Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 123065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
“Unicorns exist?” I mock gasp and cover my face with my hands then drop them. “No, I was told by Enki to come upstairs because you were grumpy and needed food.”
“I ate. But you need to eat too.” He suddenly looks concerned and angry at the same time. “Everything is labeled in the fridge, and the housekeeper will be here tonight.” He looks back down at the amulet. “Don’t lose it.”
“Wait, first you’re pissed I have it, and now I have to keep it?”
“Your fingers will quite literally fall off if you try to get rid of it.” He shrugs. “But sure, try it.”
“What is wrong with you guys and bracelets, anklets, rocks? At this rate I’m just going to hole up in my room and start rocking back and forth. It’s exhausting.” I hold up my hand. “This is a rock.”
“Of course it is, I’m not an idiot.”
“And this is just a bracelet.” I touch the sun and little zaps of electricity hit my fingers before I yelp and pull them back.
Cyrus just stares at me and crosses his arms. “I wouldn’t test fate. You have a shield, you have protection as if it will help, but feel free to use The Eye of Horus if something goes bump in the night.”
“Yes. I’ll just Wonder Woman my way out of a pinch by throwing a rock at something. How have I never thought of that my entire life? And you said if I read the books and planned the exhibit for the eclipse festival, since I can’t exactly work at the closed bar right now, you’d help me find Jake.”
“I just got off the phone with Daggon regarding Jake, thank you for pointing that out. He lost track of him. Apep’s hit a dead end too. If you’re curious what happened, ask the squirrel.”
“Be honest, are you on medication?”
“Be honest, are you terrified?” He counters, and then he’s just gone, and I’m left thinking that I’m going to set fire to the entire house. Maybe I should have lit a match at the bar afterall.
Knowing him, it’s probably fireproof, maybe that’s why he wasn’t too concerned when I smelled the leak.
But, knowing myself, I’d probably jump off a cliff before ever hurting anything historical and important.
My brother gave me my first history book; he was adamant that we find out about our family history.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen my mom so angry as when he told her he wanted to know where our dad came from and that he was doing some research.
The rain started that night, a massive storm that wouldn’t quit. She seemed…defeated in a way, and neither of us could figure out why. She was never really the same after, her smiles were more forced, and whenever there was a storm, she’d walk outside and stand in the rain for hours. She never got sick, but she’d walk back in the house and pour herself a shot of whiskey. Storms always affected me and Jake, but they affected her in a way that was different. I could never tell if she loved them or hated them, needed them or resented them.
One day after the storm, I’d asked her what was so evil about being curious. It was the only time I ever truly saw a flash of anger in her eyes. I was sent to my room for an hour for even asking. I prayed to the stars that one day I’d meet my dad and he’d help me. That was the first time I’d seen a shooting star fall. I had touched the charm on my bracelet, as if it had magical conjuring powers, and from there on out, I prayed while touching the charm, until I no longer believed in magic.
“It’s just a storm.” Jake grabbed my hand and then pulled me into the tiny tent I kept in my room next to my stuffed bears and the hidden fruit snacks in the treasure box. “Storms don’t hurt you. People do.”
I crawled into his lap. “But they’re loud.”
He laughed. “So are we.”
We were ten.
It was perfect.
He grabbed a flashlight, and I’ll never forget his next words. “Let me tell you about the gods.”
He talked about Brahma first then moved on to Viracocha, he went through all of the gods I never even knew existed in ancient beliefs and texts
I sighed into my brother’s chest. “I wish it was real.”
He slumped back against the pillow and took me with him as we looked up at the top of the pink tent. “I do too.”
“Maybe we can travel the world someday, unlock all the secrets it holds.”
“Maybe,” he whispered, “I’ll take you on a long trip, wanna bet I can do it?”
I rolled my eyes. “That’s not even a bet!”
“I’ll make lots of money and get us plane tickets.”