Part 18 (1/2)

Sasha wasn't sure how much she should tell Dominic. He was one of her mother's oldest, most trusted friends. She wasn't sure she could trust him but she had no other choice. Gus said he was the portal master.

She should have known Dominic would somehow be involved in her fate. Her whole life he's been on the periphery of her family. He's been the major influence in her mother's life, helping her become a real estate agent and choosing which high school Sasha attended.

She didn't know how her father put up with it. It was like Dominic was a more dominant force in her mother's life than her own husband. Strangely Sasha's father didn't seem to care. It's not like her mother was having an affair with the old man, but the relations.h.i.+p was odd all the same.

Sasha decided that if her father wasn't worried then she shouldn't be either even though the dynamics were confusing.

Her relations.h.i.+p with Dominic had always been tense. He didn't like her, so she didn't like him. She wasn't going to waste her time trying to impress one of her mother's friends who disdained children. He didn't like Hannah either as far as she could tell which was really sad because Hannah was ten times nicer than Sasha. Hannah was an innocent and lovely girl. Sasha felt tainted and bitter so she probably reflected those negative feelings.

Now she faced begging Dominic for his help. There was a big chance he might not provide it. He was so ornery that he might refuse her. It also didn't help that she hadn't told her mother she was coming here. Willow Bean had told her not to worry about the curse. If Dominic opened a portal for her, he would be defying her mother as well.

Evan stood beside her, solemn in thought. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. She didn't want to go alone to Tysseland, but she didn't want to put him in danger anymore. They had already faced several attempts on her life and he'd been injured each time. Their luck wouldn't last.

Her fear of dying was stronger than her concern for Evan's safety and she hated herself for being so selfish. Part of her didn't want to let go of this beautiful boy who was helping her. He'd been by her side during every moment of danger. His support hadn't wavered and he didn't second guess her decisions. She couldn't ask for a better partner and she was reluctant to give that up.

She knew her limitations were huge. If she was going to break the curse she needed all the help she could get. She'd be stupid to turn away offers just because there was a risk of danger and harm. Could she live with herself if something happened to Evan because of her? This was the debate raging through her head.

When he noticed her staring at him he smiled. She wondered if he was anxious and worried about going to Tysseland but she was too afraid to ask him just in case the fear overrode her need to get rid of the curse.

He laid a hand on her shoulder and squeezed lightly. Sasha grimaced with a twinge of pain. While Evie had healed her wound, it was still tender. Sasha tried to pry more information from her mother about Evie's talent but she was reluctant to reveal too many details.

”She doesn't do this kind of work anymore,” Willow Bean said.

”Why isn't she a doctor? She could do so much good,” Sasha said with wonder.

”What's wrong with selling real estate?” Willow Bean said sounding insulted.

Sasha didn't know how to respond to her mother. She didn't want to tell her that she thought her mother's choice of career was shallow and meaningless.

Evan didn't know his touch had pained her and she didn't say anything. She didn't want to discourage him from touching her with affection. It helped calm her frazzled nerves. She liked that he seemed to know what she needed before she knew it herself. He understood her needs without her having to express them with words. Is that what it was like to have a boyfriend?

Don't go there, she chastised herself and tore her eyes away from him. She knocked on the white wooden door a little harder than necessary. A sheer curtain covering a slim narrow window beside the door quivered. When the door didn't open immediately, she doubted whether she saw something. She was about to knock again when the door flew open.

Dominic stared at her, the expression on his face unreadable. She couldn't tell if he was mad or just surprised. His normally smooth hair stood up in tuffs as if he'd just gotten up from a restless sleep.

”What do you want?” he barked. His tone was brusque and bordered on rude. Surprising, he opened the door wider to let them inside.

Words stuck in Sasha's throat. Dominic was angry that was clear. She wasn't sure if it was because she woke him up or he didn't want to see her. His glower was intimidating. Actually, Sasha found him daunting most of the time.

”I...I...,” she stammered. Why had she come? She couldn't remember.

”You're the portal master,” Evan said fearlessly. ”We need a portal.”

Evan picked up Sasha's hand, tickling her palm with his finger. A s.h.i.+ver ran down the back of her neck. She yearned for his touch but didn't want to be distracted.

”Right,” Sasha said regaining her composure. ”I need to get to Tysseland and I hear you're the guy in charge.”

Dominic turned away and headed toward the kitchen at the back of the house. Sasha kept talking as they walked down a stark hallway barren of pictures or any personal affects. Dominic had no family.

”I'm sure you've heard about the curse,” she said choosing her words carefully. ”I intend to break it.”

Dominic rummaged through an overhead cupboard and withdrew a crystal gla.s.s and bottle of amber liquid. He didn't say anything. He poured himself a shot, drained his gla.s.s and smacked it on the counter with a crack that made Sasha jump.

Sasha was surprised that he didn't demand to know how she'd found out about the curse and the talisman. Maybe he'd talked to her mother already.

”Your mother won't like this,” he said.

”Probably not, but I have no choice,” she said discarding her plan to not speak of her mother. She had wanted him to think her mother was supportive of her idea. She should have realized he knew everything. Dominic knew her mother better than she did. It had become increasingly obvious to her as her mother's secrets were exposed that her mother was a stranger. She felt like she didn't know her, if she ever did.

Sasha watched for Dominic's reaction. He wasn't behaving like she thought he would. He was usually dismissive. Now he just seemed deflated.

”You're mother gets caught up in mommy-daughter issues,” he said pouring himself another drink. ”She's never been objective about Vania. You don't know her. That will be an advantage. You'll see her for what she is.”

Sasha was confused. Was he going to send her to Tysseland?

”So, can we get started?”

Dominic winced as he took another swallow of his drink.

”You're awfully confident for someone who is unlikely to survive the day,” he said.

Evan tightened his grip on her hand. He seemed to be rea.s.suring her that Dominic was wrong. She would live out the day.

”We'll take our chances,” Evan said. ”It's not like we have options. If we stay here, the a.s.sa.s.sins will eventually succeed. Do you have another suggestion?”

Sasha was impressed he was able to keep his emotions under control. She felt like she was going to explode. Her mother and Dominic kept her in the dark about the curse until it was almost too late. Maybe it was. Her mother didn't fess up until the a.s.sa.s.sin had almost killed her.

”I wouldn't be in this situation if not for my mother,” she said spitting out the words. ”Willow Bean has done nothing to help me.”

Dominic frowned but didn't argue, which surprised Sasha. Dominic was overly protective of her mother. He never liked it when she criticized her.

”I don't know what your mother has planned,” he said hanging his head as if he were ashamed of Willow Bean as well. ”I never agreed with her decision to keep you ignorant. Your mother is strong willed and doesn't always listen to me.”

Sasha was surprised by the admission. She'd never seen Dominic and her mother argue. If anything, they seemed like soul mates in a platonic way.

”Your mother doesn't want to risk going to Tysseland and getting trapped there,” he said.

”But the talisman is there isn't it?” Sasha asked.

”Yes,” he said. ”Well, I don't know for sure but I a.s.sume so. If I know Vania, she'll keep it close. She has a habit of collecting objects that are meaningful to other people. She uses the personal items for spells. That's how she controls her enemies. And friends.”

Sasha stared at Dominic hard. He was speaking in a soft voice as if he'd been the victim of one of these spells.

”Which one were you?” Sasha asked. ”Friend or foe?”