“What do we have to talk about?” Matthias asked.
“First of all did you know there was a curse that stopped heirloom keepers from marrying each other? Because if you did Matthias so help me—”
“Of course I didn’t. Now that’s going to be a problem, where did you hear this.”
I narrowed my eyes at him.
“I mean it Adele. I’ve never heard of a curse.”
“Well, there is one. Whipped out the Blacksmith family.” Axel said, settling on the couch.
“How would you know that?” Matthias asked, hands on hips.
Oh boy, I’d better explain to him before he exploded. I told him everything I found and our little trip to old town. He wasn’t exactly happy, especially with Swine after me.
“We have to go into the house and remove the heirlooms.” Matthias said.
“No, they don’t have to be removed. They are safer there. I need the heirloom’s that going to rid me of this curse.”
“They aren’t safe there at all. If you haven’t noticed the area is being demolished. You’re lucky your house hasn’t been railroaded yet.”
“Oh damn it, that’s right.” Axel said.
“We’ve got to think of a safe way of getting in. The house is rotting.” I said.
“Our best bet is to go after dark. Addie can go in.” Axel said.
“Me?” I gasped.
“I’m not so comfortable with that if the house is as bad as you say.” Matthias said.
“I’m not either, but Addie’s the only one small enough to get in.”
Yes, compared to the two of them I was small.
“Are we really going to do this?” I frowned, a thousand different scenarios played in my head about what would happen when I went into that house.
They both nodded. I sighed, “Well then are we doing this or what?”
***
Under the cover of night, we drove back to old town in one vehicle not to attract anyone. If anyone did happen to drive by the old house they would see three people dressed head to toe in black. I didn’t know how they would take it considering one of them was an FBI agent and the other was a cop.
“No, need to snoop Adele. Get what we need and out you go.” Matthias ordered.
Axel didn’t want me to go in through the front door because of then rotten deck. We were behind the house, staring at a busted window. Matthias was going to hoist me in.
“Matthias, I don’t know what the heirlooms look like, remember?”
He grumbled, “They won’t be difficult to identify. They’re shiny and mysterious.”
He turned me so I faced the window. Gripping my waist, I readied myself for him to hoist me up, instead he pulled me to his chest and whispered in my ear.
“Be careful in there okay. I lost you once and I did that. I don’t want to lose you for good.”
“Matthias—” Before I could get a word out he lifted me put to the window. I had no choice but to grip the frame and pull myself inside.
“Hurry, we don’t have much time.” Axel said.
“Alright, any idea where I should start though?”
“Try the master bedroom.” Axel said.
I nodded and took a step forward. The second I did the floorboards groaned. I squealed.
“Adele!” Matthias barked.
As carefully as I could I walked out of the tiny bedroom. I couldn’t make out what it could have been in its glory days there was no furniture. Minutes later and several careful steps later I made it to the last door in the hall. A couple pictures still hung up on the wall in the hall. The master bedroom had a bed with a dusty mattress in the center. Thankfully, the wood was stronger in the master room so I was free to walk around. I pulled out my flashlight and looked under the bed, nothing but cobwebs. I tried the drawers and moved around furniture and only managed to upset dust.
“There’s nothing in here guys!” I yelled.
“There’s got to be. Look for loose floorboards.” Axel said.
I exhaled and scanned the room. A loose floorboard could just be a sign of decay, but a whole in the floor could be a way to remove a faux floorboard from the ground.
“Jackpot!”
I pulled out a black genie lamp, a jewelry box full of rocks, a brown sack that weighted a ton and finally a mirror with a grey glass. I should have brought a box. I handed everything to the boys one at a time. When I was done Matthias practically yanked me out of there.
He kissed me all over my face. “Let’s get the hell out of here.” He said.
“This isn’t everything.” Axel frowned.
“Oh no,” I muttered.
“There should be four more items.” Axel said.
We heard car tires zoom through the gravel and jolted.
“We’ll have to figure it out at the house. It’s risky being here.” Matthias said.
***
We were back at the house. Matthias insisted on sweeping the house first in case of any raiders hiding out. Axel couldn’t stay, but we agreed to meet up again first thing in the morning. I wasn’t complaining I literally collapsed on top of Matthias on the couch. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close.
“We miss the keeper’s meeting.” I whispered.
He brushed locks of hair out of my face. “I couldn’t go through with it, not while you ran off on me!”
“I know. Matt, what if Swine comes back.”
Matthias’s stare went hard and dark. “He will come back. He won’t touch you. I won’t let him.”
I nodded. “Have you thought about Noah?”
He exhaled deeply then his grip on my under thigh and arms tightened. I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“I don’t want to think about Noah or heirlooms tonight. I just want you tonight.”
I was tempted to remind him about how slow we were going and that he wasn’t getting back with me that easily, but he was kissing me and holding me all the time. I knew I wanted him too, wanted what we used to have and something more. I leaned into him. He didn’t need me to say anything he understood that I had given in.