13 Curses by Michelle Harrison Read Free Book Online Page B

both,” the man began. “And it’s late, so I’ll keep this brief.”
    Rowan glanced up at the clock on the wall behind the man. It was nearly ten o’clock in the evening.
    “My name is John Temple, and it’s my job to see that everything runs smoothly, and that everyone here is happy.”
    His words entered Rowan’s brain but had no real meaning. He meant well, she knew, but his talk of happiness was pointless because she would never be happy there. She didn’t think she’d ever be happy again.
    “You’ll be introduced to the rest of the staff over the next few days. In the meantime, Ellie will continue to see you, and we will of course be looking into finding somewhere more permanent for you and James.”
    “You mean a foster home,” said Rowan.
    John Temple nodded.
    “Yes. Foster care looks likely, though we’re still checking every possible avenue for any extended family members.”
    “Have you managed to contact my aunt Rose?”
    “Ah. No, we haven’t yet made contact with Miss Weaver, your aunt, but rest assured, we’ll keep trying.”
    “It’s like a zoo, her house,” said Rowan. “It smells funny. Six cats, three dogs, and even two geese. She’ll end up being evicted, my dad says…
said.”
The word stuck in her throat like sawdust, and she rushed on quickly, tears stinging her eyelids. “And that’s without the ducks and the g-goat in the garden….”
    She was crying now.
    “All right, love,” said Ellie.
    “We want to go to bed now,” Rowan whispered, pulling James closer. “Please.”
    “Yes, of course,” said John, rising from his chair and ushering them to the door. “Let’s take you upstairs.”
    Upstairs was little better than downstairs. It was clean but shabby, the carpets worn and the walls in need of a lick of paint. As John led them through the darkened hallways, Ellie pulled Rowan and James’s suitcase behind them. It rumbled softly over the carpet until John paused outside a door that had been left ajar.
    “A bed has been made up for you,” said John in a low voice. “There’s a crib for James for tonight, but tomorrow he’ll be moved to the nursery with the other babies and toddlers. The bathroom is two doors down on the left. You’ll be woken up at seven thirty for breakfast at eight.” He gavea sympathetic smile. “Try to get some rest. This is a good place. One of the best.”
    With that, John said good night and left, leaving Rowan, Ellie, and James outside the bedroom door. Rowan pushed the door open. A chink of light from the hallway spilled in, highlighting a single bed and a crib. A slim wardrobe stood to the side, and a desk with a chair and a few drawers was beside it. Everything was empty and bare.
    As Ellie quietly lifted Rowan’s case onto the bed and unzipped it for her, Rowan gathered some of her belongings from her suitcase. Everything she needed for now had been packed at the top, as Ellie had instructed. She pulled her wash bag and nightdress from it, then collected a towel and washcloth that had been left folded on the bed.
    The bathroom was spacious and cold, and when Rowan filled the sink with hot water, steam clouded the air and fogged the glass of the mirror above the basin. Together Rowan and Ellie changed James’s nappy and washed his face and hands. Then, while Ellie left to get James into his pajamas, despite his protests, Rowan washed her own hands and face, taking longer to do everything now that her left arm was in a sling from the crash.
    Shivering, she looked over at the shower cubicle. As long as her arm was in plaster, she was limited to sink washes or shallow baths.
    A gurgle came from the plughole in the bathtub, drawing her attention. Gleaming yellow eyes stared up at her from the darkness. Something was down there, and from the way it watched her, she knew it was fey. She moved closer. Froglike fingers slid through the plughole, gatheringsoap-scummed hair that had collected in the drain. The slurping, squelching noises