Page 44 of These Fractured Bonds

“A pity you woke.”

Yareli rolled on her side, toward the voice, and cried out. The monster who had stolen her mom’s likeness stood before her, stirring a large cauldron. It watched her scurry backward until she hit a wall, but otherwise, it continued its task.That must be the Curse Eater. It looked exactly as it had in her dream—dressed in her mom’s favorite red and pink apron with short dark hair framing the perversion of her face. It was no longer smiling, but Yareli winced at her mother’s cheeks flapping outward, long cuts carved on her face. Her pulse roared in her ears, and she fought to remember that the Curse Eater couldn’t kill her.

“I am here about my curse.” Her voice came out high-pitched. When it became clear that the Curse Eater wouldn’t respond, she tried again. “I’d like to negotiate.”

It stopped stirring; its voice was gravelly and deep from age.

“I’ve not seen a human in over a millennium. Curious little things. Living such short lives and trampling around the earth as if they were kings. And now, one has traipsed into my abode.”

“I was kidnapped,” Yareli replied.

“Oh, yes, I can see that.” The Curse Eater said, smiling. “I know who, what, when, and why. I see it woven into the fabric of this world.”

She dug her nails into her palms, trying to calm the pounding of her heart. The Curse Eater had expressed interest in her. It was a start.

“Can you undo it—the curse?”

The flames under the cauldron flared. “There is no curse I cannot devour.”

Yareli flinched, but she tried again. “I’d like to negotiate.”

From the counter behind it, the Curse Eater grabbed a bowl, dumping its contents into the cauldron. “What power does a puny human like you have over me? I do not negotiate.”

“I have something you want,” Yareli countered, relieved that her voice finally came out even. The idea had come at the mouth of the cave, right as she had taken her last step before crossing its threshold.

It cocked its head.

“Blood. I’ll offer you some blood in exchange for your services.”

“I have plenty of that around here.” The Curse Eater lifted a dead rat.

“Humanblood.”

It dropped the rat in the cauldron. “Two goblets.”

Yareli released the breath she had been holding. “Done.”

A long dagger and two bronze goblets materialized on the floor in front of the cauldron. Yareli stood, relieved that her legs still held her despite their trembling, and she inched to the cauldron. She picked up one of the goblets, which was surprisingly light. Itlooked to be about the same volume as an average cup, so two of them probably wouldn’t hurt… right?

Unlike the simple bronze goblets, the dagger’s handle was ornate with rubies and gold. She returned the goblet to the floor and grabbed the blade. It was heavier than her own, which meant precision would be difficult. Struggling with its weight, hesitation stayed her hand, the Curse Eater’s nightmare fresh in her mind. Doubt about her family and her old life crept up like a devil on her shoulder. Conflicted between reclaiming her past and shielding herself from further distress, she froze, but a glance at the awaiting Curse Eater and its chosen appearance reminded her of her resolve. She had to go home regardless of whatever lost memory awaited her.

She gritted her teeth and dragged the dagger down her forearm, gasping when it slipped and went deeper than she had intended. It clattered to the floor as she scooped up a goblet and filled it. The Curse Eater cackled, coming closer.

“Tell me about the curse,” Yareli demanded, shifting the goblet away from it.

“It’s an ancient one.”

At her glare, it continued. It seemed amused. “It binds the thread of life between the caster and the victim so the caster may never lose hold of them. It was useful when Fae still roamed the mortal world, ensuring enslaved humans could not escape.”

The gruesome history between Fae and humans gave Yareli pause. She had suspected it hadn’t ever been an amicable co-existence, but she hadn’t given it much thought, which made the revelation that Tuom had used an enslavement curse on her unsurprising but nevertheless nauseating. The world seemed to tilt under her feet as the Curse Eater yanked the first goblet from Yareli’s hand and raised it to its nose. Hermother’snose. It took a deep breath and released a satisfied sigh.

“An exquisite scent. One I’ve not forgotten in all my years of imprisonment.”

Yareli looked away as it tipped its head back to take a sip. She focused on the next goblet and pretended she was donating blood, not feeding a bloodthirsty predator instead.

Once the second one was filled, she took off her jacket and pressed it against the wound. The Curse Eater had not cared to offer any sort of bandages.

“I’ve held up my part of the bargain. Break the curse.” She raised her chin.