Ink Cursed

Chapter 12

Ink Cursed

Chapter 12

It’s the third one I’ve seen. This doesn’t change the way I feel about seeing these. It’s the same deep feeling I feel every time. Chase switches the feather through his fingers then looks up at me.

“What is it supposed to mean? Why did they want me to find it so badly? It must mean there’s something important to it.”

“Or whoever it was chickened out and ran away, dropping this.” He fans the big feather in the air. “Keep it with you.”

“Why?” I ask, aghast. I do already have two with me. I guess a third won’t hurt. “Why don’t we just throw them away?” I take the feather from his hand, tucking it into my handbag.

“Because we may able to get some clues out of them. For example,” he says, taking the feather out of my handbag. “This one has a sort of oak scent to it—that only means it could be someone who frequently visits the casino in downtown: Black Spade.”

“Black Spade? Why would you know that run-down place’s name?” I remember driving past that place sometimes when my dad and I went out. “Do you go there?”

“Ah, you caught me red-handed,” Chase says, smiling tightly. “I’m not too bad, actually.” He starts to walk away, and I follow, thinking it through.

“So,” I say, lagging behind him. “The person who goes there is helping the feathered creature? This is the person who is doing this is close to the creature who ink-cursed us, right?”

“That’s a good assumption, and it may be true,” he admits, shaking his finger my way. “But all I know is that I’m going to Black Spade right now. That is, after I drive you home.”

“What? No, I’m coming with you,” I protest, tugging on the back of Chase’s sleeve. He turns around to look at me with a serious expression. “It doesn’t matter what time I get home. I need to find out what’s going on. This is more my business than it is yours.” He knows I’m right. And he doesn’t like it.

“Get in the car.” I quickly step into his car and sniff in Chase’s scent. “We don’t know what to expect, so don’t go charging in.”

“When have I done that?” My head falls back onto the headrest as I look at Chase. “Do I seem like the type of girl who would do that?”

“I don’t know. I can’t read you,” he mumbles as he fixes his rearview mirror. “You have to be eighteen to play in there, and I’m telling you from now that there are forty year old men there. We’re going to be the youngest two.”

“That’s not a problem.”

Chase looks at me and smiles.

As we drive further downtown, the buildings turn more dark and dirty like something that hasn’t been taken care of. The sky even darkens as we enter the area. The people venturing the streets either have the expression of vigilance or highness. Either way, it’s uncomfortable.

Chase’s face stiffens as he nonchalantly parks in front of the Black Spade. I’ve never been so close to this place before. It’s just always been the finger-pointer place to me. I follow Chase out of the car, not letting my eyes leave the small casino before us. Will this really get us somewhere?

We enter the small building to smoking old men and a reeking sensation of oak. My skin crawls at how similar the feather smelled. The chattering men all turn to Chase and I as we stand at the entrance of the old place.  

Chase simply walks up to the small bar and takes a seat. I have the urge to consult with Chase about things, but I’m not going to break the silence by speaking. Maybe this is part of his plan.