The Case Of The Ruby Curse

Chapter 2

2

There were many things that the sceptical Samantha Rain didn’t believe in like superstition, aliens, or karma. But pirate treasure? Even she couldn’t deny the existence, or appeal, of an old map leading to a sunken chest with gold, jewels, and riches.

The little chest found during the renovation of the Drunken Turnip was full of promises, or threats. Samantha was pretty sure the contents wouldn’t be dangerous but she didn’t want to admit that she just wanted to look. Lilith would never stop teasing her for believing in pirate treasure.

Lilith put the small box on top of the kitchen counter, her eyes shimmering. “I’ll let you open it. On one condition.”

“What now?”

“Just admit that you hope it’s treasure.”

“I…” Samantha rolled her eyes, not in the mood to argue more. “Fine. I hope it is treasure.”

“Good girl.” With a smug grin, Lilith clicked the rusted lock and pulled the rounded lid back. The smell of old paper filled the kitchen and both women had to cough. `

Samantha waved the fluttering dust away and bent down to look at the contents of the mysterious chest. A handful of old pennies, a couple of twisted paper clips, and an old, yellow picture of a family. Mundane, boring items she’d find in almost any desk drawer or in a clutter jar.

She picked up the coins and let them clatter back into the box. “It’s just junk…”

Lilith cleared her throat. “I told you so.”

“Alright, fine.” Sam pushed the lid back down and pushed the chest away. “I should’ve let it remain a mystery.”

“You should have. Is there really nothing else in there?”

“No.” With a disappointed sigh, Sam sat back down on her high chair. “I guess we can return to the preparations for the party.” She moved to put some water in the soup pot and Shadow let out a soft bark as she chased her own tail.

Lilith laughed. “Hellhounds are so silly. How’s puppy training going?”

“Not too bad. We’re doing really well in nosework. Not so great in retrieving.” Samantha reached down to give the hellhound a pat on the back. “Not a police hound, but I’ll make a working dog out of her yet.”

“Good to hear she’s useful. Ish,” Lilith teased as wiped her hands on a towel. “There, that’s the inside done.”

“The inside?” Samantha echoed. “What does that mean?”

“We still need to mark the house.”

A bad feeling welled up in her stomach. “With…”

Lilith dug in one of the totebags and held out a rattling graffiti can. “Tadaa.”

“No. You’re not tagging my house!”

“Relax, it’s magical. You won’t even see it,” Lilith said.

Sam grumbled under her breath. She wasn’t very reassured but protesting only wasted her breath. All she could do was follow the other woman to the front of her house where she selected a nice patch of wall.

“Perfect,” Lilith decided, holding out a stencil. She shook the can and with a loud hiss, sprayed blue paint onto the brick. “There. One invisible-to-the-human-eye party invitation.”

“If it’s supposed to be invisible then why can I see it clear as day?”

With a sinking feeling, Samantha watched Lilith take a second look at the can. Her confident smile evaporated and she chuckled awkwardly.

The slender woman took a careful step back. “Oops?”

“Oops?” Sam echoed, glaring at the blue spray paint on her house. “Oops!?”

“Sorry! I don’t know how these got into my party supplies when clearly, they’re for crafting. I’ll clean it up.”

“You better.” Samantha stared at the blue sign, the lines thick but intricate. She had no idea what the symbol meant but it reminded her of a celtic knot. Staring at it, a strange feeling welled up within her, something she couldn’t quite explain. Maybe she didn’t want graffiti on her house but the logo reminded her that she belonged somewhere again, even if other humans didn’t know what it meant… she did.

She brushed her hand through her short hair and gestured to the drying paint. “You know what, it’s fine. Just make sure the next one you put is definitely with the right can.”

Lilith breathed a sigh of relief. “You sure?”

“Yes, the house is…” She stared up at the place, strangely disassociated from it. Maybe once, it had been her home but now it was just somewhere she dwelled. A shell without meaning, a reminder of her failed marriage. “It’s just a house.” She pondered for a second before she sighed. “You do what you have to do. I’m going back inside.”

Without waiting for the other woman, she retreated back into the house and paused in the empty hallway. She had to redecorate yet but it wasn’t very high up her priority list. The thought of making this place nice again didn’t feel right. She wasn’t even sure if she could. Would hanging up a few new paintings and pick out colourful drapes help erase the residue that Melissa left behind?

She shuffled to the living area and climbed the set of glass stairs to the raised area where she kept her liquor. The old cabinet shrieked as she pulled the latch down and reached for one of the cheaper bottles. Maybe it was a little early to drink but she couldn’t shake the overwhelming feeling that she wouldn’t make it through the day without some liquid courage.

The neck of the bottle clinked against the glass as she poured herself a generous drink, filling up the crystal tumbled with the golden whisky. It released a burnt, full aroma into the air, a scent from the islands where it was made, far away..

Samantha was halfway through her second refill before Lilith found her on the couch, bottle in one hand, glass in the other.

“Are you drinking right now?” the other woman asked, more disappointed than accusing.

“What does it look like?” Samantha huffed back. Before her whisky could be taken away, she swigged it down and thudded the empty glass on the side table.

Sighing, Lilith sat down next to her, worry written in her eyes. “Why?”

“Do I need a reason?” she countered. “I’m a grown woman.”

“No, but you’re drinking…” Lilith sniffed the glass. “Whisky, like it’s water at one in the afternoon. Don’t tell me that’s normal.”

Sam averted her gaze. She didn’t want to admit her day drinking was a common occurrence from way before the divorce. It started when she was still working on homicides, a little extra help to forget the gruesome things she witnessed during the day and the awful news she had to deliver to unsuspecting families. A good glass when she got home after a long shift could sway an unbearable day into bearable. She didn’t have to justify herself, but pressured by Lilith’s gaze, she mumbled a reply. “It’s fine. It’s not a problem.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I’ve got it under control.”

Lilith hummed, not sounding too convinced. Samantha would’ve pressed the issue but she knew the harder she protested, the less people tended to believe her. At least, that had been the case with Melissa.