Page 37 of Breaking the Bloodstone Curse
“Oh? Well now you have piqued my curiosity, my dear.” Mistress Trembledamp leaned forward on her throne-like chair. “Pray, do show it to me.”
Serenai turned to Brax.
“Would you show Mistress Trembledamp the bloodstone necklace we found?”
“Of course, Mistress.” He nodded respectfully and withdrew the box that held the necklace. He stepped forward and offered it to Mistress Trembledamp, who took it from his hands.
“Hmm, yes. These are indeed, bloodstones,” she said, nodding at the necklace. “But what’s this?”
She plucked out the little piece of parchment Serenai had found folded in the box and read it rapidly aloud.
“See it once
Or see it twice
You must beware?—
You’re on thin ice!
See it thrice,
Four times or more,
Pack your bags,
Look for the door.
See it seven,
Watch your breath.
Forget your name
Or face your death.”
“Oh, I found that in the box,” Serenai explained. “We thought—I mean, I thought—maybe it had to do with this strange, red-eyed apparition I keep seeing in my mother’s bedroom. It…why Mistress Trembledamp—are you all right?”
Brax could see why she asked—the older woman’s eyes had grown wide with fright and the corners of her mouth were drawn down in a trembling rictus of fear.
“Cursed stones? You brought me cursed stones?” she demanded, her voice shrill with terror.
“Well, I—” Serenai began, a bewildered expression on her lovely face.
“Get these away from me!” Mistress Trembledamp shoved the box with the necklace hastily back into Brax’s hands. “And punish your bodyslave for giving them to me in the first place!” she demanded, pointing at him.
“I…what?” Serenai shook her head, clearly at a loss.
“Do it!” Mistress Trembledamp demanded. “Punish him—quickly! The cursed being attached to the necklace must not think I am its new owner! Punish your bodyslave so that it knows the bloodstones were given to me in error!”
“I…I can’t…” Serenai shook her head but Brax turned to her.
“It’s all right, Mistress,” he murmured. “Just use your remote on me.” He nodded at the remote to his pain collar, which still hung around her neck. “Do it—you have to,” he urged.
“I don’t want to hurt you!” Her large, dark eyes were anguished.
Brax shrugged stoically.
“You can’t hurt me more than I’ve been hurt in the ring,” he pointed out. “A little shock from the pain collar is nothing. Do it, Mistress—we need her help,” he added, nodding at Mistress Trembledamp who was still staring at them with wide, frightened eyes.
