The Curse: Touch of Eternity (The Curse series) by Emily Bold Read Free Book Online Page A

appendix out.
    “It’s no problem,” I said. I was actually kind of relieved to get a little alone time. “I can get breakfast for myself, and then I’ll go on the tour.”
    Alison’s expression told me she was worried I might run into trouble again. She’d felt terrible when I’d come home in the dark, soaking wet, after losing my tour group.
    I tried to reassure her. “I promise I won’t miss the bus again. And I’ll always stay close to my group. Please don’t worry.”
    “OK, but do be sure to take your phone with you this time, just in case.”
    As Alison said good night, it was clear to me that she wanted to believe I’d be fine on my own in the morning, but she wasn’t entirely sure.

    I opened my eyes. Just as I had after my first night there, I unlatched the window as soon as I got out of bed. I could tell it was going to be a nice day. The sun was already successfully warming the air, and I stood at the window in my pajamas, just enjoying the quiet. The delicious smell of coffeeand biscuits wafted up from the kitchen. Not surprisingly, Alison had decided to take care of breakfast after all. I wandered downstairs and got myself a cup of coffee with milk. I carried it, and a plate of biscuits, up to my room and had breakfast in bed. I felt at ease. The disconcerting fears of the past days had disappeared, and, for a change, I couldn’t wait to see more of Scotland.
    My good mood stayed with me the whole day, even during the sightseeing tour. Like lemmings, we followed our guide to the Glenfinnan Monument. We lemmings didn’t fall into the sea, but we could be counted on to follow each other into each souvenir shop. This particular little shop could hardly withstand our attack, and I almost had a bout of claustrophobia. Gasping for breath, I dashed out the back door and sucked in some fresh air.
    In front of me stretched the wilderness of the Highlands. A gravel path led across the heather and up to the monument, so I headed toward it.
    The Glenfinnan Monument is a round, simple tower on the coast of Loch Shiel. The closer I got to it, the larger it loomed. It was built in 1815, our guide had told us, to mark the spot where Prince Charles Edward Stuart, also known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, began the Jacobean uprising. The Scottish clans gathered around him here in 1745 as he led them to battle in the fight for the crown of England and Scotland. They must have really trusted him.
    The tower is topped by a statue of a nameless Highlander in a kilt, but since he couldn’t say much, a real human Scot in full tartan was on hand. His job was to let only two or three visitors at a time through the arched doorway into the tower. It was very dark and frighteningly narrow insidethe old building. I climbed a steep, winding staircase and pushed myself through a tight opening to reach a narrow platform at the top. Another visitor poked his head through right after me.
    I stepped up to the stone balustrade to make room for him. And when I saw his face, my breath caught, and I quickly turned away.
    I hoped he didn’t notice his effect on me. I couldn’t say exactly what it was, but the sight of him made me woozy, and I had to lean against the wall. When I stole another look, he was standing as far away from me as possible. Maybe he was trying not to invade my personal space, I thought.
    My heart was beating so loudly that I was afraid he could hear it. Every fiber of my body felt electrified. I had only looked at him briefly, and yet his image had burned itself into my memory. He seemed a little older than me, and he was quite a bit taller. His short hair was ruffled, as if he’d just woken up from a dream. His hair was brown, but single strands were lighter, and they stood out like golden sparks. He was wearing black cargo pants and a dark-gray button-down shirt over a white T-shirt.
    Despite the distance between us, he kept looking at me. Even when I turned, I felt his gaze drilling into my back. Unable to stop