He nodded for me to come out. I swallowed. Did he want me to go in there? I didn’t look like the wood could hold a little old mouse much less two human beings.
“I want to show you something!” He said.
My teeth chattered. He wants to show me where I’m going to die?
We were at the old abandoned side of town. Where Uncle Stu’s restaurant was. I knew there were more than a few forgotten antebellum houses around here.
“It’s perfectly safe Addie.” He said, calmly.
I cracked the door open. Axel wouldn’t hurt me. He was a cop. Of course Swine was a cop too, but he was as corrupt as they came. With a shaky breath I walked out of the car, clutching the little black box.
“Have you opened it?” He asked when I was standing beside him.
It didn’t have a lock so I tried to lift the lid. It tugged and it didn’t budge. I yanked and I could have sworn the thing was heated shut.
“It won’t give.” I said, pulling one more time.
Axel held out his hand. “Let me try.”
I held it out. “Maybe it doesn’t even open.” I mumbled.
Axel flipped it and popped the lid open a second later. My mouth dropped open. It looked as easy as opening a can or soda.
“I wasn’t exaggerating though.”
He laughed, “No, of course. Not it only opens for family members.”
“What family— Wait a minute! You have a ton of explaining to do Mister.”
He held his hands up and chuckled. “Maybe I do. This house belonged to my grandparents. The Blacksmiths. They didn’t all die out. I’m the last one.”
“Wait, wait, your last name is Chambers.”
“Yes, that was my mother’s maiden name. I had to use it to keep myself safe, from raiders but there’s nothing I can do about the curse.”
“Someone put a curse on your family?”
He cast a glance at the house. I shuddered, how long had it stood abandoned?
“Not exactly. Heirloom keepers aren’t meant to marry each other.”
I swallowed. Matthias and I are keepers.
“No one told me that! What happens?”
“Well, my parents were heirloom keepers. Blacksmith and Hadley. The curse takes the lives of family members.”
That couldn’t be right. Most of all of Matthias’ family were still around.
“Why did it take all of your family members.”
He shrugged, “I don’t know, but I know Matthias lost his dad and Beatrice’s husband died mysteriously too.”
“Matthias and I would have gotten married, would have doomed my family too? There isn’t much left of us, but would I have?”
His face went grim. “I don’t know Addie, but with every curse there’s a way to break it.”
“Please tell me you figured it out.” I clapped my hands in front of myself.
He nodded. “Apparently one of my ancestors did. It got lost in some of the heirlooms. No one thought they would ever need the cure.”
I glanced at the house again. “The heirlooms are in there, aren’t they?”
“That’s right. Most of them I believe. This area is under demolition.”
“Not to mention it’s too dangerous to go inside.”
“I can’t leave them in there. If someone else finds them who knows what’s going to happen.”
“I found a map at home. I know they don’t lead to my heirlooms, could be some of yours.”
“I’d like to see it.”
Then I stared at the box in his hands. There were a couple papers sticking out of it. Papers withered with age.
“What’s in it?” I asked.
Axel pulled out two papers and handed the box back to me. I stood next to him, peering at the first paper he held.
“It’s an obituary for a Stanley H. And a letter.”
The sound of a car driving through startled us.
“We should get out of here. Don’t want people getting suspicious of why we’re here.”
“You’re right.”
We got into the car and I wondered if it was even safe for me to go home. Matthias should have lost his head already by now.
“Why would your grandfather have this box?” Axel asked.
“I have no idea. I don’t know why he would have a map to another family’s heirlooms.”
“Weird. You think he followed the map and found them all?”
I bit my bottom lip. “I guess there’s only one way to find out. We’ve got to follow the map.”
“Sounds like a plan. I don’t think I should take you home just yet.”
I couldn’t help think about Matthias. He must have been frantic, not to mention my mother, but no matter what I hope she left town with Maybelle today.
“Where do we go then?”
“Hungry? We can go to Uncle Stu’s.”
The place where men took their lovers, but they had great food and we needed a place to crash so I didn’t object.
Minutes later we had ordered two heaping plates of fries covered in cheese. I stared at Axel across the table as he fiddled with his phone. I thought this man was my second chance. I know things went south real bad, but I didn’t believe he was a horrible person. He would find his match, for me, Matthias had always been it.
“What really brought you to town Axel Chambers?”
He looked up and shrugged, tucking his phone back into his pants. “I knew my mom had family here. Didn’t know them and they didn’t know of me. My mom’s only distantly related to the Hadley’s but it’s relation enough. Small town, thought I could settle down nicely. Not to mention the cure to the curse that could take my life any day is here.”
“Right… we really should search for those heirlooms. Do you know what that cure looks like? Matthias and I might need it.”
The corners of his mouth lifted. “So you and Hadley are getting married huh?”
“Wait, no… we’re trying to take things slow.” At least I kept telling myself that.
“You never stopped loving him, did you?”
I sighed and looked out the open glass window. The old forgotten part of town was rising again. There were more bulldozers and men working on construction sites.
“I guess I never did. We shared a lot and what we have… that type of love just doesn’t die. I now know he framed me to protect me. He could have done a much better job at it though.”
He nodded. The sadness I saw in him hurt, but I had to be honest. I reached out and grabbed his hand and squeezed.
“You’re a great guy Axel. You’ll find your one. I can even tell Rebel to let it slip at Rebel Ways that you’re single and ready to mingle.”
He laughed. “That might do more harm than good.”
I smiled. I could imagine all the women in town getting their hopes up.
“You’re a great girl too Addie, just a shame you aren’t mine anymore.”
***
After the sun started to set Axel drove me home. Matthias was out in front of the house yelling at his phone. The headlights caught his attention. His eyes narrowed when he realized I was in the front seat of the truck. I got out quickly. He was going to explode.
“Adele! Where the hell have you been?”
“I can explain.”
Axel jumped out of the car next.
“You’ve been riding around with him?” His voice was a mixture of hurt and annoyance.
“It isn’t like that babe. Calm down and we—”
“Calm down! You should have seen your mother. Swine’s got half the town after your ass.”
I cringed. This was bad.
“Swine doesn’t have anything on her. He won’t turn her in when he finds her at least not to the police.” Axel explained for me.
“I suspected as much.” Matthias ran a hand through his hair.
“We’ve got a lot to talk about. We should get inside.” I said.
I looked at Axel and he nodded. Casting weary glances behind us we hurried inside hoping there weren’t any traitors in the trees.