The Unbreakable Curse

by Alexia Purdy

  Isao heaved the mallet again, his muscles flexing with each movement. She couldn’t help but notice the striations of well-formed muscle. He was in great shape and lacked any kind of fat on his lean body. He probably spent every free moment training, which was good because the bricks did not crumble easily.

  “What is in this journal?” he asked between strokes.

  “I don’t know exactly, but it apparently has some information about the locket. Matt kept it hidden from prying eyes because he didn’t trust anyone. He told me he read something about a locket key and another realm in this journal before sealing it up. He didn’t want it to fall into the wrong hands.”

  Another thud followed as Isao slammed the mallet again and again, chipping away at the bricks of the chimney. His arms had to be numb from the effort. “Dammit, there’s another layer of brick behind this one.”

  “Let me see that.” Thalia seized the mallet and began pummeling away.

  Isao’s humanity was his undoing. Her immortal strength would have to complete the task, but even then, it wasn’t easy and took a good deal of her strength.

  Once she was through the second layer of brick, she pried out a metal, fire-proof box and held it up. She searched the drawers of the room until she found a small screwdriver and jimmied the lock. It wasn’t long before she was holding the journal in her hands.

  She pocketed the small book. It wasn’t large and fit into her jacket pocket well. Isao didn’t ask to see it, which was a relief. As she walked out of the room without cleaning the mess, she heard Isao grab his jacket and begin following her. He didn’t have much to say about the fourth realm for now, which made her wonder just how much his people knew about it. If Isao was right and he knew the way to the Skein, what would be waiting on the other side when they made it there?

  As she reached to flip the light off, she hoped nobody had seen it while they’d unearthed the journal. This room’s windows faced the alley, and they hadn’t noticed anyone around the building, but somebody still could’ve been watching. They weren’t safe here.

  Thalia sighed as she hopped down the stairs, not waiting for Isao as he scrambled to retrieve his weapons. She’d find out what was waiting for them in the Skein eventually. It looked like she’d have to enter the realm no matter what. Everything was leading her in that direction. Maybe she’d finally get what she wanted, to be with her family again. Maybe, after all this time, she’d find some peace.

  “Looks like I have some reading to do,” she noted, inhaling deeply and feeling more elated than ever. “But first I want to do a sweep of the perimeter.” She turned to find Isao smiling as he nodded in agreement. She hoped he really was on her side in all this. If not, it’d be a damn shame.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  “Have you found anything useful in the witch’s book?” Isao asked.

  Thalia shrugged. She wasn’t sure there was anything new in it, but hopefully it had something about the Skein Realm and how to get through the gate. She unseated the leather tie and flipped through it again. Dust billowed up into her face, throwing her into a coughing fit as she waved her hand to clear the air. From the slight upturn of his lips and the twinkling in his eyes, Isao apparently found it amusing.

  “Stop it. I have allergies.”

  “An immortal with such petty human issues.”

  She frowned at him and rolled her eyes before stuffing the book back into her jacket to read later. She turned to leave.

  “Hey, where do you think you’re going?” Isao asked.

  “I’m actually not too sure.” She looked around at what remained of Matt’s workshop. “I can’t stay here; Ichiro’s men might come looking for me. You found me here, so it’s obviously on the radar. I need to find a place to sleep for the night. I can’t go back to the hostel. It was gross and noisy anyway.” She yawned, stretching her bones. She hadn’t realized how tired she was.

  “We can go to my place,” Isao suggested. “Ichiro doesn’t know where I live. I’ve never taken anyone there, as there never was a need. I believe it’s pretty safe.”

  Thalia paused. She turned around to peer at Isao, lifting an eyebrow in surprise. She hadn’t expected him to offer such a private sanctuary for her to stay the night. Could she trust this stranger? Would he slit her throat while she slept? His presence had only added to the number of questions in her mind, and it was all starting to weigh on her.

  “It’s a generous offer but—no offense—I don’t know you, and you don’t know me. How do you know I won’t slit your throat while you sleep?” she asked, snickering.

  He stepped forward and held out his hand.

  “I know you’re not the kind of person who slits a sleeping man’s throat. Your intentions are always honorable and noble. I know the only ones you kill are the wicked… those who’ve hurt good people and worship demons and money. Trust me, this isn’t the only time Ichiro has taken an interest in mercenaries like yourself. He’s watched you closely over the years. The archangels usually take it upon themselves to know about their competition. Being in Ereziel’s service, you were considered a threat. We were assigned to watch you occasionally. I know your habits, your routines, your likes and dislikes, and from what I gleaned, you’re not the kind of person who slits throats in the middle of the night.”

  Thalia’s mouth dropped open. She didn’t know if she was impressed or disgusted. He’d already shown her his character, and he was also not the type to slit her throat unexpectedly. When she’d snuck into Matt’s forge, he could have offed her at any time. But he hadn’t. He’d also aided their escape from Theroniel’s house in St. George. It had to count for something, right?

  She glanced around the room, feeling queasy from the mounting uncertainty. He’d given her no reason to distrust him. For now, she’d sleep with one eye open, but it could work out. Ichiro would not think to look for her in the home of one of his own ninjas, after all.

  Resolute, she took his hand.

  “Okay. Lead the way.”

  Isao’s apartment wasn’t far from hers. It was practically in the same neighborhood. It was kind of discouraging to know her enemies could be lurking so close by without her knowledge. How had she been so blind to what was happening around her? She made a mental note to be far more observant of her surroundings from now on. Maybe he’d been the watcher on the roof of the building across from hers. Maybe he had some hidden feathers beneath that ninja garb.

  She groaned internally. Letting her mind run amok wouldn’t help. She had to keep it together. He couldn’t have any wings beneath his skin-tight outfit. He had to move fast, and wings weren’t easy to hide unless he’d bespelled them, but even then, why hide them except from humans? There was no reason to keep them tucked away from her. For now, the gray-winged angel would have to remain a mystery.

  “How long have you lived in New York City?” she asked, trying to shove away the unpleasantness in her stomach.

  “I’ve lived here my entire life. It is where I was born,” he answered. “My father immigrated here when he was a teenager and started his own business selling rare indigo-dyed fabrics for clothing and other household items. He made sure all his sons had training in ninjutsu and made us practice day and night until we perfected our fighting skills so we could serve the Protectorate. Besides that, I had a pretty normal American childhood.”

  Thalia chuckled to herself. A normal childhood? Up until her seventeenth year, she could say she’d had a normal childhood too, but after everything that had happened after her parents’ deaths, she didn’t know what normal meant. She wasn’t certain about anything anymore. For all she knew, the memories could have been implanted in her head. Everything might be a lie.

  There went her imagination again. She should just give up and become a writer or artist already, she mused, chuckling. It’d be a better use of her wild thoughts.

  “Why do you laugh?” Isao asked, his expression trained and steady.

  “I was thinking… after everything that’s been goi
ng on, how many of my memories are true and how many were planted there? Nothing has made any sense lately. This could all be a dream, or we could all be in the Skein Realm already. I heard it’s unusual and that things are more magical there than here on Earth. You know anyone who’s been there?”

  Isao shook his head as they made their way to a modest, old building built of red brick. It looked like an old schoolhouse turned into apartments. The neighborhood didn’t look much better than hers, worn and tattered from the years. Graffiti covered some buildings while others remained boarded up. The streets were filled with debris piling up in the gutters, as though civilization had already abandoned this precinct.

  “Well, if this isn’t real, there won’t be much to worry about, will there? This is it.” He unlocked the front door, letting her in before closing it behind them and setting the lock once more. For such a crappy neighborhood, the front door’s lock was a fancy digital contraption that scanned his fingerprint. She found herself in a tiny foyer before a set of steep, narrow steps. She let Isao pass her and followed behind, taking the steps two at a time, just like he had.

  At the top of the steps was a single apartment door which he unlocked. After they’d entered, he locked this one behind them as well. Wary and suspicious, she kept one hand on her sword. But nothing happened. In fact, she was surprised the evening had passed without further incident, especially since she was being hunted by Ichiro’s men. They didn’t give up easily, and she felt almost cheated they had let her off without another fight. Her blood burned for more action, especially after the short scuffle with the men who’d exploded. It had left her hungry for more.

  “Nice place you got here,” she commented. Small talk wasn’t really her thing but filling up the empty space with words helped calm her nerves.

  “It’s comfortable. I’m rarely here, so there’s no point in getting a bigger or nicer place. It’s efficient and has enough space to train, sleep, and spend my downtime.”

  “You don’t have a family, do you?” Thalia asked.

  Isao shook his head. “A family would be a hazard in this line of work. A liability. My family went back to Japan years ago, and I haven’t had any contact with them. They know they’d be at risk if I did.”

  “No girlfriend? Children on the side?”

  Why was she asking these questions? They were intimate and dug deeply into Isao’s life. She didn’t want to know these things. Still, it was better than standing in silence as she observed his sparse room. It was decorated in muted colors of brown, maroon, and black. The tall windows, which looked original to the building, were covered from top to bottom with thick shades that would keep the sun out during the day and keep the light in at night. Everything was arranged for maximum security and usability. Staring at the one bed against the wall, she wondered where they would both sleep tonight.

  “No girlfriend or kids. I don’t usually have time for relationships. Too busy, too dangerous. You probably know what I mean, right?”

  Busy and dangerous was an understatement. Since her relationship with Ereziel, there hadn’t been anyone significant. Dating was pointless. Relationships were burdens and liabilities.

  “Yep,” she answered, feeling the sting of the truth sear through her chest.

  “I’ll take the floor tonight. You can have the bed,” he said.

  “Okay. Thanks.”

  Glancing around the loft, Thalia noted a small kitchen table with a couple chairs. There was no leisure area with a TV and a couch to lounge on, no stereo or shelves of books. It was sparse, clean, and streamlined. It was as though no one lived there. Too clean. Too simple.

  Her place was far more decorated than this. It made her miss her apartment, but at least she was safe. Isao had been telling the truth; he barely spent any time there.

  “No TV?” She tried to sound disappointed even though she never watched any shows. Watching the tube took a certain amount of dedication which she just couldn’t find in herself. Maybe it was the commitment that kept her away from it. Either way, she wouldn’t miss not having one, but the lack of books was a true disappointment.

  “Nope, I don’t have one. Like I said, I’m never here. Why bother? Let me show you the rest of the apartment.”

  He headed toward a bathroom which was separated from the rest of the loft by a tall half wall which made it halfway up the vaulted ceiling. Regardless of its shortcomings, Thalia liked the place immediately. It felt like something she would own but without all the frills.

  “Thanks for letting me stay here tonight.”

  “Absolutely.”

  Isao scrounged around in a closet next to the bathroom and turned back with a sleeping bag and pillow in one hand and an extra blanket thrown over his other arm. He walked over one of the workout mats he had leaning against a wall, knocked it down with his foot, and laid out a sleeping area.

  “There’s food in the fridge if you get hungry. And towels in the bathroom.” He crossed back to the closet. “I don’t have any women’s clothing, but you may borrow these until you get some.” He held out a shirt and a pair of shorts with an elastic waistband. Thalia took them, her cheeks blushing at the thought of wearing Isao’s clothes since she had no other sleeping clothes of her own. All she had was the small bag of stuff she’d taken to St. George, but everything in it was dirty. How had he known?

  She cleared her throat. “Do you mind if I use your washer and dryer? I have clothes in my backpack, but they’re pretty dirty.”

  He waved his hand toward the bathroom, which seemed to hold a lot more than just a tub and toilet. “Of course, I don’t mind. The washer and dryer are in the bathroom. Feel free to use them whenever you want.”

  “Thanks,” she answered, pressing her lips together, apprehensive to use someone else’s facilities. She’d been a hermit for far too long. It’d been ages since she’d used a laundromat in public, let alone someone’s washer and dryer, but it was a relief to have it.

  “Look,” Isao said, interrupting her thoughts. “I’m kind of beat. Chasing you around the world is a bit exhausting. You immortals just don’t know when to quit.”

  “Yeah, sorry about that. I apparently wore Matt into a coma.” Thalia frowned at the thought of her friend back in Utah. He was safer there than at her side.

  Isao stripped off his shirt and lay down on the sleeping bag. He pulled the blanket over his body as he settled in, folded his arms behind his head, and then leaned back against them with his eyes closed. He sure didn’t mess around, but she’d forgotten he wasn’t an immortal like her and didn’t last as long without sleep.

  Exhaling, Thalia headed to the bathroom, tossed her dirty clothes into the washer, and dumped some soap in, hoping the bloodstains would wash out. This place was cozy, and she felt oddly at home. Usually she could sleep anywhere, but she’d never felt as comfortable as she felt here, with Isao. It made her wonder what else the ninja warrior knew about her life. He was mortal, human, fragile. But he wasn’t as delicate as most humans and had been able to keep up with her on the journey across the States. She’d hardly slept since leaving Matt’s side in the hospital. It was a wonder Isao wasn’t dead on his feet from the endless pursuit.

  After changing, she returned to the room and admired his silhouette. He was already deep asleep and snoring softly. She slipped under the covers of his bed. His faint scent lingered on the sheets, pleasant and arousing. It’d been far too long since she’d been intimate with a man. The baggage that came with relationships was a put-off, but the feel of someone’s body next to hers was a relished memory. Sometimes at night she’d wake up from a dream, sweaty and disheveled, having awoken from the sweet embrace of a stranger, his ghostly, musky scent lingering. At those times, she imagined she could still feel his furious kisses, and an insatiable lust and deep longing would come over her.

  But not lately. Lately, it’d been one man infiltrating her dreams, and he was by far the most untouchable. No one had made her feel the way Ereziel had, but in a few short days,
Matt and Isao had each woken up something. They’d each lit an all-consuming fire within her, an insatiable, demanding inferno that she longed to quench.

  Maybe that was why, after a few hours of sleep, she slipped off the bed and onto the mat with Isao. He did not rouse, but he let her burrow into his side and settle her cheek on his shoulder near his chest. The divine warmth and manly scent coaxed her back into a dreamless, restful sleep, the best she’d had in a very long time.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  The morning was cold, but she was up early so Isao would not find her tucked in next to him. The guy could seriously sleep like the dead. She snuck into the bathroom to take care of her needs and dry her load of laundry. When she emerged, Isao was awake and already making food in the kitchen.

  “Hey, how was your night?” she asked, hoping the chitchat would allow her to see if he was making enough food for two. He was.

  “Good morning. I’m well rested, thank you. How about you?” He eyed her curiously, and she wondered if he’d noticed she’d fallen asleep next to him during the night. The moment she’d awoken, terror had seized her, and she’d scrambled to move before he realized what she’d done. If he had, he didn’t mention it.

  “Slept like a rock.” She chuckled nervously as she grabbed one of two glasses of juice he’d set out. Gulping some down, she sat on a stool at the counter and watched him cook. No one besides her own father had cooked for her, but that had been so long ago. Watching Isao was kind of cathartic as she waited for her clothes to finish drying so she could change. Running a hand through her hair, she realized she needed a brush. She’d dragged a comb she’d found in the bathroom through the tangles in her hair, but it hadn’t been quite enough for her long, magenta-red waves. It still felt mussed.