Page 40 of Breaking the Bloodstone Curse
“It probably reached into her chest and stopped her heart,” Mistress Trembledamp said matter-of-factly. “I do not claim to understand the powers of these cursed creatures, but it is said that they are able to do such things.”
“But how do we break the curse?” Brax asked, speaking up again because he was so worried that he no longer cared that it wasn’t proper for a bodyslave to be part of the conversation between two Mistresses. “How do I save my Mistress?” he said.
Mistress Trembledamp gave him a sharp look.
“I will excuse your impertinence only because I can tell you care deeply for your little Mistress, slave,” she said to him. “And while I cannot tell you how to break the curse yourself, I can direct you to one who might be able to help you. He is the only person I know who willingly deals in cursed jewelry.”
“Who is it?” Serenai asked anxiously. “If what you say is true, we don’t have much time!”
“No, you certainly don’t,” Mistress Trembledamp said curtly. “His name is Jacobim O’Teribrux and he lives on the far side of Zantha—Yonnie Six’s fourth moon.”
“But I thought Yonnie Six only had two moons,” Serenai protested.
“Only two acknowledged moons—the only two that have atmospheres.” Mistress Trembledamp waved one beringed hand in a dismissive gesture. “The other two are more like large asteroids but Jacobim has built himself a climate controlled lair inside the smaller one—which is Zantha, as I said. I have had dealings with him before when I needed to get rid of troublesome items.” She raised her eyebrows at Serenai. “Do you wish me to call him on your behalf? I warn you—he may charge a significant fee to help you.”
“Please call him!” Serenai exclaimed. “I’ll pay the fee—I just want to get rid of the curse before that red-eyed thing gets me like…like it got my mother.” She swallowed hard and put a hand to her throat.
Brax hated how frightened she looked.
“Don’t worry, little Mistress,” he murmured. “We’ll get this taken care of. And in the meantime, I’ll protect you.”
“You cannot, bodyslave,” Mistress Trembledamp contradicted him. “If this curse is allowed to run its course, there’s nothing you can do to stop your Mistress from dying. Even if you step between her and the evil one, it will simply reach through you and stop both your hearts at once. The only way to help her is to break the curse.”
“Then let’s hope this Jacobim person you’re sending us to can help us,” Brax said grimly. He put an arm around Serenai’s shoulders, heedless of protocol. She was shivering and needed to feel protected.
“I hope so too—for your sake.” Mistress Trembledamp looked at Serenai. “I never approved of your mother much, my dear, but it’s clear you don’t take after her. I hope you can survive this curse which was clearly meant for her. It is no fault of yours that you inherited it.”
“I…I hope so too,” Serenai said faintly. “And thank you, Mistress Trembledamp.”
Brax drew her closer, feeling her soft, curvy body tremble against his own. He didn’t care what the other Mistress said—he swore to the Goddess that he would keep Serenai safe—no matter what it cost him.
26
SERENAI
Serenai shifted uncomfortably in the passenger’s seat as Brax worked the controls of the spaceship her mother had left her. She was still frightened to death by what Mistress Trembledamp had revealed about the cursed necklace…but she was also in ever increasing physical discomfort as well.
The cold feeling in her pussy from the half-melted ice powder had been getting worse—especially since they came back out to the ship and sat down. Now she could barely sit still, she was so cold and uncomfortable between her thighs. She knew she ought to be focused on the curse, but the icy pain wouldn’t let her.
“There—the autopilot is locked in for Zantha.” Brax’s deep voice interrupted her thoughts. “We’ll be there in just a few hours—your mother’s ship is extremely fast,” he added.
“Good, thank you, Brax.” Serenai shifted again and squeezed her thighs together—but that only made the piercing cold more painful. “Ouch!” she gasped.
Brax turned to her, frowning.
“Little Mistress, I can tell something’s wrong with you. What is it?”
“I…I’m just worried about this awful curse,” Serenai lied. She was embarrassed to admit the real problem.
But it was clear she wasn’t fooling the big half-Kindred. He frowned at her.
“Serenai, I can tell when you’re not being truthful,” he rumbled. “Something’s wrong with you—what is it?”
Serenai squirmed some more, but the icy pain was growing. Also, she couldn’t forget his remark about getting frostbite on her forbidden areas. She didn’t want that!
“I just…I think…think some of the, uh, ice powder melted and somehow got past the protective gel you put on me,” she admitted at last. “I feel like I have an icicle between my legs and it really hurts!” She rose abruptly from the passenger seat. “I’m going to duck in the back and take a shower to wash it off.”
“You might want to wait a minute on that, little one,” Brax said dryly.
