Page 40 of Forbidden Heart

I am left alone in the showroom. My only accompaniment is the hum of the air conditioning.

I crack my knuckles and then grab the dusting cloth. Time to get to work.

As I dust each shelf and display case, I hum to myself. Humming turns into wordless singing, which turns into a yelp.

A splinter pierces my rubber gloves and stabs my finger. Its tiny size is more than compensated for by its sharpness. Drawing a strained breath, I pull off my glove. The splinter dislodges.

I wonder where it came from. Maybe it was placed here by a wicked witch who wants to put a curse on me. Just like how Sleeping Beauty was destined to prick her finger on a spinning wheel on her sixteenth birthday. Maybe I was meant to get this splinter and unleash a terrible curse.

I freeze, waiting to see if I, too, might fall asleep—but nothing happens.

Wicked witch, wicked witch... I sing softly as I finish wiping the shelf free of dust. Upon closer inspection, there is a little rough patch with a few shreds of wood hanging loose, which explains the splinter.

“You’re not a witch’s curse, are you?” I ask softly.

Then the bells above the front door jingle, and the familiar looming shadow in the doorway makes me think I spoke too soon.

Instinctively, I duck behind the display case. I wish I could hold on to my precious necklace fragments for reassurance, but they’re with Anderson, so I hold my breath.

Crouching, I hope against hope that he won’t see me, even though I certainly saw him. I would recognize that lanky figure and black hair anywhere. Silas.

I knew it was no ordinary splinter. I must be cursed.

Instinctively, I think up a song about a curse, and I’m forced to squeeze my lips tight so no sound escapes.

My hands are trembling as I wait for him to go away. Seconds pass, but his dark shadow still lurks by the door. I can’t say exactly why I feel so afraid of him, especially after I kicked him in the balls. Maybe it’s because I kicked him in the balls. Either way, I can’t face him right now.

“Hello?” Silas calls out.

I hold my breath, waiting for my fairy godblazer to rescue me.

“Just a moment,” Anderson shouts from the back.

Silas steps further into the store, humming a familiar tune under his breath. It’s the chorus I heard him sing, the one Charles and JJ said he can’t seem to get past.

I long to sing it with him, to help him come up with the next verse, but he wouldn’t want my help. Plus, then he’d know I was hiding behind a shelf the whole time, spying on him when he thought he was alone.

Footsteps echo from the back, and Anderson steps out. “Now, how can I help you?”

“I was wondering if you buy used jewelry?” Silas asks, and something clinks onto the counter.

I picture Anderson picking up whatever it is Silas brought with stubby fingers. Then I realize that I’m still hiding behind a shelf, and wonder if he’ll notice that I’m missing. What if he calls out my name and Silas finds out I’m here?

He doesn’t.

“Those are some wonderful-looking pieces,” Anderson says, sounding impressed. “You’re sure you’d like to sell these?”

Silas hesitates. For a second, I think he might change his mind, but then he says, “I’m sure.”

“Then wait right here. Let me grab a few things from the back, and I’ll assess these for you.”

Anderson disappears again. I expect Silas to stay at the counter, but he takes a step. Toward me. A few more steps, and he’ll be on my side of the display case. I can’t let that happen. I can’t let him see me.

As quietly as a mouse, I creep alongside the display case. Just like a mouse, all I want to do is to avoid the bite of Silas the Snake.

Shuffling sideways, I’m careful not to lose my balance. I can’t risk dropping to all fours and trying to crawl. It would make too much noise.

Silas takes another step. I picture him examining some of the shiny diamonds in the display cases, not paying me any attention. He’s about to spot me, so I quickly scramble around the corner of the display.