wasn’t reassured. He wanted to help, be a hero in her opinion.

  His swelling chest deflated. That hadn’t worked out well for him last time.

  Knowing he didn’t need to take her home, he did. They didn’t have much time left together. She’d lay low, keeping herself out of harm’s way until Piper had changed the school records. Then, CC would hand over the Knot of Uset, and he’d tell her what he knew about her aunt. The Soul Warriors would inform the cults they’d destroyed the power of the Knot. CC would be safe, and Antony would never need to see her again.

  A crack fissured his heart.

  When they arrived at her floor, he noted the door to her room was open.

  His muscles tensed, going on alert. “Hold up.” Grabbing her arm, he blocked her from the doorway.

  Several students raided her room. The closet door was open and clothing had been tossed on the bed and floor. Her bright-pink comforter was missing and so were her many pillows.

  A girl had slipped on CC’s cashmere coat. “What do you think?” She paraded around the small room. “Am I as good as CC when I wear it?”

  Not even close. Antony wanted to rip the garment off the girl.

  A guy sat at the desk, rummaging through the drawers. He held up what appeared to be a small computer. “You’d think for a rich biatch she’d have a better calculator.” The guy’s insulting tone toward CC burned.

  “What’re they doing?” CC’s whisper sounded shocked, upset and hurt in only three words.

  She stayed by the open door. Her shoulders slumped. Her mouth slid into the deepest frown he’d ever seen on her.

  The burning ignited into anger. He flexed his muscles, readying for a f
ight.

  “I want the painting on the wall,” the girl who’d been sitting next to CC at the basketball game said. “It’s ugly, but I could probably make money off it at a pawn shop.”

  He’d thought the girl a friend of CC’s. His powers thrummed inside him, wanting to be unleashed on these unsuspecting punks. How dare they paw through her things?

  CC’s fingers gripped tight, stabbing him through his sweater as if knowing his plan to attack. Her face paled and her pupils fell back into dark, fathomless pools. She seemed more invisible now, like she wanted to disappear for real.

  The anger pulsing in his veins couldn’t be contained. He burst into the room. “What’s going on here?”

  “Who are you?” The girl he’d thought was CC’s friend turned to face the open doorway. Keys jangled from around her neck.

  “What are you doing with CC’s stuff?”

  “Ellen.” The single name could’ve been the name of Brutus the way CC said it with the raw edge of betrayal.

  “I’m the resident advisor on this floor,” the girl answered.

  Antony wanted to yank the chain around Ellen’s neck and strangle her. With his powers, she’d be dead in a second.

  “Don’t.” CC stepped beside him and grabbed his hand, squeezing tight.

  Her hold was his lifeline. Calming himself, he reigned in his temper, tried to control his fury at how they treated CC. His protective instincts were a natural part of him, and had gotten him into trouble in his ancient past. “I’m a personal friend of CC’s and I’ve come to help her move.”

  CC’s grip around his hand slackened. She gaped at him with an expression of adoration and thankfulness.

  He didn’t want her thanks. He wanted her to like him for himself.

  His heart dropped into his stomach. Realization punched him in the gut, cooling his anger. He more than liked CC, he cared about her. About her thoughts and feelings. Even about her stupid stuff. His attraction had been immediate. Now that he knew her, the real her underneath the rich, snobby persona, he wanted to get to know more.

  He was sweet on her, a description these modern teens would find funny.