The Blackwood Curse

Chapter 30

Sarah POV

The restaurant’s ambient chatter and soft candlelight couldn’t drown out the unease gnawing at me. Across the table, Eren’s sharp gaze rested on me, his composed demeanor masking whatever thoughts churned beneath the surface. I guess bringing me to dinner was a way for him to try to figure me out.

I forced myself to focus on the meal in front of me, cutting into my dish with practiced precision. Though I had little appetite, I couldn’t afford to let anything seem out of place tonight. Zeke’s cryptic warnings still echoed in my mind, and the weight of his call threatened to fracture the careful façade I’d been maintaining.

The soft buzz of my phone rattled on the table, and I stiffened instinctively.

Eren’s eyes flicked to the screen, then back to me. “Who’s calling?”

I glanced down. Zeke. My chest tightened.

“Zeke,” I said lightly, reaching for the phone. “I’ll take this—it’s probably about something work-related.”

Eren’s brow lifted slightly, but he said nothing, swirling his wine in the glass as I answered the call.

“Zeke,” I said, keeping my voice casual, “I’m out right now. Is this urgent?”

“Sarah,” Zeke’s voice was steady, but the undercurrent of urgency was unmistakable. “We need to talk. I’ve been digging deeper into the Blackwood family history, and I’ve found something… disturbing. You need to hear this.”

I resisted the urge to glance at Eren, who was now sipping his wine but watching me out of the corner of his eye. I straightened in my chair, keeping my tone level. “I see. Could it wait until tomorrow? I’m in the middle of dinner.”

“No, Sarah. You’re not grasping this. The Blackwood family’s power—what they’re tied to—it’s not natural. There’s a supernatural element at play, something dark.”

My fingers tightened around the phone. I forced a small smile, my voice carefully measured. “That’s fascinating, Zeke, but it sounds like we’ll need more time to discuss it. Let’s set up a call tomorrow.”

“Sarah—”

“Tomorrow,” I repeated, cutting him off gently. “I’ll call you first thing. Enjoy your night.”

I ended the call and placed the phone face down on the table, exhaling softly as I reached for my glass of water.

Eren’s expression hadn’t shifted, but there was a calculating sharpness in his gaze. “Zeke seems persistent. What did he want?”

“Nothing important,” I said smoothly. “He’s been looking into some files I asked him to check. He’s convinced he’s stumbled onto something big, but it’s probably just another wild goose chase.”

Eren arched an eyebrow, setting his glass down. “He seems awfully invested. What kind of records?”

I shrugged, feigning indifference. “He’s interested in histories, old estates, things like that. I mentioned it once, and now he’s treating it like his life’s work. I didn’t realize it would keep him so busy.”

Eren leaned back slightly, his lips curving into a faint smile. “Zeke should be careful. Some histories are better left buried.”

There was an edge to his words that sent a chill through me, but I refused to let it show. “I’m sure he’s fine. It’s just a hobby for him.”

Eren nodded, though the intensity of his gaze didn’t waver. “You should tell him not to waste his energy on pointless pursuits. There are better ways to spend one’s time.”