The Devil's Workshop by Donnally Miller

Author:Donnally Miller [Miller, Donnally]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Dreamy Moon Press
Published: 2018-06-18T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

THE DEVIL’S KISS

In the guttering light the hall stretched forever. Plinths were laid out in long rows bearing crates like coffins. Katie paced the endless aisles, stopping from time to time to open one of the crates. She would look in quickly, then move on. She knew what she sought was in one of them, but the ones she opened all bore corpses: women with long, stringy gray hair; men with chiseled faces and beards. They all looked the same. Time was running out, and a terrible destiny would befall her if she did not find that which she sought.

At odd times sounds like muffled footsteps echoed from other parts of the hall. These footsteps — slow, leaden – filled her with dread, but though she looked behind and to the sides she caught not a glimpse of a pursuer. All she saw were the distant walls covered in macabre hieroglyphics, and the endless rows of caskets. Coming to a spot where two aisles intersected, suddenly sharp claws plucked at her from behind and as she screamed she woke to see Tavish looming over her. “Where is . . .? Did something happen?”

“Don’t worry. We’re safe.” He had his arm over her belly and he smiled, but she didn’t read friendship in his smile. “Forgive me for waking you.”

“Was there a reason?”

“I’m lonesome. I need someone to talk to.”

“Must we talk this time of the night . . .? Can it not wait till morning?”

“Many nights I’ve wanted to talk.”

“What is it you’ve wanted to talk about?”

He took a long time before answering. They heard the forest’s small rustlings and nighttime whisperings. “I’ve wanted to tell you I love you.”

“Now you’ve said it can you sleep?”

He looked at her. “No.” He closed his eyes.

“You’re a fine man, Tavish. You’re good and strong.” He opened his eyes again. “But you should not have come with me. I let you come because I needed you, and I’m selfish. But you should not have come. You’re not strong enough for the task you set yourself. I think you know that.”

“I would be if I’d yet had hope of your kindness. But that’s drained out of me. Can you not care for me at all?”

“You know the answer and it’s the only answer I’ll give. It’s not that I’ve a cold heart or I’m hard to please, but there’s another man I love.” She took his arm and moved it off herself. “You’re a good man, Tavish, and you know you’re better than to do whatever it is you’re thinking of. I’ve feared the coming of this moment, and I must ask you to swear one thing for me. Will you swear, for the love you bear me?”

He answered in a low, choked voice, “I will.”

“Do you swear you’ll go no further but will always be my loyal protector? Be the man you want to be, the man I know you are, and go no further but to love me in your thoughts .

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